My monthly board report covering activities from 1 April until 1 May 2016. Included on the agenda for the Waitemata Local Board meeting on 10 May 2016.
Highlights
Annual budget 2016/17
An extraordinary meeting of the Board was held on 26 April to confirm the Board’s position on Local Development Initiatives budgets, our advocacy positions and regional annual plan issues.
Included in the report for the meeting was an overview of 147 submissions received for Waitematā. The board received clear support for the priority projects we wish to take forward in 16/17.
Franklin Road
Following a community liaison group meeting in early April Auckland Transport released the latest designs for the upgrade of Franklin Road.
Features include:
- Improved pavement surface, footpaths and drainage.
- Protecting tree root zones from vehicles by redefining the berm area.
- Providing for the safe movement of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
- Retaining as much street parking as possible.
- Working with utility providers to minimise disruption and deliver an integrated programme of works.
- Improving street lighting – suspended lighting is currently proposed
I am particularly pleased to see included in the design raised tables on all the side streets. This is a pedestrian safety outcome the Local Board has advocated for since the beginning of the project.
A final round of engagement was undertaken on the detailed design by Auckland Transport until 10 May. Stage 1 (utility upgrade) physical works is due to start in May. Stage 2 works will start in October/November. The current completion date is mid to late 2017
Renaming lower Khartoum Place
In December 2015 I brought a Notice of Motion to the Board proposing the renaming of lower Khartoum Place with a suitable name associated with women’s suffrage, and in recognition of the Women’s Suffrage Centenary Memorial 1893-1993 ‘Women Achieve the Vote’.
The proposal received Board support opening the way for a name changing process to commence. Consultation on naming options is taking place until 25 May.
Greenways Design Guide
Work is underway on a design guide which covers both on-street and parks and open space greenways that is intended to become the key resource for the implementation of greenways across Auckland.
The feedback I collated in Attachment A was provided on behalf of the Waitematā Local Board to the Greenways team.
Photo right: progress on the widening of the Greenways route through Grey Lynn Park
Signage trial
As part of a Regional signage project Auckland Transport is trialling various signage elements in four precincts. Signage being trialled includes street signs, pedestrian signs, information hubs (large and small), cycling signs and routes, and public transport signage.
It is good to see the trial at Wynyard Quarter with signage designed for tourists and locals to be able to navigate around central Auckland attractions. There are lots of positive features included including te reo Maori. However as the Transport portfolio has previously highlighting we still consider the background colour is too dark, the map is not useful without showing where it fits into a wider area and the descriptions are too subjective. The map also shows Wellesley Street as a walking route through to the Domain – a long standing issue we have raised with ATEED and Auckland Transport.
Feedback is open until 20 May 2016
Weona – Westmere Walkway
Phase one of the Weona –Westmere walkway is now open and phase two is well underway. It is now possible to take a scenic walk along coast line that has not been accessible for over 80 years. After visiting on beautiful day in April I felt very proud that the Board (with Shale leading the way) has stuck with this project for the last 5 years. I think locals and visitors will be very impressed when the 1.4km route is fully opened in September.
Maungawhau/Mt Eden is glorious to visit now the maunga is free of vehicles
Mt Eden is not in Waitematā but I give thanks to all those who worked so hard over the last 10 years to get cars off the summit. On a recent visit at sunset it was great to see how many people were enjoying the easy walk to the top.
Berm planting guidelines
The Board gave feedback on Auckland Transport’s draft guidelines in September last year. We are still waiting on the final draft that was 
promised before Easter.
In the meantime I am enjoying all the neighbourly interactions that occur whenever I am outside looking after my (non-complying) berm.
Parking – the good, the bad and the ugly
I have been following up on a number of parking issues and concerns outlined in Attachment B.
Auckland Conversations – The value of well designed cities
Joe Minicozzi, Principal of Urban3 presented, in a very entertaining way, the research that illustrates the benefits of urban density, heritage conservation and mixed-use developments. These have an economic impact that lead to creating sustainable and vibrant cities.
The image right shows the maths of land value plus improved value (CV) applied to Auckland (by Kent Lamberg from MR Cagney).
Workshops and meetings
From 1 April until 1 May 2016 I attended:
- Ponsonby Community Centre Board meeting on 4 April
- Waitematā Local Board workshop on 5 April
- Communications catch up on 5 April
- Franklin Road Community Liaison Meeting on 5 April
- Ponsonby Road paid parking zone consultation open day at Studio One on 6 April
- Parks portfolio meeting on 7 April
- Elected member professional development focus group meeting on 8 April
- Albert Park safety meeting on 8 April organised by Hon Nikki Kaye with Superintendent Richard Chambers, Inspector Jill Rogers, Area Commander for Auckland City Central and Gary Davy from the Police, Naisi Chen (Chinese NZ Students Association) and Will Matthews (President AUSA) and Auckland Council representatives
- Youth Voice Phase 2 Cluster Workshops on 9 April at Auckland Central Library to explore youth-led models options under an empowered communities approach
- Richmond Rovers strategic plan community meeting on 11 April
- Waitematā Local Board business meeting on 12 April in Parnell
- Waitematā Local Board hui with iwi regarding Khartoum Place name change
- Elected member development programme – political advisory group meeting on 13 April
- Stakeholder meeting regarding the Khartoum Place name change on 13 April
- Ponsonby Business Association Board meeting on 14 April
- Waitematā Local Board workshop on 14 April
- Wynyard Quarter neighbours forum on 19 April
- Waitematā Local Board workshop on 19 April
- Ponsonby Business Association meeting for PBA members with Auckland Transport’s parking team on 19 April
- Monthly Transport portfolio catch up on 20 April
- Meeting to discuss the Board’s transport advocacy positions on 21 April
- Waitematā Local Board workshop on 26 April
- Presentation from Fresh Concept on Lower Queen St Activation Plans
- Waitematā Local Board Extraordinary Meeting on 26 April – Annual Budget information
- Auckland Transport open day on the wayfinding signage trial at Wynyard Quarter
- Community portfolio meeting on 27 April
- Inner City Network meeting and presentation on accessibility
Events and functions
From 1 April until 1 May 2016 I attended:
Auckland Theatre Company’s You can always hand them back at Sky Theatre on 2 April (at the invitation of ATC)- Bike breakfast at Scarecrow café on 6 April
- Auckland Conversations on 7 April
- Opening of the SKIP/ Women’s Centre Francis Reserve (photo right) community garden on 9 April
- Jam on Toast at the Grey Lynn Community Centre 10 April
- Japan Day at the Cloud opening reception on 10 April
- Kokako turns 15 celebratory event on 15 April
- Welcome morning tea for the new general manager of the K’rd Business Association on 15 April
- Farewell to Charlotte from Splice on 15 April
- Between Tides at Westmere beach on 17 April
- Anzac day service hosted by the Grey Lynn RSC
- Open Streets K’rd on 1 May (photo below with Margaret Lewis from the K’rd Business Assocation and Kathryn King, Auckland Transport’s walking and cycling manager who hosted the event). Congratulations to everyone involved in putting on such a fantastic event. K’rd was full of people enjoying the vehicle – free space.