community-led development Archives

Monthly board report June 2015

This report covers my Waitematā Local Board activities during May 2015 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 Board and Ponsonby Community Centre Committee and Board liaison for the Parnell Community Centre.

Community- led development: 254 Ponsonby Road

At Auckland Council we have been talking a lot about community-led development and empowered communities over the last 4 years (I reported in April on the empowering communities approach currently underway) . We’ve been introduced to the concepts through excellent visiting speakers such as Milenko Matanovic and Jim Diers. We have a community-led development champions group convened by Roger Blakely, Chief Planner of which I am a member. We have many community groups participating in shaping local services and placemaking but we don’t have many positive examples of Council putting community-led development into practice.

I am therefore really thrilled about the approach the Board has decided to take in response to the feedback on the development of 254 Ponsonby Road.

At the April business meeting we agreed that the Waitematā Local Board:

i) Notes the feedback on the three concept plan options for 254 Ponsonby Road that were subject to public consultation from September to December 2014.

ii) Further notes that subsequent to the start of the consultation period that budget for the delivery of any of the three concept plan options is no longer available.

iii) Further notes the majority of submitters support option 3 providing for full use of the site as open space.

iv) Agrees to include an advocacy position to the Governing Body seeking a capex budget to develop the site consistent with option 3.

v) Agrees to build on the consultation feedback to work in partnership with the community to develop a solution within the available resources for 254 Ponsonby Road.

vi) Agrees to reallocate $10,000 from the Heritage Planning budget 2014/2015 to support the community partnership approach to developing a solution.

vii) Requests clarification from ACPL on whether the amendment to the Council’s Revenue and Financing Policy, which now allows for sales proceeds resulting from optimisation of service property assets to be reinvested into eligible local projects, applies to 254 Ponsonby Road that was purchased to provide civic space for future generations.

viii) Agrees that submitters to the consultation on the three concept plan options are provided a summary of the feedback received.

Work has since got underway by Council officers to develop the steps involved in the process. It is going to be challenge to all involved to attempt a new model for delivering an outcome that is widely supported by the community but hopefully “254 Ponsonby Road” ends up being an exemplar for an empowered community development project.

Community funding

For the last four years I have been a member of the Central Joint Funding Committee made up of representatives from the Local Boards in the old Auckland City Council area. The Committee has continued to distribute legacy ACC grants (Accommodation Support Fund, Community Group Assistance Fund, Auckland City Cultural Heritage Fund) totalling approx. $1.2m. The final committee meeting was in April and the Governing Body has decided that from 1 July these grants, and all other legacy grants from the across the region will no longer exist.

The Auckland -wide community grant budget of $3,249,441 has been allocated equally to all 21 local Boards. Unfortunately this means a big drop in the funding available for community groups that are based in Waitematā but provide a regional service (eg Youthline).

Starting with the next round of funding (due to open in August) community groups will be directed to apply to Local Board community funding. As Waitematā Local Board grants are for a maximum of $6k (rather than $25k under the legacy central grants) there is inevitably going to be a difficult transition period for community groups who are likely to see a big decrease in funding available from Council.

At the community development portfolio meeting in May we asked that the fact that there are new arrangements and that there will be a major impact on organisations should be clearly communicated in advertising for the community funding workshops coming up (to be held on 10 June for Waitemata groups).

Ponsonby Road resurfacing

The Transport portfolio has consistently challenged Auckland Transport to consider every renewal or maintenance project in terms of what can be achieved to maximize the transport budget to provide for all transport modes (this was reflected in our feedback on the RLTP). For example maintenance projects provide an opportunity for arterials to be relooked at with new layouts that include bus lanes and cycle lanes, remove cycle pinch points and add better pedestrian crossings.

Ponsonby Road was scheduled by AT to be resurfaced in May on a like for like basis. The good news is that following Local Board advocacy and input from stakeholders, Auckland Transport has agreed to make minor but critical safety improvements when the surface is re-marked (the remarking will take place once the new surface has sufficiently hardened).

Auckland Transport’s Parking Strategy

On 27 May Auckland Transport briefed Local Boards, key stakeholders and the media on the new parking strategy that has been adopted which will mean a consistent approach for the first time for parking across the region. The strategy was developed following public consultation with AT receiving 5,500 submissions. A quarter of submissions were about the overall management of demand parking, 18% were about parking on residential streets and on park and rides and 11% were about parking on arterial roads. Half the submissions came from central Auckland or from City Centre fringe suburbs such as Parnell, Ponsonby and Newton.

