Agenda of Puketāpapa Local Board

1 Welcome

2 Apologies

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

3 Declaration of Interest

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

4 Confirmation of Minutes

That the Puketāpapa Local Board:

a) confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Thursday, 10 December 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 Petitions

7.1 Petition - Richardson Road/White Swan Road (Mt Roskill) intersection

Purpose

1. To attach a petition from David Dark requesting the Board’s assistance with the changes to the Richardson Road/White Swan Road intersection by Auckland Transport.

Executive Summary

2. A petition, submitted by David Dark, was received on Tuesday 2 February 2016.

3. In 2012, pedestrian safety and operational inefficiencies on the Richardson Road/White Swan Road intersection were identified and work on the intersection was completed in 2015.

4. Following representation by the local community late in 2015, further changes were made to increase parking and parking availability near the intersection.

Recommendation/s

That the Puketāpapa Local Board receive the petition presented by David Dark.

Attachments

a Copy of Petition received 02/02/2016.................................................. 241

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 Puketāpapa 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.

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

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.

9.1 Public Forum - Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust

Purpose

1. For Jeet Suchdev, Chairman of the Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust, to present to the Board about the group’s activities in a community lease facility.

Executive Summary

2. A number of groups in the Puketāpapa Local Board area operate out of leasehold community facilities.

3. The Board is keen to have a better understanding of the way these assets are used by community groups

4. Lessees have been invited to talk to the board about how the group is achieving its goals, touching on some of the challenges and successes.

Recommendations

That the Puketāpapa Local Board thank Jeet Suchdev, on behalf of the Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust, for his presentation and attendance.

9.2 Public Forum - Auckland VHF Group Inc

Purpose

1. For Peter Loveridge and Laurie Matthews, on behalf of the Auckland VHF Group Incorporated, to present to the Board about the group’s activities in a community lease facility.

Executive Summary

1. A number of groups in the Puketāpapa Local Board area operate out of leasehold community facilities.

2. The Board is keen to have a better understanding of the way these assets are used by community groups.

3. Lessees have been invited to talk to the board about how the group is achieving its goals, touching on some of the challenges and successes.

Recommendations

That the Puketāpapa Local Board thank Peter Loveridge and Laurie Matthews on behalf of the Auckland VHF Group Incorporated for their presentation and attendance.

Attachments

a Brief history of Auckland VHF Group ................................................. 257

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.

Puketāpapa Local Board

25 February 2016

Proposed change of dates for the Puketāpapa Local Grants Programme 2015/16

File No.: CP2016/00647

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to request approval from the Puketāpapa Local Board for the proposed changes to the opening and closing dates of their Round Two Local Grants, Round Four and Round Five Quick Response in their Puketāpapa Local Board Community Grants Programme 2015/2016.

Executive Summary

1. The Puketāpapa Local Board adopted the Puketāpapa Local Board Community Grants Programme 2015/2016 on 10 May 2015.

2. The current closing date for the Puketāpapa Round Two Local Grants is 15 May 2016, for projects to occur after August 2016.

3. The current closing date for Puketāpapa Round Four Quick Response is 8 April 2016, for projects to occur after May 2016 andthe current closing date for Puketāpapa Round Five Quick Response is 1 June 2016, for projects to occur after July 2016.

4. Commercial and Finance staff recommend that the Puketāpapa Local Board make the following proposed date changes:

· Round Two Local Grants to open 26 March 2016, closing on 20 April 2016 for projects to occur after July 2016.

· Round Four Quick Response to open 4 March 2016, closing on 1 April 2016 for projects to occur after April 2016

· Round Five Quick Response to open 25 March 2016, closing on 20 April, for projects to occur after May 2016.

Grant Round	Current Closing Date	Proposed Closing Date
Round Two Local Grants	15 May 2016	20 April 2016
Round Four Quick Response	8 April 2016	1 April 2016
Round Five Quick Response	1 June 2016	20 April 2016

This would ensure we meet reporting deadlines for April, May and June local board meetings.

Recommendation/s

That the Puketāpapa Local Board:

a) approve the revised opening date of 26 March 2016 and closing date of 20 April 2016, with projects to occur from July 2016 onwards for the Puketāpapa Round Two Local Grants.

b) approve the revised opening date of 4 March 2016 and closing date of 1 April 2016, for projects to occur from May 2016 onwards for the Puketāpapa Round Four Quick Response Grants.

c) approve the revised opening date of 25 March 2016 and closing date of 20 April 2016, for projects to occur from June 2016 onwards for the Puketāpapa Round Five Quick Response Grants.

Comments

5. The current opening date for the Puketāpapa Round Two Local Grants is 1 April 2016 and the closing date is 15 May 2016, with projects to occur after August 2016.

6. The current closing date for the Puketāpapa Round Two Local Grants is 15 May 2016, for projects to occur after August 2016. The current closing date for Puketāpapa Round Four Quick Response is 8 April 2016, for projects to occur after May 2016 and the current closing date for Puketāpapa Round Five Quick Response is 1 June 2016, for projects to occur after July 2016.

7. Commercial and Finance staff recommend that the Puketāpapa Local Board make the following proposed date changes:

· Round Two Local Grants to open 26 March 2016, closing on 20 April 2016 for projects to occur after July 2016.

