Agenda of Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Areas of Activity

· Provision of regional facilities and open space

· Regional frameworks for local facility and open space provision

· Encouraging healthy lifestyles through participation in sport and recreation sectors

· Facilitating partnerships and collaborative funding models across the sport and recreation sectors

· Performing the delegation made by the Governing Body to the former Parks, Recreation and Heritage Forum, under resolution GB/2012/157 in relation to the Dog Policy

Responsibilities

Within the specified area of activity the Committee is responsible for:

· In accordance with the work programme agreed with the parent committee, developing strategy and policy, including any agreed community consultation, to recommend to the Regional Strategy and Policy Committee

· Acting as a community interface for consultation on policies and as a forum for raising community concerns, while ensuring community engagement is complementary to that undertaken by local boards

· Making decisions within delegated powers

Powers

All powers necessary to perform the Committee’s responsibilities

Except:

(a) powers that the Governing Body cannot delegate or has retained to itself (see Governing Body responsibilities)

(b) where the Committee’s responsibility is limited to making a recommendation only

(d) the approval of expenditure that is not contained within approved budgets

(e) the approval of expenditure of more than $2 million other than for land purchases which shall have a limit of $5 million

(f) the approval of final policy

(g) deciding significant matters for which there is high public interest and which are controversial

(h) the commissioning of reports on new policy where that policy programme of work has not been approved by the Regional Strategy and Policy Committee

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC – WHO NEEDS TO LEAVE THE MEETING

Members of the public

All members of the public must leave the meeting when the public are excluded unless a resolution is passed permitting a person to remain because their knowledge will assist the meeting.

Those who are not members of the public

General principles

· Access to confidential information is managed on a “need to know” basis where access to the information is required in order for a person to perform their role.

· Those who are not members of the meeting (see list below) must leave unless it is necessary for them to remain and hear the debate in order to perform their role.

· Those who need to be present for one confidential item can remain only for that item and must leave the room for any other confidential items.

· In any case of doubt, the ruling of the chairperson is final.

Members of the meeting

· The members of the meeting remain (all Governing Body members if the meeting is a Governing Body meeting; all members of the committee if the meeting is a committee meeting).

· However, standing orders require that a councillor who has a pecuniary conflict of interest leave the room.

· All councillors have the right to attend any meeting of a committee and councillors who are not members of a committee may remain, subject to any limitations in standing orders.

Staff

· All staff supporting the meeting (administrative, senior management) remain.

· Only staff who need to because of their role may remain.

Local Board members

· Local Board members who need to hear the matter being discussed in order to perform their role may remain. This will usually be if the matter affects, or is relevant to, a particular Local Board area.

IMSB

· Members of the IMSB who are appointed members of the meeting remain.

· Other IMSB members and IMSB staff remain if this is necessary in order for them to perform their role.

CCOs

Representatives of a CCO can remain only if required to for discussion of a matter relevant to the CCO.

1 Apologies

Apologies from Mayor Len Brown and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse have been received.

2 Declaration of Interest

Members are reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from decision making when a conflict arises between their role as a member and any private or other external interest they might have.

3 Confirmation of Minutes

That the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee:

a) confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Tuesday, 9 December 2014, including the confidential section, as a true and correct record.

4 Petitions

At the close of the agenda no requests to present petitions had been received.

5 Public Input

Standing Order 3.21 provides for Public Input. Applications to speak must be made to the Committee Secretary, in writing, no later than two (2) working days prior to the meeting and must include the subject matter. The meeting Chairperson has the discretion to decline any application that does not meet the requirements of Standing Orders. A maximum of thirty (30) minutes is allocated to the period for public input with five (5) minutes speaking time for each speaker.

At the close of the agenda no requests for public input had been received.

6 Local Board Input

Standing Order 3.22 provides for Local Board Input. The Chairperson (or nominee of that Chairperson) is entitled to speak for up to five (5) minutes during this time. The Chairperson of the Local Board (or nominee of that Chairperson) shall wherever practical, give two (2) days notice of their wish to speak. The meeting Chairperson has the discretion to decline any application that does not meet the requirements of Standing Orders.

This right is in addition to the right under Standing Order 3.9.14 to speak to matters on the agenda.

At the close of the agenda no requests for local board input had been received.

7 Extraordinary Business

Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“An item that is not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with at that meeting if-

(a) The local authority by resolution so decides; and

(b) The presiding member explains at the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public,-

(i) The reason why the item is not on the agenda; and

(ii) The reason why the discussion of the item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.”

Section 46A(7A) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“Where an item is not on the agenda for a meeting,-

(a) That item may be discussed at that meeting if-

(i) That item is a minor matter relating to the general business of the local authority; and

(ii) the presiding member explains at the beginning of the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public, that the item will be discussed at the meeting; but

(b) no resolution, decision or recommendation may be made in respect of that item except to refer that item to a subsequent meeting of the local authority for further discussion.”

8 Notices of Motion

At the close of the agenda no requests for notices of motion had been received.

Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee

10 February 2015

Parks, Sports & Recreation - General Manager's report

File No.: CP2015/00250

Purpose

1. To update the Committee on activities undertaken by the department of Parks Sport and Recreation to support implementation of plans and policies of Auckland Council.

Executive Summary

2. This report has been written to update the Committee across a range of issues and progress with respect to approved work programmes.

Recommendation/s

That the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee:

a) receive the update report from the General Manager – Parks Sport and Recreation.

Discussion

Operations Stability – Achievements and Highlights

3. The following Auckland Council parks were awarded Green Flag Awards.

a. Waikumete Cemetery

b. Olympic Park, Parrs Park, Sanders Reserve, Taipari Strand

c. Ambury Regional Park, Long Bay Regional Park, Tawharanui Regional Park, Wenderholm Regional Park, Whakanewha Regional Park.

4. The Green Flag Award, developed in the United Kingdom is increasingly utilized as an international benchmark for quality parks and green spaces. Assessment criteria include that the public spaces are welcoming, clean, well-maintained, safe and secure, managed sustainably with attention paid to both the natural and built environment.

5. The newly-appointed Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Director-General, Victoria Wallace made a special visit to Waikumete Cemetery during December, laying a wreath at the cenotaph and the grave of Private Sapper Robert Hislop.

6. On her departure from New Zealand Mrs Wallace commented, “From the cemeteries devastated by the Christchurch earthquakes to tiny country churchyards, to the Papawai urupa and the large military plots of Bromley, Waikumete and Featherston, I have seen such a huge range of war commemorations across this beautiful country. It is a huge comfort to know the war dead are so well looked after by the team at the Ministry, supported by so many members of the RSA, Cadet Corps and District Councils, and valued so greatly by the communities”.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Director-General, Victoria Wallace prepares to lay a wreath on Private Sapper Robert Hislop’s grave at Waikumete Cemetery. With her are Matt McMillian QSM, Auckland District Senior Support Office and WWII veteran and Swanson RSA support officer John Ross.

7. In December both Tepid Baths and Parnell Baths celebrated their 100 year anniversaries. Both of these facilities are true Auckland icons and it was great to be able to celebrate this great milestone.

8. The summer holiday season is the period of greatest utilization for Council’s parks, beaches, open spaces and pools. The 2014-15 period corresponded with dry, warm and sunny weather. Learnings from previous years leading up to Christmas effort went into briefing staff, contractors and the customer call center as well as pre-positioning signage and equipment.

9. Over 2014-15 issues and incidents were relatively few. They did however include:

a. Supporting search & rescue services and rural fire services within and adjacent to parks. This included a 26 December fire at Kakamatua which burnt approximately seven hectares of regenerating native bush up to the boundary of a number of residential properties.

b. Managing issues associated with freedom camping, poor water quality especially within west coast lagoons popular for swimming, playground noise.

c. Managing closure of Merton Road Reserve (East City BMX track) due to presence of asbestos.

d. Managing demand to ensure numbers within swimming pools were maintained within safe limits.

e. Responding to a variety of media and public enquires. This included the death of four stingrays which occurred when they became stranded in the controlled Onehunga todal lagoon.

10. The use of social media, in particular twitter and facebook was highlighted over the period. Often Aucklanders and visitors alike gave and sought feedback regarding their experiences. Google searches seeking information concerning parks and recreation opportunities peaked. These included such searches as “Top 10 Auckland Playgrounds”, Top 10 Auckland Beaches” etc.

11. Beachside Book Buses, an innovation by the Libraries & Information Department working with Parks, Sports and Recreation, was trialed. The trial involved four mobile buses bringing services such as free wi-fi, book borrowing to different coastal locations. The trial proved popular with Aucklanders and visitors alike.

12. During December 2014 requests for service lodged with Council concerning parks, sports and recreation totalled 2,680, down from 2,927 for December 2013. This continued a downward trend throughout much of 2014. Requests for Arborist Services mostly dealing with the impact of trees on streets constituted almost half of all requests.

13. Completed a workshop with Sport New Zealand to initiate a project to deliver a standard approach to affordable sport and recreation facilities similar to the United Kingdom model now adopted in New Zealand for affordable pools. This approach seeks to identify consistent designs and equipment. Given Auckland Council’s size and investment program these projects help us in making our size work, reducing capital and operational costs for both Council and the sport and recreation sector.