The document allows for a case by case approach to parking taking into account local issues and the views of local boards and the community. As advocated by the Board, consultation with the community will continue as parking measures are introduced.

Adoption of the strategy means that Auckland Transport can now move forward on implementing critically needed residential parking zones for central suburbs based on the successful St Marys Bay trial. Auckland Transport has met with the Board and Freemans Bay Residents Association to discuss details of the Freemans Bay scheme which will be consulted on in June.

Inner city network meeting – Transport

I facilitated the May inner city network stakeholders meeting on the theme of transport hosted at GridAKL on 28 May with presentations from Priscilla Steel on Auckland Transport’s work programme; Carol Greensmith AT’s Communications Manager on the City Rail Link; Kathryn King, AT’s Cycling/Walking manager and Ellie Craft on Generation Zero’s transport campaigns.

Transport is seen as a priority for the network stakeholders so the presentations were well received.

Workshops and meetings

During May I attended:

The Albert-Eden Community Development Portfolio team hosted meeting on 1 May of the central boards’ Community Development portfolio leads to share ideas and issues, and opportunities for collaboration and professional development.
Volunteer Centre Network of Aotearoa National Hui opening with the Deputy Mayor and Lee Corrick from Albert-Eden Local Board on 4 May
Waitematā Local Board workshop on 5 May
Communications update with the Local Board communications advisor
Briefing discussion on kindergarten multi-premises lease on 6 May
Meeting Freemans Bay Residents’ Association and Auckland Transport to discuss progress on implementing the residents parking zone
Meeting to discuss the urban cycleways programme with Kathryn King (AT’s walking and cycling manager) and the Mayor’s office
Presentation by Sarah Clark Director of Office of Senior Citizens and Blair McCarthy on the Positive Ageing Strategy hosted by Joan Lardner-Rivlin on 12 May
Meeting to discuss freedom camping in local parks and Council’s strategy
Waitematā Local Board business meeting on 12 May
Ponsonby Business Association Board meeting on 13 May
Catch up with the NBA’s General Manager
Waitematā Local Board workshop on 14 May
Urban Cycleway Investment panel all day meeting in Auckland on 15 May (this was the final meeting of the panel)
Waitematā Local Board workshop on 19 May
Communications update with the Local Board communications advisor on 19 May
254 Ponsonby Road – Community Empowered Approach Next Steps discussion on 19 May
ATEED economic development update meeting with the Board on 20 May
Monthly Transport portfolio catch up on 20 May
Attended the Governing Body Finance and Performance Committee meeting on 21 May when the accelerated transport programme funded by a transport level was discussed and approved.
Community Place-making champions group meeting on 25 May
Follow up meeting regarding Waima Street issues organised by Arch Hill residents with representatives of Auckland Council, NZ Police, and Newton School.
Presentation of the preliminary results of the Auckland’s Public Life Survey, in collaboration with Gehl Architects
Site visit to new local board offices on Swanson street
Waitematā Local Board workshop on 26 May
Auckland Transport’s presentation of final approved Parking Strategy for Local Boards on 27 May
Community development portfolio monthly meeting on 27 May
Inner City Network meeting on Transport hosted at GridAKL
Good Citizen Awards selection panel meeting on 28 May

Events and functions

During May I attended:
Lisa Reihana In Pursuit of Venus [infected] opening at the Auckland Art Gallery on 1 May
TEDx Auckland on 2 May
The Dolls House at the Maidment on 2 May at the invitation of Auckland Theatre Company on 2 May
Save our Harbour protest on 3 May
Art Ache at Golden Dawn
First Thursdays on K’rd on 7 May
Sugar Tree apartments stage 1 opening at La Zeppa
Bike Rave May 2015 with Christopher Dempsey and Vernon Tava