· Round Four Quick Response to open 4 March 2016, closing on 1 April 2016 for projects to occur after April 2016

· Round Five Quick Response to open 25 March 2016, closing on 20 April, for projects to occur after May 2016.

Grant Round	Current Closing Date	Proposed Closing Date
Round Two Local Grants	15 May 2016	20 April 2016
Round Four Quick Response	8 April 2016	1 April 2016
Round Five Quick Response	1 June 2016	20 April 2016

This would ensure we meet reporting deadlines for April, May and June local board meetings.

8. The proposed changes are as follows:

Grant Round	Current Closing Date	Proposed Closing Date
Round Two Local Grants	15 May 2016	20 April 2016
Round Four Quick Response	8 April 2016	1 April 2016
Round Five Quick Response	1 June 2016	20 April 2016

9. The proposed dates will allow for the decisions to be made in the 2015/16 financial year and allow for applicants to receive the outcome of their application in time for the beginning of the 2016/17 financial year.

10. 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 Puketāpapa Local Board adopted its grants programme on 10 May 2015 (see attachment A).

11. The local board grants programmes sets out:

· local board priorities,

· lower priorities for funding,

· exclusions,

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

· any additional accountability requirements.

Consideration

Local Board views and implications

12. Local boards are responsible for the decision-making and allocation of local board community grants. The proposed changes to the opening and closing dates for the Puketapapa for the grant rounds will ensure grant allocations are made within the 2015/2016 financial year and the new dates will be advertised through council and local board networks.

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.

Implementation

14. Following the Puketāpapa Local Board making their decision, Commercial and Finance staff will notify community groups and organisations of the change of date and update the Puketāpapa Local Board Grants Programme 2015/2016.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Puketāpapa Local Board Grants Programme 2015/2016	47

Signatories

Authors

Fua Winterstein - Community Grants Advisor

Authorisers

Marion Davies - Community Grants Operations Manager

Jennifer Rose – Operations Support Manager

Victoria Villaraza - Relationship Manager

Puketāpapa Local Board

25 February 2016

Auckland Transport Report for February 2016

File No.: CP2016/01890

Purpose

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

Executive Summary

2. Auckland Transport met with the Local Board to discuss capital fund project financing and timetabling on 16 November and held a workshop with the Local Board on the Ernie Pinches to Wesley Community Centre cycleway on 18 November.

3. A workshop with the Local Board took place on 2 December to discuss issues relating to the Dominion Road upgrade and light rail investigation.

4. A meeting in regard to the traffic calming request for Farrelly Avenue was held on 14 December 2015.

5. A portfolio meeting was held on 11 February to discuss the funding of the Local Board capital projects and other matters of interest.

Recommendation/s

That the Puketāpapa Local Board:

a) receive the Auckland Transport Report for February 2016.

b) note the feedback from the 2016 consultation on the Sandringham Road cycleway and selects Option 4, as its preferred option.

c) request Auckland Transport to move forward to detailed design, a firm estimate of costs and construction (provided the firm estimate of costs is no more than 5% above the $752,723 estimate) on the Sandringham Road cycleway with funding being allocated from the following:

Unallocated 2015/16 funds $238,606

2016/17 allocation $379,117

Deferral of southern section of Keith Hay Park Lighting $105,000

Deferral of the Keith Hay Carpark Realignment Design $ 30,000

Total $752,723

d) request Auckland Transport to install the lighting to the northern section only of Keith Hay Park.

e) note that consultation on the Duncumb and Duke Streets projects has been conducted and requests Auckland Transport to move to construction on the Duncumb Street cycle project, keeping within the project estimate.

f) allocate a maximum of $5,000 to for delivery of a seat on the SH 20 cycleway in Keith Hay Park on either site A or B, whichever is most suitable after discussions with the transport portfolio holder.

Reporting Back

Consultation Report

6. Consultations forwarded to the Local Board for comment in the last reporting period include:

· Whitmore Street

· Three Kings Special Housing area

7. Details are contained Attachment A.

New Network Consultation – Central and East

8. The public consultation on the new bus routes for the central area, known as the “new network” ended on 14 December 2015.

9. The initial count of pieces of feedback (including submissions and other feedback) was 4977 for the central area and 1194 for the eastern area.

10. Acknowledgement letters for submitters will go out toward the end of January and Local Boards will also receive the letter and a memo from Auckland Transport containing further information.

11. All the feedback is being summarised and a consultation summary report will be produced which will highlight key themes from the feedback. The summary report will include any resulting changes to the New Network, and final maps for the Central Suburbs and East Auckland.

12. Organisations and key stakeholders will receive a personalised response regarding the outcome of the key points in their submission.

13. Due to the large response to the consultation, the final report is not expected to be ready until mid-2016.

Mt Roskill Safe Routes Cycle Scheme

14. This project aim is to provide a safe cycle route between War Memorial Park on May Road to the SH 20 cycle overbridge on Somerset Road and Keith Hay Park. It will link to other cycle ways and to schools and parks.

15. Resource consents for the work from Auckland Council have been obtained and the project has been tendered out.

16. Tenders for the project close on February 17, 2016 and work is expected to begin mid- March and take approximately eight months for construction.

