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Annual Plan
Hearings - Waiheke
20 March 2014
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Summary
of public submissions on the draft Annual Plan 2014/2015 – Waiheke Local Board
File No.:
CP2014/03787
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 Waiheke 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
Waiheke 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 Councillor present to hear regional content.
For the Waiheke Local Board, there were a total of 253 submissions, with 29
submitters requesting to be heard.
5. The Waiheke
Local Board proposed three potential areas to reprioritise budgets. Most
submitters were supportive of a community swimming pool. However, there was
mixed support for reallocating funding from current projects though with more
support than opposition on all projects.
6. The local
topic that received the most significant number of comments from submissions to
the Waiheke Local Board was local governance. In particular, 18 submitters
(including 6 local businesses) specifically expressed that they do not support
the local board’s plan to remove advocacy to ensure a high profile for Waiheke
and the Hauraki Gulf Islands within the Auckland Visitor Plan.
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 Waiheke Local Board area are attached to this
report.
12. The Waiheke
Local Board will consider all submissions relevant to the local board area at
discussion workshops on the Draft Annual Plan and Waiheke Draft Local Board
Agreement on 28 March and/or 4 April 2014.
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Recommendations
That the Annual
Plan Hearings - Waiheke:
a) Receive
submissions on the Draft Annual Plan 2014/2015, including the Waiheke Draft
Local Board Agreement, relevant to the Waiheke 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
Waiheke 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 28
March and/or 4 April 2014.
17. The
consultation period for the Draft Annual Plan 2014/2015, incorporating the
Waiheke 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, 253 are
relevant to the Waiheke Local Board area with 29 submitters requesting to be
heard.
19. Copies of
submissions for the Waiheke Local Board area are provided in Attachment A to
this report.
Overview
of feedback from submissions relevant to the Waiheke Local Board area
20. The submission
form asked for views on local board budget changes for 2014/2015. Table 1 below
shows whether respondents agree, disagree or were unsure about the Waiheke
Local Board proposed budget change.
Table 1 - Waiheke proposed budget change
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Proposed budget
change
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Support
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Do not support
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Unsure
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No response
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No.
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%
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No.
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%
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No.
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%
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No.
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%
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Community swimming pool
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179
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70.8%
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62
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24.5%
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0
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0.0%
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12
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4.7%
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Reallocation – Onetangi Sports Park
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123
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48.6%
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94
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37.2%
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0
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0.0%
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36
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14.2%
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Reallocation – Community facilities
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120
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47.4%
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92
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36.4%
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1
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0.4%
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40
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15.8%
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Reallocation – Boat ramps
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109
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43.1%
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98
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38.7%
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1
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0.4%
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45
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17.8%
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Note – the follow up regarding question
regarding redirection of funding for the swimming pool is also shown above.
21. While most
submitters were supportive of a community swimming pool, there was mixed
support for reallocating funding from current projects though with more support
than opposition for reallocation of funding on all projects.
22. The local
topic that received the most significant number of comments from submissions to
the Waiheke Local Board (not including responses to the budget change question)
was local governance. In particular, 18 submitters (including 6 local
businesses) specifically expressed that they do not support the local board’s
plan to remove advocacy to ensure a high profile for Waiheke and the Hauraki
Gulf Islands within the Auckland Visitor Plan.
Consultation
questions
23. 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. In contrast, 76.6% of the 158 submitters from the Waiheke
Local Board were unsure about the proposed stadium strategy. This is outlined
below in figure 1.
Figure 1 – Stadium Strategy proposal
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Overall
(1,069 submissions)
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Waiheke Local Board
submitters
(158 submissions)
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24. 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. Submitters from the Waiheke Local Board were
even more supportive of the proposal with 65.3% of the 173 submitters
supporting an annual Arts Festival. This is outlined below in figure 2.
Figure 2 – Arts Festival proposal
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Overall
(985 submissions)
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Waiheke Local Board
submitters
(173 submissions)
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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 2 - 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. Deliberations
on the Waiheke Local Board Agreement will be undertaken at the decision-making
meeting on Thursday 10 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. The Waiheke Local
Board will adopt its Local Board Agreement at the ordinary monthly business
meeting being held on Thursday, 12 June 2014.
Consideration
Local Board Views
31. The Waiheke
Local Board will consider all submissions relevant to the local board area at
the workshop on the Draft Annual Plan 2014/2015 and draft Waiheke Local Board
Agreement on 28 March and 4 April 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 Waiheke Local Board
and the Governing Body, at their respective decision-making meetings, on the
Draft Annual Plan and the Waiheke 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 Waiheke Draft Local Board Agreement on 10 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 - Waiheke
Local Board Submissions Volume 1 (Under Separate Cover)
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B
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Draft Annual Plan 2014/2015 - Waiheke
Local Board Submissions Volume 2 (Under Separate cover)
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Signatories
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Authors
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Dean McIntosh - Governance Analyst - Governance
Project Team
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Authorisers
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Judith Webster - Relationship Manager
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