Associates breakfast – urban design, cycling and transport discussion on 7 May at the Auckland Art Gallery
Frocks on Bikes mothers day bike ride
Opening of University of Auckland’s Newmarket campus on 13 May
GLBA monthly drinks on 14 May
Auckland Writers Festival Designing Auckland panel discussion on 16 May
Auckland Women’s Centre Charity Art Auction preview hosted by Hair Works on 16 May
Fairtrade morning tea hosted by All Good Bananas in support of Oxfam and celebrating 5 years of fairtrade bananas
Bike Rave on 22 May (photo with members Tava and Dempsey)
Future of Transport meeting hosted by the Auckland Labour Isthmus hub on 23 May
Citizenship ceremony at the Town Hall on 26 May
Taku Tamaki: Auckland Stories opening at the Auckland Museum on 28 May
Attended a two day Wānanga Reo at AUT over Queens Birthday weekend to further my understanding of te reo Maori

Photos: In my report I’ve included photos of the Waitematā Local Board funded Pop programme. I’ve particularly enjoyed seeing the Pop ping pong tables in action at Aotea Square.

Gifts registered: Auckland Theatre Company tickets to opening night productions

Monthly Board Report March 2015

This report covers my Waitematā Local Board activities during February 2015 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 Board and Ponsonby Community Centre Committee and Board liaison for the Parnell Community Centre.

Highlights

Victory for a liveable city

People power and common sense won the day on February 20th when the Auckland Transport Board went against officer advice in deciding not to go ahead with the planned widening of Great North Road that would have required the removal of six heritage Pohutukawa trees. A well organised campaign challenged an Auckland Transport and NZTA culture that was only willing to consider one option for over 3 years.

It was an important win not just for saving 6 trees but for forcing a rethink about the design of all roading projects. It was also a win for trees in general by raising awareness about the huge range of benefits that a magnificent stand of trees can provide the community and the landscape.

I was proud to be part of the Waitematā Local Board that stood with the community and that has consistently told Auckland Transport the plans needed to be re-considered.

Child friendly Waitematā

The Waitematā Local Board has recently become the first of Auckland’s local boards to be nominated and registered as ‘child friendly’ through the international UNICEF ‘Child Friendly Cities’ accreditation process. UNICEF defines a child friendly city as “a local system of good governance committed to fulfilling children’s rights. It is a city where the voices, needs, priorities and rights of children are an integral part of public policies, programmes and decisions. It is, as a result, a city that is fit for all”.

Claire Stewart, Community Development Facilitator, organised a workshop in February for participants to find out about the work already being done to make Waitematā child friendly, to share their own work and to support the journey towards Waitematā’s child friendly status

Dr. Rodney Tolley, Conference Director of Walk21 and experienced consultant in the field of active, sustainable transport gave a presentation to the workshop. Rodney has a focus on public space and transport and is passionate about equality of opportunity for children. As he points out children are a great indicator of the liveability of a city. Some of the key points from his presentation about growing a child-friendly city:

Loss of ubiquitous play space – children should be able to play everywhere but there has been a societal change and a change in the function of streets. He quotes from a study that found the failure of an urban environment can be measured by the % of playgrounds.
Management of risk – risk of a child being abducted by a strange 1 in x (infinitesimal) if use active travel. If don’t use active travel 100% risk that child will have poorer coordination; less likely to be cooperative; have health issues etc
More car travel diminishes physical health. Only 11% of Kiwi kids meet daily activity guidelines – 10% obese.

Rodney Tolley "child friendly" workshop walkabout on Queen St — Rodney Tolley “child friendly” workshop walkabout on Queen St

The presentation considered what’s being done, for example:

Safe routes to school “if not safe make it safe”
At heart of initiatives – controlling speeds. Highlighted the benefits to children in overseas cities eg 75% of NYC now 20mph; Paris all streets 30kmph

Conclusion – cultural or physical changes needed? A walking city is a paradise for children. A city where kids invited to sit, play and walk. There are co-benefits in getting it right for kids gets it right for everyone.

The workshop included a discussion on what we are doing for children in different parts of Council and a walk around to explore parts of the city from a child’s point of view. The group I walked with along High St and Queen St (including Rodney) found the city centre to be empty of children under 10 and a very unwelcoming place.

Myers Park Centenary

The brief to the event team responsible for the Centenary celebrations was to take a community development approach so that it involved local groups for the benefit of city centre residents (the community portfolio was involved in the early discussion on the centenary)

Congratulations to the organising team who did such a great job. The centenary event on 15^th Feb was child- focused, organic and non- commercial. I thought it was a really successful celebration, attracting local residents and all on a tight budget. I would be very supportive of the centenary event being a template for an annual Myers Park kids festival.