Local Board Transport Capital Projects

17. The Puketāpapa Local Board has access to the Local Board Transport Capital Fund (LBTCF) for the construction of transport related projects in its area. This fund is administered by Auckland Transport. Each year, Local Board’s transport capital fund allocation is $379,117, and this amount can be accumulated within each electoral term.

18. As the electoral term extends beyond the financial year, it is also possible to anticipate the allocation from the first year of the new electoral term.

Sandringham Road cycleway - Ernie Pinches Street to Wesley Community Centre

19. At its December Local Board meeting, the Puketāpapa Local Board resolved to undertake a round of consultation with affected parties in regard to the proposal for cycle improvements on Sandringham Road.

20. The consultation material (Attachment B) was hand-delivered to addresses along the route and other stakeholders were also engaged with through the Local Board database.

21. The consultation closed in early February and Local Board officers provided the results to Auckland Transport. There were 40 responses to the consultation and significant support was shown for cycle facilities on this portion of Sandringham Road. The responses in support were generally in favour of Option Two or Option Four. Some of those in favour of Option Two acknowledged that it was unaffordable for the Local Board and therefore indicated Option Four as their second choice. Three respondents did not support any of the options, citing cost and in one case unease at the loss of parking and the preference for a bus lane in this location.

22. Several submitters expressed some reservations about the safety of a shared walking and cycling path for pedestrians, especially for those with limited mobility or vision. Auckland Transport would be able to look at whether some form of separation can be incorporated into the design. This will be addressed at the detailed design stage of the project.

23. As advised in the December 2015 Puketāpapa transport report, a decision to proceed to further consultation on this project has meant that there has been a delay to detailed design commencing. This now means that construction cannot commence in the current financial year, should the Local Board decide to proceed.

24. However if the detailed design can be completed by the end of June, the project is likely to then be able to be put to open tender, with construction completed by end of this calendar year.

25. The estimated cost of construction of this project is $776,000. The Local Board currently has available $238,606 (15/16) to put toward this project and it can anticipate $379,117 from 2016/17 financial year, totalling only $617,723 available for this project. A shortfall of $158.277.

26. Previously the Puketāpapa Local Board had indicated that the Sandringham Road cycleway is a top priority for delivery from the transport capital fund. Therefore to have enough funds available to construct the project, the Local Board could consider:

· Deferral of Duncumb Street until after October 2016. This will provide a saving of $140,000.

· Constructing the Keith Hay Park lighting project in stages with the northern end progressing in 2015/16 and the southern end after October 2016. This would provide savings of $105,000.

· That the Keith Hay Park carpark realignment design project (Richardson Road end) which has not commenced and could be deferred until after October 2016. This would provide savings of $30,000.

27. Auckland Transport’s recommendation would be to construct only the northern section of the Keith Hay Park lighting project and defer the Keith Hay car park realignment design project. This would provide sufficient funds to move to construction with the Sandringham Road cycleway, Duncumb Street greenway and also provide the first stage of the Keith Hay Park lighting project.

Duncumb Street Greenway

28. The consultation on the Duncumb Street Greenway and Duke Street traffic calming projects was completed in late 2015. The major area of concern for those feeding back was parking loss. The project team has been working to minimize this as much as possible as a result of the consultation and have returned eight parking spaces to Princes Street and four parking spaces on Duke Street with no change to Fearon Avenue.

29. These two projects have been linked together as working on them simultaneously has provided cost savings to the Local Board’s project.

Keith Hay Park Lighting

30. Auckland Transport only received one tender for the project which has come in above the Local Board’s allocated budget. It is possible to construct this project in stages, starting with the northern end and finishing the southern end at a later date when the car park realignment and the narrow path past the kindergarten can also be addressed.

31. Auckland Transport recommends this approach with the project able to be revisited after October 2016 by the new Local Board.

Seating Project

32. At the Local Board’s request, Auckland Transport has investigated possible sites for a seat along the SH20 cycleway. A diagram showing the existing seats and the recommended area for a new seat is attached to this report. (Attachment F).

33. The diagram shows an area about 400m long that is not serviced by any seating. This stretch of path has a gradual incline and a seat towards the top of the pathway may be beneficial to users traveling uphill. The areas marked as “a” and “b” are considered to be the most suitable to provide a resting point and sufficient room for the seat to be suitably placed.

34. Current Local Board Capital Projects:

Duncumb Street Greenway

Resolutions:

Nov 2014: Confirms the project “Duncumb Street Greenway” proceed to detailed design

with the basic cycleway as described to a budget of $170,000.

Updates:

Project Manager appointed and investigation has begun. The project manager will discuss progress with TPL in May 2015.

May 2015

The concept designs are being prepared for internal discussion within AT. Once this is completed, the project manager will discuss this with the transport portfolio lead, it is expected this will be most useful at the June catch-up.

June 2015

The project manager will meet the transport portfolio lead at the June catch-up to discuss progress.

July 2015

The scheme assessment for the Duncumb Street greenway is making good progress and the proposed treatments for the sections were discussed at the monthly catch up with the Transport Portfolio lead. Once the scheme assessment is completed (expected to be July) the project will proceed to public consultation, and dependent on feedback, detailed design.

