Covering activities from 1 July – 31 July 2011
Portfolios Transport (West including Regional portfolio) with Jesse Chalmers
Community (including Regional portfolio) with Tricia Reade
Libraries with Shale Chambers
Chair, Grants Committee
Positions: Grey Lynn Business Association, Newmarket Business Association (alternate)
Portfolio reports for the month
Transport
The Transport portfolio meets monthly with representatives from Auckland Transport. The July meeting was attended by myself and Jesse Chalmers (Transport Portfolio – West) and Christopher Dempsey (Transport Portfolio – East). Consultation by Auckland Transport that the Transport Portfolio responded to during July and updates to matters on our Issues Register are reported on each month by Auckland Transport at our Board meeting (the full reports are available at www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/waitemataunder agendas).
Issues consulted on included parking restrictions, road improvements and the location of bus stops required for the roll out of new bus services and routes starting on 14 August. Community Transport team representatives provided an update to the Transport Portfolio on walking and cycling projects planned within the Board area on 6 July. We also met with Karen Hay, Road Safety Manager and Randhir Kama, Road Corridor Operations Manager to discuss safety issues on Ponsonby Road. I attended the Transport Committee meeting on 5 July for presentations on the Central City bus reorganisation, Ports of Auckland transport requirements and the Rail stations upgrade programme.
Community Engagement
The main focus in July for the community portfolio was consultation on the draft local board plan following the Special Consultation Procedure (SCP). The Board held an event on 14 July to present the plan with an invitation to attend going out to all our community networks and key stakeholders. A hard copy of the plan was also mailed out to our database of community groups and organisations. I also presented the plan to the July Grey Lynn 2030 meeting.
Although the SCP has involved media coverage of the local board plans and centrally coordinated publicity by Auckland Council on behalf of the local board we have been disappointed at the failure to deliver the Summary of the draft plan to all households in the Waitemata area as intended.
Other board activities
Local Board briefings
Attended:
- Earthquake Prone Buildings Central Briefing on 12 July
- “Bringing it all together” – briefing by Roger Blakely and Ree Anderson on the draft Auckland Plan and the Local Board Plans, facilitated by Rod Oram, opened by the Mayor with international guest Duncan Maclennan. Local Board Workshops Attended:
- Workshop on 5 July with presentations from Kiwirail and on the Alcohol programme from members of the Community & Cultural Policy team
- Workshop on 26 July on the unitary plan process
Meetings Attended:
- Grey Lynn Business Association meeting on 13 July
- Newmarket Business Association Board meeting on 27 July
- Meeting with officers to discuss leasing options of the Masonic lodge in Herne Bay
- Meeting with the NBA and officers to discuss the proposal to widen the footpaths in Nuffield Street
- Grey Lynn Business Association strategy session on Saturday 23 July
- Inner city connectedness project networking meeting at Parnell Trust
- Q-Theatre site visit for board members
- Meeting with members of the Parks team and Jesse Chalmers to discuss the Western Springs bush off West View Road
I also attended a visit to Orakei Marae for members of the Board hosted by Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board members.
Events I attended the following events during July:
- Auckland Theatre Company’s production of “On the upside down of the World” (at the invitation of ATC)
- Grey Lynn Business Association July networking drinks
- Intersect networking event
- Grey Lynn Business Association’s public meeting to discuss their Adopt a team (Manu Samoa) events
- Green Drinks organised by NZAEE at Low impact, makers of the Hungry bin for composting
I was on the affirmative team led by Ludo Campbell Reid debating “Are we making drivers dummies?” for the IPENZ Transportation Group Debate for Young Professionals chaired by Jon Bridges.