Agenda of Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board

09 December 2014

Glen Innes Music and Arts Centre for Youth - Capital works budget

File No.: CP2014/26553

Purpose

1. To increase the construction contingency budget of Glen Innes Music and Arts Centre for Youth (“the Centre”) project by $200,000.

Executive summary

2. Due to market response exceeding the project budget by approximately $1.2 million, in August 2013 the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board (“the board”) chose to underwrite $900,000 from the unscoped projects to enable construction of the centre to commence.

3. Staff, acting on behalf of the board, were successful in raising $750,000 from the Lotteries Community Facilities Fund. In August 2014 the board approved $165,000 of this sum to be spent on signage, a carved entranceway, and commemorative plaques. The board also approved the centre project retaining the remaining $585,000 until December 2014, when staff were required to report back on the adequacy of the furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) budget and construction contingency.

4. The construction contingency continues to come under pressure, and staff recommend that an additional $200,000 be allocated to it. Staff note that the construction contingency exists to cover unexpected and unforeseen costs arising, and is not to be used for scope embellishment.

5. Staff have costed design and production costs for internal signage and commemorative plaques. The amount remaining to deliver external signage and a carved entranceway comes to $130,000. Following the completion of the visual identity for the centre, staff have met with mana whenua, all of whom have articulated their support for a woven sign. The potential for weaving a lintel rather than carving it was also raised at these hui. Staff are currently in discussions with mana whenua about options for weaving a sign and either carving or weaving a lintel, all to be delivered within the existing $130,000 envelope.

6. Staff will work towards staying within the existing FF&E budget of $400,000 and make appropriate trade-off decisions to ensure the existing funding is not exceeded. Staff will inform the board if any trade off decision is likely to impact or limit the delivery of the programmes and/or services.

Recommendation/s

That the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board:

a) approve the allocation of $200,000 to be added to the capital works contingency budget

b) note that staff are in discussions with mana whenua about options for weaving a sign and either carving or weaving a lintel, all to be delivered within existing budgets

c) note that no further funding will be directed to the furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) budget.

Comments

7. A tender process for the centre commenced in August 2013. Market response suggested the cost of construction would exceed the total project budget by approximately $1.2 million. In order to commence construction before costs escalated further, the board chose to transfer $900,000 from the unscoped projects.

8. Due to ongoing pressures on the capital works budget for the centre, staff submitted an application to the Lotteries Community Facilities Fund for $1.69 million on behalf of the board. The application was successful in raising $750,000, and the money is being released in the following installments:

· $370,000: on or before 1 September 2014

· $370,000: on or before 1 December 2014

· $10,000: on or before 4 June 2016.

9. In August 2014, the board approved the retention of $165,000 of the amount underwritten by the board to deliver the following:

i) mid-range quality internal signage

ii) mid-range quality external signage

iii) a hand carved entranceway made from panels of natural timber

iv) a light internal sign visible from the road

v) plaques to be installed to commemorate the opening.

10. The board also approved the retention until December 2014 of the balance of the amount underwritten by the board. The board requested staff report to the December 2014 business meeting with updated information on the sufficiency of the capital works contingency and furniture, fixtures and equipment budget.

Signage/visual identity

11. In August 2014, the board approved increasing the capital works budget for signage by $165,000 as noted above.

12. Staff have costed design and production costs for internal signage and commemorative plaques. The amount remaining to deliver external signage and a carved entranceway comes to $130,000.

13. At the local board workshop on 16 September, Ngāti Pāoa and design group Alt presented the visual identity for the facility. During the workshop, an option to have an exterior sign made up of tukutuku panels was also presented. This option was then discussed with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki. Both iwi supported exploring this idea.

14. Since early October, a group of weavers from all three iwi worked with Alt group to assess the feasibility of this option. Following these meetings, Alt developed a grid for a woven sign. A meeting with mana whenua representatives and weavers is scheduled to take place on 20 November.

15. Having established that weaving a sign is feasible, staff are currently in discussions with mana whenua about options for delivering this and either carving or weaving a lintel, all to be delivered within the existing $130,000 envelope.

Entranceway

16. In August 2014, the board approved funding so that a hand carved entranceway made from panels of natural timber could be produced.

17. Since then, the possibility of weaving a lintel was also discussed at a meeting held in October with council staff, mana whenua representatives, weavers and Alt group.

18. Staff are undertaking further discussions with mana whenua regarding an entranceway treatment that can be met within existing budgets. Staff are proposing to mana whenua to contract out this work separately to the signage development.

19. Staff note that, with regard to timing, priority will be given to the signage work so that it is in place before the facility is opened in April 2015. As noted in previous communications with the board and mana whenua, it is possible to work on the entranceway after the centre is constructed.

20. Staff will ask mana whenua to propose options (woven or carved) for the entranceway along with their suggestions as to how to include Ruapotaka Marae and the local community.

Construction contingency

21. The recommended construction contingency for a building of the centre’s complexity is 10 per cent. However, in order to get construction underway within available budget, the capital works have been operating with 5 per cent contingency. This was a known risk from the outset and has been managed to date through close scrutiny of contractor claims.

22. The construction contingency exists to cover unexpected and unforeseen costs arising, and is not to be used for scope embellishment. As at 3 October, 36 per cent of the original contingency is remaining, with approximately 40 per cent of construction left to run, assuming completion in mid-March 2014.

23. There is now a high risk that the contingency will be fully expended before completion of the build. This could result in inadequate funds being available to fit the building out for purpose.

24. This risk exists as a review of facility staff security arrangements resulted in an unplanned variation of $31,000 to pay for additional cameras and door access control. There are unknown costs associated with the manufacture of the last remaining structural steel. In addition to this, and due to a recent change in the council Information Services (IS) policy, the project budget now also has to cover the full cost of the council information technology equipment. These costs include staff mobile phones and time charging by the council’s IS personnel and were not originally anticipated at the commencement of the project.

25. As mentioned above, the construction contingency exists to cover unexpected and unforeseen costs arising, and is not to be used for scope embellishment. For all the reasons outlined above, staff recommend that increasing the construction contingency budget by $200,000.

26. Staff note that an additional $200,000 would bring the contingency up to approximately 7.5 per cent, which is more in line with the 10 per cent recommended for a building of centre’s complexity.

Furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E)

27. The current available budget for FF&E is $400,000. FF&E substantially impacts on what programmes can be delivered in the Centre as it covers musical, audio and stage lighting equipment, computer hardware and software licenses.

28. In August 2014, the board requested staff report to the December 2014 business meeting with updated information on the sufficiency of the capital works contingency and FF&E budget, with a view to paying back the remainder of the amount transferred from the Onehunga cluster project or the nearest amount possible.

29. An expression of interest (EOI) process for the programming and information system cost development is currently underway. The output of these two work streams will help the project team finalise the FF&E requirements and the required budget.

30. Staff will work towards staying within the budget of $400,000 and make appropriate trade-off decisions to ensure the existing funding is not exceeded. Staff will inform the board if any trade off decision is likely to impact or limit the delivery of the programmes and/or services.

Consideration

Local board views and implications

31. Local board views and implications have been discussed throughout the body of this report.

Māori impact statement

32. The target area for the centre (Glen Innes, Pt England and Panmure) has a relatively high percentage of Maori residents (24 per cent) compared to the rest of Auckland (11 per cent). The centre is expected to have positive impacts on the area’s Maori population, particularly for youth.

33. Ngāti Pāoa offered to gift the name for the centre, and this was accepted by the board in March 2014. Subsequently they worked with design group Alt on the development of a unique visual identity for the Centre. A communication plan to promote the name is being developed.

34. Weavers from mana whenua iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Pāoa and Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki had been working with staff and design group Alt to assess the option of having a woven sign. Staff consider having a sign woven by weavers from three mana whenua iwi will showcase their contribution and also reflect the future name’s significance. Consideration is also being given to how to best involve Ruapotaka Marae in this work.

35. Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Pāoa and Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki had expressed a desire for a carved entranceway to staff and the local board directly. Entranceways are culturally significant to Maori. Since October however, mana whenua have been in discussions with staff and design group Alt to assess the option of having a woven lintel instead.

36. Ruapotaka Marae have also expressed their desire to be involved in the signage and entranceway work. A local weaver with connections to the marae has been invited to signage meetings, but has so far been unable to attend. Staff have communicated to mana whenua that there is an expectation that the marae and the wider community are involved in the entranceway work.

Implementation

37. This report recommends that an extra $200,000 of the remaining $585,000 provided by the board to underwrite the project be set aside for the capital works contingency.

38. Staff consider it a priority to have the sign developed and in place in time for the centre opening in April 2015. The entranceway is not time critical, and could be done after the centre opens.

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Authors

Hanna Scott - Manager Arts and Culture Programming

Alasdair Nelson - Project Manager Major and Special Projects

Authorisers

Graham Bodman - Manager - Community Development, Arts and Culture

Victoria Villaraza - Relationship Manager

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board

09 December 2014

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Housing Quality Improvement Project 2014-2015 Budget Allocation

File No.: CP2014/26494

Purpose

1. The purpose of this report is to seek the approval of the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board to use the $29,735.00 set aside in the budget, to fund the third stage of the Housing Quality Improvement Project in the local board area.

Executive summary

2. The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board has identified quality housing as an ongoing priority in the Local Board Plan. The Community Development unit has been delivering on this priority through the Housing Quality Improvement Project (HQIP).

3. Through the first two stages of this project, a model was scoped and developed that delivers improvements to rental properties in the local board area through insulation and heating subsidies offered through our partners, Smart Energy Solutions (SES). In the second stage, an evaluation and research report was completed which has informed the approach for stage three. Stage three aims to deliver further improvements to properties in the area while developing wider partnerships to create a more sustainable, integrated approach to addressing housing quality.

Recommendation/s

That the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board:

a) agrees to fund $29,735.00 for stage three of the Housing Quality Project from the 2014/2015 Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board budget for Local Community Initiatives

b) delegates the Community Development portfolio holder to approve any significant changes to budget allocation identified during programme delivery.

Comments

Background

4. The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board identified quality housing as a priority in the Local Board Plan, with a key initiative identified to ‘improve housing quality in rental properties by working with stakeholders to explore options to achieve positive housing outcomes for tenants’.

Stage One – Pilot Project Overview

5. The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki HQIP has completed two stages. In 2013, a scoping study was undertaken and a pilot project (stage one) designed to address rental housing quality, approved by the local board in April 2013. The project aimed to recruit 20 residential properties in the local board area to take action to improve housing quality. The objectives of the pilot were to:

a) build relationships with key stakeholders

b) work with landlord and their tenants to improve housing quality

c) trial a housing assessment methodology.

6. The Stage One pilot, its objectives and outcomes, were evaluated in the report – Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board Housing Quality Project – Evaluation of the Pilot October 2013. This report provided the basis on which stage two of the project was designed.

Stage Two Overview

7. In December 2013, the local board approved stage two of the HQIP based on the recommendations from the evaluation. Stage two aimed to continue delivering improvements to properties in the Local Board area as well as meeting the following objectives:

a) to build on existing relationships and develop new relationships with key stakeholders

b) work with landlords and their tenants to improve housing quality

c) further develop social enterprises to support delivery of measures to improve housing quality

d) investigate a range of delivery models for providing the housing quality improvements to landlords and tenants to further inform a model of delivery in Auckland.

Stage Two Project Delivery

8. Stage two of the project design employed a similar delivery model to the pilot project, with some changes to the incentives package based on a reduction in subsidies from Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). In partnership with SES, Community Development delivered the improvements as achieved in stage one and continued to work with and build relationships with Auckland Property Investors Association (APIA). New relationships were also built with networks in the property investment sector.

9. A total of 52 properties were recruited during this stage of the project, with 38 completing housing quality assessments and tenant education sessions. Around 26 took advantage of the subsidy offers on insulation and/or heat pumps.