14. Applications opened for the ‘artist in residence’ program which operates within Council’s regional parks.

15. Site blessings were held signaling the next phase in re-establishing the Fukuoka Friendship Garden within Western Springs Lakeside Park. Two representatives from Fukuoka City, Professor Kubota and Mr Miyamoto attended and participated in steps to finalise the concept design. Physical works are scheduled to commence in March 2016 and an opening in spring 2016.

Mayor Len Brown and Mr Inadome, Consul-General, Japanese Consulate

16. Ngati Whatua o Kaipara commenced the trial of a visitor hosting service at Muriwai Regional Park on 26 December. The service is the initiative of Ngati Whatua o Kaipara and is supported by the Rodney Local Board and regional parks. It is has operated daily from 26 December through until 6 February and will continue weekends only until Easter 2015.

17. Volunteers contributed more than 5,000 volunteer hours to the Auckland Botanic Gardens over the 2014 calendar year, not including activities organised independently by the Friends of Auckland Botanic Gardens. Volunteer activity increased in the library and in assisting with the maintenance of the plant collections and gardens. Increased assistance was also provided to running the school holiday programmes.

18. Over 9,000 students participated in ‘Learning Through Experience’ programmes held at the Auckland Botanic Gardens during the calendar year, a six percent increase on the previous year. The total of all students and their accompanying adults (parents, teachers) who participated in programmes this year was 10,906, also a six percent increase on the 2013.

19. A total of 60,659 native plants have been produced in the botanic gardens nursery for the 2015 revegetation programmes in regional parks. Planting will commence in autumn.

20. Next month land within the Heritage Protection Zone located between Todd Property’s development and the Long Bay Regional Park will be transferred to the park.

21. Sustainability of Sport update, the sixth and final forum, was held on 2 February with a focus on major facility partnerships. A summary of findings and proposed key actions will be reported back to this committee and local boards.

Issues / Challenges

22. Signage warning rock fishers, together with safety equipment at easily accessible and known danger spots, primarily on the West Coast, were checked and replaced. This program, which includes targeted public education, has operated over many years and has been effective in changing behaviours. Over the summer holiday period deaths and near drownings at non patrolled surf beaches have resulted in calls for similar programs.

23. Signage warning people of the danger of rock falls has been checked and replaced where necessary at priority locations around the Auckland coast. These locations include popular walkways and beaches located below coastal cliffs, including many on the North Shore.

24. Leading up to the period of high holiday usage, structures and playgrounds across the parks network were the subject of safety audits as part of Council’s asset management planning processes. The aim is to avoid failures through regular maintenance, but where significant issues are identified, structures are closed and remediation works prioritised.

25. December and January has seen extremely high visitation numbers through our pool and leisure centres. Many of our 24 public pools operated close to full capacity, with restrictions having to be put in place for a number. Our teams have been working extremely hard to ensure our users have a fun, enjoyable and safe visit. To date we have had no major incident in our facilities.

26. During the holiday period there was media interest in the supervision ratios we use at our pools. These supervision ratios exist to ensure parents take an active role in supervising their children while in a pool environment.

27. For children under 5 years supervision means being in the pool with your child and within arm’s reach, and for children 10 years and under supervision means having them visible at all times. Our ratio’s require that any single adult supervising children under 5 years can only supervise a maximum of two children. If the children are aged between 5 and 10 years of age an adult can only supervise up to four children.

28. A high proportion of incidents that occur within our facilities are as of a result of parents not actively supervising their children. Often parents presume that this is the role of the lifeguard. This is not the case. The lifeguard is present to monitor and manage behaviour and be ready to respond to any incident or accident.

29. Whilst public feedback has been generally positive concerning these ratios they have caused some angst with some families and whilst it is not our intention to preclude any families from using our facilities, the health and safety of them and other users remains our priority.

30. We will be reviewing these ratios at the end of summer.

31. Western Regional Parks have enjoyed very high visitor numbers at the end of December with the settled weather over the Christmas period, which has placed significant pressure on park facilities and resulted in water supply running out at Muriwai over the New Year period.

32. The development of the Long Bay restaurant has been halted for a second time after koiwi were disturbed during excavation work. Discussion with mana whenua and Heritage New Zealand has been completed. The options for the redevelopment of this site are being reviewed in light of the recent discovery.

33. Waitawa Regional Park remained partially opened during this period due to the large slips affecting the main access road. Contractors managed to complete stage one of the remediation work before Christmas by opening the walkway through to the wharf. Engineers have completed the final designs and are awaiting consent to commence remedial works to reinstate the road. In the interim, park rangers have established a temporary one lane road to the beach until the major works commence, preventing the long walk from the upper car park. The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of March, and the road fully opened.

34. Staff from Southern Regional Parks and the Heritage team facilitated a hui with Hunua mana whenua to discuss the Hunua Range pest control programme, planned for later this year. Kaumatua were provided with a presentation on the planned project and the objectives behind it. There are further hui planned over the coming months looking at opportunities to involve mana whenua in the planning and monitoring for the project.

35. Urban intensification and a desire to meet the needs of a growing population yet retain playgrounds, sports fields and parks within easy access to most Aucklanders are associated with challenges such as noise and lighting associated with park activities. Increasingly urban design requirements seek that neighbouring residential developments oversee parks and squares in order to promote safety. However, park neighbours increasingly express concerns at noise generated by children at play. Technology may play a part in parks with quieter play equipment and controlled direction lighting. However as our city intensifies the concept of what is reasonable residential amenity may need to change while our homes may need to include better sound attenuation in their construction.

Projects

36. The construction contract for the Albany Stadium Pool has been let and physical work has begun. The build will take approximately 18 months with the facility due for completion by mid-2016. Currently three new pools are under construction: Albany and the pool at the Millennium Centre on the North Shore, as well as the pool at Otahuhu.

37. The new splash pad and changing rooms at Moana Nui A Kiwa Pool and Leisure centre were officially opened in December. This saw the entry to the outdoor pools opened up to be more accessible; inclusion of a new changing block, and a new zero depth splash pad that caters for young children and makes this facility a truly family friendly facility.

38. The project to renew Victoria Wharf Devonport was completed. The platform of this historic wharf, built in 1925, has been replaced and reinforcement work carried out to the piles. Work on the $6 million project started 18 months ago.

39. Work to upgrade the sports pitch at Ostend Domain via sand-slit drainage has been completed.

40. The new playground at Myers Park was completed. Elsewhere in the park upgrade of lighting, new CCTV, planting, way finding and interpretation signage, and entrance upgrades at both Queen Street and Poynton Terrace, are scheduled to be completed next month.

41. The rebuilt Blockhouse Bay beach reserve playground was completed.

42. The project to renew the brick retaining wall at the Wintergardens in the Auckland Domain has been completed.

43. The project to renew the Lovelock athletic track has been completed. The project also included the installation of shot put and hammer throw circles, a two lane long jump / triple jump run-up and pits and a synthetic paved jump area. Track perimeter fencing to the same standard as Council’s artificial field perimeter was installed. All works have been carried out to International Association of Athletics Federation standards.

44. The project to renew the Bellevue Playground has been completed.

45. A pedestrian and quad bike accessible bridge was been installed across the Karekare Stream just prior to Christmas to provide effective access to the Karekare Surf Club, emergency services and easier access to the beach for the public.

Consideration

Local Board Views and Implications

46. There has been no specific engagement with Local Boards in relation to this update report. Local Board views are sought with regard to specific operational delivery within the work programme, and these views are reported as and when those specific projects are reported.

Maori Impact Statement

47. Maori impacts with regard to the specific operational and capital expenditure delivery programs are reported as and when specific projects are reported.

Implementation Issues

48. No issues.

.Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Author	Ian Maxwell – General Manager Parks, Sports & Recreation
Authoriser	Dean Kimpton - Chief Operating Officer

Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee

10 February 2015

Auckland Domain Governance

File No.: CP2015/00411

Purpose

1. This report canvasses the current practice and challenges in exercising effective governance over Auckland Domain and provides options and a recommendation for the future governance of Auckland Domain.

Executive Summary

2. Since Auckland Council was established in late 2010 up until August 2013 the responsibility for decision making for Auckland Domain technically sat with the Governing Body however in reality the entire budget (renewals and operation) sat with the Waitemata Local Board resulting in a lot of day to day decision making sitting with the Waitemata Local Board. In August 2013 it was agreed future decision making for Auckland Domain would be split. This reflected the importance of the sporting facilities to the local communities and the significance and importance of the Auckland Domain to the whole of the region. However, in reality this has been a difficult model to implement and for two of the most significant cases a special joint committee or panel has been formed.

3. The current budget set up does not reflect the split decision making allocation. This needs to be resolved but in so doing it is appropriate to first consider alternative options for decision making that will make such things as budget management and reporting simpler and more effective for both the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee and the Waitemata Local Board. Four options are presented in this report and it is recommended that a joint Committee be established.