Community Development conference

The Unitec hosted conference brought to together practitioners, academics and students to share their knowledge, research and stories about community development. Major themes included placemaking, community economic development, diverse communities and re-claiming democracy. My conference registration of $270 was paid for from the Local Board professional development budget (I cycled to and from the venue).

I enjoyed the conference as a networking opportunity and a chance to hear about the evolution of the practice of Community Development over the last 25 years and to reflect on the role of Local Government.

Key points mentioned by a variety of speakers:

Community Development has to connect most closely with Local Government. LG is the natural unit of CD.
Auckland has suffered from politicians without vision (No social housing; Lack of community centres)
Community Development and Economic development need to merge– not flip sides
Community development is an indirect art
Most important thing that local government can do: Treat people as citizens and not as customers; Stop doing things to people or for them

Long Term Plan consultation

Consultation on the Auckland Council’s 10 year budget (LTP) got under way at the end of January and continues through February until 16 March. The Local Board held 2 community engagement events in February in the City Centre and Parnell (co-hosted with Parnell Community Committee)

As at 1 March Auckland Council had received 6320 written submissions, 427 eligible digital submissions (374 pieces of feedback had been received from the Waitematā Local Board area) and 423 Aucklanders have attended a “Have Your Say “event.

All LTP information and upcoming events are on Shapeauckland.co.nz

Richmond Road safety improvements

After many years fighting for road safety improvements Richmond Rd School can finally enjoy a signalised crossing and traffic calming treatments. The Transport portfolio were responsible for ensuring a feeder lane was incorporated into the design (as a first step towards cycling lanes for the length of Richmond Road)

Westhaven Promenade

The much anticipated and beautifully built Westhaven promenade was officially opened on 16 February.

My partner Paul Shortland (Deputy Chair of Cycle Action Auckland) had the honour of cutting the ribbon on the invitation of Sir Bob and the Mayor.

I have received only positive feedback about the promenade especially from locals using it with children.

Congratulations to the Waterfront Auckland team responsible for the promenade.

Walk About on Ponsonby Road with the Ponsonby Business Association

Following a serious injury suffered by a visitor to Ponsonby Rd, who tripped on the footpath, the Ponsonby Business Association General Manager & Deputy Chair invited representatives from the Board, Auckland Transport and Auckland Council to take part in a walk round. The purpose of the walk was to identify urgent repairs and to discuss options for a full upgrade of the footpath as anticipated in the Ponsonby Plan finalised in 2013.

Workshops and meetings

During February I attended:

Meeting with the organisers of Art in the Dark, ATEED reps and events portfolio on 2 February
Ponsonby Community Centre Management Committee meeting on 2 February
Meeting with volunteers from community group Plastic Diet
LTP Consultation briefing on key issues for local board members on 3 February
Local Board Workshop on 3 February
Community portfolio meeting with Youth Advisory Panel representative to handover from Isabella Lenihan-Ikin (before she departed for Otago) to Alex Johnston
Transport Portfolio meeting on 4 February
Central Local Board cluster briefing on draft Corporate Sponsorship Operational Guidelines on 9 February
St Lukes Intersection design/ Pohutukawa Trees discussion with Auckland Transport on 9 February
Ponsonby Business Association Board meeting on 10 February
Waitematā Local Board business meeting on 10 February
Briefing on the New Zealand International Convention Centre on 11 February
Meeting with Matthew Luxton, Envision to discuss social enterprise in Waitemata
Briefing on Trading and Events Bylaw: Communication to businesses
Waitematā Local Board workshop on 12 February
Ponsonby Road Walk About with representatives of Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and the Ponsonby Business Association to discuss the disrepair of the footpaths
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Reserves Board meeting and induction – 16 February – The purpose of the hui was to provide an in-depth insight into the history, current projects and aspirations in respect to the Whenua Rangatira and Pourewa Creek Recreation Reserve (photo right of Richelle Kahui- McConnell leading the tour)
St Lukes Intersection design (Pohutukawa tree removal) – follow up meeting with Auckland Transport and NZTA
Community Development Conference (opening Powhiri at Unitec Marae and one day at Unitec, Henderson)
Urban Cycling Investment Panel – meeting 2 in Wellington on 20 February
Local Board Greenways Plans and Walking and Cycling Networks Collaboration Meeting on 23 February
Cycling Action Group and Urban Cycling Investment update presented to the Local Boards Forum on 23 February
Rodney Tolley – Child Friendly Cities workshop at Pioneer Womens Hall
Waitematā Local Board workshop on 24 February
Community Development portfolio monthly catch up on 25 February
Long Term Plan – 10 year budget community engagement events on 25 February (City Centre) and 26 February (co-hosted with the Parnell Community Committee)
Meeting to discuss RLTP feedback on 25 February
Central Boards cluster meeting: BIDs and service delivery and policy review
Attended the Auckland Development Committed extraordinary meeting on 26 February
Monthly Transport portfolio catch up on 26 February
LGNZ Zone One meeting in Auckland on 27 February