10. The budget allocated towards subsidies was $33,693.00. However, the initial uptake of our subsidy offer was slow and following Community Development portfolio holder approval, the number of houses was reduced while the insulation subsidy was increased and a heat pump subsidy of $1,000 was added for those properties that fulfilled the insulation requirements. Therefore, an additional $15,540.55 of subsidy funding, which is held by SES, can be used for stage three subsidies.

Evaluation

11. Stage two included an evaluation and research component, resulting in the attached report (Attachment A – Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Housing Quality Project – Project Evaluation and Research 2014). This report summarises the outcomes achieved in stage two and aims to inform the design of the next stage as well as provide direction for future delivery models.

Stage Three Approach

12. Stage three will continue the core delivery approach of working with installers to provide subsidies for installation. This approach was successful in the first stages in terms of delivering improved housing quality outcomes for local tenants. The objectives of this stage will broaden to include a focus on developing partnerships to ensure greater community involvement and to work towards long term sustainability of the project. The revised objectives for stage three are as follows:

a) work with landlords and their tenants to improve housing quality

b) build on existing relationships with key stakeholders to deliver housing quality improvements in the local board area

c) explore and develop relationships to build future partnership opportunities to deliver on housing quality priorities with a view to a more sustainable and integrated approach to housing quality.

13. The evaluation offered some key operational recommendations that will inform the overall approach and detailed project design for stage three:

Project Element	Key Approach
Target Population	Continue to work with landlords but also explore potential to target tenants more directly and develop mechanisms to ensure landlord approval prior to assessments being undertaken
Communications and marketing	Develop an integrated communications and marketing strategy to encourage uptake, including better use of local networks and social networks of participants
Incentives	Continue to offer increased subsidy on insulation and include heat pump subsidy.
Delivery	Engage project coordinator with strong links to local area, continue partnership with Eco Design Advisor
Installation Partnerships	Explore options for partnering with more installers to offer greater choice and to access wider customer networks
Strategic Development (Long Term Focus)	Work towards developing partnerships around the delivery components of project (beyond current installation partnerships) with a long term view towards exploring an integrated delivery model

Budget Allocation

14. The following table outlines the proposed allocation of funds for stage three of the project and will be supplemented with a more detailed breakdown of costs in the Project Design phase:

Project Component	Project Partners/Action	Estimated Cost (local board budget)
Project Design	Detailed breakdown of project delivery, designed by previous Project Advisor to ensure continuity.	$3,000
Recruitment and Delivery of Improvements	Key actions include: · Provide a subsidy to landlords for insulation and clean heating · Continue to work with Auckland Property Investors Association (APIA) and expanded networks to recruit landlords · Develop an integrated communications strategy with similar programmes and work through existing community networks to expand marketing opportunities · Work with service providers – including Smart Energy Solutions, Green Star, NZ Green Building Council · Work with Eco Design Advisor to deliver the home assessments and following up with landlords to ensure action is taken · Note: The local board’s $10,000 combined with the unspent SES subsidy of $15,540.55 totals to $25,540.55 towards subsidies	$10,000 towards subsidies with new installation partners.
Relationship and Partnership Management	· Coordinate delivery of subsidies · Relationship management with tenants and landlords, including coordination of appointments and tenant education sessions · Networking and relationship development with local community organisations and housing sector organisations · Develop partnerships with relevant external organisations and internal departments to be part of more integrated and sustainable delivery model	$16,735 (contractor time and funding towards any necessary partnership building costs e.g. workshop costs)
Total		$29,735

Consideration

Local board views and implications

15. Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board members have met with staff to discuss progress of the project and their recommendations have been incorporated in the project plan.

Māori impact statement

16. This report provides information for current and anticipated community programmes and does not include provision for directly targeting Maori specifically. However, the original scoping document identified that Maori and Pacific peoples are more likely to live in rental properties. Data from the 2013 census shows that the Maungakiekie -Tāmaki local board area has a slightly higher percentage Maori population than the average population across Auckland. The first two stages of this project have not recorded information on the ethnicity of tenants or landlords, but it is assumed based on available data, that Maori are likely to benefit from housing quality improvements through direct participation.

Implementation

17. There are no known financial or implementation issues arising from this report. Project progress will be reported monthly to the Maungakiekie -Tāmaki Local Board Community Development portfolio holders and will follow the basic project plan detailed in Attachment B – Maungakiekie -Tāmaki Local Board Housing Quality Improvement Project – Stage Three Project Plan Overview.

18. Any requests for variance will be made in writing to the Community Development portfolio holders. Implementation and timeframes will be as per the Stage Three Project Plan Overview.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Attachment A, Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Housing Quality Project - Project Evaluation and Research 2014	21
b View	Attachment B, Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Housing Quality Improvement Stage Three - Project Plan Overview	45

Signatories

Authors

Kristin Fanselow - Community Facilitator

Authorisers

Graham Bodman - Manager - Community Development, Arts and Culture

Victoria Villaraza - Relationship Manager

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board

09 December 2014

1 Introduction and background

This document provides an evaluation and process review of the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Rental Housing Improvement project, following the completion of Stage Two at the end of September 2014. This is presented in four sections:

1. Overview of housing quality projects:

An investigation of other housing quality improvement programmes currently taking place in New Zealand. These include the Community Energy Action programme in Christchurch, Sustainability Trust in Wellington and Auckland Council’s Eco-Design Advisor service. In addition the review also considers the Engineers Without Borders programme offered to student tenants in Canterbury, and the Housing Warrant of Fitness (pre trial programme) which is a significant development in the delivery of rental housing quality.

2. Project indicators and outcomes:

An analysis of data on project outcomes provided by Auckland Council.

3. Project evaluation and process review:

Issues and opportunities relating to Stage Two delivery based on discussions with key stakeholders, and qualitative feedback gained from on-line questionnaires and telephone conversations with participating landlords, property managers and tenants.

4. Recommendations:

Considerations for the development and on-going delivery of the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Rental Housing Improvement programme.

These sections are presented below after a background summary of the programme’s inception, aims and objectives, and developing subsidy offer over the first two pilot stages.

1.1 Background

The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki local board plan (2011-14) identified a need to improve the quality of rental housing and commissioned a scoping study to help set the parameters for action. The study, Rental Housing Quality Improvements in the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board Area (June 2013), provided a comprehensive range of considerations which helped shape the first pilot stage of this programme. The report included:

1. Information on heightened levels of vulnerability for those living in rental accommodation compared with owner occupiers, particularly with regards to household income, child poverty and fuel poverty. It was also noted that rental tenure in Maungakiekie-Tāmaki was higher (53%) than the rest of the region (36%) indicating a greater level of housing stress in this area^{^[1]}.

2. Some discussion on what constitutes housing quality and recognition that nearly twice as many rental houses were assessed as being in poor condition as owner occupied dwellings^{^[2]}. Rental housing was more likely to be damp, exhibit fire risks and require higher costs to repair components in a poor to serious condition.

3. There was indication that renters were considerably more likely to report living in cold, damp and hard to heat houses^{^[3]}.

4. Links were highlighted between ‘unhealthy’ housing and the poor health of residents.

The document also discussed landlord motivations and incentives to improve properties, and priority actions that would lead to improvements in housing quality - particularly to reduce cold, damp and mould by upgrading the ‘thermal envelope’, reducing moisture and improving ventilation. Other key actions were identified around safety and security, including the reduction of fire hazards as well as improvements to sanitation.

1.1.1 Rental Housing Quality Pilot Project Stage One

Taken together, the study helped shape the Stage One Pilot Project to “improve housing quality in rental properties in the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board area”. This was to be achieved by working with stakeholders to explore options to deliver positive housing outcomes for tenants, particularly those in areas of higher deprivation^{^[4]}. Stage One objectives were to:

1. build relationships with stakeholders.

2. work with landlords and their tenants to improve housing quality.

3. test a housing assessment methodology.

In working towards these objectives, the initial pilot provided 20 free technical household assessments and reports to landlords along with behavioural advice in the form of 18 education sessions for tenants. Landlords were incentivised to make improvements through subsidies towards both insulation and clean heating. Funding was provided by EECA (as part of the Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes programme) and the Cozy Kiwi Warm Tenants Grant (operated by Smart Energy Solutions – the project’s installation partner). Landlords that took up the insulation offer were also offered Local Board support towards energy efficient heating – either as $500 towards a heat pump or $1000 towards a wood burner^{^[5]}. Pilot Stage One grants were offered as follows:

Income category	Insulation grant	Clean heating grants (for landlords that install insulation
Landlords with tenants holding Community Services Cards (Low to middle income)	Up to 80% comprised of: 60% EECA grant 20 % Cozy Kiwi Warm Tenants Grant.	Local Board Grant $500 towards heat pump or $1000 towards wood burner.
Landlords with tenants on general income	Up to 53% comprised of: 33% EECA grant 20 % Cozy Kiwi Warm Tenants Grant.

Table 1: Grant offers during Stage One.

The Stage One pilot, its objectives and outcomes, were evaluated in the report - Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board Housing Quality Project – Evaluation of the Pilot Draft October 2013.

This provided recommendations to the local board to expand recruitment in Stage Two targeting 100 homes during 2014 and also highlighted the importance of providing impartial advice for landlords as well as the value of the tenant education sessions. The report also made recommendations for a continued focus on insulation while recognising that increasing subsidies would be likely to secure higher levels of recruitment. Additional suggestions included:

· expanding relationships with key stakeholders and considering ways of targeting areas of higher need without being limited by location.

· enabling Smart Energy Solutions to undertake recruitment without the need for a housing assessment.

· continuing with the same housing assessment tool albeit with some minor amendments.

· broadening education sessions by informing landlords of the benefits of insulation and ventilation, potentially inviting them to the housing assessments.

· offering education sessions to tenants in the area generally, not just those whose landlords have signed up to the housing quality project.

· widely promote the scheme.

· advocating for more partnerships, research and funding particularly in the areas of wider incentives for improvements and increasing subsidies for general income tenants.

The evaluation of the initial pilot also identified a need to review other delivery models that provide impartial housing quality advice to landlords and tenants including Community Energy Action in Christchurch, Sustainability Trust in Wellington and Auckland Council’s Eco-Design Advisor service in order to inform a model of delivery in Auckland.

1.1.2 Rental Housing Quality Pilot Project Stage Two

Following these recommendations, the Local Board approved the continued development of the housing quality improvement project in Stage Two which started in the 2013/2014 financial year and targeted 100 houses with the following objectives:

a. build on existing relationships and develop new relationships with key stakeholders.

b. work with landlords and their tenants to improve housing quality.

c. investigate a range of delivery models for providing the housing quality improvements to landlords and tenants to further inform a model of delivery in Auckland.

As in Stage One, the project offered free technical household assessments undertaken by the Eco-Design Advisor, reports to landlords, as well as education sessions for their tenants. A project coordinator (engaged by Auckland Council) was responsible for promoting the programme, arranging the technical assessments and conducting tenant education sessions. The coordinator also provided reports to landlords and worked with Smart Energy Solutions (SES) to arrange installation services resulting from the programme. Stage Two also enabled SES to directly recruit landlords, benefiting from the subsidy offer, without the need for the technical assessment or tenant education session.

Recommendations from Stage One, as well as unspent budget, and changes in EECA’s national funding criteria (no longer providing grants for general income residents) lead to the following changes in subsidies:

Income category	Insulation grant:
Landlords with tenants holding Community Services Cards (Low to middle income)	Increase from 80% to 95% comprised of: 60% EECA grant 30 % Cozy Kiwi Warm Tenants Grant. Additional 5% from the Local Board
Landlords with tenants on general income	Decrease from 53% to 50% comprised of: 30 % Cozy Kiwi Warm Tenants Grant. Additional 20% from the Local Board

Table 2: Grant offer Stage Two.

