Agenda of Waitākere Ranges Local Board

1 Welcome

2 Apologies

At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.

3 Declaration of Interest

Members were 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.

Specifically members are asked to identify any new interests they have not previously disclosed, an interest that might be considered as a conflict of interest with a matter on the agenda.

At its meeting on 28 November 2013, the Waitakere Ranges Local Board resolved (resolution number WTK/2010/5) to record any possible conflicts of interest in a register.

Board Member	Organisation / Position
Sandra Coney	· Waitemata District Health Board – Elected Member · Women’s Health Action Trust – Patron
Neil Henderson	· Portage Trust – Elected Member · West Auckland Trust Services (WATS) Board – Trustee/Director · Weedfree Trust – Employee
Greg Presland	· Portage Trust – Elected Member · Lopdell House Development Trust – Trustee · Titirangi Residents & Ratepayers Group – Committee Member · Whau Coastal Walkway Environmental Trust – Trustee · Combined Youth Services Trust - Trustee
Steve Tollestrup	· Waitakere Licensing Trust – Elected Member · West Auckland Trust Services (WATS) Board – Trustee/Director · Waitakere Task force on Family Violence – Appointee
Saffron Toms	NIL
Denise Yates	· Friends of Arataki Incorporated – Committee member · Ecomatters Environment Trust – Trustee · Charlotte Museum Trust – Trustee

Member appointments

Board members are appointed to the following bodies. In these appointments the board members represent Auckland Council.

Board Member	Organisation / Position
Sandra Coney	· Friends of Arataki Incorporated – Trustee
Neil Henderson	· Friends of Arataki Incorporated – Trustee · Living Cell Technologies Animal Ethics Committee – Member
Saffron Toms	· Ark in the Park – Governance Group Member

4 Confirmation of Minutes

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

a) Confirms the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Thursday, 8 October 2015, including the confidential section, as a true and correct record.

5 Leave of Absence

At the close of the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.

6 Acknowledgements

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

7 Update from Ward Councillors

An opportunity is provided for the Waitakere Ward Councillors to update the board on regional issues they have been involved with since the last meeting.

8 Deputations

Standing Order 3.20 provides for deputations. Those applying for deputations are required to give seven working days notice of subject matter and applications are approved by the Chairperson of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board. This means that details relating to deputations can be included in the published agenda. Total speaking time per deputation is ten minutes or as resolved by the meeting.

8.1 Glen Eden Baptist Church

Purpose

Senior Pastor Neil Baker from Glen Eden Baptist Church and Lisa Woolley, CEO of VisionWest Community Trust have asked for an opportunity to speak to the board regarding the following:

· To get to know and engage with the local board in a face to face manner.

· To highlight the collaborative work of Glen Eden Baptist and VisionWest Community Trust for the benefit of the local community.

· To explore and answer any questions the board may have about working collaboratively and constructively with the wider community

Recommendation/s

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

a) Receives the deputation from Senior Pastor Neil Baker from Glen Eden Baptist Church and Lisa Woolley, CEO of VisionWest and thank them for their presentation.

9 Public Forum

A period of time (approximately 30 minutes) is set aside for members of the public to address the meeting on matters within its delegated authority. A maximum of 3 minutes per item is allowed, following which there may be questions from members.

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

10 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.”

11 Notices of Motion

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

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

Waitākere Ranges Local Board Local Grants: Round One 2015/2016

File No.: CP2015/20573

Purpose

1. The purpose of this report is to present applications received for round one of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board Local Grants 2015/2016. The local board is required to fund, part-fund or decline these applications.

Executive Summary

2. The Waitākere Ranges Local Board has set a total community funding budget of $23,000 for the 2015/2016 financial year.

3. A total of $5,500 was allocated in quick response round one, leaving a balance of $17,500 to allocate.

4. Thirty two applications were received in this round, with a total requested of $159,614.12

Recommendation/s

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

a) consider the applications listed in Table One and agree to fund, part-fund or decline each application in this round.

Table One: Waitākere Ranges Local Grants applications

Organisation Name	Project	Total Requested	Eligible/ ineligible
Friends of Arataki and Waitakere Ranges Regional Parkland Incorporated (Friends of Arataki)	Friends of Arataki free kids day	$2,782	Eligible
Tuhi Tuhi Communications	Waitākere Tukutuku and Maori writing wananga	$3,500	Eligible
Safer West Community Trust	Keep on Keepin on - Carnival for a Cause	$6,000	Ineligible due to applicant being excluded under the Community Grants Policy section 97 (can only apply once for the same project)
Oratia Ratepayers & Residents	Oratia Settlers Hall interior restoration	$3,500	Eligible
Piha Ratepayers and Residents Association, Inc.	Piha Community Library building maintenance plan	$5,072	Eligible
Karen Shepard	Kiwi heritage homestay	$8,000	Ineligible project has already commenced
Conservation Volunteers New Zealand	Anamata stream restoration	$2,411.76	Eligible
Glen Eden Baptist Church	“TRAX” youth leadership training weekend	$2,293.69	Eligible
Glen Eden Baptist Church	Youth Zone	$12,680.48	Eligible
Waitakere Ranges Protection Society	Heritage area coordinator	$10,000	Eligible
Conservation Volunteers New Zealand	Bethells Farm pampas control	$2,799.99	Eligible
Conservation Volunteers New Zealand	Bethells Farm conservation work	$3,537.50	Eligible
Titirangi Community House Society Incorporated	Support for running costs of Titirangi Community House school holiday programme	$1,500	Ineligible due to applicant failing to provide quotes
Auckland Young Womens Christian Association T/A YWCA Auckland	"Safer for Life" Workshops	$1,600	Eligible
Konini School	Bikes in Schools at Konini School	$10,000	Ineligible due to the applicant being excluded under the Community Grants Policy section 88 (core education, part of their physical education programme)
Sport Waitakere	Waitakere Walking Festival: “Walk it Waitakere”	$2,200	Eligible
Royal NZ Plunket Waitemata Area	Titirangi Playgroup operational expenses	$5,000	Ineligible due to applicant being excluded under the Community Grants Policy section 97 (can apply once for the same project)
Titirangi Waka Ama and Wellbeing Charitable Trust	Whanau and youth project	$10,000	Eligible
Adventure Camp Trust Board	Clean and restore Opanuku stream water hole	$5,000	Eligible
Royal NZ Plunket Waitemata Area	Pacifica Beatz playgroup - operational costs	$5,000	Ineligible due to the project occurring outside the local board area.
OUTLine New Zealand Incorporated	Operating lesbian gay bisexual transgender intersex telephone helpline for Waitākere Ranges	$1,500	Eligible
Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery Incorporated	Surface Movements	$7,875	Eligible
RainbowYOUTH	HealthWEST Partnership	$1,206.60	Ineligible due to the applicant being unable to provide quotes and amount requested not meeting the threshold Waitākere Ranges grants programme
Waitakere Arts and Culture Development Trust	“TEMP” a 6 week outdoor public arts science experience referencing climate change, hub	$5,000	Ineligible due to applicant being excluded under the Community Grants Policy section 97 (can apply once for the same project)
People First New Zealand Inc	People First local groups: Central, West, South, North Shore, Pukekohe	$1,474.50	Ineligible due to the applicant being unable to provide quotes and amount requested not meeting the threshold Waitākere Ranges grants programme
Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust	Waitangi@Waititi 2016	$10,000	Eligible
Children's Autism Foundation	Community support programmes, for families with children affected by autism and their community	$5,500.80	Eligible
Waitakere Japanese Supplementary School	Waitakere Japanese Supplementary School (WJSS) after-school programme term one and two 2016	$5,060	Eligible
Urban EcoLiving Charitable Trust	Tread lightly caravan (TLC)	$5,300	Eligible
Auckland Regional Migrant Services Charitable Trust	Settlement activities for migrants, refugees and service providers	$4,000	Eligible
Geraldine Tew	Replant 67 Anzac Valley Road	$5,200	Eligible
Total amount requested		$159,614.12

Comments

5. The implementation of the new Community Grants Policy commenced on 1 July 2015. The policy supports each local board to adopt a grants programme for 2015/2016 and the Waitākere Ranges Local Board adopted its grants programme on 30 April 2015 (see Attachment A)

6. The local board grants programme sets out:

· local board priorities

· lower priorities for funding

· exclusions

· grant types, the number of grant rounds and when these will open and close

· any additional accountability requirements.

7. The Waitākere Ranges Local Board will operate two local grants and five quick response rounds for this financial year. The first local grants round closed on 11 September 2015.

8. The new community grant programmes have been extensively advertised through the new council grant webpage, local board webpages, local board e-newsletters and Facebook pages, council publications, radio, local newspapers and community networks. Staff have also conducted a series of public workshops in local board areas, which have been attended by approximately 1000 people across the Auckland region.

9. For the 2015/2016 financial year, the Waitākere Ranges Local Board set a total community grants budget of $23,000.

10. Thirty two applications were received for this local grant round, requesting a total of $159,614.12

Consideration

Local Board views and implications

11. Local boards are responsible for the decision-making and allocation of local board community grants. The Waitākere Ranges local board is required to fund, part-fund or decline these grant applications against the local board priorities identified in the local board grant programme.

12. The board is requested to note that section 50 of the Community Grants Policy states “We will also provide feedback to unsuccessful grant applicants about why they have been declined, so they will know what they can do to increase their chances of success next time.”

Māori impact statement

13. The provision of community grants provides opportunities for all Aucklanders to undertake projects, programmes, activities that benefit a wider range of individuals and groups, including Maori. As a guide for decision-making, in the allocation of community grants, the new community grants policy supports the principle of delivering positive outcomes for Maori.

Implementation

14. The allocation of grants to community groups is within the adopted Long Term Plan 2015-2025 and local board agreements.

15. Following the Waitākere Ranges Local Board allocating funding for round one local grants, Commercial and Finance staff will notify the applicants of the local board decision.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Waitakare Ranges Grants Programme	15
b View	Waitakere Ranges Local Grants application summaries	17

Signatories

Authors

Fua Winterstein - Community Grants Advisor

Authorisers

Marion Davies - Community Grants Operations Manager

Jennifer Rose - Operations Support Manager

Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey, Waitakere Ranges, Whau

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

Waitākere Ranges Quick Response Grants Round Two 2015/2016

File No.: CP2015/22593

Purpose

1. The purpose of this report is to present applications received for round one of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board Quick Response Grants 2015/2016. The local board is required to fund, part-fund or decline these applications.

Executive Summary

2. The Waitākere Ranges Local Board has set a total community funding budget of $23,000 for the 2015/2016 financial year.

3. A total of $5,500 was allocated in quick response round one, leaving a balance of $17,500 to allocate, noting that the balance would have changed according to what was allocated to the previous report (Waitakere Ranges Local Grants Round One – 2015/2016).