Events and functions

During February I attended:

Bike Market at Silo Park on 1 February
Friends of the Festival lunch at Q Theatre on 3 February
Screening with Nga Tāonga – Sound & Vision of two documentaries at Auckland Museum on 5 February to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the signing of te Tiriti o Waitangi. Pita Turei, director of Waka: The Awakening Dream, presented at Q&A session following the screening.
Tour of the Light Show exhibition with Rhana Devenport, Director Auckland Art Gallery (organised for local board members and Councillors) on 5 February
Waitangi Day powhiri at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Marae
Zero Waste Volunteer with Christopher Dempsey at Takaparawhau (Bastion Pt) for the Waitangi Day Festival organised by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
Big Gay Out, Coyle Park
Green Desk interview on 10 February (as occasional host of the Green Desk, 95bfm) with Isabella Lenihan-Ikin, Waitemata Youth Advisory Panel representative
Dropped by the NZTA/Auckland Transport Nelson Street cyclelane open day at Tukutai Square on 10 February
Go by bike day pit stop on the Grafton Gully Cycle way on 11 February (free coffee provided by Auckland Transport)
Opening Night Party of Auckland Fringe and X0X Pride at the Box, Aotea Square on 11 February
Cycle Action’s Associates breakfast on 12 February
Launch and Blessing of Twist & Thief by Tanja McMillian (Misery) on K’rd
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 – Opening of Fanzone at Tukutai Square by the Mayor on 14 February
Valentine’s Day bike ride and afternoon tea with Frocks on Bikes
Myers Park Centennial Celebration on 15 February
Blessing and official opening of the Westhaven Promenade on 16 February
With the Deputy Mayor visited the Angel by Kelsey Montague sponsored by the Ponsonby Business Association on the Brown St wall of Ponsonby Central (photo right)
Regional Arts Trust Awards at Q Theatre (congratulations to Shona McCullagh, Hynds Creative Entrepreneur 2015 Award winner)
Auckland Conversations – Shaping Resilient and Collaborative Communities – Milenko Matanovic, Founder & Executive Director The Pomegranate Centre Washington USA
Save our Harbour rally on Queens Wharf (photo below)
Regional Facilities Auckland – refreshments with the Board and senior management at the Aotea Centre
Finns at the Zoo on 27 February (at the invitation of Auckland Zoo)
Grey Lynn RSC commemorative mural blessing (funding provided by the Local Board)
Art in One Day prize giving (event sponsored with a Community Grant)

Rev Mua Strickland Pua at the blessing of the RSC commemorative ANZAC mural

Opening of the Fanzone with Cr Denise Krum, Mayor Len Brown and ATEED CEO Brett O’Reilly

Christopher Dempsey at the opening of the Fringe Festival

Monthly Board Report May 2013

This report covers my activities from 1 April – 30 April 2013 and is reported on at the May Waitemata Local Board Meeting

Portfolio reports

Community portfolio

As well as our monthly catch up with community development (quarterly update from CDS is attached to the Board’s agenda) we had a cluster meeting with other central community portfolio holders. We met with Richard Butler, Community Development Manager, Central who took us through recent restructuring that is intended to put CDS in a better position to deliver on actual projects to achieve community outcomes and to provide a focus on delivering better services to local boards.