During stage two, project recruitment was lower than expected leading to an anticipated underspend in the budget. In addition, there was acknowledgment that some commercial operators had started offering 100% subsidies to households with community services cards. Feedback from landlords also suggested that they would be more likely to take part in the programme if households with tenants in the general income category could also receive a subsidy in line with the community services card holders. These considerations lead to an eventual increase in the Stage Two grant offer by the beginning of September 2014. This included a 100% insulation subsidy offered to landlords of tenants with community service cards, a 60% subsidy offered to landlords with general income tenants and $1000 offered towards heat pump installation to landlords with tenants in both income categories.

2 Overview of other NZ housing quality programmes

A number of other housing quality projects and programmes are currently being delivered around New Zealand. These variously target owner occupiers, landlords and tenants in areas of housing quality, energy use and efficiency, and heating. Some of these projects are summarised below along with key considerations that are particularly relevant to the MT programme.^{^[6]}

2.1 Loan schemes

2.1.1 Retrofit your home - Auckland

Auckland ratepayers are currently eligible to apply for up to $5000 financial assistance for:

· home insulation.

· clean heating.

· fire place removal.

· water tank installation.

· water efficient devices.

Repayments can be made over 9 years through a targeted rate included on the rates bill at, or around 7%. Unlike traditional loan options, payments can be made earlier without incurring penalties. Should a house be sold before the loan is paid, the remaining sum passes to the new owner through their rating bills.

During 2012/13 a total of 2,493 customers signed up to the programme with the majority of them - 1,667- using the loan only for a heat pump followed by 620 that installed both a heat pump and insulation and 206 that installed insulation only. A SROI evaluation (2014) provided strong evidence of social, economic and environmental value created by the programme producing a Benefit cost ratio of 3.1:1.^{^[7]}

Key Considerations:

· The Council run Retrofit Your Home programme provides a highly structured approach to improving household quality.

· Alignment of this programme with the MT project, and some further promotion, would help to highlight additional loan options for MT residents not eligible for subsidies.

2.2 Advice for home owners

2.2.1 Eco Design Advisor - National

The National Eco Design Advice service provides independent advice to home owners by qualified Homestar assessors who are backed by the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ). Eco Design assessments include a technical review of properties with the aim of creating healthier buildings, improving energy efficiency and use of water and materials, minimising waste and reducing environmental impact of the building process. Results of a 2013 evaluation^{^[8]} identified that motivations for use of the service by householders ranged from improved energy efficiency (74.6%), desire for a warmer house (66.4%), improved running costs (48.3%), reduced environmental impact (31.5%).

Key considerations:

· The Auckland based Eco Design Advisor currently undertakes all technical assessments for the MT Rental Housing Quality programme.

· The wealth of knowledge provided by the advisor about housing improvements provides the foundation for the delivery of effective advice to landlords.

· With a single assessor for this technical service, resources may be constrained for the MT programme should demand for either programme significantly increase.

2.3 Tenant based schemes

2.3.1 Engineers Without Borders

Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is a member-based not for profit organisation with chapters comprised of students and professionals operating in Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington and Palmerston North. EWB work with the aim of “creating systemic change through humanitarian engineering”. Their Warm Homes Initiative operates in Canterbury and includes 12 trained energy auditors who work with the aims of:

· keeping students warm and healthy over the cold winter months.

· helping to reduce power bills.

The programme started in 2014 and offers energy efficiency assessments undertaken by a team of 6-8 assessors to students (usually tenants) who are encouraged to take part. The assessment covers seven areas:

· ceiling insulation.

· under floor insulation.

· energy provider cost.

· heating requirements.

· air tightness.

· hot water .

· windows/lighting/appliances.

Priority actions are then created for both the tenants and the landlord who receives a letter stating the positive aspects of the property while also outlining relevant subsidies that might be available. The project is in its early stages and no formal evaluation has been conducted so far.

Key considerations:

· EWB directly contacts tenants to arrange property assessments offering a flexible approach and opportunities for wider promotion of their services through student networks, than if they were to only contact landlords.

· The group approach (with a team of up to 8 assessors in a household) is likely to provide a strong motivation to tenants to undertake recommended behaviours.

· EWB reports that no objections have yet been raised by landlords that assessments have taken place without their express permission.

· There are opportunities to explore collaboration with the Auckland-based EWB chapter to provide or enhance housing quality services in the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki area.

2.4 Commercial supply of home energy products

2.4.1 Commercial operators

A wide range of commercial operators provide insulation, heating and energy efficiency services in the Auckland area. Many of these are part of EECA’s Warm Up New Zealand Healthy Homes initiative and therefore promote the 60% subsidy available through this scheme (depending on home, household and health needs). One of these, Green star energy also operates a curtain bank providing curtains for low-income homes.

Operating in its commercial capacity, Smart Energy Solutions offers incentives of up to 30% for tenanted properties (through their Cozy Kiwi fund). This potentially provides a 90% subsidy for eligible households (including 60% EECA’s subsidy). This is just under the 95% subsidy initially offered through their association with the MT project (rising to %100 at the beginning of September.

The Insulation Company promotes the potential for 100% subsidised insulation for privately owned homes occupied by low-income families with high health needs including occupiers that:

· have children under the age of 18 living permanently in the house; OR

· are aged 65+ years old; OR

· have been referred to the programme by an eligible referral agency on the grounds of a health related need.

Core subsidies for this operator are again provided by EECA and appear to topped up by Autex, (the producer of GreenStuf insulation), and the Insulation Company itself. This offer surpasses the combined initial 95% subsidy offered in the MT local board area during the first part of Stage Two. However, the MT area subsidy was increased to 100% at the beginning of September 2014 for the last part of Stage Two due to budget underspend and recognition that some operators were offering comparative contributions.

Key Considerations:

· Commercial installers aligned with EECAs programme are promoting subsidised insulation.

· Some of these installers add additional subsidies in order to leverage further demand for their services.

· Some commercial operators are offering subsidies to low income tenant households over the 60% funding supplied by ECCA. This suggests that such price reductions are commercially viable and it may even be that the EECA subsidy is, in itself, enough to cover actual installation costs.

· There is potential to investigate commercial incentives further, particularly relating to companies’ own financial contributions, and how these may present opportunities for direct partnership with multiple suppliers for project delivery in the MT area.

2.5 Regulatory trials

2.5.1 Rental Housing Warrant of Fitness

Current regulations for housing quality have not been amended since 1947. In recognition of this, a rental housing Warrant Of Fitness (WOF) was seen as a means to improve the health and safety of a large proportion of children living in poor quality private rental housing. A University of Otago programme, backed by a number of NZ Councils, and ACC, developed an approach to assessing rental households. This provided a ‘pass’ or ‘fail‘ on factors that directly affect health and increase the risk of injury to occupants. The subsequent rental housing WOF Pre-Test aimed to analyse the practicalities, utility and cost of implementing mandatory Warrant Of Fitness assessments for rental housing.

The pre-test’s stated aims were to^{^[9]}:

· Develop an assessment tool and establish its practicality.

· Establish likely costs of inspection.

· Determine acceptable ways of engaging with landlords.

· Establish tenants’ attitudes towards having their homes inspected.

· Understand the benefits, or otherwise, of a WOF.

The process involved training assessors in the use of an assessment tool to undertake assessments in properties volunteered by landlords. A total of 144 households were assessed, 34 in the Auckland area with the remainder in Tauranga, Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin. A total of 8 out of 144 (6%) passed the WOF with a total of 36% failing due to small, low cost issues..

The MT programme has had some parallel development alongside the WOF project, providing funding to the Green Building Council during Stage One to develop an assessment tool. This tool was then developed further for the WOF trial. During Stage Two of the MT project the WOF tool for technical household assessment was used by the Eco Design Advisor. However, unlike the WOF, the MT project did not give a pass or fail in its reporting. Instead it offered suggestions for improvements.

On release of the WOF report, the Auckland Mayor highlighted that the trial has underscored that a rental housing WOF system would be highly useful to potential renters. “The work so far shows real progress is possible in our efforts to ensure tenants have healthy and safe homes and that landlords maintain good minimum standards. I look forward to the next stage where we can apply this initiative more broadly, particularly in the most vulnerable communities’.^{^[10]}

Discussions with the Auckland Council Housing Project Office have identified that

more work is required to establish what, if any, regulatory regime could be put in place under current or new legislation to launch a housing WOF nationally. Auckland Council will continue to work with central government on any such proposals. In addition, more work is also required on ways that a WOF could be enforced, and the costs associated with administration and compliance activities.

Any further development of a WOF would also need to consider the unintended consequences that such a scheme may produce for example landlords raising rents to cover the cost of retrofitting. This implies further investigation into promotion, delivery, enforcement and any financial incentives should the project be developed further.

Key Considerations:

· There is widespread recognition that a mandatory WOF for rental housing could have significant benefits over voluntary schemes in that they would ensure access to all properties. In particular it is noted that voluntary schemes are unlikely to access the ‘worst’ or most unhealthy homes as this may lead to significant recommendations for improvements that are over and above what Landlords may be prepared to undertake.

· The WOF programme is currently determining its future direction. However, as its overall objectives directly align with the MT area project (along with issues and opportunities related to promotion and delivery) there are significant benefits in collaborating and sharing information where possible.

2.6 Integrated Programmes

2.6.1 Community Energy Action - Canterbury

The Community Energy Action Charitable Trust (CEA) runs an integrated advice and installation service for all homeowners and tenants in the mid and north Canterbury area. Emphasis is placed on opportunities for energy efficient improvements during earthquake repairs in partnership with the New Zealand Red Cross and vulnerable low income householders. Services include:

Energy advice –

· Free independent energy efficiency information for all householders and tenants over the phone or email with fees applicable for home visits.

Products –

· The CEA shop offers DIY draft exclusion and window insulation items for purchase.

Assessments and funding for warmer homes –

· Free ceiling and underfloor insulation for vulnerable homeowners and tenants with community services cards, including those with children or elderly family members.

· 60% insulation subsidies for all other Community Card Holders.

· Some funding available for community services card holders towards heating, once insulation has been assessed as meeting required standards.

Curtain bank –

· Free recycled curtains for low income homes either self assessed or through a referral agency.

Referral service –

· Health care workers and other approved outreach agencies can refer vulnerable householders to the Community Energy Trust for insulation and heating subsidies, supply of curtains and advice on warmer drier homes.

Key considerations:

· CEA provides an integrated programme presenting a single point of contact for a diverse range or related services and advice.

· As an independent organisation it can provide advice on commercial and funding alternatives without vested interests in the outcome.

· Given the integrated nature of its services, the organisation has multiple opportunities to approach home owners, landlords and tenants directly.

2.6.2 Sustainability Trust - Wellington

The Sustainability Trust is a not for profit organisation offering a comprehensive and coordinated range of home improvement services. These move beyond those offered in Canterbury, and include the promotion of loans for household improvements and the provision of a wider range of products. The Sustainability Trust also offers targeted assistance and subsidies for more vulnerable residents holding community service cards (see Warm Fuzzies below). Services include:

Smart home assessments –

· Independent phone based advice on household energy use, insulation, ventilation and individual behaviours

Free in-home assessments –

· Delivered in partnership with Wellington City Council, the Homecoach service targets new home owners and those planning renovations to provide a tailored action plan to improve home comfort and efficiency.

· Homecoach participants are eligible for 50% subsidies for minor efficiency measures (up to the value of $115).

Independent advice and provision of a wide range of Smart Home products including –

· Heating systems, ventilation, lighting, sanitation, water efficiency, garden composting equipment and gifts.

Insulation assessments and approved installation provider of funded insulation –

· Loans of up to $3900 for insulation through Greater Wellingtons rate adjusted loan scheme.

· Free insulation for community card holders (homeowners or tenants) for young, elderly or infirm occupants through EECA’s Warm UP NZ: Health Homes Programme

Curtains delivered through the Wellington Curtain bank –

· Free living room curtain provision for community service card holders with additional provision for vulnerable residents.