August 2015

The scheme assessment for the Duncumb Street greenway will be complete by mid-August. A parking survey has also been commissioned, and with the parking survey report expected to be complete by late-August. External consultation documents are currently being prepared, and is expected to go out early September. This will be discussed with the portfolio holder at the August catchup.

September 2015

Following the completion of the scheme assessment report, a detailed discussion on proposed treatments on various parts of the Duncumb Street Greenway was held at the monthly catch-up meeting.

Public consultation on the routes and the proposed treatments is due in September/October.

October 2015

Consultation is due to go out in mid-October along with the Duke Street speed calming project. The results of the consultation will be discussed with the transport portfolio lead and depending on the results of the consultation; both projects will be delivered together early next year.

November 2015

Public consultation began on the cycle improvements have been combined with the proposed traffic calming project on Duke Street. The correspondence is attached as Attachment B.

February 2016

The consultation in late 2015 showed most respondents were concerned with parking loss and the impact of the speed control devices on Duke Street (not part of the Local Board project). However the speed control devices were also supported by many submitters. Auckland Transport has responded to concerns over loss of parking by returning twelve parking spaces to the design along Duke and Duncumb Streets. Cost estimates for the work are favourable, showing that the work can be completed within the financial estimates given to the Local Board.

Fearon Park Pathway

Resolutions:

Nov 2014: Agree to add the widening of the path through Fearon Park to the Duncumb

Street greenway proposal to a budget of $190,000.

October 2015:

Instruct Auckland Transport to construct Stage1A of the pathway through Fearon Park, to a width of 2.5 metres, noting that the pathway can be extended further into the Harold Long Reserve once the stormwater works are completed and budget allows.

Updates:

AT have appointed a project manager. He is in discussions with AC Parks to coordinate the upgrade of the park and the construction of the shared path.

May 2015

Auckland Council is undertaking the redevelopment of the park and the design of the cycleway is part of that work. The cycle path is not expected to be completed until stormwater works in the park are completed.

October 2015

Discussions on this have taken place with Auckland Council Parks centering around the timing of the project and the path width. Due to stormwater works scheduled to take place in Harold Long Reserve in 2016, it is recommended that the Fearon Park pathway goes ahead as soon as practicable instead of waiting for the completion of the stormwater works. That would mean that Stage 1A of the pathway from Fearon Avenue, (shown as Stage 1A, Attachment B) through Fearon Park could be constructed independently from the area due to be impacted by the stormwater work. If Stage 1A was constructed to a 2.5 metre width, a saving of approximately $40,000 would made. If Stage 1A was constructed to a 3 metre width, this stage would need all the $190,000 funding allocated to the project. The remaining part of the path could then only be finished if further budget was committed to the project.

November 2015

Auckland Transport and Auckland Council will now arrange an inter-service agreement and the project will sit with Auckland Council Parks to tender and construct.

February 2016

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Auckland Council Parks and Auckland Transport. The construction of the path in Fearon Park will be managed by Auckland Council Parks. The path is expected to be constructed in this financial year and the part of the path to be impacted by the stormwater works will be constructed by the stormwater project team at the conclusion of their upgrade.

Keith Hay Park Lighting Project

Resolutions:

Dec 2014: Agree to fund the Keith Hay Park Lighting Project ROC $330,000 subject to availability of funds within the 2014/15 financial year with priority given to the northern section (ROC $189,000) if full funds are not available.

April 2015: b) Agree that Auckland Transport work with Auckland Council to deliver the Keith Hay lighting project within a fiscal envelope of $330,000 (from the Board’s Transport Capital Fund) after a site visit with Board members and Parks advisor to confirm the project scope.

c) agree that if the tender process indicates savings on the allocated $330,000, that this money be spent on the Richardson Road carpark design.

May 2015: b) confirm the Keith Hay Park lighting project proceed and that the scope of the project be limited to the northern section of the park to Noton Road at this stage and that any savings in this work be allocated to detailed design from the Noton Road carpark through to Richardson Road.

September 2015

b) instruct Auckland Transport to deliver the Keith Hay Park lighting project within the $330,000 budget and authorises Auckland Transport to reduce the scope of the project, if necessary, to fit within this parameter.

Updates:

Auckland Transport is currently engaging a consultant to complete the electrical design, utility liaison and consenting for the work. One this is completed a Firm Estimate of Cost will be brought back to the Board for consideration and approval.

March 2015

The firm estimate of costs is expected to be known at the end of March and will come back to the Local Board in April for final approval to move to construction, if it falls within the LB’s allocation. Auckland Council and Auckland Transport can then work through who is best to deliver the project and in what timeframe.

April 2015

The firm estimate of costs from the consultant has been calculated now that the lighting design is complete. The firm estimate of costs for both sections from the South Western Motorway to Noton Road (excluding the pathway by the kindergarten to Richardson Road) is close to the $330k mark. This includes 45 lights. To complete the pathway and light it through from Notons Road to Richardson Road would require additional funding as path widening needs to occur by the kindergarten as well as a realignment of the car park. Therefore to keep the costs for the lighting project within the 330k allocation suggested by the Local Board, it is recommended to light through only to Notons Road. Final costs will only be known once the project is tendered. If the tender indicates savings on the estimate, AT requests an indication from the Local Board if the saving can be spent on the carpark design.