4. Six applications were received in this round, with a total requested of $7,393

Recommendation/s

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

Organisation Name	Project	Total Requested	Eligible/ ineligible
Glen Eden Community House Inc.	Glen Eden Community House	$1,000	Eligible
Laingholm Playcentre	Extending our toddlers' outside play equipment.	$1,500	Eligible
Albionvale Village Greenspace Trust	Enhance the village landscape and promote a sense of community through co-operation and volunteering.	$1,488	Eligible
Titirangi Playcentre	New climbing boxes and parallel bars	$1,500	Eligible
Albionvale Village Greenspace Trust	Planting and landscaping of our community's shared green spaces.	$905	Eligible
Waves Trust	White Ribbon campaign	$1,000	Eligible
	Total	$7,393

Comments

6. The local board grants programme sets out:

· local board priorities

· lower priorities for funding

· exclusions

· grant types, the number of grant rounds and when these will open and close

· any additional accountability requirements.

7. The Waitākere Ranges Local Board will operate two local grants and five quick response rounds for this financial year. The second quick response grants round closed on 16 October 2015.

9. Six applications were received in this round, with a total requested of $7,393

Consideration

Local Board views and implications

10. Local boards are responsible for the decision-making and allocation of local board community grants. The Waitākere Ranges local board is required to fund, part-fund or decline these grant applications against the local board priorities identified in the local board grant programme.

11. The board is requested to note that section 50 of the Community Grants Policy states “We will also provide feedback to unsuccessful grant applicants about why they have been declined, so they will know what they can do to increase their chances of success next time.”

Māori impact statement

12. The provision of community grants provides opportunities for all Aucklanders to undertake projects, programmes, activities that benefit a wider range of individuals and groups, including Maori. As a guide for decision-making, in the allocation of community grants, the new community grants policy supports the principle of delivering positive outcomes for Maori.

Implementation

13. The allocation of grants to community groups is within the adopted Long Term Plan 2015-2025 and local board agreements.

14. Following the Waitākere Ranges Local Board allocating funding for round one local grants, Commercial and Finance staff will notify the applicants of the local board decision.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Waitakere Ranges Local Board Grants Programme 2015/2016	93

Signatories

Authors

Fua Winterstein - Community Grants Advisor

Authorisers

Marion Davies - Community Grants Operations Manager

Jennifer Rose - Operations Support Manager

Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey, Waitakere Ranges, Whau

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

2015/16 lease workplan - expedited renewal process and review of ongoing lease management

File No.: CP2015/22103

Purpose

1. The purpose of this report is two-fold. Firstly, to introduce the operational approach to the delivery of this year’s community lease work programme. Secondly, to seek Local Board approval of the community lease renewal being advanced via this approach.

Executive Summary

2. Community leases are one of the ways in which Council provides support to local community organisations, assisting them to sustain the activities and experiences they provide in alignment with recognised local priorities.

3. Council has a substantial programme of community leasing work to complete this year. The scale of the programme includes a number of existing leases that have rolled over beyond their anticipated expiry date and require attention. There are also a number of leases reaching their renewal or expiry date this year. Staff provided an update to a meeting of the Local Board Chairs on 28 September 2015, which identified the scale of the programme at a network level and introduced a programme approach to help deliver the extra volume of work this year.

4. The programme approach aims to simplify procedures to enable a large number of more routine leases to be fast tracked, whilst focusing necessary attention on those community leases that are more complex. Extra staff resources have been made available to support this peak of work.

5. The main categories of work that are being advanced are:

· The renewal of existing leases

· The award of new land related leases

· The award of new building related leases

· Progressing more complex or involved cases

6. This report includes details of the first batch of fast tracked lease renewals. In every case the group has an existing right of renewal. Staff recommend that these leases be renewed.

7. To maintain productive delivery of this year’s programme, staff will be working closely with the portfolio holder and will operate to any delegations that are in place.

Recommendation/s

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

a) Approves the renewal of lease to the community organisation shown on Attachment A on the existing terms and conditions. This community organisation being:

· Glen Eden Railway Restoration Trust (Incorporated)

b) Notes that a community outcomes plan is not required or provided with this lease

renewal.

Comments

8. There is a substantial programme of community leasing work to complete this year, with leases due for renewal and/or expired leases to be re-established in all 21 of Auckland’s local board areas. In total there are about 500 work items to complete. Attachment B shows the distribution of this activity by local board.

9. Given the scale of the programme, staff have adopted a new approach to operational delivery this year, aimed at increasing productivity whilst supporting good governance. The approach will simplify procedures to enable a large number of more routine leases to be fast tracked, whilst focusing necessary attention on those community leases that are more complex. Extra staff resources have been made available to support this work.

10. There are three routine categories of work are being advanced.

· The renewal of existing leases

· The award of new land related leases

· The award of new building related leases

Staff will work closely with the appointed local board portfolio holder (where applicable) and progress this work in batches.

11. The following table shows the initial assessment of work in the Waitakere Ranges Local Board area.

Type of leases	Fast track	Complex
Renewals	1	1
New Leases	0	7

12. Progressing renewals is the priority first phase of this year’s programme. Alongside the fast track renewals, new leases and more complex renewals that require further input will be progressed.

13. Some of the leases requiring consideration are more complex or involved. These typically relate to situations where there are multiple stakeholder interests, external dependencies or issues related to the classification of reserves. Again, staff will work closely with the local board portfolio holder to prioritise and progress these cases once the more routine renewals are able to be progressed.

14. Attachment A includes the details of the lease renewals that are of a routine nature and it is recommended that these renewals be approved.

Consideration

Local Board views and implications

15. Staff provided an update to a meeting of the Local Board Chairs on 28 September 2015, which identified the scale of the community lease workload at a network level and introduced a programme approach to help deliver the work this year.

16. The content of this report has been discussed with the local board portfolio holder, including the rationale applied to the assessment of routine and more complex leases.

17. To maintain productive delivery of this year’s programme, staff will continue to work closely with the portfolio holder and will operate to the delegations that are in place.

Māori impact statement

18. Community leases generally supporting a wide range of activities and groups and are awarded based on an understanding of local needs, interest and priorities. As such, they are designed to create local benefits to many communities, including Maori.

Implementation

19. Staff will execute the decisions sought within this report promptly to ensure the occupying groups have clarification / confirmation of their tenancy.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Community Lease Renewals Schedule	99
b View	Distribution of leases by local board	101

Signatories

Authors

Donna Cooper - Community Lease Advisor

Authorisers

Graham Bodman - Manager - Community Development, Arts and Culture

Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey, Waitakere Ranges, Whau

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

Auckland Transport Update Report - October 2015

File No.: CP2015/21141

Purpose

1. The purpose of the report is to respond to Waitakere Ranges Local Board requests on transport related matters and to provide information about Auckland Transport’s activities in the board area.

Recommendation/s

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

a) Receives the Auckland Transport Update Report October 2015.

b) Provides feedback in regards to the Seaview Road timber edging proposal.

Comments

2. The Waitakere Ranges Local Board Plan 2014 - 2017 provides direction to Auckland Transport on the views and preferences of the local community. It has three main themes, with a number of key initiatives, relating to transport and the enhancement of public space along the road corridor.

3. The Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area is protected.

· Developing a Road Corridor Design Guide for the Heritage area.

· Implementing Local Area Plans (LAPs). The five existing LAPs for Oratia; Henderson Valley-Opanuku; Waiatarua; Muddy Creeks; Te Henga (Bethells Beach) and the Waitakere River Valley have transport related actions for each area.

4. Our Unique natural environments are healthy and restored.

· Implementing the Waitakere Ranges Strategic Weed Management Plan

5. Public transport, cycling and walking are easy, safe and connected.

· Support rail electrification and improvements to bus services

· Work with our communities on a proposal for a connector shuttle service for coastal / rural areas, similar to the Kowhai connection in Warkworth,

· Support the development of park and ride in Glen Eden.

· Working with Auckland Transport to improve the road corridor in Glen Eden.

· Develop a greenways plan for walking and cycling.

· Investigate options for a cycleway from Project Twin Streams pathway to Glen Eden town centre.

· Support the development of a cycleway alongside the Western Rail Line.

· Advocate for rural road safety improvements – including sensible speed limits and provisions for walking and cycling.

LOCAL BOARD TRANSPORT FUND APPLICATION UPDATE REPORT

MOUNTAIN ROAD WALKWAY - Detail Design Stage

6. Project scope

A footpath design and construction on Mountain Road from 6 Mountain Road to the Opanuku Pipeline Track.

Status

7. The draft detailed design was presented and agreed with the local board, R & R and all other stakeholders. Safety audit on proposed design has been completed. The resource consents application is in progress and will be lodged by 19th October, 2015. The final detailed design will be handed over to the delivery team by mid next week to start the tender documentation for the construction phase (Subject to resource consents approval).

ORATIA PROJECTS: IMPROVEMENTS TO WALKING & CYCLING FACILITY - Preliminary design stage

8. Project scope (Updated)

· The widening of the existing footpath into a 3m wide shared path on the southern side of West Coast Road starting from the Oratia Kindergarten and ending near the intersection of West Coast Road and Parrs Cross Road.

· Improvement to the pedestrian crossing facility opposite Oratia Kindergarten and the Settlers Hall.

· Improvement to the pedestrian crossings on Shaw Road and a planted kerb build-out to slow down the turning traffic.

9. Please note: A new footpath on the Northern Side of West Coast Road (starting from outside 543 West Coast Road and ending outside 515 West Coast Road) has been excluded from the scope of the project as instructed by the WRLB during the workshop dated 17 September, 2015.

Status

10. Local Board has approved a construction budget of $400,000 over and above the previously allocated $30,000 for design of this project. Procurement for the design phase is in progress and the preliminary design stage is anticipated to be started by 20^th October 2015.

WALKING & CYCLING CONNECTION FROM ORATIA TO TWIN STREAMS WALKWAY AND SUNNYVALE TRAIN STATION THROUGH PARRS PARK - Investigation Stage

Project scope (updated)

11. The project scope includes investigation & preliminary design for provision of a safe and improved off-road walking & cycling connection link from Oratia to the Project Twin Streams walkway and Sunnyvale Train Station. The further investigation and design will be based on the preferred option revealed through feasibility studies supported by WRLB.

Status

12. The final feasibility report was presented to the WRLB during the September workshop. The LB has now allocated $35,000 to start the investigation phase on the preferred option that the study recommended. The procurement process for the consultant for further investigation and concept design will be started by 20October 2015.

CAPTAIN SCOTT ROAD (NEAR ITS INTERSECTION WITH WEST COAST ROAD) – PEDESTRIAN & STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS - Investigation Stage

Status

13. A presentation on this project was made to the WRLB in September, during which the LB endorsed two options to be taken further and consulted on with the local businesses. Consultation with the local businesses was scheduled for the end of October 2015.

RESPONSES AND PROGRESS REPORTS

CORNWALLIS SLIP UPDATE

14. The physical works were completed at the beginning of October.

O’NEILS ROAD SPEED

15. The Local Board has received a complaint requesting Auckland Transport investigate reducing speeds on O’Neils Road.

Response

16. Following the enquiry about safety when exiting a driveway at 70 O’Neils Road, an engineer has undertaken an assessment of the area. Auckland Transport’s site observations showed that existing measures to assist with visibility, are by way of a convex mirror and concealed exit sign.

17. While AT do appreciate the concerns, police crash records do not indicate there to be a significant safety issue at this location, sufficient to justify further changes. However, AT do acknowledge the complainants concerns and make the recommendation of only turning left out the driveway.