Warm Fuzzies – referral programme

· Energy advice and subsidised installation services are combined through the Warm Fuzzies programme. This started as a pilot in 2011 providing assistance to vulnerable households that are susceptible to housing related health issues (conditions that are aggravated by cold, damp and mouldy housing). Most Warm Fuzzies families rent their homes and are referred to the Sustainability Trust by community nurses and outreach workers. Full technical assessments and tenant education are provided by trained project staff. Funding is then offered to assist landlords in creating warmer and drier properties including insulation subsidies, supply of curtains for the whole property and other smart home products. Tenants are provided with specific action plans and a commitment strategy with the offer of on-going support.

Key considerations:

· The Sustainability Trust offers integrated services which appear more substantial and developed than the Community Energy Action Programme.

· The Warm Fuzzies programme has particular significance as it directly aligns with the aims of the MT area project, and shows success in the delivery of targeted support to low income households susceptible to housing related health issues.

· Both these organisations provide a potential model for future development of Auckland-based energy and housing quality improvement services for the MT area as well as the wider region.

3 Project indicators and outcomes

Stage Two of the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Rental Housing project went live with a recruitment drive starting in April 2014. The project was completed at the end of September 2014. The table below shows key indicators and outcomes from the project.

Indicators	Project Coordinator	Smart Energy Solutions
Recruitment drive
Property managers, landlords, estate agents contacted	79
Organisation contacts (DHB / Business associations/tenant and housing associations)	29
Poster and leaflet distribution (local community organisations / libraries)	9
Landlords / Property Managers communication	51
Landlords / Property Managers ineligible	15
Participation
Landlords / Property Managers Participating	27	9
Properties represented	39	14
Assessments booked	39
Housing quality assessment completed and reports sent	38
Tenant education sessions	36
Community services card holders (% of tenants participating)	22 (58%)	6 (42%)
Recommendations
Insulation recommended	27 (71%)
Heat pump recommended	32 (84%)
Bathroom extractor fan recommended	32 (84%)
Installation – Heat pumps
Decision pending	9 (24%)
Heat pump installed or booked (as % of those recommended)	12 (38%)
Installation - Insulation
Quote requested	18 (47%)	14 (100%)
Decision pending	4 (11%)	2 (14%)
Insulation installed or booked (as % of those recommended)	14 (52%)	12 (86%)
Total insulation installed / booked (as % of total MT assessments and SES quotes (38+14)	26 (50%)

Table 3: indicators and outcomes for the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Rental Housing Improvement project.

As noted, the MT housing assessments were undertaken using the WOF technical assessment tool. While the tool enabled a ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ for properties, this was not reported to landlords. The table below shows the results that would have been provided had this been part of a rental WOF programme.

WOF
Passed (% of assessed properties)	0 (0%)
Fail – Due to lack of insulation AND either a lack of fixed heating source or other significant issue	14 (37%)
Fail – Due to lack of insulation	13 (34%)
Fail – Due to lack of fixed heating source or other significant issue	3 (8%)
Fail – Due to minor/low cost issue	8 (21%)
Fail – Due to inadequate smoke alarm protection	23 (61%)

Table 4: Rental WOF status of properties in the MT project.

Together, the tables show a range of key indicators that provide an overview of the project’s progress. While key issues and opportunities are raised in the process review in section 4 below, some initial factors are worth highlighting.

· Overall the project achieved direct contact with 52 houses through 38 technical assessments conducted by the Eco Design Advisor (including 36 tenant education sessions undertaken by the MT project coordinator) and 14 quotes delivered by Smart Energy Solutions. Together these represent 52% of the overall target of 100 household contacts for Stage Two.

· This compares with contact of 25 households in Stage One with improvements in either insulation, heat pumps or both, made in 11 (44%).

· 28 of the 52 contacts (54%) included tenants who were community services card holders. A greater proportion of low income tenants were recruited through the MT project coordinator (58%) compared to SES (48%).

While the purpose of the project was not to undertake a WOF assessment, the WOF pre-test tool was used by the Eco Design Advisor. It is notable that, had this been an actual WOF assessment, all rental households would have failed to some degree. Table 4 shows that:

· 71% of the 38 EDA assessed properties had inappropriate insulation, and it can be assumed that 100% of the 16 SES properties would have also failed a WOF for the same reason. Together therefore, a total of 80% of participating properties had insufficient insulation.

· Approximately half of the properties that failed in terms of insulation, also failed due to a lack of a fixed heating source or some other significant (higher cost) issue.

· 8% of properties had sufficient insulation but failed due to lack of a fixed heating source or some other significant issue.

· 21% of properties would have failed a rental WOF due to some minor (comparatively low cost issue).

· Significantly, 61% of all properties were deemed to have insufficient or inoperable smoke alarms.

· A total of 26 landlords (50% of all participants) are progressing with insulation as a result of the programme with a further 6 (12%) currently undecided at the time of writing this report.

Taken together, the table highlights that all rental properties that were assessed as part of the MT area project were in need of improvement and that at least 79% of properties had some significant issue related to insulation, heating, ventilation or safety. It is worth reiterating that this project encouraged voluntary participation and, further, that voluntary council-related programmes are unlikely to appeal to landlords who are aware that their properties are in a significant state of disrepair (or may in fact breach building codes or regulations). Therefore, at best, it seems that these 79% of households (that had a significant ‘quality’ issue) are broadly representative of the MT area rental housing stock. In realty however, this proportion could be an under-representation of the extent of low quality rental accommodation in the area.

In terms of delivery, Smart Energy Solutions provided a more streamlined approach to undertaking insulation-only assessments and providing quotes. It is likely that their high success rate in converting quotes into installations was due, in part, to their ability to access the additional Maungakiekie-Tāmaki board subsidy. This amounted to between a 5-10% subsidy for tenants with community services cards (enabling a full 100% subsidy to landlords to insulate their property). For general income tenants, the additional MT subsidy was 20-30%, combined with SES’s own subsidy and enabling a total of 50-60% discount. This was the only general income subsidy available in Auckland at the time and may explain why more of the SES participants (58%) were in this higher income category. By comparison, the MT coordinator was more successful in achieving improvements in lower income tenant households (58% lower income compared with 42% general income).

In summary, the MT project, while not meeting its overall target, has achieved significant improvements in housing quality for 50% of participant households. A further 12% of participating landlords are still undecided about making improvements at the time of writing.

4 Project evaluation and process review

The following process review is based on discussions and feedback with the MT project coordinator, the Eco Design Advisor, Smart Energy Solutions staff and other representatives from Auckland Council responsible for strategic approaches to community development, environmental impact and housing quality^{^[11]}. The review also includes feedback from building managers (be they owners or assigned property managers) and from tenants on the MT project coordinator’s database. This feedback was collected through two qualitative questionnaires conducted both online and over the phone (where email addresses were unavailable). A total of nine landlords/property managers provided responses to the questionnaires, between them representing 14 dwellings. 11 tenants took part.

The results of this information is summarised below where it relates to specific elements of the project including:

· Project promotion.

· Recruitment and booking process.

· Household assessment and tenant education.

· Installation.

· Final feedback.

4.1 Project promotion

The recruitment phase of the project started in April 2014 and the project terminated at the end of September 2014. This timeframe is considered to have been restrictive in terms of fully developing communications and promotional activities. During this time, the core focus for recruitment was landlords and property managers and a wide range of these were contacted as part of the project, by email, over the phone and also as participants in group presentations. In addition a number of leaflets and posters were distributed in public places around the area. These originally targeted landlords with inclusion of tenant focused material at a later date. Overall, future promotions may be more effective if:

· opportunities are explored to target tenants more directly. In this case there would be the potential to promote the programme through a wider range of organisations including WINZ, NZ housing, Plunket, churches, tertiary and health agencies as in the Sustainability Trust’s Warm Fuzzies Programme.

· communication and marketing material is further developed including a comprehensive communications strategy.

· local networks are more fully investigated, engaged and active.

· options are explored for involving more installers who can promote the programme more directly.

· web-based or electronic promotion is developed as a means of highlighting the local subsidy offer and showing this project’s interrelation with related projects and programmes (e.g. Retrofit, Eco Design Advisor).

· the project coordinator was from the Maungakiekie- Tāmaki area and would have knowledge of local networking opportunities.

4.2 Recruitment and booking Process

The project coordinator maintained a comprehensive database of prospective and actual clients. This is in a useful format that will require minimal adaptation for future projects.

The coordinators tasks included:

· initial contact and provision of information for those landlords and property managers that expressed interest.

· a check of eligibility (i.e. location within the MT area).

· arrangement and coordination of assessment times and tenant education sessions (often with both the landlord and the tenant, as well as the Eco Design Advisor). This included reminder phone calls, emails and texts.

· household visits with assessments (by Eco Design Advisor) and the delivery of tenant education sessions.

· collation of data collected through the assessments and education sessions into a report that was reviewed by the Eco Design Advisor and sent to the landlord.

· coordination with Smart Energy Solutions, providing referrals for those interested in insulation or other improvements.

· Monitoring SES promotional operations and installations.

Feedback from both landlords/property managers and tenants stated that they were generally very satisfied with the booking process. Landlords did note that promotions could have been more widespread.

4.2.1 Motivations to participate

Two questions posed to Landlords explored factors that influenced their decision to take part in project. Motivations from the nine respondents were as follows:

Find out about the state of property/ies	6
Advice on insulation	4
Advice on heating	3
Improve the value of the property/ies	8
Improve tenant comfort / maximise their stay	8
The advice offered to tenants	4
Reduce environmental impact	3
Benefit from a possible subsidy to improve housing quality	4
Prepare for a future possible Warrant Of Fitness on rental properties	1

In addition all but one of the nine participating landlords stated that they would have still taken part in the programme if no potential subsidy was offered. While this is anecdotal evidence, it does appear to contradict actual landlord behaviour. For example, SES reported that the addition MT subsidy did lead to an increase in the number of landlords requesting installation quotes. In general, these responses show that landlords motivations to participate are worthy of further exploration as they would provide insights into how the programme could be promoted in future.

4.3 Household assessment and tenant education

The MT project used the WOF pre-test assessment tool and this was considered to be fit for purpose. While the MT project did not require properties to be assessed in terms of ‘pass’ or ‘fail’, the use of the WOF process enabled the use of an agreed measure of housing quality and adds to the developing body of knowledge in this area.

The tenant education sessions were largely conducted at the same time as the assessment. The coordinator developed a series of discussion topics and provided specific, relevant information on tenant behaviours that would lead to increased energy efficiency and a warmer, drier environment.

Of the landlords surveyed, eight out of nine respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied that the assessment report provided a fair assessment of their property and that the report was useful in identifying things that would make their property warmer, drier, safer and less prone to fire risk.

Tenants were similarly positive about the education sessions with seven out of eleven finding the information provided either useful or very useful, however, only three reported changing their own behaviour as a result of the session. Interestingly, seven stated that the experience changed what they will look for in any future rental properties. This suggests that many tenants consider that infrastructural changes (which are out of their direct control) are more likely to lead to warmer, dryer properties than behavioural changes. This is unsurprising given the generally low quality of houses assessed in the area.

Six out of eleven tenants reported that they had discussed the results of the property assessment with their landlords. All but one of the eleven were aware that some significant change (either insulation, a heat pump or both) was planned in future. Five of these stated that, should these improvements be carried out, they would stay in the property for longer. This is a significant message for future programme promotion.

Finally, landlords and property managers were asked if they would increase the rent as a result of changes that were made. Responses indicated that rent would be increased in 4 out of 10 properties that were covered in the questionnaire. It is noted that this is a qualitative and generally unrepresentative response. However, it does highlight a concern around unintended consequences of this programme - particularly as many landlords are receiving a considerable subsidy for the improvement of their properties which, in many cases, they recognise will increase its value. That said, some will still increase rental costs.

This concern, shared by the WOF programme developers, provides a further important consideration for future communications in terms of framing and promoting the intended goals of the programme.

4.4 Installation

As noted in section 3, a total of 26 participants have either installed or have booked the installation of insulation as a result of the programme, with a further 6 still to make a decision. In addition, a total of 12 will have heat pumps installed with 9 still undecided.

