Report covering the period 15 March – 3 May 2017 (The full report is available on the May 2017 business meeting agenda of the Waitematā Local Board)
Highlights:
- Housing First pilot project launched (Attachment A)
- Consultation closed on the Annual Budget 2017/18. With Richard Northey, I attended the handing over of submissions by the Living Wage campaign on 27 March
- Hosted the Inner City Network Meeting discussion on the draft Local Board Plan.
- The Ponsonby Park at 245 Ponsonby Road proposed community-led design announced on 24 March following a public vote on 11 options.
- Attended the first Local Government New Zealand Governance and Strategy Advisory Group meeting in Wellington (Refer terms of reference below).
- Attended a number of events including the Pasifika Festival walkabout with the Mayor on 24 March, Westpac Business Awards, the Autumn Festival at Kelmarna Gardens
Received the Bring back the monkey bars petition at Grey Lynn School (photo right)- Construction continued on the Grey Lynn Pump Track (a community-led project), Grey Lynn Greenways route connecting Coxs Bay to Grey Lynn Park and on the Ponsonby Road Pedestrian Improvement Project (works on MacKelvie St due to be completed by 5 May). Auckland Transport’s works started on the Franklin Road project following a dawn blessing
- Gave an address on behalf of the Waitematā Local Board at the Anzac eve Illumination for Remembrance at St David’s Memorial Church (Attachment B) and at the Grey Lynn RSC Anzac day service on behalf of the Board (Attachment C)
- Board agreed the Locally Driven Initiatives (LDI) Operational budget, key advocacy areas and response to the regional policy issues for the Annual Budget 2017/18 at an extraordinary meeting on 2 May
- Approved the draft Waitematā Local Board Plan at an extraordinary board meeting on 20 May and finalised the summary of the draft. Consultation due to start on 22 May.
A small win. There is a long history of women in particular feeling deterred from visiting the city centre because of the lack of public loos. It took a while but following our request signs have now been updated to make it clear the high quality toilets in the Aotea Centre are in fact public (photo right). We’re now working on mapping all the facilities online.- Followed up a number of transport issues including:
- Pedestrian safety at the car park exit of the new Bunnings on Great North Road and Countdown on Williamson Ave
- Final Grosvenor Street cycleway design removing a large number of car parks and failure by AT to install crossing points along greenway route at the intersection of Grosvenor and Crummer Rd
- Safety issues with car transporters using bus stops and the flush medium for unloading on Great North Road
- Design of a new speed bump on Hakanoa Street
- Traffic management issues associated with board funded works on MacKelvie Street
- Provided feedback to Auckland Transport on behalf of the Board on the Westhaven to City Centre cycle route proposal (Refer Auckland Transport monthly report)
- Media coverage included columns in Ponsonby News (April and May columns Attachments D & E)
Meetings and workshops: 15 March until 3 May 2017
- Wynyard Quarter Transportation Management Association public meeting at Waterfront Theatre on 15 March
- Meeting with Community Facilities regarding Maintenance Contracts for Parks, Building and Open Space (Project 17) on 15 March
- Meeting with Auckland Transport to discuss proposal for Westhaven to the City cycleway on 15 March
- GPS Submission – Political Reference Group meeting on 15 March
- Agenda run-throughs on 15 March, 6 April and 3 May
- Local Boards sub-regional workshops on 20 March and 10 April
- Meeting on MacKelvie Street with Chris Cherry to discuss pedestrian improvement project works
Waitematā Local Board business meetings on 21 March and 11 April and extraordinary meetings on 20 April and 2 May (Photo right- receiving the Bring Back the Monkey Bars petition at the Board’s meeting on 11 April)- Monthly comms update on 22 March and 19 April
- Attended the Auckland City Centre Advisory Board meetings on 29 March and 19 April (as alternate)
- Auckland Transport briefing for elected members on 22 March
- Meeting to discuss support for the Auckland Santa Parade on 23 March
- Woodpecker Hill and Parnell Business Association presentation on proposed improvements to Heard Park
- Inner City Network Meeting with presentations on ideas for the Local Board plan 2017