Recommendations

That the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee:

a) support the establishment of an Auckland Domain Committee, as outlined in option B of this report, to be made up of three members of the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee, three members of the Waitamata Local Board and a member of the Independent Maori Statutory Body

b) agree that the Chair of the Auckland Domain Committee be nominated by the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee and the Deputy Chair be elected by the Waitemata Local Board at the time of appointment

c) agree to all other terms of reference outlined in Attachment A of this report

d) request all budgets for Auckland Domain be transferred to a new regional account that can be reported to and governed by the new Auckland Domain Committee

e) note that the Auckland Domain Committee shall set its own delegations to officers

f) support a process whereby any variation to the terms of reference or appointment of members be reported back to the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee and Waitemata Local Board and be established by mutual agreement

g) note that a further report will come to this Committee with feedback from the Waitemata Local Board and, if in agreement, to appoint members to the new Auckland Domain Committee

h) note that general updates on Auckland Domain will come to the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee as part of routine reports from the General Manager.

Discussion

4. At a workshop on 14 October 2014 the current Auckland Domain Master Plan Panel discussed several issues and options relating to the governance of Auckland Domain namely - decision making, delegations and budget. Although this panel has no decision making power in regards to these issues it unanimously supported the establishment of an Auckland Domain Committee and asked that this issue be reported to the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee (PRSC) and the Waitemata Local Board (WLB) for formal consideration and decision making.

5. The issues of budget and delegation, which were also discussed by the Auckland Domain Master Plan Panel, are being dealt with, or proposed to be dealt with, in two different ways. The budget is being considered through the normal Long Term Plan (LTP) process although it is noted that the forecast needs for basic implementation of the master plan have not been able to be accommodated in the draft LTP and there are significant budget challenges with Auckland Domain. It is proposed that delegations to staff are established by the new Auckland Domain Committee (if supported).

6. In relation to the current governance arrangement, on 22 August 2013, the Governing Body resolved that decision making for Auckland Domain be geographically split, with the WLB being allocated decision-making responsibility for the playing fields and two community recreational leases (Auckland Bowling Club and Parnell Tennis Club), with the balance of decision-making on the Auckland Domain being allocated to the PRSC. This reflected the importance of the sporting facilities to the local communities and the significance and importance of the Auckland Domain to the whole of the region.

7. The August 2013 report included a proposed protocol for collaborative working. This provided a broad framework for how the governing body and local boards will share ideas and information in order to ensure that their respective decisions will deliver best possible outcomes for Auckland’s open space network. However it is not clear that this was meant to apply specifically to the split governance model for Auckland Domain and it does not answer several of the questions that have arisen when looking to effectively implement the split governance model.

8. There are a range of decisions that have arisen over the last couple of years that highlight the difficulty of the split governance delineation e.g.

a. The two proposals for Anzac Day commemorations at Auckland Domain which are currently being considered. One proposal is for a giant poppy which is to be erected and entirely managed within the upper sportsfield area while just around the corner there is a proposal to continue with the commemorative crosses. It makes sense that the same decision makers see these proposals (if not delegated to staff) and make a decision of the whole in yet under the current split governance these would technically go to different decision makers.

b. The sportsfield upgrades – these are very interdependent on stormwater management and will essentially influence both water quality and management outside of the sportsfield envelope

c. Affected party approval for a height in relation to boundary infringement at the Auckland Hospital site. Assessment of such infringements involve thought about shadow lines and visual impact from around the Domain and this impact is clearly felt both on the sportsfields and the surrounding passive amenity areas.

9. Over the last year or so affected party approvals have been referred to members of the Auckland Domain Master Plan panel (panel). In the absence of delegations the reason that these approvals were referred to the panel and often via email. This was done in the absence of any formal delegation and compared with delegations granted to staff in regional parks or local parks it is a large group of people and often unwieldy however it was considered to be a conservative approach in the absence of any other delegation being established.

10. In addition to the minor examples noted above, the most significant decision making activities affecting the Domain in the last couple of years; granting of a designation over part of Auckland Domain for the rail corridor and the development of a master plan for Auckland Domain have both resulted in special committee’s being established. In both cases the committees established have worked very well and mirror the structure of the new Auckland Domain Committee recommended in this report.

Consideration/Options

11. There are several options for implementing the split governance model for Auckland Domain and these are detailed below along with their pros and cons:

A. Status quo fully implemented

This would see a continuation of the current decision making split but follow on from this with by formally splitting budgets (currently these all sit with the Waitemata Local Board). Reporting and delegations would also be split between WLB and PRSC and decisions that affect both decision makers will be referred between the WLB and the PRSC where needed.

Pros –

i. All members sitting on the relevant decision maker body would be party to all decisions

Cons -

i. Any decision which affects both decision makers (the majority over the last few years affect both parties) will be time consuming and resource hungry (i.e. there will be an increased cost to decision making); particularly when a consensus cannot be reached from the first report.

ii. It is apparent many issues overlap the geographic boundaries and would benefit from joint discussion. This would need to happen from time to time creating an additional step of a joint workshop prior to independent reports and decisions.

iii. Splitting the budgets will not be an exact science as some of the contract costs such as litter collection are priced over the whole of Auckland Domain.

B. A joint committee be established

This would largely emulate the current Auckland Domain Master Plan Panel with budget held jointly and reported independently to this joint committee. The onus would be on the chosen members to report back their respective board/ committee however staff would provide updates as part of monthly or quarterly reports. The joint committee, once established, would need to set delegations for staff.

Pros -

i. It would ensure collaborative and holistic decision making.

ii. Would clarify and (once staff delegations established) speed up decision making

iii. Would reduce staff cost in double reporting

iv. Would enable a “whole of the Domain” budget to sit with this newly established Committee giving a clearer view of financial priorities and needs across the Domain and making administration of budgets simpler

Cons -

i. This would create another set of meetings for busy elected members however it is only proposed to meet quarterly or as required but at least once annually.

ii. There would be an additional democracy services administrative overhead associated with this Committee (noting that there has been a less formal/small amount of this for since the inception of Auckland Council with the two panels that have operated over the last two terms)

C. Increased delegations

This option would retain the status quo except that delegations to staff and/or an elected member would be increased (over and above the current delegations normally operating within Local and Sports Parks and Regional Parks). This option would emulate the pros and cons of option A with the exception of the point about decisions being time consuming and resource hungry – this would be reduced with this option commensurate with the amount to be delegated.

D. Amend allocation / combine with delegation

Revert to Auckland Domain being listed as a regional park or a local park in the allocation table which would give all decision making to one or the other of the current decision makers (PRSC or WLB). If this was to be implemented then the views and preferences of the other decision maker could still be considered.

Pros –

i. Would clarify and (once staff delegations established) speed up decision making

ii. Would reduce staff cost in double reporting

iii. Would enable a “whole of the Domain” budget to sit with the relevant decision maker giving a clearer view of financial priorities and needs across the Domain and making administration of budgets simpler

Cons -

i. It would potentially reduce the opportunity for collaborative and holistic decision making.

12. Based on the assessment above and noting the current preference of the Auckland Domain Master Plan Panel it is recommended that a new Auckland Domain Committee be established

13. The process for enabling this to happen is as follows:

a. The PRSC and the WLB must agree on:

i. Number of members to be appointed

ii. How the chair/deputy will be appointed

iii. Terms of reference

iv. Responsibilities to be delegated

v. How the agreement can be varied.

b. Once agreement is reached members can then be appointed.

If the recommendation is carried and an Auckland Domain Committee is established then this joint committee will be both a committee of the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee and the Waitemata Local Board.

14. As previously noted the current Auckland Domain Master Plan Panel, which is identical in composition to the previous Auckland Domain Rail Corridor Designation Committee, have informally discussed the option of establishing a new Auckland Domain Committee. They have recommended that membership should be the same as the Auckland Domain Master Plan Panel. While there are many options that could be contemplated this composition – three members of the PSRC, three members of the WLB and a member of the IMBS seems equitable and has worked well.

15. In relation to the election of the Chair and Deputy Chair, given the bulk of the Domain currently sits under the decision making authority of the PRS Committee it is recommended that the Chair of the Auckland Domain Committee be nominated by the PRSC while the Deputy Chair be elected by the WLB. This can be done at the time of appointment i.e. the next report back.

16. The current Terms of Reference and Allocation Table for both PSRC and WLB are the first point of reference in establishing any new Committee. It is proposed that the attached (Attachment A) draft terms of reference, which largely mirrors the current terms of the PRSC, thereby giving this new Committee the powers of PSRC. It is also proposed that the new Committee simply assume the responsibilities of both PSRC and the WLB in relation to the Table A.

17. This report does not canvas issues and options in relation to staff delegation but delegations will need to be established. It is therefore recommended that the Auckland Domain Committee shall set its own delegations once a decision is made on future governance decision making.

18. For simplicity and consistency with the current decision it is recommended that any variation to the terms of reference or appointment of members be reported back to the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee and Waitemata Local Board and be established by mutual agreement.

19. A further report will come to this Committee to report back on feedback from the Waitemata Local Board and, if in agreement, appoint members to the new Auckland Domain Committee.

Local Board Views and Implications

20. A similar report is being considered by the WLB and the decision of the PRSC and WLB with reported back to both decision makers.

Maori Impact Statement

21. Auckland Domain is considered of great importance to many iwi in the region. It is a historic site of conflict and peace amongst hapu in the Auckland region. Both the memorial on Pukekaroa and the displays and interpretation managed by the Auckland War Memorial Reserve pay tribute to significant events and the importance of the site to iwi.