The questionnaire specifically asked landlords and property managers about their experience with Smart Energy Solutions. Seven responses were supplied to this question with only two indicating satisfaction. Five identified that there could have been improvements with communication, arranging visits and providing a single point of contact.

In addition, the project coordinator also expressed concern around the timing of SES communications, the quality of contact and the reporting of costs of installations. Given the potential financial benefit to installers from being associated with the programme it is suggested that:

· a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is created for all future partnerships with commercial operators. This could specify promotional and reporting requirements that directly align with the programme objectives.

· additional installers are identified and approved by the programme (subject to an MOU) providing property owners with an opportunity to gain more than one quote for any improvements.

4.5 Final feedback

Overall, landlords, property managers and tenants were generally either satisfied or very satisfied with the programme. Specific recommendations from landlords included finding other installers to work with, or the ability to gain quotes from more than one installer. It was also suggested that the programme would benefit from wider promotions to both landlords and to tenants.

5 Summary Conclusions and Recommendations

The MT Pilot Stage Two has shown continued capability to provide improvements in the rental housing stock particularly in the areas of insulation and heating. This includes an increase in improvements amongst 50% of participating households (with 12% currently still to make a decision) up from 44% in Stage One.

Generally high levels of satisfaction were reported amongst landlords and tenants, suggesting that the core approach is working well, that the assessments provide an accurate reflection of the housing quality, and that landlords (once engaged) will take advantage of the subsidies on offer to make recommended improvements to their properties.

Promotion, sign-up and engagement are an issue for the project and considerations of ways to increase participation present opportunities for both operational and longer term strategic recommendations. These are summarised below:

5.1 Operational recommendations

It is recognised that significant developments in the delivery model for the Maugakiekie-Tāmaki Rental Housing Improvement Programme will take time. However a number of operational aspects can be considered in the short term (both prior to, and during, the next programme cycle). These are summarised below.

5.1.1 Target population

· Explore the potential to target tenants more directly, enabling promotion of the programme through a wider range of organisations including WINZ, Housing NZ, Plunket, churches, tertiary and health agencies.

· Mechanisms could be developed to ensure that permission from landlords is granted before any assessments are undertaken.

5.1.2 Communications and marketing

· The development of an integrated communications and marketing strategy is an important stage in providing a comprehensive approach to promoting the programme, understanding the target audiences, and developing appropriate messages to encourage uptake. These messages should include a summary of potential benefits to landlords and tenants and be framed to present the programme’s overall objectives while counteracting potential unintended outcomes (e.g. landlords increasing rents after improvements have been made).

· Strengthen the project identity as independent from Auckland Council (e.g. provide the coordinator with a non-council email).

· Investigate and utilise local networks in project promotion.

· Develop mechanisms for landlords and tenants to easily promote the service amongst their own social networks.

· Consider options for branding the programme. The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Rental Housing Quality Project is not a particularly user-friendly term.

5.1.3 Subsidies

· It is notable that an increase in requests for installations followed a communication to landlords (at the beginning of September 2014) that:

- subsidies would increase to 100% for tenants with community service cards

- there would be an increase in subsidy to 60% for general income tenants, along

- additional funding was being made available for heat pumps.

· While the qualitative survey suggested that some landlords would still take part in the programme if no subsidy was offered, it appears that assistance towards the cost of installation is a key driver for many. Therefore it is recommended that the subsidy is maintained at the highest level possible for future programmes, and that heat pumps are included from the beginning of any future promotion.

5.1.4 Delivery

· A project coordinator from the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki area could be engaged that has knowledge of local networks.

· The continued involvement of the Eco Design Advisor will add significant value to the project, while recognising the possibility of resourcing issues as demand increases.

5.1.5 Installation Partnerships

· Explore options for involving more installers who can promote the programme directly (without the assessment and tenant education components) while providing landlords with the ability to obtain more than one quote.

· Clearly communicate the programme objectives to the installers and provide them with specific messages for prospective clients.

· Develop a Memorandum of Understanding for all installers covering strategic, promotional and operational requirements (including customer service) and reporting aspects.

· In the first instance, explore the potential for partnering with other installers that currently offer additional subsidies and curtain banks including Green Star Energy, The Insulation Company and its associated agents (e.g. AUTEX).

5.2 Strategic recommendations

A number of other developments can be explored over the longer term, with a view to providing a more integrated approach to housing quality improvements in Maungakiekie-Tāmaki and potentially across Auckland.

5.2.1 Developing partnerships

· As noted above, there are on-going opportunities to expand partnerships with commercial product installers as well as identify further co-funding opportunities with those that offer their own subsidies.

· The programme run by Engineers Without Borders (currently operating in Canterbury) may offer some potential for collaboration with their Auckland-based chapter. Exploration in this area could offer opportunities for student tenants in the area or the potential for piloting a strategic partnership to provide housing quality assessments across Maungakiekie-Tāmaki.

5.2.2 Contributing to research

· The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki project utilised the Rental Housing Warrant of Fitness Pre-test tool. This provided specific information on each household in the pilot and, if included with the WOF data would more than double the data from the Auckland area.

· More direct collaboration and information sharing with the WOF programme would benefit the development of both projects as they continue to understand landlord motivations and the effects (intended and otherwise) of delivery.

· Similarly, direct reporting of this project’s results to EECA and Beacon Pathway would add to the wider body of knowledge and may uncover opportunities for partnerships or contributions towards continued research and programme development.

5.2.3 Towards an integrated delivery model

· A review of integrated delivery approaches in both Wellington (Sustainability Trust) and Canterbury (Community Energy Action), provides aspirational models for future development. In essence, Auckland already has many of the services offered by these regional programmes including Eco-Design Advice, Retro-fit loan schemes and curtain banks. What is lacking is the coordination in terms of both branding and delivery that would enable a single point of contact for homeowners, landlords and tenants wishing to improve the efficiency and quality of their homes. While this integrated approach is not yet viable for a small-scale pilot, a parallel workstream of the MT programme could identify opportunities for expansion - adding and promoting related services within the local area and beyond.

· The issue of scale is a core factor in the expansion of both services (relying on linkages with existing regional programmes) and funding from additional sources. It would therefore be useful to present Maungakiekie-Tāmaki’s emerging model, its outcomes and aligned research capabilities, to other Local Boards who have identified interest in housing quality as a prelude to investigating funding for a more regional approach. As with other programmes (e.g. Sustainable Neighbourhoods), this could start with neighbouring Local Board areas and expand over time.

· Additionally, it may be that Auckland Council has further plans to develop coordinated schemes targeting household sustainability which could provide direct integration with improved housing quality for tenants.

· However the model develops, it is essential for any voluntary programme that operation remains independent, and is ‘seen’ to be independent, from both council and from commercial operators. This will provide comfort to landlords with poorer quality properties, that any code violations will not be reported. They will also be satisfied that commercial operators are likely to remain competitive in their quote.

· While project ‘branding’ is recommended for consideration during the upcoming project stage, full development of a communications and marketing plan will be required for larger programme. This would need to include a web presence that highlights coordination amongst the range of advice and services provided.

5.2.4 Further research

Key issues identified in this programme and elsewhere require some further research.

· As noted, voluntary council-aligned programmes are unlikely to identify the lowest quality properties where health impacts on tenants (from cold and damp) will be greatest. In addition, while this project identified some aspects related to landlord motivations for voluntary involvement in the scheme, these would need to be investigated further to develop a more robust understanding of methods used to increase participation.

· The progress of the project in the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki area suggests potential for expansion both locally (with improved communications and promotion) and also regionally (with integrated services). Further research could investigate Local Board interest in an expanded scheme as well as specific opportunities for alignment with research opportunities (including BRANZ, EECA and the WOF programme) and other operational project partners including installers, Engineers without Boarders and related Auckland Council Programmes.

It is worth reiterating that many of these operational recommendations can be included during the next project cycle being developed both in the lead up to and during its delivery. Some of the strategic elements, including partnership development and further research can also be undertaken in parallel to the next stage in order that a clear strategic plan for operation is set out at the end of Stage Three.

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board

09 December 2014

Auckland Transport Monthly Update Report – December 2014

File No.: CP2014/27965

Purpose

1. The purpose of the report is to respond to Local Board requests on transport-related matters and to provide information to Elected Members about Auckland Transport (AT) activities in the Local Board area since the last transport report.

Monthly Overview

2. At the time of writing, a meeting with the Transport Portfolio leader and deputy is scheduled for 1 December. The following matters are on the agenda for discussion:

a) Auckland Transport work programme

b) General transport matters

3. A workshop on the new bus network changes was also scheduled to take place on 25 November along with discussions on AMETI matters.

Recommendation/s

That the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board:

a) receives the report.

b) agrees to release $115,000 from the Local Board’s Transport Capital Fund for the detailed design and construction of of Stage 1 of the Beachcroft shared footpath upgrade on the understanding that Auckland Transport will come back to the Local Board if the firm estimated costs exceed this amount; or

c) agrees to release $232,000 of their Transport Capital fund for the detailed design and construction of the whole design on the understanding that Auckland Transport will come back to the Local Board if the firm estimated cost exceeds this amount.

Reporting Back

Consultation Report

4. Consultations forwarded to the Local Board for comment are attached for board members’ information (Attachment A).

Auckland Transport’s Long Term Plan

5. Recently Auckland Transport ran a series of cluster meetings and individual workshops as pre-engagement on Auckland Transport’s ten year programme which is in the process of being drafted for consultation in 2015.

6. Auckland Council and Auckland Transport will consult the public in 2015 on two transport programmes – a basic programme that can be delivered under current funding and a more ambitious plan, reflecting the Auckland Plan, requiring alternative funding such as a petrol tax or road tolling.

7. The project list that was presented to Local Boards has been prioritised on a series of benefits identified in the Auckland Plan. These benefits have been equally weighted in the prioritisation process and have resulted in the current order of priority.

8. Auckland Transport is requesting feedback from Local Boards as it prepares the draft document for consultation.

9. For example, the weighting process – should some benefits be weighted more heavily than others? If so, which benefits should be more heavily weighted?

10. The list of projects – are there any projects that the Local Board feels should be included on the list and is there a case for some projects to move higher up the priority list?

11. Any feedback that the Local Board would like to give will be fed back into the process and further workshops with Local Boards will be programmed into February 2015.

Local Board Capital Projects

12. The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board has a fund available for the construction of transport related projects in its area. This fund is administered by Auckland Transport. Each year, the Local Board’s capital fund allocation is $494,757 and this amount can be consolidated within each electoral term.

13. At the time of writing the unspent transport capital fund budget for the current electoral term was $1.177 million. This comprises of $645,000 allocated toward the Onehunga Mall upgrade and a balance of $532,000 uncommitted.

Provision of Pedestrian Interface between Onehunga Bay Reserve and Princes Street

14. At the November meeting the rough order of costs (ROC) was tabled for consideration. This figure included provision of a footpath link between the Normans Hill Road and Princes Street, Onehunga, along Beachcroft Avenue and other improvements (Attachment B).

15. AT has changed the name on this project to Beachcroft Avenue, as the work is all in Beachcroft Avenue. AT have liaised with the Parks and projects team on the work required and the rough order of costs (ROC) to complete the design that AC Parks has provided is $232,000.

16. This allows for a three metre wide shared path, from Princes St to the south end of Norman Hills Rd, a pedestrian crossing mid-point and potential raised crossings or treatments at the entry/exit to the building supplies yard. It also allows for possible extension of the “No Stopping” lines along the length of the existing beach (approx. 40m). All these improvements will be subject to successful consultation with affected parties. It allows for relocation of one utility pole, a tree removal, but not for the relocation of any underground services (unknown at this time).

17. If the Local Board preferred to stage the project, Auckland Transport could divide the project into two separable portions. The shared path component could be built to the north from the point where the new path from the overbridge meets Beachcroft Road to the narrow path opposite Normans Hill Road. The rough order of costs for the provision of the basic three metre shared path is $115,000. This includes a raised crossing across the carpark entrance and the relocation of one power pole.