May 2015

A site visit with Local Board members Holm and Wood has been arranged with appropriate officers.

June 2015

Auckland Transport notes the May resolution and is working with the designer to complete the detailed design and consent application. Following receipt of the consent the work will be procured through an Auckland Council Parks contract with work expected to commence late spring/early summer when ground conditions are best suited for this type of work.

July 2015

The consent application process is still being worked through with Auckland Council.

August 2015

The consent has not yet been lodged. AT is awaiting advice on realignment of the path in the vicinity of the cricket club and the contract template from Auckland Council.

September 2015

The methodology for the project has been the subject of discussion with Auckland Council arborists. Originally the arborist was suggesting that hydrovacing would be the most appropriate method for laying the cables. However after discussions and a site visit, approval has been given to go ahead using trenching for the majority of the path with hydrovac being employed through a small section where two trees are very close to the path, on the condition that an arborist supervises the work. The new estimate for costs for this project shows that the latest cost schedule that includes the extra work and the hydrovacing has added extra costs to the project. At the time of writing, Auckland Transport was verifying these extra costs and it is expected that a resolution will be needed at the September meeting to extend the approved budget amount.

October 2015

Auckland Transport notes the September resolution of the Puketāpapa Local Board and continues to work with Auckland Council to obtain the necessary consents for the project.

November 2015

Auckland Council Parks are preparing the documents to go to tender.

February 2016

Auckland Transport has now received resource consent for the work and the project was tendered. Further discussion of this project is in the body of the report.

Ernie Pinches to Wesley Community Centre cycleway

Resolutions:

Oct 2014: Move forward to discussions with the local community on the broad concept of the Sandringham Road Extension to Wesley Community Centre cycle link to gauge community support through its engagement advisor.

Oct 2014: Allocate $25,000 from the Transport Capital Fund for investigation of the Sandringham Road cycleway from Ernie Pinches Drive across SH20 to the Wesley Community Centre and War Memorial Park following successful consultation on the draft concept.

Feb 2015: Reconfirm Resolution CP2014/24495 that $25,000 from the TCF be released for investigation of the Sandringham Rd Extn cycle link from Ernie Pinches Drive across SH 20 to the Wesley Community Centre and War Memorial Park following successful consultation on the draft concept.

July 2015: Allocate up to $140,000 from the Local Board’s Transport Capital Fund for the scheme assessment and detailed design of the Ernie Pinches to Wesley Community Centre cycleway in the understanding that Auckland Transport will come back to the Local Board to discuss the recommended option and its estimated cost for the cycleway, before detailed design commences.

December 2015: Identifies Option 4 for the Ernie Pinches Street to Wesley Community Centre as its preferred option and that the board undertake public consultation on the following basis:

· All four options to be presented to the public with information about the relative benefits and estimated costs for each option

· The Board's preferred option and the rationale to be described

· Feedback to be presented to the Local Board in time to confirm an option to proceed to detailed design at the Board’s 25 February Business Meeting.

Updates:

AT and the LB’s engagement advisor took the concept out to the community in December 2014/January 2015.

Consultation was completed in January 2015. Community support for the project was noted.

April 2015

A project brief is being prepared and from there a project manager will be appointed.

May 2015

The project brief has been completed and a project manager has been appointed. Further updates to the LB are expected in the next month or two.

June 2015

A feasibility study is now underway to look at options for this route which will also provide information on costings. A report back to the Local Board on this is expected in mid-July.

August 2015

The Local Board were briefed on the feasibility study at a workshop in July. Several different options are possible with various costings. The project team will now take the Local Board’s feedback and proceed to a scheme assessment report which is expected to produce a recommended treatment.

September 2015

The scheme assessment report is still in progress.

October 2015

A November workshop has been booked with the Local Board to discuss recommended treatments and their costs. After this workshop, Auckland Transport will be seeking further direction from the Local Board at their November board meeting.

December 2015 and February 2016

This project is discussed in more detail in the body of the report.

Keith Hay Park Carpark Realignment, Richardson Rd

Resolutions:

July 2015:

Request a Rough Order of Costs for the estimated costs for realignment of the cycle path in the Keith Hay Park carpark (Richardson Road entrance), subsequent realignment of the car parking area, widening of the path past the kindergarten, lighting improvement and associated works and allocate up to $30,000 from the Local Board Transport Capital Fund towards the design of this improvement.

Updates

August 2015

This is still in progress.

October 2015

Discussions are being held with Auckland Council Parks with a view to the design process for the carpark passing to Parks to action.

November 2015

This will be discussed with the transport portfolio lead in November.

December 2015

The priority of this project will depend on the timing of other Local Board projects and the $30,000 is in reserve until tenders for the Keith Hay Park lighting project are received.

Seating Project

Resolution:

April 2015: Request the Puketāpapa Local Board Engagement Advisor to undertake consultation with community groups including retired people and families with preschool children on where seating might best be provided in the Local Board greenways areas with a view to providing Auckland Transport with a programme for seat installation under the Transport Capital Fund with timings to be confirmed.