22. Iwi have been invited to be involved in all developments and major decisions pertaining to the Domain including renewals and a member of the Independent Maori Statutory Body resides on the Auckland Domain Master Plan Panel. It is recommended that this model is continued under the proposed Auckland Domain Committee.

General

23. If this decision is supported it is recommended that the Auckland Domain Committee assume the responsibility of the Auckland Domain Master Plan Panel given all elements of the Panel and proposed Committee are identical. This would result in the draft and final master plan being adopted by the proposed Committee.

24. The Auckland Domain is governed by its own Act of Parliament – The Auckland Domain Act 1987. This will be the primary guide for decision making for the proposed new Committee. This is attached (Attachment B).

Implementation Issues

25. Staff will continue to report to both the PSRC and WLB on general park matters and will ensure that general updates on the Auckland Domain appear in these reports.

26. Since Auckland Council was established in late 2010 the entire budget (renewals and operation) for Auckland Domain sat with the WLB, which resulted in a lot of day to day decision making sitting with the WLB.

27. The current budget set up does not reflect the split decision making allocation. This will be shifted to the appropriate home depending on the outcome of this report. Visibility of any new budget arrangement will occur from 1 July 2015.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Draft Terms of Reference	25
b View	Auckland Domain Act 1987	27

Signatories

Authors	Jane Aickin - Manager Local and Sports Parks Central
Authorisers	Ian Maxwell - Manager Parks, Sports & Recreation

Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee

10 February 2015

Approval for works within Auckland Domain in relation to Parnell Railway Station

File No.: CP2015/00467

Purpose

1. To seek approval from the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee, having decision making responsibility over the bush portion of Auckland Domain, for Auckland Transport to construct stage one of the Parnell Rail Station with temporary construction access and permanent works on Auckland Domain.

Executive Summary

2. Auckland Transport is proposing to construct a revised version of the Parnell Rail Station project, adjacent to the Auckland Domain, referred to in this report at stage one. The proposal involves construction of the rail platforms and new pedestrian pathways within the existing rail designation. This work is anticipated to be complete by June 2015. Additional stages of development to realize the original full station concept may follow.

3. Temporary construction access is proposed through the outer extents of the Auckland Domain from a Watercare Services Ltd. designated access road. Immediately following construction access it is intended to form a vital pedestrian connection on this road to connect to Nicholls Lane (Carlaw Park) with the new railway platform. This is outside the railway designation and constitutes temporary and permanent works on Auckland Domain.

4. The proposal also involves other permanent works on Auckland Domain (outside rail designation) namely the treatment of the edge of the platform and development of pedestrian connections into the Auckland Domain from the rail corridor at four critical junctures. The development of the pathways is still subject to detailed design however, given the tight timeframes to deliver this project, there is a requirement to provide approval in principal for these connections as part of this approval process.

5. Overall, it is considered that the proposal will be beneficial to enhance access to and use of the Auckland Domain. The commitment for the development of critical pedestrian connections will be of public benefit and is in the best interests of the Auckland Domain. Conditions on landowner approval can be used to mitigate the effects of construction on the Auckland Domain and require the provision of detailed design (prior to construction) to provide a high quality outcome. It is recommended that landowner approval be granted.

Recommendations

That the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee:

a) approve in principal the proposed construction of stage one of the Parnell Railway Station. Particularly, the construction of the western rail platform (within the railway designation on Auckland Domain) and the pedestrian pathways to be developed in Auckland Domain under and in accordance with section 6(b) of the Auckland Domain Act, 1987.

b) approve the proposed construction access through the Auckland Domain from the Watercare Services Ltd. designated access road. This will be through the outer extent of the Auckland Domain and neighbouring land to be vested as parkland.

c) approve, in principle, the future establishment of a permanent pedestrian connection in place of the temporary construction channel required for the works. Design details of this will be supplied at a later stage to Auckland Council. Access through to Nicholls Lane will be subject to further discussions and approvals with the property owner.

d) approve, in principle, the layout, direction and function of four (4) vital pedestrian connections, being (a) from the platform through to the woodchip yard, (b) from the platform to the Watercare access road (c) from the platform to Nicholls Lane (d) from the underpass to Bledisloe Grove.

e) approve in principal the potential for a minor encroachment onto Auckland Domain from the battering involved in construction of the southern railway platform, subject to showing the ecological impact is negligible.

f) provide delegation to the Manager – Parks, Sports and Recreation to provide final approval and detailed design of the construction access, works within the Auckland Domain and new pedestrian paths within Auckland Domain associated with the stage one Parnell Rail Station works.

Discussion

6. Auckland Transport (AT) approached the Parks, Sport and Recreation Department on 3 December 2014 with a proposal to implement a reduced version of the previously discussed Parnell Rail Station. For the purposes of this report it is being referred to as stage one. The Parnell Railway Station site flanks Auckland Domain on the northern boundary as identified on the attached aerial (Attachment A).

7. AT and parks staff met in late December and early January to confirm the scope and impact of the stage one station proposal. AT have identified that they’ve been set an ambitious timeframe for this project i.e. approximately a six month period from inception to delivery.

8. The following is being proposed for construction within the existing railway designated area adjoining the Auckland Domain:

a. The proposed platforms are to be constructed adjacent to the existing Mainline Steam building, as shown in the attached plan (Attachment B). Both platforms are 5.0 metres wide and approximately 16.0 metres long.

b. New pedestrian pathways from the existing underpass to the platforms. CCTV operation and lighting of the platform.

c. Platform seating, service points, station signs and necessary accessibility considerations (stairs/ramps).

9. The following is being proposed outside the designated area:

a. Temporary construction access to the works area through the outer extent of the Auckland Domain. This access will be from the Watercare Services Ltd. access road, through the outer extent of Auckland Domain and through Carlaw Park (currently owned by Carlaw Campus Ltd. Partnerships).

b. Additional construction vehicle and personnel access may also be required from the newly developed Nicholls Lane, through the Carlaw Park development (subject to consultation with the property owner).

c. A future pedestrian linkage from the platform to the University of Auckland student complex, enhancing user experience and alternate access into/out of the Auckland Domain and the Railway Station for all. This pedestrian access will be developed ontop of the temporary access and run from Nicholls Lane, through approximately 50% of Auckland Domain land and 50% Carlaw Campus Limited Partnership land. It is noted that in the near future, the portion of land held by Carlaw Campus Limited Partnership will be transferred to parks ownership as per an existing landowner agreement associated with a consent granted for increased density of housing in this area. A concept showing the proposed permanent pedestrian connection through Auckland Domain is shown at Attachment D.

d. Potential battering (contouring) outside of the designated area on Auckland Domain land to accommodate the development of the path and platform. This will also involve works within the dripline of protected trees within the Auckland Domain and outside of the designation. As such, this work will require resource consent and will be investigated further once details have been confirmed and provided to Auckland Council.

e. The formation of an access from the underpass to Bledisloe Grove and from the platform through to the woodchip yard. The details surrounding how this is to be formed and its materiality are subject to detailed design.

f. The formation of these access points was committed to by AT in an access agreement (see details below).

g. The access points are not likely to require removal of any significant vegetation although this is still subject to detailed design and approval.

Access Agreement

10. The project originates from an application for the extension of the railway designation into the Auckland Domain by AT in 2011. As a result, the Auckland Domain Rail Corridor Designation Committee was established to determine landowner approval for works in the Domain. This committee was not re-established during the current term of council and therefore the Parks, Sport and Recreation Committee holds the delegation for land owner approvals in the Auckland Domain not including the sportsfields and lease areas (which sit under the governance of the Waitemata Local Board).

11. This application to extend the railway designation into the Auckland Domain resulted in an Access Agreement (dated December 2011) between the Auckland Council, New Zealand Rail Corporation (Kiwi Rail) and Auckland Transport. This Agreement is still live.

12. The work carried out in the summer of 2011/12 is referred to as the enabling works. It involved changing the gradient of the rail track to prepare for electrification, the installation of retaining walls, improved stormwater infrastructure, a new pedestrian underpass and access ways. The Access Agreement outlined various pre-commencement and post-works conditions, the majority of which have been satisfied (with the exception being the confirmation of the pedestrian paths, which needs approval of this Committee).

13. All enabling works were deemed necessary and generally contributed to the amenity, care, maintenance and stability of the Auckland Domain and were in its best interests.

14. The previous Auckland Domain Rail Corridor Designation Committee supported, in principle, three key proposed pedestrian connections to be funded by Auckland Transport. These three routes included (a) through to the Watercare access road, (b) to Nicholls Lane and (c) to the woodchip yard. The preference for these three connections was established through committee meetings.

15. A lot of time was spent discussing the development of a pedestrian over-bridge and the associated extensive hard surfacing egress and access to and from the platform that was to be placed in Auckland Domain to support the “full” development of the station. Early access proposals were rejected as there was a feeling they were too urban, contained too much concrete/hard surfacing and were not empathetic enough with Auckland Domain nor did they help people understand they were exiting the train station through a significant ecological area. The current proposal is a lot more low key and in keeping with the values of Auckland Domain. The overbridge and associated works will be the subject of separate funding applications and a future stage of development.

