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Annual Plan
Hearings - Great Barrier
26 March 2014
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Summary
of public submissions on the draft Annual Plan 2014/2015 – Great Barrier Local
Board
File No.:
CP2014/03793
Purpose
1. This report provides a
high-level analysis of key themes contained in submissions on the Draft Annual
Plan 2014/2015 relevant to the Great Barrier Local Board. The report also
provides high-level analysis of the regional submissions on the Draft Annual
Plan 2014/2015.
Executive Summary
2. 1,967
submissions were received on the draft Annual Plan 2014/2015, 87 of which were received after the submission deadline. The Draft Annual Plan includes the Great Barrier Draft
Local Board Agreement.
3. Legislation
requires that submitters to the Draft Annual Plan be given reasonable
opportunity to be heard.
4. Submissions
that cover both regional and local content will be heard at local board
hearings, with at least the ward councilor(s) present to hear regional content.
For the Great Barrier Local Board, there were a total of 2 submissions,
with both submitters requesting to be heard. At the
time of writing this report, a further 2 late submissions had been received.
Given the low number of submissions received, comments from late submissions
have also been provided in the analysis of this report.
5. The
Great Barrier Local Board did not propose any budget changes.
6. There
were no local themes or topics that received a significant number of comments
from submissions to the Great Barrier Local Board. Again,
given the low number of submissions received from the Great Barrier Local Board
area, the key points from each submissions are outlined in the body of this
report.
7. The most
significant regional issues arising from the submissions were in regards to the
consultation questions, i.e. the stadium strategy and Arts Festival proposals.
8. A total of 1,069 submitters (54.4% of
all submitters) provided an opinion on the proposed stadium
strategy. Of these, 230 (21.5%) supported the
proposal, while 501 (46.9%) did not support it, and 338
(31.6%) were unsure. The most notable opposition was attributed to
moving the speedway, with 362 submitters expressing a desire to keep the
speedway at Western Springs.
9. 985
submitters (50.1% of all submitters) provided an opinion on
the Arts Festival proposal. Of these, 503 (51.1%) supported the proposal, while 226 (22.9%)
did not support it, and 256 (26.0%) were unsure.
10. The most
notable other topic was opposition to fluoridation of the water supply. 237
submitters raised this point, with 217 of them coming in the form of a pro
forma.
11. The
submissions relevant to the Great Barrier Local Board area are attached to this
report.
12. The Great
Barrier Local Board will consider all submissions relevant to the local board
area at discussion workshops on the Draft Annual Plan and Great Barrier Draft
Local Board Agreement on 26 March 2014.
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Recommendation/s
That the Annual
Plan Hearings - Great Barrier:
a) Receive submissions on the Draft
Annual Plan 2014/2015, including the Great Barrier Draft Local Board
Agreement, relevant to the Great Barrier Local Board
b) Hear the relevant submissions on
the Draft Annual Plan 2014/2015
c) Thank submitters for their
verbal presentations
d) Consider
any potential amendments to the Draft Annual Plan 2014/2015, including the
Great Barrier Draft Local Board Agreement.
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Discussion
Context
13. The Local
Government Act 2002 and Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 require
Council to use the special consultative procedure in adopting the Draft Annual
Plan 2014/2015. This includes ensuring any person submitting on the Draft
Annual Plan is given reasonable opportunity to be heard.
14. The
governing body agreed at the meeting on 19 December 2013, that submissions
containing both regional and local content would be heard at local hearings.
15. This
report provides statistics on submissions received regionally and locally, and
a brief high-level analysis of key themes and topics.
16. More
detailed analysis of submissions will be provided to the local board workshop
on 13 April 2014.
17. The
consultation period for the Draft Annual Plan 2014/2015, incorporating the
Great Barrier Draft Local Board Agreement, was held from 23 January 2014 to 4pm
24 February 2014.
Submissions
18. Council
received and processed 1,967 submissions. Of these submissions, 2 are relevant
to the Great Barrier Local Board area with both submitters requesting to be
heard. At the time of writing this report, a further 2 late submissions had
been received. Given the low number of submissions received, comments from
late submissions have also been provided in the analysis of this report.
19. Copies of submissions for the
Great Barrier Local Board area are provided in Attachment A to this report.
Overview of
feedback from submissions relevant to the Great Barrier Local Board area
20. The submission
form asked for views on local board budget changes for 2014/2015. However, the Great
Barrier Local Board proposed no budget changes.
21. Submitters to
the Great Barrier Local Board, along with their key themes and topics raised in
the submissions, are outlined below.
· The Great Barrier Island Community
Heritage and Arts Village Trust
o Would like the local board to
consider supporting their programme through a funding agreement to contribute
towards salaries and administrative costs.
· Mike Newman (individual)
o Concerned by continual rates
increases and the level of Council debt
o Would like the local board to
consider sealing Kaiaraara Bay Road.
· Cindy Wiseman (Late - individual)
o Concerned with poisons entering our
environments
o Raises need for community facilities,
including a pool and gymnasium
o Requests continued rubbish and
recycling awareness, particularly targeting commercial operations.