Updates:

September 2015

The initial consultation on a possible seating programme is now being scoped.

November 2015

Local Board engagement with key stakeholders is underway.

February 2016

Auckland Transport has received information from the Local Board on a proposal for a seat near the SH20 cycle and walkway in the vicinity of Keith Hay Park. This will be discussed at portfolio level in February. If the Local Board resolves to go ahead with this proposal, Auckland Transport asks Auckland Council Parks if they are able to deliver the project.

East West Connections

35. This project aims to provide road connections between SH20 and SH1 to improve traffic flow, particularly for heavy trucks. The southern component of the project seeks to provide improved bus travel and cycling connections between Mangere and Otahuhu Town Centres and Sylvia Park.

36. NZTA and AT updated the Local Board in early November 2015 on the content and outcome of the stakeholder workshops.

37. Detailed business cases were sent to the boards of NZTA and AT in December and both boards approved the alignment for the full link, including funding to proceed with the planning/consenting phase. The NZTA is now in the process of setting up a project team to complete more detailed design and technical assessments to achieve the necessary planning approvals by end of 2017.

38. Approval was also granted for an “early works” package, which is expected to begin giving benefit by 2017. This package is consists of widening State Highway 20, four laning of Neilson Street (Alfred Street to Captain Springs Road), removal of the railway bridge on Neilson Street and a new Galway Street link.

39. Design work on the early works package will begin early in 2016.

Auckland Transport News

Nelson Street Cycleway- Te Ara I Whiti

40. Auckland’s newest and highly anticipated piece of cycling infrastructure, the Nelson Street Cycleway, is opened to the public for the first time in December 2015. On the opening day, almost 2800 people cycled on the path, with hundreds more on foot enjoying the sweeping views across the city and harbour.

41. Phase one includes the architecturally designed Canada Street Bridge which stretches over State Highway 1 as well as the newly revamped and magenta-coloured Nelson Street off-ramp, which includes string of interactive lights along one side.

42. The project team worked with a Maori artist and Iwi throughout the urban design stages to include Maori designs and ensure the path has a distinctly New Zealand identity. The design includes a large koru pattern. Following a recommendation from iwi the section of the cycleway which incorporates the Canada Street Bridge as well as the old Nelson Street motorway off-ramp will be called “Te Ara I Whiti”, which translates as the Lightpath.

43. The $18m overall project (phase one: $15.4 million, phase two: $2.6 million) which is a key part of the Government’s Urban Cycleways Programme has been jointly delivered by the NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Council and Auckland Transport. It is part of $200m of cycle improvements in Auckland over the next three years.

44. The Nelson Street Cycleway which stretches from Upper Queens Street to Victoria Street connects directly to the existing Northwestern and Grafton Gully cycle ways. A diagram showing how the Lightpath connects to current and future cycle ways is attached to this report. (Attachment C).

Cycling to the City from the West is Increasing

45. Auckland Transport has a number of counters across the city to gauge the change in the number of journeys taken by bike. These counters are showing an increasing number of people are cycling from the west into Auckland’s city centre for work or study.

46. The number of cycle journeys through Kingsland on the Northwestern Cycleway has gone up by more than 16% in 2015 compared with 2014. This has contributed to a growth of 7.4% of cycle journeys throughout Auckland in the same period.

47. The number of people cycling on this route is expected to increase further with a major upgrade to be completed this year and a city centre cycle network which continues to expand.

48. The NZ Transport Agency is upgrading the Northwestern Cycleway from Westgate to Waterview as part of the Western Ring Route. The cycleway currently joins the Nelson Street Cycleway and the Grafton Gully Cycleway.

49. There are still diversions at Western Springs and Patiki Rd at the Causeway which will be in place until late February. In early February the section from McCormack Green (just west of the Te Atatu underpass) to Henderson Creek will be open with the completion of the Te Atatu Interchange Project scheduled for March and the Causeway Project scheduled for August.

50. The Northwestern Cycleway is one of the busiest cycle routes in Auckland and soon other routes will connect with them to further develop the cycle network.

51. Construction will begin early this year on the Quay St Cycleway and by the middle of the year the Nelson St Cycleway will be completed all the way to Quay St.

52. By mid-2018 Auckland will have an inner city cycle network with great connections to the inner east and west suburbs. Auckland Transport are already working on plans for projects beyond 2018 which will further develop the city’s growing network of cycle ways.

Red Light Warning Trial

53. Red light runners are being targeted with the trial of a new warning system in two intersections in Remuera. The trial is to see whether red light running can be prevented at two closely spaced intersections by putting in red illuminated markers on the road.

54. Lights in the traffic lanes are linked to the traffic signals and warn drivers by showing that the signals have turned red and that they must stop.

55. Both Remuera Road/Clonbern Road and Remuera Road/Victoria Ave intersections have traffic signals and are located quite close to each other. The two intersections are within the Remuera Town Centre and are busy with both traffic and pedestrians. Over the five years 2010 – 2014, a total of twelve crashes have been reported in this area, three involved failing to give way and two were rear end crashes which may have been caused by red light running.

56. There have also been a number of near misses between pedestrians and vehicles. Over the years, safety concerns have been raised by the local community and Remuera businesses.