16. The establishment of the accessways shown in Attachment C is important because the existing path network in this part of the Auckland Domain consists of popular bush tracks which will be in demand once the new station is built and there are currently no existing connections to the new station platform.

17. Under the umbrella of the Access Agreement, landowner approval has previously been granted by officers to undertake enabling works and approve alteration of delivery timeframes (approvals dated 16 December 2011, 02 May 2012 and 22 August 2012 and 14 January 2015).

18. The most recent approval related to AT’s urgent request for permission to remove insignificant vegetation (grass and weeds) within the designation area to aid design work.

Pedestrian Connections and Temporary Delivery Access

19. The now dissolved Auckland Domain Rail Corridor Designation Committee previously approved, in principle, the function and location of three (3) pedestrian connections being (a) through the wood chip yard (b) via the Watercare Access Road and (c) via Carlaw Park.

20. The proposed station is located in an area of the Auckland Domain where there is no formal path network. The new proposal, without a pedestrian overbridge, pushes more people through the tunnel and onto the informal track network. Having reviewed this revised proposal staff have identified four locations on the Auckland Domain side of the station where new connections can be made, two of these were identified and are supported by AT and the other two are currently under consideration by AT;

a. from the existing underpass to the west onto the platform,

b. a new connection through Bledisloe Grove.

c. the Nicholls Lane extension

d. a connection from the platform to the woodchip yard,

These connections are shown on Attachment C and discussed in turn below.

21. From the existing underpass to the west:

a. Given the new reduced railway station proposal (without an overbridge) the pedestrian underpass is a critical movement juncture which enables pedestrian access and circulation from Ngahere Terrace and the new railway station into the Auckland Domain and from there onto the informal Domain (Bush) Track and the (informally named) Ho Chi Minh trail and connecting tracks. These are already popular walking and running tracks on the outer edges of the Auckland Domain.

b. It is important to note that the portion of the pedestrian walkway from Ngahere Terrace through to the existing underpass (within the Kiwi Rail owned land), requires a formal easement to ensure the future of this pedestrian movement channel. This is subject to further investigation and discussion with Kiwi Rail.

c. The proposal involves a new pathway from the existing underpass linking to the platform. This pathway will be linked as a ‘Y-intersection’ to enable people travelling from the northern platform or Ngahere Terrace to the southern platform to turn right immediately after the tunnel but also enable people to move from east to west entirely within the Auckland Domain path network on gentle gradients and with clear sightlines.

d. The proposed pathway to the platform (Auckland Domain-side) will be constructed to Auckland Transport standard. While it will be constructed of permanent materials it can be considered ‘temporary’ in so far as Auckland Council has the option to remove it during latter stages of the development (should it be desired/required) to be aligned to the master-plan for the Auckland Domain. That said, the proposed connection from the tunnel to the west onto the new platform and beyond to Carlaw Park and Lower Domain Drive is likely to be in high demand as an alternative to the current trail network and therefore will likely be retained while the existing informal path is disestablished.

e. The path from the underpass to the platform (Auckland Domain-side) will be 2.5 metres wide. The path materials and final finish are subject to detailed design review and will be provided to Council for approval prior to construction.

22. A new connection through Bledisloe Grove:

· The connection from the underpass leads pedestrians via a series of steps into the Bledisloe Grove at the corner of Domain Drive and Lower Domain Drive. There is no formed path from the top of the trail to the footpath. As this will be a key connection from the station to the park it is necessary to complete this connection to the park as part of the station works.

23. The Nichols Lane Extension:

· There is a proposal to make the construction access from Nichols Lane permanent (after construction is completed), which will allow the Nicholls Lane pedestrian connection to become a permanent and direct access point from the new rail station to the university accommodation precinct. The Nicolls Lane access alignment shown on Attachment D is considered to be the most appropriate movement corridor to retain the special character of the walk through the Auckland Domain.

24. The Woodchip Yard

· The connection via the wood chip yard offers the best connection from the station platform into the park. There is an existing service road from Lower Domain Drive into the wood chip yard, this area also connects to all of the pedestrian trails on the eastern side of the Domain. There is a magnolia tree on the cliff between the station platform and the wood chip yard, this will require an arboricultural assessment and may have to be removed to enable the platform to be constructed and the pedestrian connection to be formed.

Ecology and Arboriculture

25. Auckland Transport have supplied an arboricultural report and an ecological assessment for the works proposed (Attachment E and F)

26. The supplied arborist report investigated the area 7.0 metres from the track edge and the report groups the trees affected and/or proposed to be removed. Group three involved removal of insignificant vegetation within the designation and the Domain, which has been given landowner approval as detailed above. Group three also involves tree removals not associated with the Auckland Domain. Trees in groups two and four involve works within the dripline and some pruning within the Auckland Domain. These include an English Oak, Poplar, Horse Chestnut and Magnolia (group two) and a Puriri, Kohekohe, Cabbage Tree and a Totara (group four).

27. As mentioned, permanent battering works into the Domain is subject to detailed design review and considering the works will be within the dripline of trees listed in group two, resource consent will be required.

28. The arborists report illustrates a construction access channel that has since be re-evaluated and re-aligned to avoid much of the tree driplines. This is also subject to further design detail to confirm whether resource consent is required and what protected tree specimens are affected.

29. The supplied arborist report concludes that all works concerning Domain trees will have negligible adverse effects if achieved via the ‘Tree Protection Procedure’ detailed within the report. This is subject to further investigation and assessment from Auckland Council and is dependent on the detailed designs for both the permanent batter and the construction access.

30. The supplied ecology report provides a detailed account of the vegetative specimens within the subject area of the Auckland Domain.

31. The ecology report also provides an independent assessment on the 7.0 metres (from the edge of the track) which was surveyed and it was concluded that a narrow strip (1.0 – 2.0 metres) of vegetation (identified to be within the Significant Ecological Area) will need to be removed. This is however subject to detailed design and all native vegetation will be retained where possible.

32. The ecology report refers to the construction access to pass in-between two Puriri trees however, it has been agreed that this direction will no longer be pursued for construction access. Therefore, this ensures that there are minimal impacts on native specimens and no removal of protected and native trees.

33. The above accounts for the information gathered from the reports supplied and are subject to further review and investigation from Auckland Council experts.

Consideration

Local Board Views and Implications

34. The Waitemata Local Board is aware of this stage of the works and members of the Local Board were also part of the previous sub-committee. It is also important to note that the governance and delegation of decision maker authority for this portion of the Domain lies with this Committee (noting there is a paper on this agenda contemplating a further change to the oversight and governance of the Domain). In addition to this the Waitemata Local Board have a workshop briefing booked in for early February

Maori Impact Statement

35. Mana Whenua consultation was undertaken as a result of track works to the north of the current site and completed in 2014. With regard to this stage of the project, further consultation with Mana Whenua groups is required and is currently being undertaken.

36. Further mana whenua consultation will be required should a reason for resource consent be triggered under the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan. This will be required should Rule 2.7.4 of Part 3, Chapter G, Section 2.7 – Information Requirements for Resource Consents be triggered from the proposed works affecting the Significant Ecological Area.

37. Conditions of landowner approval can also stipulate a protocol to follow if archaeological sites (including sites of Maori origin) are found during construction and/or establishment of access routes.

Implementation Issues

38. Access from/through the Watercare Services Ltd. designated road, through the Domain towards the subject site will likely require resource consent under the Auckland Council District Plan – Operative Isthmus Section, 1999 and under the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (notified 30 September 2013). This is subject to further investigation.

39. A portion of the Auckland Domain (adjacent to Carlaw Park), through which the temporary construction access will bypass, is classified under the Reserves Act, 1977, as a Recreation Reserve and vested to Auckland Council.

40. The Auckland Domain is held under the Auckland Domain Act, 1987 and the works are in consistent with section 6(b) the Act, empowering Council to set apart any part of the Domain for facilities and amenities necessary for the public using the Domain.

41. The project is also consistent with Policy 3.4 of the Council’s Auckland Domain Management Plan, which emphasises the provision of public transport to enhance access to the Auckland Domain. Therefore, the works are envisaged in the best interests of the public and use of the Auckland Domain.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Parnell Railway Station location - aerial	49
b View	Parnell Railway Station - proposed layout (stage one)	51
c View	Pedestrian connections	53
d View	Proposed pedestrian connection with Carlaw Park - draft concept	55
e View	Ecological Assessment	57
f View	Arboricultural Assessment	83

Signatories

Author	Jane Aickin - Manager Local and Sports Parks Central
Authoriser	Ian Maxwell – General Manager Parks, Sports & Recreation

Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee

10 February 2015

Auckland Cemeteries - Levels of Provision and Demand

File No.: CP2014/28932

Purpose

1. This report provides information on the future demand for body and ash burials for the Auckland region and highlights the issues with levels of provision in Auckland Cemeteries to meet the projected future demand.

Executive Summary

2. Based on information from Statistics NZ (Census 2006) and analysis that has been completed to date, developed burial space and ash plots at two of the three main Council operated cemeteries will be exhausted in 2018/19. North Shore Memorial Park (NSMP) and Waikumete cemetery, serving the north and west of Auckland, will run out of developed burial space by 2019. Manukau Memorial Gardens (MMG) and Purewa Cemetery (privately owned), serving the south and east of Auckland, will both run out of burial capacity in 2035. Across the region, sufficient crematoria capacity is available for the next 65 years.