- Meeting on 25 March to discuss the draft Local Board Plan
- Lunchtime meeting and presentation by University of Auckland on 29 March
- Meeting on 30 March to discuss election issues feedback
- Auckland’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management environment: what you need to know and Integrity and Conflicts of Interest sessions on 30 March (part of the Kura Kawana elected member development programme)
- Meeting to with the Urban Forest Alliance to discuss maintenance of street trees and the urban forest strategy
- Site meeting on 31 March with Council and AT officers to discuss compliance sign off for the Countdown development (including issues associated with the supermarket car park exit)
- LGNZ Governance and Strategy Advisory Group meeting in Wellington on 3 April
- Local Board Chairs’ Forum on 10 April
- Waitematā Local Board workshops 28 March, 4, 21, 27, April and 2 May
- Meola Reef Reserve development plan meeting on 5 April
- PBA board meeting on 6 April
- Planning Committee Auckland Plan Refresh Workshop on 6 April
- Newmarket Business Association presentation by Mark Knoff-Thomas to discuss BID obligations on 6 April
- Chair’s Forum on 10 April
- Mayor & Local Board Chairs – Auckland’s Governance and Future discussion on 10 April
- Meeting with Wynyard Quarter Traffic Management Association coordinator on 11 April
- Presentation by Panuku on the City Centre and Waterfront work programme on 12 April
- Domain Committee workshop and public meeting on 12 April
- Joint Planning Committee and Local Board chairs Planning Committee Briefing on 13 April – How decisions were made around light rail and heavy rail to the airport
- Meeting with St Marys Bay Association and Herne Bay Residents Association representatives on 19 April
- Transport portfolio catch up on 26 April
- Meeting on 26 April with Mayor’s advisor for the Million Trees Project
- Elected Member Communications & Engagement reference group meeting on 28 April
- Meeting with Panuku and Councillors Hills and Darby to discuss the future of the Eastern Viaduct carpark
- Weekly Chair’s meeting every Monday morning
- Meeting with ATEED representative on 3 May to discuss planning for a Local Economic Development masterclass on 12 July and invite to open the workshop
- Meeting to discuss the Project 17 asset list with Community Facilities
- Parnell cycle route workshop organised by Auckland Transport on 3 May
Events and functions: 15 March until 3 May 2017
- Opening of the Journey of a Million Miles – Following Steps’ exhibition at the Maritime Museum on 15 March
“A Plan 4 Youth” Local Board plan consultation organised by the Waitematā Youth Collective on 16 March (photo right)- Local Board Plans – central mana whenua engagement hui at the Fickling Centre on 17 March
- Auckland Art Gallery Opening – The Body Laid Bare: Masterpieces from Tate on 17 March
- Westpac business awards on 23 March at the invitation of ATEED
- Auckland Conversations: Homelessness in Auckland (attachment A)
- The Bone Feeder at Waterfront Theatre on 24 March (at the invitation of the Auckland Arts Festival)
- Attended the Grey Lynn school assembly on 25 March to receive the Bring Back the Monkey Bars petition
- Opening of the new NCBT city campus by Mayor Phil Goff
Mayoral walkabout at Pasifika Festival on 26 March (photo right)- Ponsonby Park announcement of design selected after public vote (photos below)
- Kelmarna Autumn Festival on 27 March
- Presentation of Living Wage submissions at the Town Hall on 28 March (photo right)
- Tyler Street Fashion Show at the invitation of Heart of the City
- Women in Politics AGM at the Town Hall on 31 March
Jam on Toast at the Grey Lynn Community Centre on 2 April- Opening of the Mason Brothers building by the Mayor on 3 April
- Low Carbon Pecha Kutcha – Style Networking night at Studio One on 5 April
- Illumination of Remembrance at St David’s Church on 24 April (Attachment B)
- Anzac Day Dawn Service at Auckland Museum and the Grey Lynn RSC parade and service (Attachment C)
- Opening night of the Comedy Festival (at the invitation of ATEED) on 27 April
- Attended the dawn blessing on 28 April for the start of Auckland Transport works on Franklin Road
- Grey Lynn Street Carnival on 29 April organised by the Grey Lynn Business Association
- Meola Reef Development Plan drop in session at the Westerns Springs Football clubrooms on 2 May