18. Auckland Transport’s engineer has also reviewed the speed limit on the southern part of O’Neills Road, in accordance with the requirements of the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2003, and under the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Draft Speed Management Guide.

19. The Speed Limits Rule is a central government regulation which governs how speed limits are set and seeks to achieve a consistent approach across the entire country. Under the current speed limit rule the existing speed limits on O’Neills Road are correctly set. The dominant factor in determining the speed limits under the current rule is the level of roadside development, with the rural open road speed limit (100km/hr) being applied to the southern section of the road due to the sparse level of roadside development.

20. The Draft Speed Management Guide is the development of a new approach to speed limit setting and planned changes to the speed limit rule, that shift the focus towards the national safe system approach. The speed management guide places greater emphasis on the function and use of the road, the geometry of the road and the crash risk. The speed management guide is still a work in progress and has not yet been finalised. However, it is expected that when it is finalised the changes to speed limits will be initially targeted at areas with the greatest crash risk.

21. O’Neills Road functions as a local road. It has low traffic volumes and constrained geometry. O’Neills Road has a low-medium crash risk based on crash records from the last five years.

22. Taking into account these various factors it is likely that O’Neills Road would qualify for a lower speed limit under the new approach, although in terms of priority, the low-medium crash risk means it may need to wait for higher priority sites to be addressed first, when a roll out of changes under the new speed management guide proceeds.

TRAM VALLEY ROAD SPEED LIMIT

23. The Local Board has received a complaint requesting Auckland Transport investigate reducing on speed on Tram Valley Road.

Update

24. Auckland Transport is investigating this request.

HUIA ROAD SPEED LIMIT

25. The Local Board has received a complaint requesting Auckland Transport investigate extending the 50 km/h speed limit up to the hill in Parau.

Update

26. Auckland Transport (AT) has visited the site and undertaken an initial review of the issue raised. Further detailed investigation now needs to be undertaken to ensure a comprehensive review of this issue. This investigation has been prioritised and programmed for review, following which Auckland Transport will be able to provide the Local Board with the outcome and recommendations based on AT’s assessment. The Local Board is expected to receive an update from Auckland Transport by early November 2015.

DRAFT DESIGN GUIDELINE UPDATE

27. Update on timeline for the Local Board:

· Consultation on draft document October-November with Local Board, Residents & Ratepayers group and in-house AT teams

· Final draft for review November/December 2015

· Publication Jan/Feb 2016 (Provisional)

KAREKARE ROAD POHUTUKAWA TREE

28. Auckland Transport identified a pohutukawa tree on Karekare Road as a potential hazard for users of this road, due to the lack of vertical clearance above the road carriageway. Following discussion with Park’s Arborists, the decision was made to commission an arboricultural assessment of the tree. The arborist’s report identifies that this pohutukawa tree is very old and will progressively decline but potentially has many years of life left. It is also only 3.25 metres, at its lowest point, above the carriageway, when the generally permitted minimum vehicle height clearance is 4.5 metres. Auckland Transport has decided to not remove the limb of the tree but have instead installed further warning signage to alert road users to the potential hazard. A monitoring programme is also being introduced. Additionally, the option of propping the limb, as a means of preventing the limb from lowering further, is currently being investigated by staff. AT and AC staff met recently with the Waitakere Ranges Local Board to provide a briefing and seek feedback.

29. If the propping option is not viable then the issue is likely to be revisited.

MOUNTAIN ROAD, HENDERSON VALLEY – SIGNAGE

30. The Ward Councillor and Local Board Transport Portfolio Lead have been contacted by a local resident about roading issues on Mountain Road. The resident would like Auckland Transport to investigate installing signage to slow traffic on this road.

Update

31. An Auckland Transport engineer has visited the site and undertaken an initial review of the concerns raised. Further detailed investigation now needs to be undertaken to ensure a comprehensive review of this issue. This investigation has been prioritised and programmed for review, following which AT will be able to provide the local board with the outcome and recommendations of the assessment.

32. The Local Board can expect to receive an update from Auckland Transport by end of January, 2016.

ARAPITO ROAD – PARKING RESTRICTIONS

33. A request for installation of No Stopping At All Times (NSAAT) restrictions at this location.

Response

34. Auckland Transport acknowledges that parking of vehicles along the curve, in the vicinity of numbers 24-28 Arapito Road, is considered unsafe. This is due to the lack of forward visibility available to drivers, particularly drivers travelling east on Arapito Road. Therefore, AT support the installation of No Stopping At All Times (NSAAT) restriction at this location.

35. Consultation will be undertaken shortly to seek feedback from the most affected parties of this proposal. Please note that the implementation of the proposed parking restriction will be subject to a number of considerations, including the feedback from those consulted.

36. With regards to the request for the NSAAT restriction on the western side of Arapito Road, in the vicinity of number 33 Arapito Road, AT advise that the installation of the additional restriction at this location, is not supported. Given that there is a NSAAT restriction already in place on the eastern side (inside) of the curve. This is considered to be the critical location and thereforeinstallation of an additional NSAAT restriction at this location is not considered to be required. However, the site will be monitored in the future and if the issues persist, additional restrictions will be considered.

Local Board Response

37. The Local Board Transport Portfolio holder was supportive of the proposal.

RED HILLS ROAD, MASSEY ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

38. Auckland Transport will be introducing a number of new road safety improvements along Red Hills Road. Attached is an overview plan showing the proposed (attachment A).

What are the proposed changes?

39. Auckland Transport will be introducing the following improvements:

· New warning signs and road marking lines along Red Hills Road, to encourage slower speeds.

· High friction road surfacing on the bend outside No. 11 Red Hills Road, to increase the grip of the road surface.

· Sealing of driveways at private property Nos. 22, 45, 67, 83, 170, 185, 187, 235, 315 and 319 Red Hills Road, to stop gravel coming onto the road.

· Vegetation trimming at a number of locations to help improve visibility.

For further details about these changes, please refer to the attached plan.

Why are the changes required?

40. A review of the recorded crash history over the past five years for Red Hills Road has indicated 37 crashes. As a result of this, Auckland Transport has carried out a Crash Reduction Study to identify possible road safety improvement measures.

41. Auckland Transport expects to introduce these road safety improvements before the end of the current financial year, June 2016, subject any design and funding issues.

Next Steps

· Completion of the detailed design of the proposed improvement work.

· Implementation of the proposed improvement measures.

· Please note that Contractors will notify all the affected residents 48 hours prior to the commencing the construction work.

Local Board Response

42. The Local Board Transport Portfolio holder was supportive of the proposal.

PEDESTRIAN REFUGE ISLANDS AT SEYMOUR ROAD

43. Auckland Transport is seeking feedback on a proposal to introduce road safety improvements along Seymour Road.

What are the proposed changes?

44. Auckland Transport is proposing the following improvements:

· Installing a new pedestrian refuge island and new pram crossings near No.72 Seymour Road.

· Installing a new pedestrian refuge island at the existing pram crossings near No. 102 Seymour Road.

Why are the changes required?

45. Auckland Transport has carried out site observations and investigations to identify road safety issues along Seymour Road. Site observations have shown that there is a high pedestrian crossing demand near Nos.72 and102. Auckland Transport believe pedestrians use these two locations to access the existing walkway adjacent to Seymour Road, which in turn, also provides access to several community services such as schools, child care centre and sports centre.

46. Currently there are no crossing facilities at this location, so to improve safety, Auckland Transport is proposing to install new pedestrian refuge islands to assist people in crossing the road safely.

Why are we removing parking?

47. Auckland Transport acknowledges that this proposal will result in a loss of some on-street parking spaces. However, the removal of parking is necessary to improve the visibility of pedestrians at the new crossing facilities. Twelve spaces near No.104 and nine near No.74 Seymour Road are likely to be removed as a result of these changes. Attached is an overview plan showing the proposed (attachment B)

Local Board Response

48. The Local Board Transport Portfolio holder was supportive of the proposal.

NEW NO PASSING LINE - 182 - 214 BETHELLS ROAD, BETHELLS

49. This is to notify you of the new no-passing line which is planned to be installed on Bethells Road between Nos.182 and 214 Bethells Road, Bethells.

50. Auckland Transport received concerns from the Bethells Summer Ranger, regarding vehicles travelling along the centre of the road in the vicinity of 192 – 204 Bethells Road, Bethells Beach.

51. Site investigation indicated that due to the existing crest on Bethells Road, in the vicinity of property No.186, oncoming traffic would have limited visibility of the vehicles travelling along the centre of the road.

52. In addition, as the posted speed limit changes from 70kph to 50kph immediately north of this crest, oncoming vehicles are likely to be travelling at higher speeds. This has the potential to cause head-on crashes.

53. Therefore a decision was made to install a no-passing line between no. 182 and 214 Bethells Road, Bethells as shown in the attached diagram (attachment C).

54. The legalisation of this work has now been completed.

55. Auckland Transport expect the no-passing lines to be installed before the end of November 2015.

Local Board Response

56. The Local Board Transport Portfolio holder was supportive of the proposal.

TITIRANGI VILLAGE – REMOVAL OF SPEED HUMP

Introduction

57. Following complaints from Auckland Transport’s Public Transport team regarding the safety and comfort of buses travelling over a speed hump on Titirangi Road, Titirangi, an investigation was carried out.

Site description

58. The speed hump is located at the eastern end of the village near the intersection with Rangiwai Road. This site is constructed out of block paved units, with advance warning signs and painted white lines denoting the raised domed-shaped profile speed hump. Parking is permitted on both sides of Titirangi Road at this location. In the 5 year period 2010-2015, there have been 3 reported crashes near this location but none of these reports mentioned the speed hump.

Location Plan

Site photographs

59. From site observations, the road surface and the speed hump block paved units have become dislodged and are in need of repair. This has created an uneven surface for all vehicles and in particular, causes discomfort for bus passengers.

Photo 1 – Rangiwai Road intersection looking towards the speed hump

Photo 2 – Location of Speed hump

60. In addition, it is clear that a number of vehicles travel too fast over the calming measure and create damage to the road surface itself, as shown by significant indentations in the road surface.

Photo 3 – Dislodged block paved units Photo 4 – Road surface damage

61. Auckland Transport propose to remove the speed hump and reconstruct the road surface and by relaying the existing blocks so they have a small 10mm lip on the entry/exit. This work would create an entry treatment traffic calming measure in place of the existing vertical design feature. No loss of car parking is proposed.

62. There were some questions raised by the Titirangi Residents and Ratepayers which Auckland Transport has responded to through the Local Board Transport Lead.

Local Board Response

63. The Local Board Transport Lead is happy with what is being proposed

TAHI TERRACE AND FRUITVALE ROAD, GLEN EDEN - PROPOSED ‘NO STOPPING AT ALL TIMES’ RESTRICTION

64. Auckland Transport, in response to concerns that have been raised by local residents with regards to the safety and accessibility issues caused by parked cars on Tahi Terrace, near the intersection of Tahi Terrace and Fruitvale Road, is proposing installing NSAAT restrictions

65. At present, vehicle parking is allowed on both sides of Tahi Terrace, in the vicinity of this intersection. However, vehicle parking in the vicinity of this intersection, including adjacent to the existing splitter island on Tahi Terrace, causes access issues, as there is insufficient space for oncoming drivers to pass the parked vehicles.