57. Auckland Transport will conduct traffic analysis during the trial, together with input from the public, to determine whether the lights in the road have improved the safety of the intersections. The trial is scheduled to last until the end of September 2016 when Auckland Transport will undertake the evaluation of the trial and report to NZ Transport Agency.

Regional Signage Update

58. Installation of pedestrian and road user signage prototypes commenced in January 2016 around New Lynn Interchange and Northcote Shopping Centre.

59. Feedback from the trials will contribute towards a final signage approach for the region. This is expected to be finalized in mid to late 2016.

60. Further information is provided in Attachment D, to this report.

City Rail Link Starts

61. Preliminary work for Auckland’s largest infrastructure project, the City Rail Link (CRL) started on 21 December with a dawn blessing of the work site on Albert Street between Swanson and Wellesley Streets attended by Manawhenua.

62. A major stormwater diversion is required before the project can begin constructing the cut and cover tunnels along Albert Street. The diversion will be done by pipe jacking (micro tunneling) a replacement stormwater pipe in several stages along the eastern side of Albert Street, between Swanson and Wellesley Streets.

63. Hoardings will be put up to promote the CRL and show its role in delivering an integrated public transport system for the entire city.

64. A media campaign, “Build is On”, is due to be launched in February 2016 with the aim to inform Aucklanders that CRL construction is about to start and to encourage them to find better travel options. Car trips into the central city will need to be reduced if congestion is to be kept to manageable levels. To minimize congestion it is planned to:

· Reconfigured bus routes

· Included new bus lanes

· Changed some bus stops

· Removed some parking and traffic lanes

65. The first of the changes mentioned above took place on Sunday 18 October. There will be more changes in April next year.

66. Lower Queen Street is expected to become a pedestrianized space from May 2016 to May 2017 when CRL early works require the removal of all buses from lower Queen Street. AT is commissioning work to design and manage an activation programme for the space that will be inclusive, flexible and diverse.

67. The December newsletter for the project is attached to this report (Attachment E).

Waterview Cycling and Walking Connection Begins

68. Construction has begun on one of Auckland’s biggest cycling and walking projects which will improve connections for people moving through the suburbs of Waterview and Mt Albert. The Waterview Shared Path is part of the Waterview Connection tunnel and interchange project and will join with other shared paths that are part of the Government’s Urban Cycleway Programme.

69. The 3.5 metre shared cycling and walking path follows Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek) between the Alan Wood Reserve in Mt Albert and Great North Road in Waterview and will be a convenient way to access local parks, sports grounds, and the Unitec campus. Walkers and cyclists of all ages and abilities will easily be able to access the shared path as it includes low hill gradients to assist prams and elderly people to use it.

70. The scenic route travels through an area of Mahoe forest and includes three bridges. The bridge crossing Oakely Creek, connecting Great North Road and Unitec will be 90 metres long, a similar length to Grafton Bridge.

71. At its southern (Mt Albert) end, Waterview Shared Path will connect with an existing route that runs along SH20 and with a shared path to the west that will run next to the rail line to New Lynn. At its northern end (Waterview), it connects with the Northwestern Cycleway.

72. The Government through the New Zealand Transport Agency, together with Auckland Transport and the Albert-Eden Local Board have contributed the funding for the project which will be built by the Well Connected Alliance, which is delivering the Waterview Connection project. It is expected to be completed by early 2017.

