This report covers my Waitematā Local Board activities during September 2014 as Deputy Chair, lead for the Community and Transport portfolios, Chair of the Grants Committee, Deputy Chair of the Central Joint Funding Committee and with positions on the Ponsonby Business Association and Ponsonby Community Centre Committee.
Highlights:
- Opening of Grafton Gully and Beach Road cycleways
- Re-opening of Khartoum Place with a new staircase to the Auckland Art Gallery from Lorne Street after a long battle to retain the Suffrage Centenary Memorial in the square
- Progress on a programme to activate Pioneer Women’s Hall
- Local Board Plan hearings
I also enjoyed a short break in the South Island during September.
Portfolio reports: Transport
Grafton Gully cycleway opening
Report on the opening of the Grafton Gully cycleway ATTACHMENT A
Waitematā Local Board members Shale Chambers, Vernon Tava, Christopher Dempsey, and Pippa Coom with the Mayor at the opening of the Grafton Gully Cycleway
Monthly transport update
A monthly update with Auckland Transport took place on 25 September. Current issues are reported back monthly by Auckland Transport on our public agenda including the details of the consultation undertaken with the Transport portfolio on behalf of the Board.
Portfolio reports: Community
Pioneer Women’s and Ellen Melville Memorial Hall – activation
One of the Board’s priorities is developing Pioneer Women’s and Ellen Melville Memorial Hall as a community hub for city centre residents. Fortunately the refurbishment budget for the hall was removed from the proposed list of deferrals and has been funded with $400,000 for 2015/16 to proceed in alignments with the targeted rate-funded renovation of Freyberg Square.
In the meantime the community portfolio is working with officers to activate the hall using a $15,000 community development budget available for 2014/15. Really good progress has recently been made on proposals initiated by a stakeholder working group including setting up a Facebook page for the hall and a programme of activities such as Tai Chi, a chess club, and Rainbow Youth pop in centre.
Local Board Plan
The Board received 213 submissions on our draft local board plan with the majority of submitters endorsing the general direction and priorities of the Board. At hearings held over 2 days we heard from 33 submitters.
A report on the feedback was presented at the Board’s extraordinary meeting on 16 September and is available on the Council website.
A final version of the Local Board Plan is on the Board’s agenda this month.
Community Funding
The Central Joint Funding Committee was re-established on 8 September (I was re-elected Deputy Chair) to decide on applications to the Community Group Assistance Fund (round 1 of 2 rounds) and the Accommodation Support Fund 14/15. These are both legacy grants that will be disestablished when the new funding policy is implemented.
The decision of the committee is available on the Council website here.
Workshops and meetings
In the period 1 September – 30 September I attended:
- Mayoral proposal workshop on 1 September at the Aotea Centre for Councillors, local board members, the Independent Maori Statutory Board and CCO Chairs and Chief Executives to discuss the Mayor’s proposal for the draft Long-term Plan 2015-2025. Led by the mayor, the workshop considered the proposal and provided opportunity for round table discussion.
- Engagement adviser catch up on 1 September
- Meeting to discuss Pioneer Women’s Hall Stakeholder Workshop Outcomes
- Grey Lynn Business Association meeting on the signage bylaws
- Local Board Plan Hearings on 2 and 3 September
- Newmarket level crossing briefing on 3 September
- City Centre Integration workshop with Councillors regarding QE2 Square and the proposed Downtown Framework on 3 September
- Meeting with Auckland Transport to discuss Cycle Advisory Group prioritisation process on 4 September
- Central Joint Grants Committee Meeting on 8 September
- LTP – Parks, Community and Lifestyle response to Mayoral Proposal presentation to local board members at the Town Hall on 8 September
- City Centre Waterfront Building Height and Form Strategy briefing on 9 September
- LBP deliberations workshop on 9 September
- Ponsonby Business Association Board meeting on September 9 September
- Waitematā Local Board business meeting in Grey Lynn on 9 September
- Meeting with the New Zealand Dance Company, Wellesley St to discuss community funding available
- Waitematā Local Board workshop on 11 September
- Meeting with the developer of 60 Cook Street to discuss plans for the future of Nelson Street
- Inaugural meeting of the Maunga Authority at the Town Hall on 15 September
- Communications catch up on 15 September
- Engagement adviser catch up on 15 September
- Local Board Meeting on 16 September – Formal deliberations to consider submissions and resolve direction of the Local Board Plan
- Meeting to develop feedback on the community grants policy on 24 September
- Monthly Transport portfolio catch up on 24 September
- Community Development portfolio monthly catch up on 24 September
- Meeting with Parnell Community Committee and Parnell Inc to discuss “Weekend Streets” on 26 September
- Site visit to Kelston Community Hub with members of the community placemaking champions working group on 29 September
- Local Board Workshop on 30 September
Events and functions
In the period 1 September – 30 September I attended:
- CRL open day event at the Town Hall on 1 September hosted by Auckland Transport (photo right)
- The Great Climate Voter Debate on 3 September at Q Theatre
- ATC’s Trees beneath the Lake at the Maidment Theatre (at the invitation of ATC) on 6 September
- Grafton Gully cycleway opening on 6 September (ATTACHMENT A)
- Child poverty Hikoi on 6 September
- Hosted the Green Desk on 95bfm on 9 September talking to Louise Carr- Neill Manager of the Grey Lynn Farmers Market
Upper Khartoum Place opening on 10 September (speech given on behalf of the Waitemata Local Board ATTACHMENT B)- Craft Market at Studio One
- Jervios Road Market day on 13 September
- Grey Lynn Farmers Market 5th birthday celebration on 14 September (I am chair of the management committee)
- Cycle Action Auckland’s AGM at Pioneer Women’s Hall on 24 September
- Newmarket Business Association AGM on 25 September
- Launch of the Heritage Festival at Shed 10 on 26 September (photo below)
- Bike to the Future organised by Generation Zero on 28 September (photo right giving a speech before the bike ride in support of cycle lanes on K’rd)
- Festival Italiano in Newmarket and lunch hosted by Dante Alighieri on Sunday 28 September (gift bag from Dante Alighieri contained: a book on Newmarket, pasta, hair product, mascara, cooking apron, balsamic vinegar)