66. In addition, site visits have confirmed that drivers currently park vehicles on Fruitvale Road within the intersections of Tahi Terrace/Fruitvale Road and Northall Road/Fruitvale Road. Please note the Land Transport Road User Rule 2004: “A driver must not stop, stand, or park a vehicle on any part of a road, whether attended or unattended, within an intersection or within 6 m of an intersection unless the stopping, standing, or parking is authorised by signs or markings maintained by the road controlling authority.”

67. As per the above road rule, vehicle parking within these intersections or within 6m of these intersections is illegal, as it causes safety and operational issues at these locations.

68. Therefore, to help improve accessibility and ensure safe operations at these intersections, AT are proposing to implement ‘No Stopping At All Times’ (NSAAT) through installation of ‘Broken Yellow Lines’ at the locations indicated on the attached aerial photograph (attachment D).

Local Board Response

69. The Local Board Transport Portfolio holder was supportive of the proposal.

BOWERS ROAD – KEEP CLEAR SIGN REQUEST

70. A blocked intersection or driveway can cause frustration, however experience has shown ‘Keep Clear’ markings are generally ineffective and, potentially dangerous as they tend to provide motorists with the expectation that vehicles will not drive onto the marked area, giving them a false sense of security. This tends to increase the risk for motorists turning into the ‘Keep Clear’ area, to be hit by an approaching vehicle and this risk is increased in multi-laned roads. As such, Auckland Transport rarely install ‘Keep Clear’ markings except in high use or emergency access situations, such as at fire stations and medical centres.

71. While AT are unable to install ‘Keep Clear’ markings, a site investigation was undertaken to identify the possibility of installing a right turning bay on Bowers Road to improve access for vehicles entering the Fresh Choice car park.

72. Our investigation indicated that at present, the Fresh Choice car park can be accessed via both Bowers Road and West Coast Road, as there is an entrance/exit on both Bowers Road and West Coast Road.

73. It was also identified that the entry/exit of Fresh Choice on Bowers Road is located approximately 35 metres south of the signalised intersection at West Coast Road, and opposite the entry/exit of Mobil Petrol Station. Installation of a right turning bay at this location may create adverse effects for the right and left turning vehicles from West Coast Road into Bowers Road, as well as for the vehicles exiting from the Mobil Service Station.

74. Therefore, while AT understand the reason behind the request, due to the conflicting vehicle movements at this location, and the close proximity to the signalised intersection, neither ‘Keep Clear’ signage nor a right turning bay, can be provided at this location.

LOCAL BOARD FEEDBACK REQUESTED

SEAVIEW ROAD, PIHA - PROPOSED TIMBER EDGING

75. Auckland Transport is has received concerns that have been raised by the Piha Ratepayers and Residents’ Association with regards to safety issues experienced by pedestrians when walking along Seaview Road, Piha.

76. At present, timber edging is provided on the southern side of Seaview Road to provide a walking area for pedestrians. The timber edging starts in the vicinity of the Piha Community Library and continues up to the western end of Seaview Road. However, a gap in the timber edging was provided east of the Piha Domain access way, to allow for vehicle parking. The pedestrian movement at this location was intended to move south from the road edge, through the grassed area, and connect back to the road edge west of Piha Domain access way. However, due to the existing planting at this location, pedestrians experience difficulty walking through this grass area.

77. Therefore, in order to provide a safe area for pedestrians to walk, Auckland Transport recommends extending the timber edging up to the Piha Domain accessway as shown in the attached diagram (attachment E).

Local Board Response

78. Auckland Transport is seeking the Local Board comments on this proposal.

ISSUES PENDING
Subject Name	Description	Due Date
Huia Road Speed Limit & Footpath, Parau	A request has been received from the Local Board Portfolio Lead to look at the speed on Huia Road with a view to speed restriction being introduced.	December 2015

ISSUES COMPLETED
Subject Name	Decision Description	Date Requested	Completion date
Sarona Avenue, Glen Eden - Proposed No Stopping At All Times (Nsaat) Restriction	The Local Board Transport Portfolio holder was supportive of the proposal	September 2015	October 2015

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Red Hills Road Crash Route Study Proposed Improvements Consultation Plan	113
b View	Seymour Road Pedestrian Refuge Island for Consultation	121
c View	Bethells Road, Bethells Beach, WRLB No Passing Lanes	123
d View	Tahi Terrace and Fruitvale Road, Proposed No Stopping at all times restriction	125
e View	CONSULTATION PLAN - Seaview Road Piha	127

Signatories

Authors

Owena Schuster - Elected Member Relationship Manager - West, Auckland Transport

Authorisers

Jonathan Anyon, Elected Member Relationship Team Manager

Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey, Waitakere Ranges, Whau

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

Auckland Transport Quarterly Update to Local Boards - 1 July to 30 September 2015

File No.: CP2015/22407

Executive Summary

1. The purpose of this report is to inform local boards about progress on activities undertaken by Auckland Transport (AT) in the three months 1 July – 30 September 2015 and planned activities anticipated to be undertaken in the next three months.

Attachments include:

A – Auckland Transport activities

B – Travelwise Schools activities

C – Decisions of the Traffic Control Committee

D – Report against local board advocacy issues

E – Report on the status of the local board’s projects under the Local Board Transport Capital Fund (LBTCF).

Recommendation/s

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

a) Receives the Auckland Transport Quarterly update to Local Boards

Significant activities during the period under review

Strategy and Planning

2. Penlink

· The Notice of Requirement for the alteration to the designation and consents has been completed.

· Auckland Transport and its witnesses have completed their evidence and submitted these to the independent hearings panel.

· The evidence was presented at the hearing held during the week 22 – 25 September 2015.

· A set of designation conditions was agreed to between Council and AT and these were presented to the commissioners.

· Recommendations from the commissioners are expected later this year.

3. RPTP Variation

The AT Board adopted the Hearings Panel recommendations on changes to the RPTP with minor alterations on 27 July 2015. A revised RPTP will be published over the next quarter

Investment and Development

4. SMART (Southwest Multi-modal Airport Rapid Transit)

· Feasibility level alignments for both a heavy rail and light rail corridor have now been identified.

· The benefits and risks of the two mode options were documented in an Interim Business Case.

· Independent peer review has been concluded on the costs of each option.

· Risk assessment was completed on the route protection for each option

PT Development

5. Double Decker Network Mitigation works

Of the total 8 double decker bus routes identified to be delivered in the long term plan 3 routes (Botany, Mt Eden and Northern Busway 2) will be implemented this FY. The remainder (Great North Road, Manukau, Remuera, New North Road and Onewa) will be delivered in the next two years.

6. Bus Infrastructure Programme

There are 200 bus stop improvement sites planned to be delivered this year across the region. At the end of September 30 sites are now complete.

7. City Rail Link

Project continues with reference design, enabling works detailed design, property purchase and consenting process. Notice of Requirement Environment Court reached decision and the NoR was confirmed. Pipe Jack resource consent was granted. Britomart to Wyndham Street resource consent hearing concluded and decision reached (currently in appeals period). Enabling Works detailed design scope continues to make progress (Contract 2 substantially complete).

8. EMU Procurement

All 57 electric trains are now in Auckland, and provisional acceptance has been issued for all but the last, which is due to be completed early in October.

PT Operations

9. Highlights for the quarter

· AT Metro 12 month rolling Patronage record passed the 80 million mark in August with rail services exceeding 14 million.

· Train services record performance on the network. On September 7th recorded the best performance ever for a single business weekday, with 97.6% punctuality and 99.2% reliability and only 4 cancellations out of 500. Statistics also showed 100% service delivery and no cancellations on the Pukekohe Shuttle.

· Swanson station’s new park and ride carpark with eco-rain gardens opened on 6 July providing an additional 136 parking spaces.

· 53 new double decker buses have been ordered by Howick & Eastern Buses, Ritchies and NZ Bus, under contract to AT. The first buses arrive in the next few weeks for testing with the new fleet targeted for full operation by mid-2016. A second vehicle was introduced to the Northern Express service in July by Ritchies.

· First tenders for Auckland’s New Network bus services and first under the fully contracted PTOM procurement model were released on 17 August, with responses received on 28 September.

· Central and East Auckland New Network: Public consultation commenced on 1st October and runs through to 10th December 2015.

Road Design and Development

10. Te Atatu Road Improvements

Underground services relocation works continue within the road berm of Edmonton Road and Flanshaw Road. Removal of trees, hedges and the like is underway, in accordance with the resource consent; this is site clearance in preparation for both the road widening and the agreed property works.

11. Jennys Road Construction – Great Barrier Island

This road was established as an outcome of an Environment Court decision. The road has been designed as a single lane road with passing bays. Stage 1 was completed in May 2014. Stage 2 of this project commenced in October 14. Physical works completed. Final walkover completed with contractor.

12. Mill Road Improvements

Redoubt Road four lanes SH1 to Murphys Road, includes bus priority lane cycle lanes, 60km speed limit. Hollyford Drive Redoubt Road intersection improved with signals and bus priority lane. The hearing has now been completed and the commissioners are making a decision which is likely to take one to two months.

Services

13. Driver Licensing Challenge

Young Driver safety is a high priority in the national Safer Journeys strategy, and Auckland Young Driver DSI (death and serious injury) makes up 30% of the regions DSI crashes. This issue is exacerbated by the high proportion of unlicensed young drivers in the region. An inter-agency Co-Design Lab was founded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment that explores ways to improve access to driver licensing. Auckland Transport is part of the team along with ACC, Ministry of Education, Auckland Council, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) and Otara youth based at the Otara's Crosspower youth centre. The Co-Design team will engage with Maori and Pasifika youth at Crosspower where over 250 youth attend each week.The initial stage of this four month project will end in November with recommendations to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

14. Primary Schools Lead Teacher Workshop

Over the past five years there has been an increase in deaths and serious injuries (DSI) for 5-10 year old pedestrians during weekdays in peak traffic hours. The Travelwise team looked to address this issue at a recent Primary School lead teacher workshop in the CBD. Seventy teachers attended the workshop by rail to explore ‘Transporting our Students into the Future’ and develop curriculum programmes that would support safer travel for students and increased use of active transport (PT, Walking and Cycling) options to help reduce congestion.

15. Travel Demand (2014/15 Year)

The Commute travel planning programme has a focus on engagement with commuters and businesses this year. This quarter has seen the development of a campaign to promote travel choice which will be launched in October. A focus has been the development of travel demand plans for the Devonport Peninsula, Albany Highway and City Rail Link. Implementation of these plans is underway.

16. Route Optimisation

The regional Route Optimisation is underway, which forms part of the programme for Network Optimisation, including traffic signal improvements, minor changes to the road network and inclusion of transit lanes, freight lanes and trial of Dynamic lanes.

Road Corridor Delivery

17. Key Highlights

In the 2015/2016 financial year we are planning to deliver 37.7 km of pavement rehabilitation, 480.1 km of resurfacing (this includes 88.9 km of hotmix and 391.2 km of chip sealing), 75.7 km of footpath renewals and 82.7 km of kerb and channel replacement. This represents a total of 676km or around 9% of work on our 7,300km network. Table 1 outlines this work in more detail.