· Great Barrier Island Environmental Trust
(Late)
o Request a continued focus on
infrastructure priorities
o Suggest strengthening relationships
with Ngati Rehua Ngatiwai ki Aotea and off-island rate payers
o Would like the environment committee
utilised to address major issues, including obtaining pest-free status for the
island
o Suggest investigating ways to develop
a sustainable visitor economy.
Consultation
questions
22. Consultation Question 1: Stadium Strategy – A total of 1,069 submitters (54.4%
of all submitters) provided an opinion on the proposed stadium
strategy. Of these, 230 (21.5%) supported the
proposal, while 501 (46.9%) did not support it, and 338
(31.6%) were unsure. The most notable opposition was attributed to
moving the speedway, with 362 submitters expressing a desire to keep the
speedway at Western Springs. This is outlined in figure 1 below.
Figure 1 – Stadium Strategy proposal
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Overall
(1,065 submissions)
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23. 985
submitters (50.1% of all submitters) provided an opinion on
the Arts Festival proposal. Of these, 503 (51.1%) supported the proposal, while 226 (22.9%)
did not support it, and 256 (26.0%) were unsure. This is outlined in
figure 2 below.
Figure 2 – Arts Festival proposal
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Overall
(401
submissions)
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24. Only one
submitter from the Great Barrier Local Board area (The Great
Barrier Island Community Heritage and Arts Village Trust) commented on
the consultation questions, stating they were unsure of the stadium strategy
and supportive of an annual Arts Festival.
Regional
overview
25. There were 165
regional submissions, with 44 requesting
to be heard. High-level information on the regional submissions is provided
below. Of those requesting to be heard at a regional hearing, 8 were from individual submitters, 22 from
special interest groups, 11 from businesses or business
associations, and a further 3 from Maori organisations.
26. The topics listed below in table 2 indicate
the most commonly raised submission points relating to regional activities (not
including the consultation questions), with a summary of the most significant
issues below.
Table 1 - Regional topics
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Topic Description
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Number of submissions commenting on topic
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% of total submissions
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Watercare – Water Supply
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247
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12.6%
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Regional arts & culture initiatives
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54
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2.7%
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Social housing proposal – Do not support
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51
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2.6%
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Expenditure – too high
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38
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1.9%
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Transport strategy
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35
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1.8%
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Request for funding
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31
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1.6%
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Auckland Transport – Public transport
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29
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1.5%
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General comments about the plan
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29
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1.5%
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Auckland Transport – Roads
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27
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1.4%
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Rates – too high
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24
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1.2%
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Environmental strategy, policies & programmes
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23
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1.2%
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27. Watercare Services – Water supply – 226 of the 236 submissions regarding water
supply were opposing fluoridation of the water supply. Of those submissions,
206 came via a pro forma. The points raised outline a believed violation of
human rights in that ratepayers have no choice as to whether their water is
treated to include fluoride chemicals. The form also outlines a perceived
health risk and that fluoride should be obtained through toothpaste only.
28. Regional arts & culture initiatives – of the 54 submitters that commented on this
topic, 48 are requests for Council to consider Massive Theatre Company for
annual investment and assistance to find a home. While most of which are from
members/supports, the Theatre does also make an official submission requesting
funding itself.
29. Social Housing proposal – 51 submitters outlined their reasons
for not supporting the proposal to increase social housing rental charges by
5%. Just over half of these submitters outlined the major reason being the
increase was not affordable.
Next steps
30. Decisions
on the final Great Barrier Local Board Agreement will be made at the
decision-making meeting on Wednesday 9 April 2014. Members may require
additional information to support their decision-making. Officers’ responses to
requests for information will be tabled at the deliberation meeting.
Consideration
Local Board Views
31. The Great Barrier Local Board
will consider all submissions relevant to the local board area at the workshop
on the Draft Annual Plan 2014/2015 and Great Barrier Draft Local Board
Agreement on 26 March 2014.
Maori Impact Statement
32. The implementation of the Annual
Plan 2014/2015 has the potential for positive outcomes for Māori.
Notwithstanding the projects already identified in the Draft Annual Plan 2014/2015
that contribute to Māori the impact will be clearer when consideration and
decisions are made by the Great Barrier Local Board and the Governing Body, at
their respective decision-making meetings, on the Draft Annual Plan and the
Great Barrier Draft Local Board Agreement.
33. Mana Whenua authorities were sent
a letter about the consultation process. Maatawaka received information via
standard communications processes that Auckland Council use to disseminate
Annual Plan information.
34. Te Reo Māori regional
summaries and submission forms were available, as well as translators for
submissions received in, and/or submitters wishing to address the hearing in Te
Reo Māori.
Implementation Issues
35. Implementation issues on the
various matters raised in submissions will be considered when making decisions
at decision-making meetings on the Draft Annual Plan 2014/2015 and Great
Barrier Draft Local Board Agreement on 9 April 2014.
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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aView
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Draft Annual Plan 2014-2015 - Great
Barrier Local Board Submissions (Under Separate Cover)
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Signatories
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Author
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Dean McIntosh - Governance Analyst -
Governance Project Team
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Authoriser
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John Nash - Senior Local Board
Advisor
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