Community-led development

During April we have been energised in community development by the visit of Jim Diers, previously the Director, Department of Neighbourhoods at Seattle City Council.

Jim talks about the crisis of democracy and the need to not just engage with community but to build community by going out to the people. He has many suggestions for moving towards a partnership with the community that a far wider network of people can respond to. For example getting people involved through a “project party” not a meeting and providing matching funding for community projects. I think we can learn a great deal from Jim’s experience and how we can make democracy work effectively by ensuring planning is done by communities.

A joint workshop was held for local boards and the governing body on 22 April where Jim Diers was invited to share his experiences from Seattle. The workshop was also an opportunity to provide early feedback on how the proposed draft community development principles might be practically applied across local board and governing body decision-making roles, and in the day-to-day activities across council generally. Thriving communities – the draft strategic action plan that includes the Council’s community development principles – is due to be released in June.

I am also on the Auckland Neighbourhood Planning Task Group convened by Roger Blakely that is looking to promote neighbourhood planning and implementation across Auckland Council in order to enhance community-driven planning and neighbourhood self-help projects. Members of the group met with Jim and representatives from Inspiring Communities to discuss neighbourhood planning.

Feedback on the Point Chevalier Pasadena Community year 1-8 Schooling options

The community portfolio made a joint submission with the Albert -Eden Local Board regarding the Ministry of Education’s proposals arising from the increasing roll at Point Chevalier due to population growth, changing demographics and the school’s popularity. The proposals look at options for Point Chevalier School and Pasadena Intermediate School that have part of their zones within our Board area. A copy of the letter is attached as ATTACHMENT A (refer page 317 of the agenda).

Good Citizen Awards

The nomination period for the awards was extended to 26 April to ensure there was plenty of time to recognise and reward those who have made a significant voluntary contribution in the Waitemata Local Board area. Judging will take place in May with the awards ceremony on 31 May.

Transport Portfolio

The Transport portfolio monthly briefing with Auckland Transport took place on 24 April. We covered:

Updates on Local board capex projects (Great North Road/Ponsonby Road Intersection and Bowen Avenue/Kitchener Street/Victoria Street East intersection )
Richmond Road Safety Action Plan
Parking issues in Parnell, St Marys Bay, Freemans Bay and Eden Terrace

Full details of current proposals and issues are outlined in Auckland Transport’s monthly report attached to the Board agenda. (refer page 61)

What price safety?

One of our local board capex projects is to improve cycling safety at the intersection of Great North Road and Ponsonby Road. Cyclists approaching the intersection on Great North Road heading east are forced in to a pinch point as the lanes increase from two to three and the shared bus lane disappears.

Cyclists currently either mount the pavement to avoid being stuck at the back of a queue of buses or get pushed into a lane of traffic. We have proposed that an advance stop box be installed with a feeder lane.

Road corridor operations investigations have concluded that to add a cycle feeder lane to this intersection a vehicle lane would have to be removed. They have advised that the removal of one lane for general traffic would increase delays in the peak from 73 seconds to 206 seconds. There would also be an impact on PT unless one of the lanes becomes a bus lane.

Auckland Transport have advised that they do not recommend any option that will increase motorist delays without a more strategic assessment of the overall impact of re-prioritising road space.

Auckland Transport is therefore going to look at installing a cycle stop box only.

My personal view is that we cannot continue to put cyclists at risk and ignore the safety of routes on the Auckland Cycle Network. Great North Road is currently operating under capacity because of the alternative provided by the North-western Motorway and delays are minimal. There is huge potential to increase cycle trips by improving cycling infrastructure on the Great North Road ridge at relatively minor inconvenience to drivers. I would therefore like us as a Board to push for the reprioritisation of road space to accommodate all modes of transport.

Getting parking right for Auckland

A blog drafted for shapeauckland (the Council’s Unitary Plan website) based on the presentations given at the Getting Parking Right for Auckland seminar (part 1) hosted by the Board and AECOM on 3 April is attached at ATTACHMENT B.

Local Board capex projects update

An update on the Board’s capex projects is in Auckland Transport’s monthly report.