18. This would leave out the pedestrian crossing point across Beachcroft Road, works at the building supply yard, the extension of broken yellow lines and the tree removal but would still provide a sensible connection along Beachcroft Road.

19. AT’s understanding is that ideally this work should be in place by July 2015, so if the Board wish to proceed they could consider to approving to construction the stated amount. AT would then come back to the Local Board after design work only if the firm cost estimate increases. This would save a month in a tight timeline if the costs are within the ROC.

Update on the Delivery of current Transport Capital Projects

Princes Street Pedestrian Enhancements

20. This is the last Local Board Capital Fund project outstanding from last term. The drawings for the design have been required to be resubmitted to the Transport Control Committee for approval. This has delayed the start of the project which is now expected to be complete by the end of January 2015.

East West Connections

21. The NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport have thanked the local community for their feedback on the options developed to improve transport connections into and out of Onehunga-Penrose and the reliability of bus services between Mangere, Otahuhu and Sylvia Park.

22. The feedback will be carefully considered by the project team as they further assess the options. In total 120 online or written pieces of feedback were received and verbal feedback was provided by over 200 people who came along to open days, meetings, workshops and hui. This feedback is now being analysed and a summary of the comments will be released in early 2015.

23. Key points raised in the feedback received included:

a) the impact on residential and industrial properties

b) access to and use of the foreshore

c) important features in the area, including Gloucester Park (Hopua tuff ring), Ann’s Creek, the foreshore and Mutukaroa – Hamlins Hill, and the ability of options to diminish or enhance these areas

d) importance of good walking and cycling facilities

e) the need for options to address transport issues over the longer-term rather than a ‘quick fix’

f) public transport needs to be more reliable.

24. The project team will use this feedback to identify a preferred programme of works in early 2015.

Aliford Street Update

25. After the public meeting held in late September, a new proposal went out to all residents in the area. The new design proposes an increased amount of P120 and a new area of broken yellow lines to denote no parking.

26. Auckland Transport received five submissions in favour of the new proposal, five in favour but with some modifications proposed and one against.

27. As four of the five who suggested modifications all referred to the same area, this will be reviewed. Close out letters will be sent to all respondents in the next few weeks.

28. It is anticipated that the improvements will be able to be implemented in the early part of 2015.

Pt England to Panmure Safe Routes Scheme

29. The scheme assessment report for the project is almost completed. The next stage of the project will be public consultation on the routes and their treatment. Auckland Transport is working toward this happening in February 2015, when schools are back from the Christmas break.

30. A workshop with the Local Board has been requested for the New Year to refresh Local Board members on the project and for discussion on the consultation materials.

Gavin Street Update

31. Auckland Transport was asked earlier in 2015 to re-look at the problems faced by the residents of Gavin Street in respect to heavy vehicle movements in the street.

32. It was reported to the Local Board in September that speed counts on Gavin Street and Eaglehurst Street were 29km/hr and 56 km/hr respectively. The lower speed in Gavin Street is related to the presence of speed calming devices but the speed in Eaglehurst Street is considered too high especially in view of the heavy vehicles involved.

33. Restricting heavy vehicles from Gavin Street has also been considered, however it is uncommon for Auckland Transport to specifically discriminate the use of a specific class of vehicles utilising a public road and it is also difficult to enforce. As part of the investigation, AT will review the existing speed calming devices on Gavin Street and other possible alternate designs and also the possible installation of speed calming devices on Eaglehurst Street. At this stage, there is no definite timeframe for delivery as any design for Eaglehurst Street will be subject to prioritisation and funding for the 2015/16 financial year.

34. Auckland Transport has recently installed new signage at the Penrose end of Gavin Street to advise heavy vehicle drivers of the hours that they may use the street (outside of the hours of 8pm to 6am) and this sign also appears at the Wilkinson Road entry. AT has also contacted the Heavy Haulage Association about this issue so that they might bring it to the attention of their members.

Ellerslie Residents Association Meeting

35. On the 17^th November Auckland Transport CE David Warburton meet with the Ellerslie Residents Association (ERA) along with Senior AT Managers and Local Board Representatives, Ken Baguley (Orakei) and Simon Randall (Maungakiekie/Tāmaki).

36. This meeting was at the request of the ERA and was to discuss a number of issues including but not limited to:

a) Improving Park and Ride at the Ellerslie Train Station. Including paying a nominal payment ($2), to provide an improved service.

b) Intersection improvement to Leon Leicester Drive following the new development.

c) Gavin Street/Eaglehurst Street issues and improvements.

d) Transport connections from Ellerslie to Panmure

37. It was confirmed by Auckland Transport that all transport issues and concerns were to be managed through local boards, as they are the elected representatives of the residents.

New Footpath Programme

38. Auckland Transport is unable to progress a programme of new footpaths in 2014/15 due to budgetary constraints and a high volume of other schemes going to construction. It is hoped to restart the programme in 2015/16, subject to funding becoming available through the Long Term Plan.

39. It the interim, it is acknowledged that there are a large number of outstanding requests from members of the public and local boards for new footpaths. Attached is a listing of footpath requests previously assessed by AT for design and construction. These schemes have already gone through a prioritisation process with a focus around connecting up with the existing network and linking to key destinations.

40. The Board may wish to consider funding design and construction of some schemes in its area, using the Local Board Transport Capital Fund. In order to advance any schemes that the Board wishes to financially support, it is desirable that decisions should be made as soon as possible.

Board	From Public (P), Local Board Request (L) or Both (B)	Location	Street	Start	End	Length (m)	Width (m)	High level Estimate
M-T	P	Penrose	Great South Road	No 761	Southdown Lane	189	1.8	$62,112.96
M-T	L	Onehunga	Grey Street	Quadrant Road	Jellicoe Park entrance	150	1.8	$49,296.00
M-T	P	Mt Wellington	Stonefields Avenue	College Road	Stonemason Avenue	138	1.8	$45,352.32
M-T	P	Mt Wellington	Waipuna Road	Convamore Lane	Finn Place entire road	274	1.8	$90,047.36
M-T	P	Mt Wellington	Clare Place	No. 13	Ellerslie Panmure Highway	120	1.8	$39,436.80

Auckland Transport News

New Train Timetables

41. From 8 December there will be timetable changes for trains. The key changes are:

a) Eastern Line

i) increased capacity including double electric trains (six cars) at peak times

ii) a quicker journey time between Manukau and Britomart

iii) all services heading south terminate at Manukau, customers will need to transfer to the Southern Line if they want to travel to stations south of Puhinui

iv) more frequent services for Manukau: six trains an hour during peak, three trains each hour during the day and a half-hourly service at night and on the weekend

b) Onehunga Line

i) half-hourly service all day/every day including extended Friday night and weekend hours

c) Southern Line

i) all services will go through Newmarket so passengers south of Puhinui will need to transfer to the Eastern Line if they want to go to Sylvia Park, Panmure, Glen Innes, Meadowbank or Orakei

ii) The Southern Line is next to get electric trains in early 2015

d) Pukekohe

i) there will be an additional evening service leaving Britomart at 8.58pm and arriving in Pukekohe at 10.07pm

ii) new hourly weekend services to Papakura to connect to trains to Britomart

e) Western Line

i) extra half-hourly services on Friday night between 10pm and 12.30am

ii) all weekend services will now run half-hourly but will terminate at Swanson, a new hourly scheduled bus service will operate between Swanson station and Waitakere

Auckland’s 2014 Summer Cycling Campaign

42. Auckland Transport won the Cycle Friendly Awards 2014 Best Cycling Promotion for its Cyclings the Go Summer Programme 2014 at the 2WALKandCYCLE 2014 Conference in Nelson, recently.

43. The Cycling's the Go Summer Programme delivered 73 events during February and March this year including the inaugural Ciclovia on Quay, guided bike rides, cycle training courses and local events for families.

44. Auckland Transport’s two-pronged strategy of building cycleways and encouraging people to cycle is gaining momentum and it’s pleased to be acknowledged by the Cycling Advocates Network (CAN).

45. More than 900 adults learned to cycle safely at Cycling’s the Go cycle training courses during the 2013/14 spring and summer period. In additional to more than 9000 children trained at school through the Bike Safe programme.

Removal of Bus On Board HOP Card topups

46. Tagging on the bus with your AT HOP card is the fastest way to board a bus and pay for your trip. Cash transactions and AT HOP card topups can cause frustrating delays for other bus passengers. From 1 December, HOP card users will need to top up their HOP cards before boarding the bus in order to improve loading times and reduce delays.

Upgrade to white light for Auckland roads

47. Auckland Transport will replace 44,000 high pressure sodium (golden yellow light) street lights with energy efficient light emitting diodes (LED) luminaires in what will be New Zealand’s most ambitious LED replacement programme to date. Auckland Transport owns more than 100,000 street lights, approximately one third of the country’s total lighting stock.

48. The first phase of the programme will be rolled out over five years and see nearly half of the regions street lights change from golden yellow light to white light. Auckland Transport estimates net savings of $32m over the 20-year design-life of the LED luminaires.

49. The Auckland Transport Board has approved the plan noting that the balance of the conversion will potentially follow in four to five years. Phase one focuses mainly on residential roads which comprise approximately 60 per cent of the regions street lighting network.

50. AT has had a policy since 2012 that all new lights on pedestrian dominated roads will be LED luminaires. Changing the old lights to LED luminaires will reduce the energy consumption by over 50 per cent. Auckland Transport already has approximately 2,000 energy efficient LED luminaires in service.

51. At the same time the new luminaires are changed a Tele-management System (TMS) will be installed to manage and monitor the network. Through better management of light levels a further 15 to 20 per cent of energy savings can be achieved. The TMS will provide enhanced customer service as any faults on the network will be reported daily.

52. International experience has shown that white light is also a factor in crime prevention; delivers greater comfort and security and improves visibility and reaction times for drivers and pedestrians, resulting in fewer vehicle crashes and injuries.

53. Auckland Transport will be going to tender for four new Street Light Maintenance and Renewals contracts for 4 years which will include the replacement LED programme. It is planned to begin the replacement programme early in 2015.

Auckland Transport Central City Parking Buildings

54. From 1 December 2014, early bird discount parking is being discontinued in Auckland Transport's Downtown, Civic, Fanshawe and Victoria Street car park buildings. The daily rate of $17 will apply to all day parkers.

· Historically AT has subsidised people to drive into the city at peak times, which is adding to congestion.

· The prices are increasing to dis-incentivise people to drive during one of the busiest times of the day (am peak).

· Moving forward that money will be used in helping towards the costs of public transport along with other transport initiatives for Auckland.

Issues Raised through/by Board Members

Location or Name of Issue	Description	AT Response
Quadrant Street, Onehunga	Concerns expressed about the speeds on Quadrant Street, Onehunga and the poor state of the roadway. Request for speed calming.	Quadrant Road is currently not on the 2014-15 reseals programme, but is on the draft 3 year programme and depending on budget constraints, AT expects that the issues reported will be fixed within that time. If there is a particular area of damaged road or footpath, (for instance a pothole) these can be logged individually and repaired. In respect of the request for speedcalming, this has been logged with a report back date of late December.
Berms in Line Avenue	Concern that the berms in this street are getting very untidy.	These will be addressed as the weather allows.
Footpath, Campbell Rd	Complaint about the state of the footpath around 157 Campbell Road.	On inspection, it was confirmed that this footpath needs attention. AT intends to improve the condition of the footpath here before the Christmas break.
Banks Street	Complaint about berm damage from trucks.	AT has inspected the berm and expects that the berm will recover will spring growth. Vehicles parking on grass berms can be issued with infringement notices, if a complaint is received or the berm is suffering damage. Requests for enforcement should be directed to AT on (09) 355 3553.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Attachment A, Consultations Forwarded for Local Board comment	83
b View	Attachment B, Onehunga Bay Reserve pedestrian and cycle improvements	87

Signatories

Authors

Lorna Stewart, Elected Member Relationship Manager, Auckland Transport

Authorisers

Jonathan Anyon, Elected Member Relationship Team Manager, Auckland Transport

Victoria Villaraza - Relationship Manager

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board

09 December 2014

Interim Open Space Provision Guidelines

File No.: CP2014/27663

Purpose

1. To seek feedback from local boards on the Interim Open Space Provision Guidelines.

Executive summary

2. The Interim Open Space Provision Guidelines (the guidelines) provide direction on the quantity, distribution and configuration of parks and open space sought by the council in both greenfield developments and the existing urban area.