Table 1: Progress against Asset Renewal Targets

18. The new Streetlight maintenance and renewal contracts commenced on 1 August 2015. There are now 4 contracts across the region with 1 dedicated contract for the Hauraki Gulf Islands. The new contractors are Downer (Central and South), Electrix (North and West) and NorthPower (HGI).

Tenders have also been called for the supply of 8,000 LED luminaires to replace existing 70W HPS lamps on the network in the 2015/2016 financial year.

19. AT’s second Asset Management Plan (AMP) covering the period 2015-2018 has been published is available to download from the Auckland Transport website.

20. Monitoring of Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) at work sites is continuing to ensure compliance with the approved traffic management plans and to identify opportunities for improvement. The average percentage of low risk sites for Quarter 1 is 96%*^{^[1]} (The target is 90%)

Fig 1: Compliance with approved traffic management plans

21. The Corridor Access Request (CAR) team continues to process around 1,300 applications per month. These requests are for network operators from the water and telecommunication industry to access and maintain the assets sitting within the road corridor. Access is sought by private operators and individuals who need to access the road network to undertake activities such as private water connections etc.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Schedule of activities undertaken for the first quarter (2015/16) ending 30 September 2015	133
b View	Travelwise Schools activities broken down by local board	143
c View	Traffic Control Committee Decisions broken down by local board	145
d View	Local Board Advocacy Report	147
e View	Local Board Transport Capital Fund Report	149

Signatories

Authors

Various Auckland Transport authors

Authorisers

Jonathan Anyon, Elected Member Relationship Team Manager, Auckland Transport

Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey, Waitakere Ranges, Whau

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

Waikumete Cemetary Open Day

File No.: CP2015/23565

Purpose

1. This report provides information to the Waitākere Ranges Local Board on a planned Waikumete Cemetery Open Day event scheduled for early 2016, and enables the local board to resolve a funding allocation to the event.

Executive Summary

2. A Waikumete Cemetery Open Day event is being scheduled for Sunday 28 February 2016.

3. The open day event is a collaboration between the cemetery management, Waitākere Ranges Local Board, Urupa Committee and Friends of Waikumete.

4. The event will include various destinations around the cemetery where people would be available to talk to people, take guided walks and see demonstrations.

5. The local board has a programme named WW1 commemorations and heritage with a $22,000 budget allocation. It is recommended that the local board consider allocating $12,000 to support the implementation of this event.

Recommendation/s

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

a) Allocates a $12,000 grant from its WW1 commemorations and heritage budget line to support the implementation of 2016 Waikumete Cemetery Open Day event.

Comments

Background

6. The Waikumete Cemetery is located within the boundaries of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board. While responsibility for governance and management sits with the Governing Body the Waitākere Ranges Local Board has a close relationship with the cemetery both as a heritage site and a large area of open space within the urban area of the local board.

7. Waikumete also has a historic relationship with Glen Eden township which developed around the rail station that was built to bring mourning parties to the cemetery. Glen Eden was originally called Waikumete.

8. Waikumete Cemetery is the second largest cemetery in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the largest military cemetery in New Zealand.

9. The cemetery has considerable historic significance as the main burial place in Auckland from the 1880s. The entire cemetery is a Category A heritage site in the schedules of the District Plan.

Open day event

10. The desire to hold an open day at the cemetery has been identified and discussed by Waitakere Ranges Local Board, cemetery management, the Urupa Committee and the Friends of Waikumete.

11. The Returned Services Association (RSA) has been identified as a key stakeholder and the Glen Eden RSA has been identified as a next point of contact.

12. The scheduled date for the event is Sunday 28 February 2016. This date was set to work around a number of other events in the first three months of the year.

13. Auckland Council’s event’s, and communications areas are providing support to the event committee.

Purposes of the Waikumete Cemetery open day

14. The broad purposes of the have been identified as to:

· Demystify the cemetery, open doors, show what happens behind the scenes.

· Enable people to connect with ancestors and relatives buried in the cemetery, identify where they are buried and learn about the care of graves.

· Highlight the heritage and unique aspects of the cemetery.

· Provide an opportunity for people of different religions and ethnic groups to explain their funerary practices.

· Highlight the military parts of cemetery, especially as it is the WW1 centenary, and also highlight the history of burials of 1918 influenza victims.

· Provide an educative and enjoyable day for visitors with choices of things to do.

· Be respectful of the cemetery as a burial place and ensure that activities on the day are appropriate.

· Provide a range of activities to appeal to all ages.

Consideration

Local Board views and implications

15. The Waitākere Ranges Local Board plan identifies that the protection of the area’s heritage values is a primary focus for the local board. In addition to working with their communities on World War One commemorations it has also been identified that support will be given to heritage celebrations.

16. The local board has allocated $22,000 in its 2015/16 local board agreement to the programme area WW1 commemorations and heritage.

Māori impact statement

17. Waikumete Cemetery has an Urupa Committee who have been part of the collaborative team who have developed the event concept.

18. Guidance has been given by the Urupa Committee ensuring Te Ao Maori is considered throughout the process.

Implementation

19. Council represented by Chair Coney and staff is a collaborative partner in the event working with an enabled community of interest group.

20. The Waitākere Ranges Local Board is being requested to allocate funding to enable the delivery of the event.

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Authors	Tua Viliamu – Democracy Advisor
Authorisers	Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey, Waitakere Ranges, Whau

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

28 September 2015

Before the Unitary Plan Independent Hearing Panel: Topic 24 GMO’s

Waitakere Ranges Local Board presentation

I am speaking on behalf of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board of Auckland Council, as elected representatives of the community.

We support the precautionary approach in the proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP) of prohibiting the general release of a GMO, with the associated objectives, policies and rules. We have concerns about the discretionary activity status of GMO field trials, however, and the permitted activity status of veterinary vaccines.

The west was declared GE free in field and food by the former Waitakere City Council, and the Waitakere Ranges Local Board has re-affirmed that position. We believe this view is strongly held by our communities. The policies and rules within the PAUP are the main means of ensuring we stay a GE free area.

Our local board area stretches from Swanson, Waitakere Township, and Te Henga / Bethells Beach the north, and from Whatipu to Titirangi in the south. The rural urban boundary divides our area into urban and rural parts.

In the proposed unitary plan, the rural zoning includes rural production land in the north, neighbouring Rodney, and in the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area it becomes rural conservation, rural coastal and countryside living. The various rural zones neighbour the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park which is a vast conservation estate of some 17,000 hectares.

GMO field trials would be particularly inappropriate in our area for a number of reasons and we would ask that it be a prohibited activity.

The Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008 established the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area and identified it as a place of national and regional significance. The heritage features detailed in Section 7 of the Act include:

(a)its terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of prominent indigenous character that—

(i) include large continuous areas of primary and regenerating lowland and coastal rainforest, wetland, and dune systems with intact ecological sequences:

(iii) provide a diversity of habitats for indigenous flora and fauna:

(vi) are of cultural, scientific, or educational interest:

(i) the subservience of the built environment to the area’s natural and rural landscape, which is reflected in—

(iii) the rural character of the foothills to the east and north and their intricate pattern of farmland, orchards, vineyards, uncultivated areas, indigenous vegetation, and dispersed low-density settlement with few urban-scale activities:

(j) the historical, traditional, and cultural relationships of people, communities, and tangata whenua with the area and their exercise of kaitiakitanga and stewardship:

(m) the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park and its importance as an accessible public place with significant natural, historical, cultural, and recreational resources.

In Section 8, the objectives of the act include protecting and enhancing indigenous habitat values and retaining rural character.

The potential adverse effects of GMO activities would be significant if field trials were allowed in rural land neighbouring a conservation area, and accidental release occurred. We have concerns about the impact on significant ecological areas, for example through the unintended creation of spray resistant weed species. We also question the use of GM veterinary vaccines as a permitted activity.

Sections 10 and 11, of the heritage area act require Council to give effect to the purpose of the Act when developing regional and district plans.

We are near to completing a local area plan for Te Henga (Bethells Beach) and the Waitakere Valley. The character and amenity of the area is described in the plan:

Te Henga (Bethells Beach) and the Waitākere Valley is a place of exceptionally beautiful and diverse landscapes. Its succession of varied landforms and ecosystems makes it the home of rare and threatened species of coastal, estuarine, wetland and forest plants and animals.

The lower Waitākere Valley was once an important place of occupation for Te Kawerau a Maki. The resources provided by its generous fresh water environment and its proximity to the coast made it an ideal place for settlement and cultivation. It remains of high importance to iwi, and there is a renewed presence of Te Kawerau a Maki in the area.

Along the upper reaches of Te Henga Road, the landscape is dominated on the southern side by bush clad slopes extending towards Cascade Kauri Park. On the northern side, much of the land is held in lifestyle blocks, some of them productive farmlets or orchards with small bush patches, others nearly entirely covered in bush.

The valley floor and its north facing slopes are dominated by small farm holdings, dissected by vegetated streams and exotic shelter belts on the ridges. A variety of land-based uses exist there, including beef cattle, sheep and goat farming, orcharding, horticulture and honey production. Some farms offer fresh organic or spray free produce for sale.

We would like to protect the existing rural industry of the area, as well as its cultural, lifestyle, and environmental values. Being GE free in field and food provides protection to our existing farming and horticulture industry.

We ask that the precautionary principle be applied to all GMO activity where there is a lack of certainty around the risks involved, and the potential adverse effects. We question whether the test can ever be met for the safe introduction of GM material into nature, including the use of outdoor or field trials.

The controls for undertaking GMO field trials as a discretionary activities require applications to include details of proposed containment measures, which suggests a case by case approach. If there are no existing New Zealand Standards that containment measures would have to adhere to, then that raises the question of whether we should permit field trials at all.

The term GMO field trial needs to be better defined to include, for example, a maximum size and scale of what can be considered a field trial.

We support the bond requirements though question how practical they will be in determining the amount of bond required given the uncertainty around the level of risk and the likely scale of costs associated with remediating any adverse effects from the activity.

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

14 October 2015

Andrew Duncan

Manager

Financial Policy

Auckland Council

Rural Rates Discussion Document – feedback from Waitakere Ranges Local Board

The Waitakere Ranges Local Board would like to give feedback on the rural rates discussion document, following the recent public meeting hosted at our office.

The discussion document proposed, on average, increasing rates for small rural lifestyle blocks (less than 6 hectares), decreasing rates for large blocks (50+ hectares), with no change for those in the medium sized category.

In the Waitakere Ranges Local Board area there are over 1500 small blocks, and only 12 large blocks. Large landowners in Rodney and Franklin are the chief beneficiaries of the proposal as it stands, (see Table A overleaf).

The prevailing local view at the meeting (held on 30 September 2015) was opposed to the proposed changes.

The local board has an interest in seeing a review of rural rates happen in tandem with the development of a rates remission policy to encourage rural land owners to look after land with high conservation value. We would like to look at the draft Heritage Incentives Policy at the same time as we consider any changes to rural rates.

Most of our rural area is within the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area which was established by the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008 (the Act). The area’s natural scenic beauty, contrasting landscapes, extensive forests and ecosystems, and rural values are recognised as being of national and regional significance and listed as heritage features in Section 7 of the Act.

The Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan is required to give effect to the objectives of the Act, and places additional controls on land in the heritage area with the aim of protecting natural heritage. The vast majority of our rural properties have Significant Ecological Areas on them.

The local board has an interest in promoting good stewardship of ecological areas in private ownership to ensure weed infestations and pests are managed responsibly and heritage features are protected, restored or enhanced.

We would like to see a strong alignment between council plans and strategies, and policies on rates relief.

The case presented in the rural rates discussion document was more around a user pays argument - paying rates according to your access or proximity to services.

A number of reasons were given in the document to suggest that small property owners had better access to council services than those with large properties, though there were significant presumptions. Access to public transport is one that does not hold true in the Waitakere Ranges. Most if not all of our rural lifestyle blocks have no access to public transport.

Regards

Neil Henderson

Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area portfolio holder

Waitakere Ranges Local Board

Cc: Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, Councillor Linda Cooper, Councillor Bill Cashmore

Table A: number of rural properties in each category across the region

Local Board	Land use Category	Small	Medium	Large
Local Board	Land use Category	less than 6ha	6 up to 50ha	50+ ha
Franklin	Lifestyle	6360	1265	5
Franklin	Rural Industry	499	943	360
Great Barrier	Lifestyle	158	84	21
Great Barrier	Rural Industry	36	37	15
Rodney	Lifestyle	8044	2147	22
Rodney	Rural Industry	288	506	804
Waiheke	Lifestyle	261	98	2
Waiheke	Rural Industry	94	38	8
Waitakere Ranges	Lifestyle	1495	173	5
Waitakere Ranges	Rural Industry	33	5	7
Total		17268	5296	1249

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

Chairperson's Report - November 2015

File No.: CP2015/23358

Annual Plan 2015/16

1. It seems we have only just dealt with the Long-term Plan but we are already working on the Annual Plan 2016/17. As this is the first year of the LTP it is not expected that there will be many changes, though we are keen to have a greater focus on the coastal marine environment. We have also been advised that the Board can conduct less extensive consultation in the first LTP year.

Proposal on rural rates

2. Our meeting about rural rates was well attended with about 45 people coming to hear the proposal.

3. Councillor Bill Cashmore, who represents Franklin, explained that the proposal to apply a higher rate small rural properties to enable reduction in rates for properties over 50ha originated with lifestyle block owners in Whitford and Clevedon. They appreciated the rural outlook provided by large properties and did not want large landowners forced into subdivision by big rates bills.

4. Attendees at the Waitakere meeting explained that many small rural properties in Waitakere could never generate income as they were bush clad and owners often had expenses caring for them. Properties in Waitakere were also constrained by the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008.

5. On a motion from the floor, the meeting voted unanimously to reject the proposal, with some expressing the view that if relief should be sought for large rural properties, the burden should be applied to all ratepayers across the region not just small rural property owners.

6. Subsequently the Governing Body decided to consult on a proposal through this year’s Annual Plan process. The proposal is to give relief to property owners with large rural properties, but spread the rates’ burden across all ratepayers.

7. Ratepayers can comment on this proposal as part of the consultation on the Annual Plan.

Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa Forum

8. Over 50 attended the forum on the Heritage Area. We heard from Te Warena Taua and Edward Ashby about Te Kawerau a Maki’s aspirations for the future including the recent Treaty settlement which allocated significant parts of Woodhill Forest as well as Crown lands at Te Henga and Hobsonville.

9. The Board is looking at feedback from the forum which will be available soon, and will be considering future forums to discuss the Heritage Area with residents.

10. Although originally we had asked Deputy-Mayor Penny Hulse to set the scene at the beginning of the night, unfortunately she was unable to attend, and I stepped in. Appended to this is the welcoming speech I gave.

Climbing asparagus project

11. The Local Board is working with EcoMatters Trust and the council’s Biosecurity Department to control climbing asparagus in two parts of the Ranges: Huia and Piha. EcoMatters staff are going door to door and often surveying properties for the presence of the pest plant which is considered the biggest threat to native forest especially in the regional parkland. Surveying is often followed by control work if land owners are unable to carry it out themselves.

12. The project is expected to take several years as the Board has restricted funds, and follow up will be necessary for some time after initial control. Residents are urged to remove climbing asparagus if they have it, by digging up small plants and by cutting back and spraying larger infestations.

13. Climbing asparagus was once a popular plant in bridal bouquets, because of its delicate feathery trailing habit, but it now high on the “worst weeds” list. It smothers native plants and prevents the growth of native seedlings. It is highly tolerant of shade and the bright orange seeds are spread by birds.

14. The Board is currently discussing Stage 2 of this project with Biosecurity and Environment Services staff.

Open Studios Waitakere Weekend

15. Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November will be the Open Studios Waitakere Weekend event funded by the Local Board. Over 60 artists and 40 studios are opening their doors 10am to 4 pm to allow members of the public to view artists at work and see their ware.

16. The studios are located from Huia to Henderson Valley and Titirangi to Te Henga. As well there is a bus tour you can join to view a selection and later in the day a music, food and drinks event on the rooftop of Lopdell House.

17. The Board has also funded the West Coast Gallery at Piha to hold a Coastal Art Festival on Piha beach on Monday 1 February, Anniversary Day, chosen because of the tides.

Caring for Kauri meeting

18. The Waitakere Ranges Local Board funds a Kauri Dieback Community Coordinator, Christine Rose, to work with local communities around Kauri dieback. The Laingholm District Citizens Association hosted a meeting at which Christine and others spoke on Thursday 12 November at the Laingholm Hall.

19. About 30 people attended to learn more about kauri dieback and it was generally a well-informed audience with many questions to ask. I learned a lot from Dr Ian Horner, Team Leader, Pathogen Biology at NZ Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd.

20. Ian has been conducting trials into the use of phosphites to treat kauri PTA which has a new name kauri agathidicida. Phosphites have been used overseas to treat other phytophthoras, and in NZ avocado orchards.

21. Ian explained that infected kauri trees can take 20-30 years to exhibit symptoms of the disease, especially bleeding on the trunk. He felt Auckland Council was doing a good job of containing infected forest and stressed that many kauri forests have been tested for PTA and are clear of it.

22. The fungicide phosphite or phosphoric acid has low toxicity and does not accumulate in soil. It works by attacking the pathogen and also stimulates the plant to resist.

23. Trials so far have been in vitro (laboratory) trials where the pathogen has seemed to be susceptible to phosphites; glasshouse trials where plants are injected with phosphites and have shown a reduced level of disease; and field trials at four places, including Huia and Whatipu.

24. Field trials have been carried out since 2012 and have used different strengths and regimens to test the efficacy of phosphites on infected kauri. With high rates of phosphites, there have been toxicity problems resulting in leaf yellowing, browning, some leaf and twig drop and trunk cracking above the injection points on some trees.

25. With lower rates these problems did not occur and lesions dried up and healed. It seems that phosphites will suppress the growth of PTA and restrict lesion spread. It is not clear whether they will stop kauri dying.

26. However, there is still a lot to be learned. It is not known how long the benefit will last, or how often retreatment is needed, nor whether the trees will recover to full health, or whether it is possible to treat large kauri.

27. Altogether it is not an answer for kauri forests, but could be a short-term tool to slow the disease down.

Meetings with other local boards

28. On 20 October, the Waitakere Ranges Local Board met with members of the Rodney Local Board at Arataki. We share a boundary and a coast with the Rodney board so it was a good opportunity to learn what they are doing and discuss mutual concerns such as environment and transport, or lack of it!

29. On 30 October, the Board visited Great Barrier Island to meet with the Great Barrier Local Board and Waiheke Local Board.

30. The “outer” boards have much in common in the areas of environment, transport etc, and we had some fruitful discussions. The GB board were great hosts and showed us a variety of projects and problems they have. The kaka below was a treat, up-close at Glenfern Sanctuary.

Kaka at Glenfern Sanctuary;

P1050128 - Copy.JPG

P1050160 - Copy.JPG

Great Barrier, Waiheke and Waitakere Ranges Local Boards at Glenfern Sanctuary, 30 October 2015

31. The beauty of GB is breathtaking and if we didn’t love our own area so much, a few board members were heard to say they could imagine living there. GB has been protected from much development by its remoteness, and we were blown away at their lack of weed pests, and lack of animal pests – no possums, stoats, weasels - but lots of rats and rabbits, and of course, argentine ants.

32. Biosecurity has dubbed GB and the Hauraki Gulf islands “Treasure Islands” and we think this helps us as we think through our own Heritage Area and how we present it to the world. GB has an enviable amount of interpretation and resources for visitors, many produced by DOC, which is a major presence on the island, but many produced by the LB.

33. Having visited GB at the beginning of amalgamation in 2011, I was very impressed at what a difference the LB has made to services on the island. Really, a success story of the Super City.

34. We were lucky to watch the Rugby World Cup final with locals at GB and celebrate that historic win in such a hospitable and beautiful place.

35. We also had a bit of fun when we found an old Yellow Bus Company bus in a field at Awana, with a “Piha” destination showing. The owner kindly let us muck around and take some photos – we joked we would take it back to spear-head the proposed outer area shuttle service we are hoping Auckland Transport will help us provide.

Our thanks to Izzy Fordham and the rest of the

Great Barrier Local Board

Recommendation/s

That the Waitākere Ranges Local Board:

a) Receives the Chairperson’s report.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa speech	185

Signatories

Authors	Tua Viliamu – Democracy Advisor
Authorisers	Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey, Waitakere Ranges, Whau

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa

Sandra Coney, Chair, WRLB

15 October 2015, Titirangi War Memorial Hall

Kia Ora, Welcome everyone

I see many faces who were part of achieving the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act, a special welcome to you all.

This workshop aims to look at how well we are protecting the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area.

The passing of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act in 2008, required the councils who had sought the passing of the legislation – Waitakere City Council, Auckland Regional Council and Rodney District Council – to produce every five years a monitoring report on the state of the environment in the heritage area and progress towards it objectives.

Of course, the three councils no longer exist, but the responsibilities of those councils have passed to the Auckland Council, which includes the Governing Body and the Local Boards who have the Heritage Area within their boundaries.

This is primarily the Waitakere Ranges Local Board whose boundaries include the great proportion of the Heritage Area, but also the Rodney and Whau Local Boards who have small parts of the Heritage Area within their borders.

The passing of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act was the culmination of over a century of effort to protect the Waitakere Ranges.

The first step towards this that has been found in the archives was in 1891 when an unknown official of the Department of Lands and Surveys tried to get the Government of the day to set aside 1100 acres of land covered in forest in the Waitakere Ranges.

This was around 40 years after the first milling operations started on the Manukau Harbour, and at Henderson and Swanson, so there had been ample time to see the impacts of kauri milling in the Waitakeres.

This unknown official’s attempt to save some of the ranges was followed in 1894 by a formal deputation to Auckland City Council by Sir Algernon Thomas, Professor of Biology at Auckland University, Sir John Logan Campbell, WS Wilson of Wilson and Horton and other prominent citizens, to set aside some 3500 acres of Crown land as future reserve. The Government agreed to this, expanding the final amount protected to nearly 5000 acres of largely interior land.

This was the nucleus of today ‘s 17,000 hectares of public parkland.