3. The analysis carried out shows that all ash plots at all sites will be exhausted by 2018/19, without further development. However, these areas are installed in a “just-in-time” basis, usually one or two years in advance of anticipated demand. They also require less land and less investment and are easier to install than burial plots. The future provision of ash plots is not considered to be a significant issue.

4. There is land available at North Shore Memorial Park that can be developed to provide additional burial capacity until 2042. Funding of $5.5million has been included for this work within the draft LTP 2015-2025, with development planned to commence in 2016.

5. Waikumete Cemetery is constrained by the limitations of the site. The only areas left to be developed to provide future burial space are the ecological area and surrounds and other areas on the site that are difficult to develop due to their topography. Initial investigations have been carried out as to the appropriateness of developing these areas but they will require more site investigation, planning and significant investment.

6. The demographics of the Auckland region are changing. It is anticipated that by 2020, 23 percent of the region’s population will be Asian (includes Chinese, Indian and Filipino). Whilst current figures show that across New Zealand 70 percent of people favour burial whilst 30 percent favour cremation, indications are that this will change. The majority of the Asian population favour cremation, so as the Asian population increases so will the demand for cremations. Sufficient provision is available for cremation in the region. Auckland also has the biggest pacific population outside of the pacific islands. Currently it is a very young population, but as the population grows older over the next 30 to 40 years there will be an increase in demand on cemetery burial services as this group traditionally favour burial over cremation. Although it is difficult to predict what the true impact on demand will be based on the changing demographics, it is clear that the cemetery service offer will need to be flexible and be able to adapt and offer a wide range of services to meet demand in the future.

7. Council has a statutory requirement under the Burials and Cremations Act 1964 to ensure that sufficient burial space is provided across the region by both council operated and independent (private) cemeteries. Ultimately, over the medium to long term, the responsibility for the provision of that burial space will fall to council owned cemeteries as independent providers exit from these community services.

8. From the analysis completed, it is evident that solutions to increase capacity in Auckland Council cemeteries need to be investigated. Development is planned within the short term to ensure anticipated future demand for burials across the Auckland region can be accommodated in the short to medium term, within the region’s cemeteries. Provision has been made of $46.5million within the draft LTP 2015-2025, for future cemetery acquisition and development of cemetery provision.

Recommendations

That the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee:

a) receive the report on Auckland Cemetery provision and demand.

Discussion

Background

9. There were 7,566 deaths in the Auckland region in 2013 (Statistics NZ). Of these, 1,446 were buried at Council cemeteries, 2,686 were cremated at Council crematoria, and the remaining 3,434 are assumed to be buried or cremated at independent facilities. Therefore 55 percent of the burials and cremations across the Auckland Region were carried out by Auckland Council owned cemeteries.

10. Auckland Council operate 53 cemeteries across the Auckland region. Of these, 30 are currently open. There are three main public cemeteries which each serve a separate area of Auckland. Combined, these three cemeteries carry out approximately 81 percent of the public-facility burials;

· North Shore Memorial Park serves the North Auckland area, including the North Shore and Rodney.

· Manukau Memorial Gardens serves the South Auckland area, including Franklin

· Waikumete Cemetery serves the Central and West Auckland area.

11. Auckland Council cemeteries currently provide space within their sites for Muslim and Jewish areas, decorated areas (favored by pacific people), lawn areas, mausoleum and those areas dedicated to RSA veterans.

Auckland Council owned open cemeteries:

12. Analysis has been completed into the capacity available for burial and cremations at Auckland Council cemeteries and to establish what capacity will be required, when and where, to meet anticipated future demand. The large independent cemetery, Purewa Cemetery, was also considered as part of this analysis because when it reaches capacity (in 2035) there will be an impact on demand for other cemeteries including those operated by Auckland Council.

13. Information used in the analysis for the number of registered deaths within the Auckland region and forecasts for deaths were provided by Statistics NZ from the 2006 census.

14. As identified in the Funding Policy under the LTP 2012-22, the majority of costs for cemeteries and crematoria are funded from the user charges. Grants and subsidies (for example the maintenance subsidies from Veteran Affairs) are utilized where available. User charges make up 99 percent of the funding whilst the additional one percent is made up of grants and subsidies.

15. The demographics of the Auckland region are changing. It is anticipated that by 2020, 23 percent^{^[1]} of the region’s population will be Asian (includes Chinese, Indian and Filipino). Whilst current figures show that across New Zealand 70 percent of people favour burial whilst 30 percent favour cremation, indications are that this will change. The majority of the Asian population favour cremation, so as the Asian population increases so will the demand for cremations. There will also be an increase in demand for places where “cremains” can be stored until Asian families (includes Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean) are ready to move them elsewhere, as it is considered unlucky to store them at home.

16. Auckland also has the biggest pacific population outside of the pacific islands. Currently it is a very young population, but as the population grows older over the next 30 to 40 years there will be an increase in demand on cemetery burial services as they traditionally favour burials over cremations. Although it is difficult to predict what the true impact on demand for cemetery services will be based on the changing demographics, it is clear that the service offer will need to be flexible and be able to adapt and offer a wide range of services to meet the changes to customer demand in the future.

17. Whilst there are other independent providers within the region, Council has a statutory requirement under the Burials and Cremations Act 1964 to ensure that sufficient burial space is provided across the region by both council run and independently run cemeteries. It is anticipated that as traditional independent cemeteries reach capactiy there will be a greater reliance on council cemeteries to provide burial services.

Regional Capacity Forecast

18. Table 1 below displays the regional burial plot and ash plot capacities across all public cemeteries. Each column shows the plot capacity for an area of Auckland. The “Overall” columns show the first year that capacity is exceeded (in any area). With the current number of available ash and burial plots, areas will start to reach capacity as early as 2019.

Table 1 Plot capacity summary – all regional public cemeteries

	Burial Plots				Ash Plots
	North	South	Central/ West	Overall	North	South	Central/ West	Overall
Available plots in 2014	1,247	17,744	2,300	21,291	1,583	660	988	3,231
Average annual demand from 2004 to 2013	260	810	400	1,470	355	180	160	700
Remaining life from start of 2014 (years, rounded up)	6	22	6	6	5	5	6	5
Reaches capacity in year	2019	2035	2019	2019	2018	2018	2019	2018
Remaining capacity if include undeveloped land area	29 years (2042)				10 years (2023)

19. Figure 1 below shows that by 2035, all the burial capacity available today will be exhausted. By 2018, all the ash plot capacity is exceeded. Note that in figure 1, unmet demand starts to accumulate before the overall capacity is exceeded. This is because the model used for analysis assumes residents will only be buried in the area they resided in before their death.

Figure 1 Total burial and ash plot availability across Auckland

Main Cemeteries

20. The remaining life of the four large cemeteries in Auckland is shown in figure 2 and Table 2. Manukau Memorial Gardens and Purewa Cemetery have burial capacity until 2035 and Waikumete Cemetery and North Shore Memorial are expected to reach burial plot capacity in 2019 and ash plot capacity in 2018. This does not include the undeveloped southern area of North Shore Memorial Park which is unfunded in the current LTP. If that were included, then North Shore Memorial Park would have sufficient burial capacity until 2042.

21. Ash plot provision is not regarded as an issue. As ash plots are smaller than burial plots, more undeveloped land in public cemeteries will be allocated to ash plots for future development. Auckland Council currently assumes a 1:4 demand ratio for ash plots to burial plots. Although the analysis shows that all sites will run out of ash plots by 2018/19 these areas are installed in a “just-in-time” basis, usually one or two years in advance of anticipated demand. They require less land and less investment than burial plots and are easier to install.

22. Based on information provided by Purewa Cemetery, burial plot capacity will be exceeded in 2035. Currently there are no plans and no land available in the immediate area, to extend this cemetery beyond this date. It is important to note that the public cemeteries reach capacity long before this, as shown in table 2.

Table 2 Burial and ash plot capacities of main cemeteries

	Burial Plots				Ash Plots
	NSMP	MMG	Waikumete Cemetery	Purewa Cemetery	NSMP	MMG	Waikumete Cemetery	Purewa Cemetery
Available plots in 2014	1,247	17,344	1707	NA	1,583	560	689	NA
Average annual demand from 2004 to 2013	220	630	310	165	340	110	150	240
Remaining life from start of 2014	6 years	22 years	6 years	22 years	5 years	5 years	5 years	22 years
Reaches capacity in year	2019	2035	2019	2035 (assumed)	2018	2018	2018	2035 (assumed)
Remaining life if include undeveloped land area	29 years (2042)^{^[2]}	To be surveyed			10 years (2023)	To be surveyed

Figure 2 Burial and ash plot capacities of main cemeteries

Crematoria

23. Table 3 below shows the current performance of public and private crematoria in Auckland. This assumes public cremators can perform five cremations per day, private cremators can perform two cremations per day, and cremators are in operation every day except Sundays and public holidays.

Table 3 Current performance of Crematoria

24. With the current total capacity of 10,900 cremations per year, there is sufficient capacity to meet demand for at least the next 65 years. Figure 3 shows the forecast number of cremations for each crematoria annually. The cremation trend flat lines when the cremators are working at 100 percent utilization.