3. The guidelines were adopted by the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee in August for interim use and feedback during a six month trial period (attachment A). An updated version of the guidelines, incorporating amendments based on feedback, will be reported in early 2015 to the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee and Regional, Strategy and Policy Committee for adoption.

4. The primary focus of the guidelines is ensuring the open space network provides access to a range of high-quality recreation, social and environmental experiences. The guidelines direct how open space should be distributed within both greenfield developments and the existing urban area by establishing triggers in relation to travel distance, resident population or the proximity of other land uses (such as an urban centre) that determine when the open space network should provide for the following experiences:

a) Neighbourhood parks

b) Suburb parks

c) Sub-regional parks

d) Civic spaces

e) Local sports parks

f) Connections

5. For existing urban areas the guidelines focus on improving the quality, accessibility and connectivity of existing open space. The guidelines identify areas of significant and moderate shortfall in the quantity of open space relative to the current and future population within the existing urban area.

6. A target for the quantity of local recreation open space within greenfield developments of 2 hectares per 1000 residents is proposed.

7. The guidelines set out how different types of open space should be laid out and configured in relation to other land uses, such as housing and streets, to ensure that a high quality open space network is achieved.

Recommendation/s

That the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board:

a) provide feedback on the Interim Open Space Provision Guidelines

Comments

Background and strategic context

8. The Open Space Provision Guidelines (the guidelines) are part of the Parks and Open Spaces Policy Programme and are a key tool to implement the policy direction of the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP), the Parks and Open Spaces Strategic Action Plan 2013, the Sport and Recreation Strategic Action Plan 2013 and the Parks and Open Space Acquisition Policy 2013 (the acquisition policy).

9. The guidelines provide direction on the distribution, quantity and configuration of parks and open space sought by the council in both greenfield developments and the existing urban area. They will inform a range of council activities including:

a) Assessing open space acquisition opportunities

b) Development of spatial plans (area plans, precinct plan and structure plans)

c) Identifying strategic infrastructure requirements, including development of a regional open space network plan

d) Informing the development of local open space network plans for local board areas

e) Providing advice on council’s open space requirements to developers

10. The guidelines were adopted by the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee in August for interim use and feedback during a six month trial period.

11. A successful open space network responds to the local context and therefore it is expected that variation in the provision of open space will occur across Auckland. The guidelines are intended to set out a framework for assessing open space provision rather than establish strict targets for council or developers to achieve.

12. The guidelines apply to greenfield developments and existing urban areas. They primarily focus on the provision of local parks, rather than sub-regional or region scale open space.

13. The guidelines have three parts, each of which are explained further below:

· Distribution of open space

· Quantity of open space

· Configuration of open space

Distribution of open space (pages 4 to 8 of the guidelines)

14. Ensuring the open space network provides the community with access to a range of high quality recreational, social and environmental experiences is the primary focus of the guidelines.

15. The first part of the guidelines direct how open space should be distributed within both greenfield developments and the existing urban area by describing six experiences the open space network should deliver:

a) Neighbourhood parks

b) Suburb parks

c) Sub-regional parks

d) Civic spaces

e) Local sports parks

f) Connections

16. The guidelines establish triggers in relation to travel distance, size of resident population or the proximity of other land uses (such as an urban centre) that determine when the open space network should provide for each of the experiences. Criteria relating to the size of open space required and key activities provided for are also established for some experiences.

17. Provision targets used by the legacy councils in Auckland as well as other councils in New Zealand and overseas have been considered in establishing the distribution targets (attachment B).

18. Each of the experiences and the relevant triggers for provision are explained below:

Neighbourhood parks and suburb parks

19. Neighbourhood parks and suburb parks describe open space that provides common informal recreation experiences throughout urban areas. The guidelines establish criteria about the typical area of open space required for a neighbourhood park (0.3ha) and suburb park (3ha) and the activities they should provide for (such as play opportunities, respite, trail networks)

20. Walking distance targets are proposed for neighbourhood parks and suburb parks relative to PAUP zoning. Shorter walking distance targets are proposed for the PAUP zones that provide for higher density residential development. This assists with providing residents in higher-density housing with easy access to informal recreation open space. The following walking distance targets are proposed:

Neighbourhood Park

Suburb Park

High density areas:

(Terraced Housing and Apartment Zone, Local Centre, Town Centre, Metropolitian Centre and Mixed Use)

400m walk

(approx. 5 mins)

1000m walk

(approx. 12 mins)

Remaining urban residential areas

600m walk

(approx. 7.5 mins)

1500m walk

(approx. 18 mins)

Sub-regional parks

21. Sub-regional parks describe large (typically >30ha) areas of open space that provide for a variety of informal recreation and sport experiences. These parks are usually located within, or on the periphery of, the urban area. Examples include Barry Curtis Park, Western Springs, Auckland Domain.

22. The guidelines propose that Auckland Council will proactively acquire sub-regional parks when opportunities arise and needs are identified through network planning, rather than expect sub-regional parks to be planned for by developers in greenfield areas. The guidelines do not propose a travel distance target for sub-regional parks, but state that residents within each of the northern, central, southern and western areas of urban Auckland should have easy access to a variety of sub-regional parks.

Civic space

23. Civic space describes the squares, plazas, greens, streets and shared spaces within urban centres which provide for social and informal recreation experiences. The provision guidelines propose the quantity and diversity of civic space relate to the scale of the urban centre. A local centre is proposed to be the smallest urban centre to trigger civic space requirements.

Local sports parks

24. Local sports parks describe open space which is used for organised sport, and typically includes facilities such as sports fields, courts and club buildings. Sports parks are also provided for at a sub-regional scale.

25. The guidelines propose that greenfield developments should provide for the local sport park requirements of their residents. Based on existing levels of sports field demand this equates to approximately 3ha of land per 2000 households. A threshold of 2000 households is proposed, as this generates sufficient demand for two sports fields, and results in larger sports parks which have efficiencies in terms of layout, facility use and maintenance. The 3ha minimum size includes allowances for club rooms, car parking and for other facilities such as courts.

26. No target for local sports parks provision is proposed for existing urban areas. The sports park network within the urban area is largely in place, and acquisition opportunities of land suitable for new sports parks are rare.

Connections

27. Creating a connected open space network is one of the areas of focus of the Parks and Open Spaces Strategic Action Plan 2013. The guidelines encourage open space to be distributed to create contiguous networks that have a range of recreational, transport and ecological benefits.

Quantity of open space (pages 9 to 11 of the guidelines)

28. Different policy responses are required for guidance on the quantity of open space between greenfield developments and the existing urban area. In greenfield developments there is generally no existing open space network and there is the ability to determine the amount and distribution of open space. In existing urban areas the open space network is largely in place and there are significant constraints on increasing the amount of open space, including the cost and availability of suitable land.

29. Achieving quantity targets is a secondary focus for the provision of open space.

Quantity of open space in existing urban areas

30. The guidelines do not establish a target for the quantity of open space relative to the population within existing urban areas. Due to the amount of population growth projected within existing urban areas, achieving and maintaining a ratio of open space to population would be unachievable due to financial (the cost of land) and practical constraints (the availability of suitable land).

31. The criteria of the Parks and Open Space Acquisition Policy 2013 (the acquisition policy) establish how the council prioritises acquisition opportunities within the existing urban area in response to population growth. The acquisition policy generally prioritises acquisition opportunities where there is:

a) High levels of expected population growth

b) Relatively poor access to informal recreation open space

c) Low quantity of existing open space relative to the current and future population

32. For the purpose of informing open space acquisition priorities, the quantity of open space across the region has been assessed in relation to:

a) The quantity of open space (all types) within each census area unit

b) The quantity of recreational open space within each census area unit

c) Projected population growth between 2014 and 2030

d) Strategic alignment with the Auckland Plan Development Strategy and PAUP zonings

33. Draft quantity analysis is included within the interim guidelines (attachment A, page 10). This map identifies where moderate and significant shortfalls in the quantity of open space relative to the current and future population are located within the existing urban.

Quantity of open space in greenfield developments

34. In greenfield development areas the guidelines set a target for the quantity of local informal recreation open space of 2 hectares per 400 households (approximately 1000 residents). Local informal recreation open space is defined as having an informal recreation, sport or civic open space function and excludes parks considered to serve a sub-regional or regional catchment.

35. Analysis of the existing provision of open space within the urban areas of Auckland, local board areas and ten case study areas has informed recommending a target of 2 hectares per 400 households of informal recreation open space. The target of 2 hectares of local recreation open space per 400 households is relatively consistent with the existing amount of local recreation open space provided in the urban area of Auckland.

36. The Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan introduces a green infrastructure corridor zone which is to be applied to land within the 1 in 100 year floodplain in greenfield developments. The integration of green infrastructure and open space land is integral to creating a connected open space network. The guidelines allow for up to 50% of local recreation open space to be provided in the form of green infrastructure where this has demonstrable recreation benefits (such as creating trail networks).

37. No target for the amount of open space required for conservation or green infrastructure corridor purposes is proposed. The values and characteristics of an area determine the need for these open space functions rather than the population of a development. Targets are also not proposed for large sub-regional or regional recreation open space, as it is expected council will identify and acquire land for these functions outside of the greenfield development process (structure planning and subdivision).

Configuration of open space (pages 12 and 13 of the guidelines)

38. The third part of the guidelines sets out how different types of open space should be laid out and configured in relation to other land uses, such as housing and streets, to ensure that a high quality open space network is achieved.

Consideration

Local board views and implications

39. This report seeks the views of local boards on the interim open space provision guidelines. The view of local boards will be reported to the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee and will inform proposed amendments to the guidelines prior to their adoption.