I am not going into detail of how the land that today makes up the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park was accumulated, but it has taken over a century and indeed goes on, with the purchase by Auckland Council in 2014 of the Byers block at The Gap at Piha.

I just wanted to read you, though, a few words from Sir Algernon Thomas when he was campaigning for the Ranges. In 1894 he gave a public lecture, which speaks to us over a century later of the vision that has united lovers of the Waitakere Ranges:

“While speaking of the beauty of the Waitakerei Ranges, Professor Thomas said he could not refrain from mentioning a fact which would cause regret to every lover of nature. It was that the forest was gradually disappearing. Fires, kindled intentionally or accidentally, were sweeping away a portion every year. At one time all the country near Auckland was covered with beautiful native forest, but now the visitor could only find it in the Waitakere ranges. It occurred to him while travelling in the ranges that unless some action was taken there would soon be none left within reasonable distance of Auckland. A national park had been proclaimed on the summits of Ruapehu and Tongariro, and it had been decided that the Little Barrier should be reserved for the preservation of the native fauna and flora, but excellent as these movements were, they did not meet a real want of the citizens of Auckland, namely, a place which could be visited readily on a holiday, and which would serve as a recreation reserve and a place where citizens and tourists could see a noble native forest – beautiful scenery of hill and valley, of ravine and waterfall. In parts of the ranges were still to be found patches of stately kauri. There could be no doubt that a patch of such trees should be left to future generations out of the glories of the New Zealand flora where the kauri will otherwise be extinct.”

He went on to talk about the creation of a reserve, the potential for providing Auckland’s water supply, the inauguration of a Domain Board to administer it, and the creation of a ranger to protect the bush.

Sir Algernon Thomas’s advocacy was the beginning of a long period of advocacy by individuals and by groups to protect the Waitakere Ranges. The relationship between the Ranges, as a natural wonderland, and the people of Auckland, that Sir Algernon stressed, has remained key to the future of the Ranges, and is both asset and risk.

Asset because the people of Auckland care about the Ranges, they can see them from many parts of Auckland and they gravitate towards them for their beaches and wilderness places, where they can gain respite from the urban life of Auckland.

Indeed, they care so much they chose the creation of a great Waitakere park as their preferred project to commemorate the centenary of Auckland in 1940.

But closeness to the booming metropolitan centre of Auckland is also a risk, because Aucklanders’ desire to be amongst the forest risked loving it to death.

There is a continuum of advocacy for the Ranges over the 19^th century, but that took on new urgency at the turn of the 21st century. The history of the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society talks about 1999 as a year of crisis. Go Waitakere, a pro-development anti-environment team, was elected as a majority on WCC, and the WCC was reviewing its District Plan.

One of the catalysts for the legislation was the then Commissioner for the Environment, Morgan Williams’, statement that the Waitakere Ranges risked “death by a thousand cuts”. This became a rallying call for all who cared for the Ranges.

Led by Mayor Sir Bob Harvey, Team West was put together to contest the 2001 election with a platform that included protecting the Waitakere Ranges from subdivision and development.

Team West swept into office with both positions taken in the Auckland Regional Council, myself and Paul Walbran, most positions on the city council and all members on the Waitakere Community Board.

With such a clean sweep and the clear policy direction to protect the Ranges you would have thought achieving legislation to do this would have been straightforward.

But it was not. I am not party to exactly what went on within WCC, but some who seemed to support protection were less enthusiastic once in office, especially when it came to legislation.

WCC embarked on community consultation and this seemed to go on for ever. While successive surveys showed support for the proposal, consultation went on for a needlessly protracted time. For example, a survey of regional citizens by ARC showed 92% of respondents thought protecting the Ranges and foothills in the long-term was very important (66%) or important (26%). 73% supported doing this by using the law, 16% were neutral and 8% opposed.

Paul Walbran, Christine Rose and I represented ARC on a political liaison group that worked through the legislation. Greg Presland and Denise Yates, now on our Board, initially represented WCC, later Bob Harvey and Penny Hulse. Lynne Pillay was the sponsor of the legislation as she was taking it as a private member’s bill through Parliament. Iwi and MP David Cunliffe were other members of this group. While the MPs and ARC were unchanging in their support, the position of WCC kept shifting especially as the years, yes, years dragged on.

In the event, we went through not one but three election cycles, the Team West influence on Council dwindled and new councillors wanted greater emphasis on economic development. The lay of the land was changing in Parliament too.

At times it looked as if the whole project would be derailed, and in my view it was only a massive show of support from the community, organised by Waitakere Ranges Protection Society, that convinced WCC politicians there would be hell to pay if after all the effort the legislation did not go through.

Eventually the Bill was taken by Lynne Pillay to Parliament where she, David Cunliffe and Chris Carter worked tirelessly to get support. The Bill passed into law on 8 April 2008. Labour, Green, Maori and Progressive parties supported it, as, critically, did a lone independent, Taito Phillip Field. The Bill passed on a single vote.

After 7 years, I think we can tentatively say the Act has been successful in limiting the spread of development and subdivision, which was one of its main purposes. Yes, there is still some development, mainly of vacant sites, and there has been limited subdivision, but very little.

The Regional and District Plan rules that were put in place to implement the Act have been largely carried over into the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, although right now that is still subject to decisions made by Commissioners and Auckland Council.

The PAUP also enshrines Plan Change 36 which was opposed by many of the parties who supported the Heritage Area Act. It is too early to say whether this plan change, which loosens up the rules around commercial development in the Ranges, will have a detrimental impact.

As we have seen with Paturoa Road, the WRHA Act cannot save individual trees, when there is a clash between development rights and the environment. That tree felling was stopped only by good old community action, and we still have to keep an eye on that issue as we may not have heard the end of it.

And when changes are made in the RMA, as with urban tree rules, the Heritage Area Act is powerless, as the heritage legislation states that it is trumped by the RMA.

The first five-year monitoring report was largely the work of the WRLB. The report showed that the Heritage Area was in fairly good shape. The process of natural vegetation growth was actually softening the effects of development so that landscapes were little impacted. The main area the monitoring report drew attention to was infrastructure installed by Auckland Transport which was creating the most visible impacts on the natural environment.

Indeed, socialising the Act within the Auckland Council has become a significant task of the WRLB.

We need to remember that at the time the Act went through, there were only two main councils involved, and they had lived and breathed the passage of the Act. No need for socialising there.

Amalgamation created a unitary authority, combining the regional planning and environmental protection functions of the ARC and the district plan functions of WCC, along with 6 other city and district councils.

In the case of ARC, only two politicians, myself and Mike Lee, got elected to the new body, and very few senior staff were appointed to positions in the new council.

In my view, the new Council does not prioritise regional planning functions nor environmental protection. It operates more like a big city council, so some valuable strategic functions have been weakened.

As far as the HA Act goes, it has been necessary to constantly socialise the Act amongst elected members and the bureaucracy with varying degrees of success. Councillors from other parts of the region tend to be not particularly knowledgeable about the Act. This is not surprising. The Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area is the only area of mainland Auckland with an Act over it that gives the area national, regional and local significance. So there is a lack of familiarity with the concept and its responsibilities.

At a staff level there has not been as far as I am aware any systematic orientation in the legislation for new staff. Consequently one of the key tasks of the Local Board is to play this role, though it is often reactive.

The Council’s Infrastructure and Environmental Services Unit is reasonably au fair with the legislation but the Board has struggled with Auckland Transport, the Consents Department and ATEED. We are making progress with AT, which is working on design guidelines for the Heritage Area, and are now having regular meeting with consents, but there is still work to do.

It seems ironical that one of the current threats to the objectives of the Heritage Area is the Council itself.

But by far the largest current threat to the Heritage Area is a by-product of development. Unlike other heritage or national conservation areas, people live within the Waitakere Ranges Heritage area. While they have been attracted to live there by the very heritage features that the Act sought to protect, they do not always do their best to protect them.

This is particularly so in the area of plant pest control Often this is through ignorance. It is important to note that many of the resources and programmes that the legacy councils had in place to support communities to protect their environment were lost on amalgamation. Sometimes this was as simple as information resources being trashed because they had the wrong branding, but in other cases successive budget cuts have seen some programmes down-sized or lost. Consequently, support for landowners and communities has reduced. Saffron Toms will be expanding more on this aspect of the Board’s work shortly.

We hope today we can get feedback on how well the Council is doing in protecting the Waitakere Ranges. We are currently half way through the second 5-year monitoring period so it is important to know whether we are on the right track, or where there are gaps that need more attention.

I hope you enjoy this evening . The Board’s is looking forward to it and to hearing what our communities have to say on the protection of the Heritage Area.

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

Record of Workshop –

Waitakere Ranges Local Board

Date: Thursday 16 July 2015

Time: 9.30am – 5.15pm

Venue: Waitakere Ranges Local Board Office

PRESENT:

Members Sandra Coney, QSO

Denise Yates, JP

Greg Presland

Neil Henderson

Saffron Toms

Steve Tollestrup for absence

MATTERS DISCUSSED:

Item

Presenter

1.0

Weed Plan Implementation session

Next steps

Key discussion points:

· Continuation from last weeks workshop discussion on the next steps to deliver on the weed plan recommendation.

· Funding allocated for weed control initiatives requires direction from the board on priorities

Raewyn Curran

2.0

Administration

The members dealt with various administration items

Sharon Davies

3.0 & 4.0

Portfolio catch-up and board only session

Opportunity for members to discuss their portfolio updates

Members

5.0

Auckland Long-tailed Bat Survey 2015 report

To discuss the report on the outcomes of the bat survey and get boards feedback on the project so far.

Key discussion points:

· The outcomes of the bat survey within the Waitakere Area

· Acoustic Box monitors Monitoring which help identifies critical habitat for bat protection zone

· How the cumulative effects of urban development put bats at high risk

· Community bat-spotting initiatives

- Nocturnal tours run by Park Rangers every January

- Look out for bookings from December on www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

- You can also “discover” other nocturnal creatures like pūrātoke, pūngāwere and tuna

- Borrow a bat detector

• Look for bats in your backyard, local park or school grounds

• Bats require specific conditions:

- Water source

- Open areas

- Mature trees

- Warm nights

Action:

Officer to provide the board with an update on areas where bats are roosting at a future workshop.

Simon Mills

6.0

West Resource Consents

A general update to the board.

Key discussion points:

· Tree rules in effect from September 2015

o RMA Changes 4 September 2015.

o Majority of trees no longer protected

o Any site considered an urban environment allotment,

o PAUP provisions around Significant Ecological Areas (SEA) still apply – this is not a tree protection rule

o Scheduled trees still exist

o Messaging of “Check before you Chop”

· New Road Naming guidelines

o Local Boards have responsibility for the naming of new roads under the Local Government Act.

o New Auckland wide guidelines will standardise road naming practice

· General discussion on the Paturoa Road

· Opportunity to build between Resource Consents and Local Board

Action:

Ongoing updates with Member Greg Presland at a portfolio level.

David Oakhill

James Dowding

7.0

Communication & Engagement

Communication and Engagement requirements and processes.