Figure 3 Annual cremations forecast for each crematoria

25. The current crematoria capacities are sufficient to meet demand until 2080. Auckland Council crematoria on the three main cemetery sites currently have sufficient capacity to cope with future demand.

Draft LTP 2015-2025

26. The draft LTP 2015-2025 includes provision of $46.5million for the acquisition and development of cemetery land, within the Auckland region, over the next 10 years. $5.5m relates to the development of burial area at the North Shore Memorial Park. The remaining $41million will be used to extend burial areas at Waikumete, the acquisition of additional land adjacent to Manukau Memorial Gardens when required, and the acquisition and initial development of a new north western cemetery, which will provide burial capacity across that area of the region when Waikumete cemetery capacity is exhausted.

Consideration

Local Board Views and Implications

27. Local Boards will receive a copy of this report for their information. Rodney and Great Barrier Island Local Boards have specifically requested information regarding the capacity available within their Local Board area. This is addressed within the analysis that has been completed, and will be presented to the Local Boards for their information and feedback in developing a cemetery development plan.

28. Responsibility for decisions relating to Auckland Cemeteries rests with the governing body, although Local Boards will be kept informed.

Māori Impact Statement

29. The matters raised here are of critical interest to mana whenua and full consultation will be undertaken with mana whenua in the preparation of a cemetery development plan.

30. Te Ao Māori will be considered in preparing a cemetery development plan, including three key areas, Te Reo Māori (Māori language), tikanga Māori (protocols and customs) and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi). Together, these three areas will provide a broad overview, and a better understanding of Māori culture and Māori realities for the delivery of cemetery and cremation services.

31. A number of cemeteries provide urupa areas within cemeteries for Māori and tikanga Māori is provided for. A Wāhi Tapu Māori Komiti has been in place since 1996 at Waikumete Cemetery to oversee the operation of the Wāhi Tapu Māori area. Consultation was undertaken for the development of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw 2014 / Te Ture ā-Rohe mo gā Wāhi Tapu me ngā WhareTahu Tupāpaku 2014 and Cemeteries and Crematoria Code of Practice 2014 / Arataki Tikanga mo ngā Wāhi Tapu me ngā Whare Tahu Tupāpaku 2014. The Code of Practice, in particular, provides for Te Ao Māori.

Implementation Issues

32. As a result of the analysis that has been completed a cemetery development plan will be prepared and include:

a. Development of additional burial space at NSMP is planned to commence in 2016.

b. Detailed planning into the availability of land at Waikumete Cemetery for burial space. This work will be refine an initial assessment and will consider the overall business case for meeting demand over the short to medium term.

c. Planning future demand and provision across the Auckland region cemetery network will be reviewed at three year intervals to update the development plan, including analysis and information from cemeteries across Auckland (private and public).

d. Ash plots will continue to be provided by all cemeteries on a “just-in-time” basis on land in existing cemeteries.

e. Work will continue on seeking to maximise the utilisation of cremators on Auckland Council cemetery sites.

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Authors

Catherine Moore - Manager Auckland Cemeteries

Clare Thorne - Programme Manager

Authorisers

Mace Ward - Group Manager Regional and Specialist Parks

Ian Maxwell – General Manager Parks, Sports & Recreation

Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee

10 February 2015

Camping and baches across the regional parks network

File No.: CP2015/00451

Purpose

1. This report proposed options for changes to bach and camping fee charges on regional parks in response to a review of demand and market comparison. The report seeks to adopt a new fee schedule.

Executive Summary

2. In response a review of market fees and charges for accommodation options across regional parks have been reviewed. Currently a range of accommodation options are offered on regional parks, which include 55 campgrounds with a total capacity for 2207 campers as well as 21 baches. The Regional Parks Management Plan 2010 (RPMP) specifies that the accommodation costs must be affordable to ensure accessibility of the accommodation options to all is maintained.

3. The popularity of the campgrounds has seen a steady increase in camper numbers year on year with 100 percent utilisation in some of the more popular sites during the peak summer months. There has been a focus on developing additional capacity for tent-based camping over the last four years, which has seen it increase from 1,514 to 2,000 sites available per night.

4. Analysis of equivalent campgrounds offered by the Department of Conservation (DoC) and other commercial operators has shown that the prices charged for regional parks campgrounds are below market rates. Two options are proposed for camping charges. Option 1 increases both adult and children charges between $1 and $2 per night, depending on the campsite location and type. Option 2 proposes an increase to the adult rate by $2 per night across all campsites. This would generate $95,000 to $125,000 range in additional revenue, depending on the option adopted.

5. Over a number of years it has become evident that half of the baches on regional parks enjoy very high usage while the remaining baches can remain underutilised for periods of time. The proposal is to introduce a two-tier pricing model in an effort to manage demand in the high-use baches and encourage more bookings in those that have low-use. Those baches that have high usage throughout the year would see a 15 percent increase in fees whilst those that are considered under-utilised would see a decrease in fees of 10 percent. Analysis of current charges has shown that they are significantly below market rates, and even with the increase they will remain so and therefore affordable. It is anticipated that this would generate $26,000 approximately in additional revenue.

Recommendations

That the Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee

a) adopt the fees and charges effective 1 July 2015 as prescribed in the Regional Parks Camping and Bach Fees Schedule (2015), Attachment A of the report.

Discussion

Camping

Background

6. Regional parks offer a safe environment for people, especially families, to camp in the outdoors at affordable costs. Camping is a very popular holiday option for many Aucklanders, and with large tracts of both beach front and back country land, regional parks offer unique and popular destinations for camping holidays, either overnight or up to one week in duration. With many commercial campgrounds being subdivided for residential purposes around the North Island over the past ten years, the number of campgrounds has decreased, making the camping offer on regional parkland even more valuable.

7. Regional Parks offer 55 camping areas with a total of 2,207 sites on regional parks. The RPMP provided for an increase in camping through increased capacity in development of new campgrounds, extension of existing areas and a provision for certified self-contained camping (SCC) sites on a number of parks.

8. Over the past four years, regional parks have increased the overall capacity for tent based camping from 1,514 to 2,000 sites available per night. Five new SCC campgrounds for campervans and caravans have also opened, providing an additional 68 sites.

9. To ensure that the regional park camping experience is enjoyable as well as affordable and accessible, pricing and group size limits have been developed and a range of basic camping opportunities are available with differing levels of visitor services across the five different camping types:

Type of campground	Minimum level of infrastructure service	No of campgrounds and capacity
Vehicle-accessible campground	· Access for conventional vehicles · Provision of toilets, potable water and cleared areas suitable for camping · Rubbish collection and recycling facilities	· 17 campgrounds · 1,310 sites
Back-country campground	· Access only by foot, cycle and/or watercraft · Provision of toilets · Water supply will be available but may require treatment before use · Cleared areas suitable for camping	· 21 campgrounds · 630 sites
Sea kayak / waka campground	· Access only by sea kayak/waka, or similar · Provision of toilets · Water supply will be available but may require treatment before use · Cleared areas suitable for camping	· 3 campgrounds · 60 sites
Certified self-contained vehicle parking areas	· Access for certified self-contained vehicles at car parks	· 9 areas · 139 sites
Certified self-contained vehicle campground	· Dedicated campsites accessible for certified self-contained vehicles.	· 5 campgrounds · 68 sites

10. The majority of camping activity occurs during the summer months, when a number of regional park campgrounds have close to a full occupancy rate.

11. Eighty three percent of annual revenue is generated through the five months of December to April, the remaining 17 percent is generated mainly through weekend bookings during the spring and autumn periods.

12. The peak period from December to mid-February sees close to 100 percent utilisation at the most popular campsites.

13. Camping revenue has shown a steady increase over the past three years, generated purely through an increase in the numbers of campers.

Year	Vehicle-accessible	Back-country	Sea-kayak	Self-contained parking area	Self-contained campground	Total	Increase
2011/12	$541,362	$53,863	N/A	$29,757	N/a	$624,982
2012/13	$670,119	$65,232	$46	$29,880	$4,625	$769,902	23.2%
2013/14	$793,294	$74,387	$535	$30,635	$8,140	$871,914	13.2%

Fees and Charges review

14. The RPMP requires camping to be provided in the outdoors for people especially families for a minimal cost. Our camping charges are currently below market rates, when compared with DoC campgrounds, and other Auckland beach front non-powered campsites. Regional park vehicle-accessible campgrounds have similar service levels to equivalent DoC campgrounds, including toilets, water supply, rubbish and recycling bins, picnic tables and road access. Many also have access to barbeques, cold showers, and cooking shelters.