Maori impact statement

40. Engagement with Maori on the guidelines will occur during the trial period.

Implementation

41. Further development and testing of the provision guidelines is occurring during the period for the remainder of 2014. This involves:

a) Assessing open space acquisition opportunities against the guidelines

b) Testing the guidelines with developers preparing structure plans for special housing areas and future urban zone land

c) Engagement with iwi and property developers

d) Refinement of the modelling of provision targets

e) Illustration of the concepts within the guidelines

42. Final guidelines will be reported to the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee in early 2015 following the trial period.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Attachment A, Interim Open Space Provision Guidelines	153
b View	Attachment B, Examples of provision targets used by former Auckland Council and other NZ and overseas park authorities	167

Signatories

Authors

Andrew Beer - Principal Policy Analyst

Authorisers

Rob Cairns - Manager Regionwide

Anaru Vercoe - Manager, Community Policy & Planning

Penny Pirrit - Regional & Local Planning Manager

Karen Lyons - Manager Local Board Services

Victoria Villaraza - Relationship Manager

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board

09 December 2014

Board Member Bartley – September to November 2014 Report

date	meeting
1 Sept	Transport portfolio update
2 Sept	Local board plan hearings
3 Sept	Youth Connections business breakfast
3 Sept	Local board plan hearings
6 Sept	Protest march against child poverty
8 Sept	Environment portfolio update
9 Sept	Manukau Harbour stormwater discharge consent
9 Sept	Local board workshops – Alcohol controls, Discretionary grants
10 Sept	GI rail tunnel mural workshop
11 Sept	Alcohol ban resolutions
16 Sept	Local board workshops – Long Term Plan, GIMAC
16 Sept	Local board business meeting
17 Sept	Kawerau District Council visit to Social Sector Trial
18 Sept	Maungakiekie Police update meeting – cancelled
19 Sept	Environment Protection Bylaw meeting
22 Sept	Safety portfolio update
23 Sept	Local board workshops – City Transformation, Tāmaki Redevelopment Co, Local Board Plan
25 Sept	Tāmaki Police update meeting – cancelled
27 Sept	HEART bbq – Hobson Reserve Panmure
28 Sept	Site visit Aliford Ave
29 Sept	Public meeting Aliford Ave
30 Sept	Local board workshops – Baskeball court proposal, GIMAC, AMETI
1 Oct	GI rail tunnel mural painting
2 Oct	GI rail tunnel mural painting
2 Oct	Alcohol Harm scoping paper meeting
3 Oct	GI rail tunnel mural painting
7 Oct	Local board workshops – Significance engagement policy, Elected Members expenses, Long Term Plan, Onehunga foreshore
10 Oct	Alcohol ban bylaw hearings
11 Oct	Liv it up – community event Grace church Glen Innes
14 Oct	Local board workshops – Tāmaki needs assessment, Long Term Plan
14 Oct	Local board business meeting
15 Oct	Transport portfolio update
16 Oct	Maungakiekie Police meeting
16 Oct	Tāmaki working group on youth meeting
16 Oct	TRC Central Tāmaki Special Housing area – Panmure Library
19 Oct	King of the Mountain – Panmure
20 Oct	Environment portfolio meeting
20 Oct	Pasifika Power Up – Panmure and Glen Innes
21 Oct	Local board workshops – Family and Sexual Violence strategic action plan, Long Term Plan
21 Oct	Local board business meeting
22 Oct	Budget committee with Governing Body re Long Term Plan
22 Oct	Family Whanau and Sexual Violence strategic plan – follow up
23 Oct	Tāmaki Police meeting – cancelled
24 Oct	City Impact Church – youth event – Mt Wellington War Memorial Park
28 Oct	Local board workshops – Long Term Plan, AMETI, Road naming, Sir Woolf Fisher Park, Arthur St Reserve
29 Oct	East Auckland Providers Network – youth connections
29 Oct	Pasifika Power Up – St Patricks Panmure
30 Oct	Long Term Plan Cluster workshop – Transport
30 Oct	Tāmaki Working Group meeting – Wellbeing
1 Nov	AMETI tunnel and road opening Te Horeta Road
3 Nov	Safety portfolio meeting
3 Nov	Resolutions for Local Approved Products Policy meeting
3 Nov	Tāmaki College graduation
4 Nov	Local board workshops – Onehunga Foreshore, SLIPS, Long term plan
10 Nov	Transport portfolio meeting
10 Nov	Environment portfolio meeting
11 Nov	Local board workshops – City transformation, budget, citizenship, long term plan, Manaiakalani
12 Nov	Glen Innes Business Association
17 Nov	Catch up with board chair Simon Randall
18 Nov	Local board workshops – Long Term Plan
18 Nov	Local board business meeting
20 Nov	Maungakiekie Police meeting
20 Nov	Local Approved Products Policy public meeting – Karl Bailey
20 Nov	Maungakiekie Civil defence meeting
21 Nov	Tāmaki liaison group on policing and security
22 Nov	GI to Tāmaki Drive, Shared Path, Cycle project open day
22 Nov	Oranga markets
25 Nov	Local board workshops – long term plan, AMETI, Alcohol
27 Nov	Tāmaki Police meeting

Portfolio Update

Portfolio	Issues/Consultations
Safety – Lead	Progressing Safety plan, Alcohol action plan, feedback on Local Approved Products Policy, Local Alcohol Plan, Family and Sexual Violence Strategic Action Plan, Alcohol Control Bylaw.
Environment – Lead	Progressing Local board environmental projects, ecological restoration, water quality projects, feedback on Regional Pest Management Strategy, Stormwater discharge consents, Waste Minimisation Innovation Fund.
Transport – Alternate	Feedback on Campbell Road parking changes, Glen Innes Safety around schools, GI rail Tunnel safety improvements (lead), Aliford Ave, Mays road and Mt Smart Rd, Athens Road, Howick and Eastern bus changes, Long Term Plan transport projects, Capital Transport Fund. Issues raised Quadrant St speeding, Bollards GI Library, Mt Wellington chemical spill, GI rail crossing dangers, Sylvia park train station safety issues, Merton Road pedestrian safety, Taniwha St strip median.

Community Networks and Outside Appointments

Organisation

Primary

Alternate

Panmure Basin Advisory Committee

Josephine (Brett has been attending in my absence)

Brett

Glen Innes Business Association

Brett

Josephine (observer)

Other Matters

Maybury Reserve – safety concerns and service request for broken glass and leaves blocking pipes.

Highlights

Tāmaki Touch – Mt Wellington War Memorial Reserve. Great to see youth being active in a positive way and having their families come down to the park to watch them, great atmosphere and credit to Karl Bailey CAYAD for putting this together.

Oranga Markets – Toi Wahi social enterprise group. First time for these markets and was a success having diverse community hold stalls and attend and enjoy atmosphere.

King of the Mountain – Signature event for the Mt Wellington Panmure area, good numbers locally but also large number of running fraternity, potential to expand and promote economic and environmental potential of the area to wider audience. My time was 52mins 10 secs, ranked 23^rd women by the way.

GI Rail Tunnel Mural – Thanks to the Local board for this project, it was a great opportunity to engage with some of our young people in a piece of art that will benefit the local community, their commitment throughout the painting was awesome to see and working with the artist Adrian Jackman and local community member Arohanui Raharuhi. It would be good to have something in the actual tunnel to deter tagging which occurs there regularly and to provide a sense of community as one walks through the tunnel. I do acknowledge the support of the local GI Neighbourhood Policing Team through Constable Rob McGlashan and the presence of our deputy chair Chris Makoare who came down and spent some time with the kids when they were painting.

[3] The Statistics NZ General Social Survey 2010.

[4] Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board Housing Quality Project | Evaluation of the Pilot – Draft, October 2013.

[5] Both these sums represent grants that EECA previously offered for heating improvements.

[6] These considerations are then revisited in Section 4 - Recommendations (in light of the findings from the project evaluation and process review).

[7] Council Retrofit Your Home Financial Support Programme: A Social Return on Investment (SROI) Evaluation: A Technical Report 2014/20

[8] Eco Design Advisor - Customer Survey Results: Years 2012-13.

[9] Results from a Rental Housing Warrant of Fitness Pre-Test, University of Otago 2014.

[11] Those who were contacted directly by Smart Energy Solutions were not invited to provide feedback as they did not undertake a technical assessment or receive tenant education.

Chairperson	Simon Randall
Deputy Chairperson	Chris Makoare
Members	Josephine Bartley
	Brett Clark
	Bridget Graham, QSM
	Obed Unasa
	Alan Verrall

Deliverables	Planned Delivery Date
Safety scoping document presented to the local board portfolio holder and feedback sought	November 2014
Consultant appointed to carry out needs assessment	December 2014
Workshop held with the local board to present the research and consider the range of ways in which the board can respond with support from staff throughout Council	May 2015
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Safety Plan reported to the local board for their adoption.	June 2015

1.0	Onehunga Foreshore Restoration
	To discuss progress of the project.
	Officers present: Greg Hannah, Kirsten Reidt, Peter McGregor

2.0	Small Local Improvement Projects
	To discuss the programme for 2014/2015.
	Officers present: Vandna Kirmani

3.0	Long Term Plan
	To discuss development of the Long Term Plan.
	Officers present: Nina Siers, Sugenthy Thomson

1.0	City Transformation
	Update from city transformation team on Tāmaki redevelopment
	Officers present: Adam Johnstone

2.0	Auckland Transport Budget
	To discuss Auckland Transport prioritisation
	Officers present: Lorna Stewart, Jonathan Anyon and Roger Wilson

3.0	Citizenship Review
	To discuss the review of citizenship ceremonies in the region
	Officers present: David Burt and Jane Sheetz

4.0	Local Board engagement
	To discuss the board’s engagement process
	Officers present: Victoria Ly

5.0	Manaiakalani Education Trust
	Update on Manaiakalani Education Trust programme.
	Officers present: Robert Lundberg, Jenny Oxley, Pat Sneddon

1.0	Bus route changes in the Onehunga-Eastern area
	To discuss the bus route changes in the Onehunga-Eastern area
	Officers present: Lorna Stewart, Simon Milner and Kirsty Charles

2.0	Open Space Provision Guidelines
	To discuss the open space provision guidelines
	Officers present: Shyrel Burt, Sophie Bell, Beverly Fletcher

3.0	Long Term Plan engagement
	To discuss the Long Term Plan consultation process.
	Officers present: Victoria Ly

4.0	AT parks takes and compensation
	To discuss the AMETI project effects on parks land
	Officers present: Lorna Stewart, Cathy Bebelman

5.0	Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 (SSAA)
	To discuss the changes in the law
	Officers present: James Hassall and Mike Wakefield

Housing Quality Improvement Project	Project Partners/Action	Timeframes
Project Design	Detailed breakdown of project delivery, designed by previous Project Advisor to ensure continuity.	December 2014
Recruitment and Delivery of Improvements	Key actions include: · Provide a subsidy to landlords for insulation and clean heating · Continue work Auckland Property Investors Association (APIA) and expanded networks to recruit landlords · Develop integrated communications strategy with similar programmes and work through existing community networks to expand marketing opportunities · Work with service providers – including Smart Energy Solutions, Green Star, NZ Green Building Council. · Work with Eco Design Advisor to deliver the home assessments and following up with landlords to ensure action is taken.	January –July 2015
Relationship and Partnership Management	· Coordinate delivery of subsidies. · Relationship management with tenants and landlords, including coordination of appointments and tenant education sessions. · Networking and relationship development with local community organisations and housing sector organisations. · Develop partnerships with relevant external organisations and internal departments to be part of a more integrated and sustainable delivery model.	December 2014 - Ongoing

Authors	Mary Binney - Local Board Advisor - Maungakiekie-Tāmaki
Authorisers	Victoria Villaraza - Relationship Manager

Authors	Philippa Hillman - Democracy Advisor, Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board
Authorisers	Victoria Villaraza - Relationship Manager


6.0	Environmental Services project update
	To provide an update on environmental projects.
	Officers present: Tessa Chilala, Vanessa Wood, Phillip Johanssen and Theresa Pearce

7.0	Local Alcohol Ban
	To discuss the local alcohol ban process.
	Officers present: Kylie Hill, Michael Dance

10 November	Onehunga Mall upgrade
	The Onehunga Combined Sports Trust
	Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board workshop
12	Glen Innes Business Association
13	Sustainability of Sport and Recreation Panel and Sector Fora - Central Forum
17	Orange Community Centre Society
18	Economic Development catch up
	Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board workshop
	Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board business meeting
19	Apology to Panmure Business Association
20	Apology to Onehunga Business Association
24
25	Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board workshop

10 November	Manukau Harbour Forum Site visit to 14 William Avenue
11 November	Maungakiekie/Tāmaki Local Board workshops
12 November	ODCOSS monthly meeting
13 November	Catch up with Simon Civil Defence catch up with Dale Ramshaw
17 November	Library quarterly catch up Oranga Community Committee
18 November	Maungakiekie/Tāmaki Local Board workshops Maungakiekie/Tāmaki Local Board November business meeting
19 November	Maungakiekie Health Working Group Grants catch up with Sarah Zimmerman Onehunga Historic Society 40th birthday meeting
20 November	Tāmaki Campus proposed plan change briefing Maungakiekie Community Response Team inaugural meeting
21 November	Central Joint Funding Committee workshop – heritage applications Site visit 1 Te Apunga Place
25 November	Maungakiekie/Tāmaki Local Board workshops Onehunga Community House Management Committee meeting
26 November
27 November	Events catch up Onehunga Senior Citizens Management meeting
28 November	Central joint Funding Committee – heritage funding meeting Hearing 187 Campbell Road