Key discussion points:

· Processes around communication and engagement

Action:

Ongoing catch-up at a portfolio level

Justin Kary

8.0

Local Board Community Forum

Planning for Community Forum with the board that was rescheduled from May

Key discussion points:

The draft agenda for the LB Community Forum and for members to provide feedback

Action:

Officer to amend the draft agenda

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

Record of Workshop –

Waitakere Ranges Local Board

Date: Thursday, 20 August 2015

Time: 9.00am – 4.00pm

Venue: Waitakere Ranges Local Board Office

PRESENT:

Members Sandra Coney, QSO

Neil Henderson from 9.15 am

Greg Presland from 9.30am

Saffron Toms from 9.50am

Steve Tollestrup

APOLOGIES: Denise Yates, JP

MATTERS DISCUSSED:

Item

Presenter

1.0

Community Waitakere Work Programme

To present the Community Waitakere work programme :

Key discussion points:

· Work programme

· How to network through the organisation re Community Houses

· Project Twin Streams discussion

· Relationship – what that looks like going forward with the disestablished of CDAC and how to establish with Swanson and Penihana

Actions:

Member Tollestrup – Portfolio holder and Community Waitakere to keep in contact. Officer to provide an agenda report to the WRLB business meeting in September 2015.

Paul Prestidge

Charlie Moore

2.0

Glen Eden Summer Event

General discussion with the boar don a direction with the Glen Eden Summer Square event going forward:

Key discussion points:

· Opened discussion around the Glen Eden Summer Event including

¾ Clarifying roles

¾ Funding available

¾ What worked/did not worked previously

· Members support another Glen Eden Summer Event – for a shorter period and shorter closed off with car parks.

· Discussion around the project concept and going forward

Actions:

Office distributed a memo for members to provide feedback

Officers to set-up another workshop for a further discussion and going forward- design/scope.

Raewyn Curran

3.0

Community Environmental Services work programme

To discuss the Community Environmental Services work programme

Key discussion points:

Key Outcomes

· The WRHA is protected

· Maintenance and infrastructure work in the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area respects the natural, cultural and historical environments

· Thriving communities

¾ A strong, diverse and healthy community

· Revitalised town centres and urban villages

¾ Revitalising Glen Eden – place-making and neighbourhood development

¾ Enhancing our centres, while keeping their essential character

¾ We have high-quality parks and open spaces that meet the needs of our communities

· WRLB and Ecomatters to work together

· Pocket Parks – There are more pocket parks but not in use can it be more useful for the community. Members suggested signs, chairs, walkarea, trees – an opportunity for a garden/fruit trees

· EcoWest Festival – members would like smokefree to be made aware at this event

· Members support the idea of Ecomatters in Glen Eden

· Ecomatters work programme

Actions:

Damon to breakdown the feedback provided by members and email through to Officer

Officer to provide an agenda report to the WRLB business meeting in October 2015

Robbie Sutherland

Matt Foster

Damon Birchfield (Ecomatters Environment Trust)

4.0

Water safety signage at Piha, Bethells and O’Neills Bay

To discuss an intended programme of work for the renewal of water safety signage at Piha, Bethells and O’Neills Bay and seeks advice from the board.

Key discussion points:

· General discussion on the Water Safety Signage Assessment for Piha and North Piha, Bethells Beah and O’Neills Bay

· Concerns from members around signs in access-ways and the position of these signs may not be acceptable or visible. The community may need to be consulted.

· Water Safety Signage report, members have asked to be flexible with signage and access tracks.

Action:

Officer to report back to the board on how they are approaching the community.

Kaitlyn White / Helen Biffin

5.0

Administration

The members dealt with various administration items

Sharon Davies

6.0

Parking in Glen Eden

To seek members views and comments on Parking in Glen Eden and Park and Ride in Glen Eden

Key discussion points:

· Parking in Glen Eden – Auckland Transport is reviewing the Town Centre parking. For a better understanding of Glen Eden Parking, a survey will take place in October early November 2015. An opportunity for members to input in the Glen Eden Parking and how far study needs to go.

· General discussion and update on the Park and Ride in Glen Eden

Action:

AT Officers to book another workshop to update the board on the Parking in Glen Eden - occupancy survey and also an update on the Park and Ride in Glen Eden

Owena Schuster

Simon Milner

Nick Seymour

Kelsey Carter

Alok Vashista

7.0

Board Members Portfolio update

Opportunity for members to discuss their portfolio updates:

Chair Coney

Deputy Chair Yates

Member Toms

8.0

Board only session

Members only time

Members

Waitākere Ranges Local Board

12 November 2015

Record of Workshop –

Waitakere Ranges Local Board

Date: Thursday, 17 September 2015

Time: 10.00am – 5.30pm

Venue: Waitakere Ranges Local Board Office

PRESENT:

Members Sandra Coney, QSO

Neil Henderson

Greg Presland

Saffron Toms

Steve Tollestrup

Apology: Denise Yates, JP

MATTERS DISCUSSED:

Item

Presenter

1.0

Mountain Road Walkway Project

To seek advice/approval on draft design and estimated cost before finalising the current detail design stage for construction.

Key discussion points:

· AT staff provided an update on activity to date and noted design considerations of:

- Concrete with black oxide and exposed aggregate finish is proposed on steep grounds

- Gravel with Geocell footpath is proposed on sections with gentle grades

- Low timber board walk with handrails where marshy ground is present

- Small concrete sections of footpath adjacent to existing concrete driveways to avoid regular maintenance

· Member discussion on information presented and the mix of concrete, geocell gravel & boardwalk

· Members requested that AT go to Oratia R&R to discuss aspects of design and surface mix between Hayes Rd towards west crossing point

· Options

- Geocell all the way

- Geocell with new concrete buffers and driveways

- Concrete all the way

- N: identify advantages and disadvantages

Actions:

Request an agenda report to come post R&R discussion with a recommendation of preferred option and to commit to construction.

Owena Schuster

Hussam Abdul-rassol

2.0

Oratia, Twin Stream & Sunnyvale shared path connection project

To present all possible options and seek advice on preferred option with cost estimates and discuss forward plans. Current stage – Feasibility study and options assessment to be completed by 10^th September for Locla Board review/advice.

Key discussion points:

· Investigation costs and amount to be allocated

· Presentation by staff of options considered and investigated.

· Based on the scope provided by AT, and following a high level assessment of options, the proposed preferred route options, consist of:

- Option 2A – Sunnyvale Train Station to West Coast Road: Sunnyvale Train Station to Parrs Park via a new shared path and new pedestrian refuge on Seymour Road

- Option 4A – Oratia walk and cycleway to Parrs Park via new shared paths on Parrs Cross Road and Seymour Road. Path users cross Seymour Road utilising existing pedestrian refuge

- Option 5D – Connection from proposed shared path on West Coast Road to Parrs Park via new shared path and new raised zebra crossing on West Coast Road

· New shared path in Parrs Park – Upgrade existing pathway in Parrs Park to create shared path

· Member indicated general support for preferred route linkages.

· Was support for creating meaningful linkages, however noting budget available request staff to give further consideration and advice to:

- preferred route and could further consideration be given staging.

- opportunities for other budget (safety budget from AT for crossing?) areas, specifically park.

· Discussion and generally support to note that aspect 5D of crossing and path widening will have most significant aspect in opening up access to park. Staff did note that would require road and pavement reconfiguration and would be a high level of interest from adjoining retail businesses.

Actions:

Request report back to board to take forward to next level of design.

Owena Schuster

Hussam Abdul-rassol

Sandy Mills

3.0

Walking and cycling improvement projects along West Coast/Shaw Road, Oratia

To present summary of public feedback on proposal and seek advice on forward plan for preliminary design.

Key discussion points:

· AT staff provided an update of activity to date including consultation feedback.

· Four options taken to community

- New proposed footpath on Northern side of West Coast Road (Question No: 1)

- New off road shared path on Southern side of West Coast Road (Question No: 2)

- Improvements to pedestrian crossing in front of Settlers Hall and Oratia Kindergarten (Question No: 3)

- Improvement to pedestrian crossings on Shaw Road / West Coast Road intersection (Question No: 4)

· Members discussed consultation feedback was noted that Northern side footpath extension has potential for significant heritage impacts and a lesser support was given from respondents

· Members indicated preference to not progress further investigation of element 1 at this stage

· A budget figure of $ 355,000 estimated for delivery of 2, 3 and 4

Actions:

Members indicated support to have a report to progress elements 2, 3, 4

Owena Schuster

Hussam Abdul-rassol

Sandy Mills

4.0

Captain Scott Streetscape Improvements projects

Present summary of investigation/options and seek advice on draft design options.

Key discussion points:

- Intervention 1 – Signalled pedestrian crossing and train station

- Members see advantage in reducing vehicle movements

- Note that some localised business impacts

- Intervention 2 – Left turn in angle parking

· Intervention 2b – as 2, with park let

- Paint “keep clear”

- Member feedback to look to manage slope

· Intervention 3 - Angle parking push outs

- How to improve cycle connectivity

· Intervention 4 – Close off Captain Scott Rd

- Not recommended by staff

· Improve outdoor amenity outside new shops

Actions:

Support consultation and report 2b and 3b. Workshop with the retail owners

Owena Schuster

Hussam Abdul-rassol

Brittany Morgan

Anthony Williams

5.0

Mana Whenua Relationship Agreements

To provide an overview of the Mana Whenua Relationship Agreement Framework and the proposed approach to developing these agreements

Key discussion points:

· Purpose, background information and moving forward

· Relationship/communication between Local Board and mana whenua

· Capacity within the agreement for further discussion – a standard agreement that LB’s and Iwi can tailor to suit

· Public involvement - will the community be consulted

· Iwi’s within the Waitakere Ranges area

Action:

Officer to provide information regarding community consultation

Keith Williams

Bernard Tepau

6.0

Boat Shed and Staircase at Taumatarea Reserve

Briefing the board on the Boat Shed and Staircase at Taumatarea Reserve.

Key discussion points:

Brief on upcoming request for land owner approval for a property in Laingholm in relation to an access way through boat shed at a coastal area.

Mimouk Hannan

7.0

Administration

The members dealt with various administration items

Sharon Davies

8.0

Board Members Portfolio update

Opportunity for members to discuss their portfolio updates:

Member Greg Presland

Member Neil Henderson

Member Steve Tollestrup

9.0

Board only session

Members only time

Members

[1] Note this represents 96% in July, 96% in August and 97% in September.

No.	Title	Page
a View	Record of workshop - 16 July 2015	193
b View	Record of workshop - 23 July (cancelled)	197
c View	Record of workshop - 30 July 2015 (cancelled)	199
d View	Record of workshop - 4 August 2015	201
e View	Record of workshop - 13 August 2015 (cancelled)	203
f View	Record of workshop - 20 August 2015	205
g View	Record of workshop - 27 August 2015	209
h View	Record of workshop - 3 September 2015	211
i View	Record of workshop - 10 September 2015	213
j View	Record of workshop - 17 September 2015	215
k View	Record of workshop - 24 September 2015	219

Chairperson	Sandra Coney, QSO
Deputy Chairperson	Denise Yates, JP
Members	Neil Henderson
	Greg Presland
	Steve Tollestrup
	Saffron Toms

Authors	Tua Viliamu - Administrator Local Board and Reporting
Authorisers	Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey, Waitakere Ranges, Whau