I attended a number of meetings in April to progress the Newmarket Streetscapes upgrade project by Auckland Transport in conjunction with the City Centre Transformation team. However three of our projects are unlikely to proceed this year following initial investigations:

Cycle Improvements – advance stop box and feeder lane at Great North Road, eastbound onto Karangahape Road (reasons covered above):
Pedestrian Improvements at Intersections – Pedestrian facility at the Victoria Street East/Nelson Street intersection (referred to the study team investigating the linear park proposal on Victoria Street as part of the CEWT study)
Residential traffic calming project east of Ponsonby Road – to be progressed as part of the Franklin Road upgrade and Ponsonby Road master plan proposals

It is becoming clear that it is very difficult to progress projects via our capex fund that Auckland Transport do not wish to include in their current work programme. Over the next month we will be work shopping our transport projects and I will be proposing that we invest any remaining capex for 12/13 into our well-developed Greenways project (to be reported on in June following the consultation that took place earlier in the year).

Record numbers cycling

Figures released by Auckland Transport in April show that in March cycling during the peak period (7am to 9am) increased 24.1 per cent. This comes on top of an increase of 18.5 per cent in February and a rise of 9.0 per cent in January.

Numbers are up even higher in the Waitemata Local Board area – this is great news and justifies increased expenditure in cycling infrastructure by Auckland Transport.

Refer ATTACHMENT D (page 321) for an update on Why do cyclists run red lights.

Other Board activities

Unitary Plan

I took part in a number of Unitary Plan events during April.

Grey Lynn Business Association information session for members
Waitemata Local Board Community meeting at the Town Hall
Civic Forum at the Freemans Bay Community Hall
Grey Lynn residents meeting

My impression is that although there are very real concerns about some of the proposed zoning (particularly around the West Lynn shops) and scepticism that Council will be able to ensure good quality design there is conceptual support for the draft Unitary Plan in our area and an understanding that we are at an early draft stage meaning feedback now will improve the plan.

Annual plan hearings for Waitemata Local Board

Every year Local Boards hold a “discussion” with the Governing Body to go through the Local Board’s advocacy points that form part of the Local Board Agreement.

I supported the Chair in covering our transport advocacy projects at our meeting with the Governing Body held on 24 April. This part of the presentation is attached as ATTACHMENT C.

Ponsonby Road master plan working group

Kobus Mentz from UrbanismPlus has been contracted to provide urban design/ public realm services for the Ponsonby Road master plan working group. We had a very productive Vision and Outcome Setting workshop in April who covered technical briefings on transport, land use, open space and heritage and group work focused around identifying key precincts/ nodes; key transformational sites; and options to achieve vision and outcomes for Ponsonby Road.

We also held a hui with mana whenua to discuss their contribution to the master plan which resulted in iwi representatives attending the workshop and agreeing to a process for drafting a cultural assessment.

Fairtrade Implementation

May is the one year anniversary of Auckland becoming a Fairtrade city, an initiative that was led by the Waitemata Local Board. I asked Andrew Walters, Business & Facilities Sustainability Project Leader for an update on how the implementation is going and received this response.

All in all I am very enthusiastic about fair trade and would love to do a lot more in this space as the social, environmental and economic benefits of fair trade are all vital elements of sustainability. In a well-resourced sustainability team we would do a lot more and aim for an identified work programme about fair trade implementation rather than current situation.

A report may be worthwhile if requested through the appropriate channels etc. but in the interests of expediency I have put down a few notes.

I can’t write a fuller report just now on this as I am the only remaining member of the sustainability team as two left and were not replaced, so am under some pressure in other areas. But hopefully this summary will help.

All tea and coffee on free issue is fair trade (all staff areas/kitchens)
All council cafes offer fair trade options
We make fair trade goods available on purchasing web sites etc.
We have offered several prizes as part of energy campaigns that Included 100% fair trade morning teas for staff in winning teams.
We ran a Green growth symposium attended by business where catering was all fair trade.
Have included fair trade in our draft procurement policy

It is great to see that steps have been taken to implement Fairtrade but I am concerned at the lack of resourcing for the sustainability team to meaningfully ensure Fairtrade is an integral part of Council and receives on-going monitoring.

Professional development

CAN Do 2013 Auckland: Inspiring Change

I attended the Cycle Advocates Network’s annual summit on Saturday 13 April with Christopher Dempsey (registration of $60 was paid from the Board’s professional development budget).