Type	Regional Park per night rate	Equivalent DoC campground rate	Standard commercial ground rate
Vehicle-accessible campground	Adult - $13.00 Child - $6.00	Adult - $10.00 - $15.00 Child - $5.00 - $7.50	Adult - $14.00 - $20.00 Child - $7.00 - $10.00
Back-country campground Incl. sea kayak/waka	Adult - $6.00 Child - $4.00	Adult - $6.00 Child - $3.00	N/A
Certified self-contained vehicle parking areas	Adult - $6.00 Child - $4.00	N/A	N/A
Certified self-contained vehicle campground	Adult - $6.00 Child - $4.00	N/A	N/A

15. In the past three years, a number of new regional park campgrounds have been opened and these are generating around an additional $40,000 of revenue per annum, including:

a. Self-Contained campgrounds at Shakespear, Mahurangi and Te Arai Regional Parks

b. Te Ara Moana/Sea Kayak trail campgrounds at Duder, Waitawa and Tapapakanga Regional Parks

c. Atiu Creek Regional Park vehicle-accessible campground

d. Wenderholm Regional Park - Schischka vehicle-accessible campground

16. Most camping fees have not increased since 2011 with the exception of a $1 increase to the Adult vehicle accessible campground from $12 to $13 in July 2013.

17. Two price change options are presented for consideration

· Option 1 – increase both Adult and Child per night rates

· Option 2 – increase only Adult per night rates

Type

Current pricing

Option 1 –
per night rate

Option 2 -
per night rate

Vehicle-accessible campground

Adult - $13.00

Child - $6.00

Adult - $15.00

Child - $7.00

Adult - $15.00

Child - $6.00

Back-country campground incl. sea kayak/waka

Adult - $6.00

Child - $4.00

Adult - $8.00

Child - $6.00

Adult - $8.00

Child - $4.00

Certified self-contained vehicle parking areas

Adult - $6.00

Child - $4.00

Adult - $8.00

Child - $6.00

Adult - $8.00

Child - $4.00

Certified self-contained vehicle campground

Adult - $6.00

Child - $4.00

Adult - $8.00

Child - $6.00

Adult - $8.00

Child - $4.00

18. Option 1 increases the per night rates across all campground types and would generate an estimated $125,615 in additional revenue per annum. It is likely that as this would have minimal impact as this would be the first price increase for children in four years and in two years for adults.

19. Option 2 increases the adult rates only and would result in an estimated increase in revenue of $95,000 per annum. This option does not change the price charged per night for children, and ensures that camping is still affordable, and does not dis-advantage families and children who want to experience camping and the outdoors.

Baches

Background

20. The ‘bach escapes’ programme seeks to provide affordable opportunities for people to stay in traditional kiwi baches located in a range of settings on regional parks. These baches are typically the original residences or holiday homes of previous land owners that have been renovated and adapted to provide an affordable, safe and secure family accommodation. Providing opportunities for park users to stay in a traditional kiwi bach or farm homestead is an important way of retaining this element of New Zealand’s heritage.

21. Accessibility to baches in general, and especially those in prime beach locations, is becoming out of reach for a large proportion of the regional population, for reasons of affordability and proximity. The houses on regional parks represent some of the few remaining simple, kiwi bach style properties, with basic levels of service provided including a fridge/freezer, bedding, heating and basic kitchen and living facilities.

22. There are currently 21 baches offered across the regional parks network. They range from small two bedroom cottages, some only accessible by boat/kayak, to large homesteads capable of sleeping up to 14 people. Two new baches will be opened to the public this year, located at Waitawa Regional Park and Duder Regional Park. There are another four buildings identified in the RPMP, which may also be developed and opened to the public as baches in the future.

23. Occupancy rates vary from around 85 percent for the beach front baches at Scandrett Regional Park, to around 25-30 percent for the less popular baches.

24. Bach revenue has steadily increased over the past three years, as the council wide 2.5 percent inflationary price increase has been applied to bach prices, and capacity has increased as new baches have become available.

· 2011/12 $362,834

· 2012/13 $373,617

· 2013/14 $379,606

25. There has been growth in popularity of the regional park baches in the current financial year, with revenues up 16.76 percent when compared to the previous financial year. Demand is exceeding supply on the popular baches, but continues to lag for the lesser known or new baches.

26. The two new baches that are scheduled to be opened in the new year, Waitawa bach and Duder bach, are both in the south and are currently being renovated and fitted out ready for use It is estimated that these two new baches will generate an additional revenue of $40,000 per annum.

Fees and charges review

27. Currently just under half the baches generate 75 percent of total revenue, whilst the seven least popular baches generate only 12 percent of total revenue.

28. Due to this uneven balance between well-utilised baches and under-utilised baches, a concept of a two tier pricing model to flatten out the demand across the range of baches on offer, is proposed.

29. A price increase is proposed for the top 10 baches, and a price decrease applied to the less-used baches (please see appendix one). A 15 percent increase in price across the popular baches would generate an additional $41,000, balanced by a 10 percent decrease across the less popular baches decreasing revenue by $15,000. Therefore a net increase in revenue of $26,000 is forecast to be achieved, assuming the same level of utilisation as the last financial year.

30. The current regional park bach prices are well under market rates when compared to other similar accommodation providers. The bach pricing model was chosen to ensure that all Aucklanders would get a fair chance to experience the traditional kiwi bach experience. A comparison of current prices across the market has shown that regional park baches are now significantly cheaper than similar offerings, especially in the most popular beach front areas.

Type of bach	Regional park per night rate		Average peak market rate
Type of bach	Peak	Off-peak	Average peak market rate
Standard bach	$146	$97	$195 - $300
Large homestead	$193	$146	$245 - $420
Remote bach	$121	$72	$150 - $250

Applying the price increase proposal

Type of bach	Regional park per night rate		New rate per night
	Peak	Off-peak	Peak	Off-peak
1^st tier - Standard bach	$146	$97	$168	$112
1^st tier - Large homestead	$193	$146	$222	$168

2^nd tier – Standard bach	$146	$97	$131	$87
2^nd tier – Remote bach	$121	$72	$109	$65

31. The proposed increased prices for the popular baches are still well below the average market rates, and so fulfil the RPMP requirement to offer an affordable bach experience. It is anticipated that a price decrease together with a greater focus on the marketing of the less well utilised baches will result in increased use.

Consideration

Local Board Views and Implications

32. Whilst local boards have an interest in any change to pricing structures, the camping and bach service offer is a regional service within the governance of the Parks Recreation and Sports Committee therefore local board views have not been sought.

Maori Impact Statement

33. There are no particular impacts on Maori which are different to those of other general users of the park network.

Implementation Issues

34. It is proposed that all changes to fees and charges become effective 1 July 2015. Regional Parks will manage implementation and all information will be made publically available on the council website.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Camping and Baches Fee Schedule	107

Signatories

Authors

Richard Hollier - Manager Regional Parks

Authorisers

Mace Ward - Group Manager Regional and Specialist Parks

Ian Maxwell – General Manager Parks, Sports & Recreation

Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee

10 February 2015

Camping tier breakdown

Type	Option 2 - per night rate
Vehicle-accessible campground	Adult - $15.00 Child - $6.00
Back-country campground incl. sea kayak/waka	Adult - $8.00 Child - $4.00
Certified self-contained vehicle parking areas	Adult - $8.00 Child - $4.00
Certified self-contained vehicle campground	Adult - $8.00 Child - $4.00

Bach tier breakdown

That a two tier pricing model be introduced for baches on regional parks as per the table below:

Tier 1

Bach	Current rate		New rate
Bach	Peak	Off-peak	Peak	Off-peak
Graham Bach	$146	$97	$168	$112
Schischka House	$193	$146	$222	$168
Coldham Bach	$146	$97	$168	$112
Tawharanui Bach	$146	$97	$168	$112
Moonlight Bach	$146	$97	$168	$112
Wenderholm Beach House	$146	$97	$168	$112
Courtyard House	$193	$146	$222	$168
Keddle House	$146	$97	$168	$112
Ferguson House	$146	$97	$168	$112
Baileys Cottage	$146	$97	$168	$112

Tier 2

Bach	Current rate		New rate
Bach	Peak	Off-peak	Peak	Off-peak
Barr Cottage	$146	$97	$131	$87
Awhitu House	$146	$97	$131	$87
Waitawa Bach	$146	$97	$131	$87
Big Bay Bach	$121	$72	$109	$65
Craw Homestead	$146	$97	$131	$87
Tapapakanga Bach	$146	$97	$131	$87
Takahe Cottage	$146	$97	$131	$87
Vine House	$121	$72	$109	$65
Puhoi Cottage	$121	$72	$109	$65
Atiu Cottage	$146	$97	$131	$87
Paturoa Bach	$146	$97	$131	$87

[1] “The Changing Demography and Superdiversity of Auckland” – presentation to Auckland Council 24 September 2014 by the Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley

[2] Or 2032, if set burial plots and ash plots to reach capacity in the same year at North Shore Memorial Park (Out of the 9,000 plots, allocate 5700 to ash plots and 3300 to burial plots)

Chairperson	Hon Christine Fletcher, QSO
Deputy Chairperson	Cr Calum Penrose
Members	Cr Dr Cathy Casey	Cr John Watson
	Cr Bill Cashmore	Member Glenn Wilcox
	Cr Ross Clow	Member Karen Wilson
	Cr Chris Darby
	Cr Alf Filipaina
	Cr Mike Lee
	Cr Dick Quax
	Cr Sharon Stewart, QSM
	Cr Sir John Walker, KNZM, CBE
	Cr Wayne Walker
Ex-offico	Mayor Len Brown, JP
	Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse
Independent Maori Statory Board (alternate)	Member David Taipari