Speakers on the theme of Inspiring Change – mainstreaming cycling included Rod Oram, Camden Howitt, Sustainable Coastlines and Stephen Town NZTA Regional Director.

I was particularly impressed with the keynote speaker Jonathan Daly who spoke about the politics of cooperation in the age of sharing: a new paradigm for bicycle advocacy.

He talked about the evolution of public space to private space that occurred with the advancement of the car. He believes we are entering the next evolution with the re-publicisation of public space (such as shared spaces)

He urged for the discussion to be re-framed around liveability – what we have stand to lose if we don’t invest in cycling.

IPENZ Transportation Group conference

I attended the IPENZ Transportation Group conference funded from the Board’s professional development budget. A copy of my report is attached as ATTACHMENT D (refer page 321).

Other board activities

Local Board Workshops and meetings

I attended during April:

Waitemata Local Board Agreement Review Workshop on 2 April
Hui with mana whenua on the Ponsonby Road Master Plan Project on 3 April
Newmarket Streetscapes – Briefing on 4 April
Waitemata Local Board Workshop: LBA Prioritisation discussion on 4 April
Waitemata Local Board Briefing from Ports of Auckland on their response to the PWC report on Upper North Island ports on 4 April
Children and Young People’s Strategic Action Plan briefing on 5 April
Local Board Delivery Model transformation project – engagement with local board members 8 April
Ponsonby Road Master Plan – Workshop 3: Vision and Outcome Setting on 8 April
Meeting to discuss the Former Masonic Hall – Herne Bay on 9 April
Communications fortnightly update
City centre transformation team meeting – attended to discuss Newmarket streetscape project
Waitemata Local Board business meeting in Grey Lynn on 9 April
Ponsonby Road East (slow speed zone) Site Visit with Auckland Transport
Greenways meeting with Auckland Transport on 10 April
“Good for business” presentation to Ponsonby Business Association members
Arts Station presentation
Waitemata Local Board workshop on 11 April
Interactive play spaces meeting on 11 April
Skypath public information public meeting
Central Joint Funding Committee workshop on 12 April
Community Development Portfolio holders- quarterly catch up on 17 April
Newmarket streetscapes project and local board transport capex funding meeting with Auckland Transport on 18 April
Unitary plan community meeting at the Town Hall on 18 April
Community portfolio monthly catch up
Fortnightly catch up on the Ponsonby Road master plan progress
Unitary plan civic forum at the Freemans Bay community hall on Saturday 20 April
Jim Diers workshop for local boards and the governing body on 22 April
Neighbourhood planning workshop with Jim Diers (working group)
Waitemata Local Board workshop on 23 April
Transport portfolio monthly update on 24 April
Waitemata Local Board and Governing Body discussion on local board agreement priorities on 24 April
Briefing on Ponsonby Central development application by Andy Davies
Te Kai o Te Rangatira workshop part 1 delivered by subject experts of Te Waka Angamua Maori Strategy and Relations Department (Pou Tikanga, Pou Whainga, Pou Hononga) on 26 April
Waitemata Local Board workshop on 30 April

Events and functions

During April I attended:

Toi Ora opening with the Mayor on 2 April
Getting parking right for Auckland seminar part 1 on 3 April at AECOM jointly hosted with Auckland Transport
Green Jam youth sustainability conference at TAPAC on 4 April –. I was invited to take part in a workshop “ Pedal Power An inspiring and active session on the power of bicycles”
Richmond Road School Fair
Grey Lynn RSC AGM
Richmond Rovers Centenary post match centenary celebrations on 6 April
Consultation event for Costley Reserve on Sunday 7 April
Grey Lynn Business Association Unitary plan information session for members on 9 April
Informal presentation to Grey Lynn Residents on the Unitary Plan zoning proposals at the Grey Lynn RSC
Local Government Association of South Australia Study Tour presentation on 12 April at the invitation of Peter McKinley
CAN-do cycle advocates conference on 13 April
IPENZ transportation group conference 14- 16 April in Dunedin
TRENZ 2013 Welcome Function at the Viaduct Event centre at the invitation of ATEED
ANZAC day service at the Grey Lynn RSC
Funding for Transport. Launch of the Collaborative Consensus Group discussion document at the Viaduct Events Centre on 29 April
Future intensive: Insights of Auckland’s Housing presentation