Issues Raised through/ by Board Members

Location or Name of Issue	Description	AT Response
Cape Horn Road	A member of the public has requested that BYLs be added to the entrance (even number) side of Cape Horn road for about three car spaces. The entrance to the road is narrowed by cars parking on both sides. Previous engineer has looked at this and said that the parked cars act as a traffic calming device and if BYLs were added there is a risk of cars speeding off Hillsborough Road down Cape Horn Road. However they have asked for it to be reassessed.	AT’s engineer has revisited the site at the request of the local board and reviewed the original decision not to extend parking restrictions at this site. AT’s reassessment concluded that the parked vehicles are not considered a safety concern as there is adequate forward visibility for passing motorists to see each other in opposing directions and the parked vehicles encourage lower vehicle speeds and greater care when driving. However, at the request of the Local Board, AT reviewed whether to discuss parking removal with residents on one side of the road (even numbers). However, senior engineers do not support BYLs at the throat of the road. The cars parking here provide a natural traffic calming mechanism. The concern is that if these are removed it could encourage faster speeds on this road.
Pah Road Footpaths	A complaint has been received about the existing footpath between numbers 132 and 140 Pah Road with a request for it to be ripped up and replaced.	The construction of a vehicle crossing and associated footpath work has been taking place at this location. At the time of inspection, it was found that some of the footpath was covered by stone masonry works. The owner was advised to remove all the loose stones and make the footpath safe.
Commodore Drive and Griffen Park Rd intersection	AT to assess the intersection with particular regard to any measures to prevent vehicles moving from Griffen Park Road to Commodore Drive	Signalising this intersection has been looked at but is not considered safe due to the downward hill from Hillsborough Road. Other measures are being considered.
Denbeigh Avenue and Richardson Road	Complaints about congestion in this area and a request for BYLs near intersection	Two site visits were conducted to investigate the issues raised. One was conducted on Monday 9 November at 5.45pm. This investigation observed no issues on the network at these locations with all traffic free flowing. The second site visit was conducted on Wednesday 18 November with the Denbigh Avenue site being inspected from 5pm to 5.30pm. This intersection did have queuing back to between Winstone Road and Somerset Road but this queuing was only observed until 5.20pm after which it died down. It was noted that a significant majority of movements at the intersection were right turners therefore a clearway along this stretch of road is not considered to be beneficial at the moment. From 5.40pm to 6.15pm, queuing along Dominion Road and Richardson Road was observed though both roads were found to be operating efficiently, however from June until November the White Swan Road and Richardson Road intersection was being upgraded and the congestion along here has been attributed to that roading upgrade.
Gilletta Road	The Local Board has received complaints about antisocial behavior at the bottom of Gilletta Road. Traffic calming has been suggested for this location.	AT advises that the matters raised in relation to anti-social behavior are police matters. Constructing a speed table in this location would struggle to ever reach the top of the minor safety prioritisation process. However if the Local Board wanted to investigate this further using the transport capital fund, then AT would be happy to offer assistance with this.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Consultations on Roading and Parking changes Jan/Feb 2016	65
b View	Ernie Pinches to Wesley Community Centre Consultation Material - Consultation Plan	67
ViewB	Ernie Pinches to Wesley Community Centre Consultation Material - Matrix	69
ViewB	Ernie Pinches to Wesley Community Centre Consultation Material - consultation letter	73
ViewC	City Centre Cycle Network	77
ViewD	Regional signage update	79
ViewE	City Rail Link Newsletter	81
ViewF	Keith Hay Park seating diagram	87

Signatories

Authors

Lorna Stewart, Elected Member Relationship Manager, Auckland Transport

Authorisers

Jonathan Anyon, Elected Member Relationship Team Manager, Auckland Transport

Victoria Villaraza - Relationship Manager

Puketāpapa Local Board

25 February 2016

Auckland Transport Quarterly Update to Local Boards
For the quarter 1 October to 31 December 2015

File No.: CP2016/01891

Purpose

1. The purpose of this report is to inform local boards about progress on activities undertaken by Auckland Transport (AT) in the three months from 1 October to 31 December 2015.

Attachments include:

A - Auckland Transport activities by local board area

B - Travelwise Schools activities by local board area

C - Decisions of the Traffic Control Committee by local board area

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 Puketāpapa Local Board receives the Auckland Transport Quarterly report for the quarter, 1 October to 31 December 2015.

Significant activities during the period under review

Strategy and Planning

2. Transport for Future Urban Growth (TFUG)

Under the new business case approach AT has got approved funding to develop growth-related Programme Business Cases (PBCs) to identify the transport infrastructure needed within the next 30 years for the growth areas identified in Auckland Council's Future Urban Land Supply Strategy. The areas to be assessed are the Northwest, Southern, Northern and Warkworth areas. A multi-disciplinary and cross organisational team has been developed and is currently working from a co-located space on the four areas. Procurement is well advanced and consultant teams are on board with a number of workshops planned in January and February.

3. Central Access Strategy

A Strategic Case was jointly developed by the investment partners, and approved by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) in November 2015, agreeing the problems faced for access to the city centre. A PBC is underway to identify and agree a programme of options to address the problems, with a high level costs and benefits analysis.

PT Development

4. Double Decker Network Mitigation works

Each route is in a different project phase. By Jun-2018, the following routes are planned to be completed:

· Mt Eden (31 March 2016)

· Northern Express 2 (30 Jun 2016)

· Great North (31 March 2017)

· Manukau (30 June 2017

· Remuera

· New North

· Onewa

Botany bus route 500 (from Botany Town Centre to Britomart) has been cleared.

5. Public Transport (PT) Safety, Security and Amenity

Involves enhancing station safety, security and amenity. Current projects include completion of Ellerslie Station canopies, upgrade to Morningside Level Crossing and electronic gating at Manurewa Station. Programmed activities in various phases on these projects are:

· Ellerslie canopies will be completed January 2016

· Morningside Level Crossing Improvement construction work planned for April/May 2016 and interim improvements were completed in November 2015

· Manurewa gates in early design stage.

6. City Rail Link (CRL)

Enabling Works contract 2, construction of pipe jack (services relocation) commenced (Albert Street) on 21 December 2015. Enabling Works Contract 1, Britomart to Lower Albert Street and Contract 2, Lower Albert Street to Wyndham Street, is to commence in May 2016. Main Works: Construction to start in 2018/19 FY subject to funding agreement with Government.

PT Operations

7. Highlights for the quarter

· SuperGold Travel – a competitive tender process for SuperGold funding exempt ferry services from downtown Auckland to Matiatia Wharf, Waiheke – as per Ministry of Transport (MoT) directive. The tender process resulted in two operators being eligible for SuperGold reimbursements from 1 January 2016. Super Gold card holders conversion onto HOP cards has commenced, for delivery by 1 July 2016. This will mean seniors will be required to use HOP cards to access free PT SuperGold travel.

· Integrated Fares – just prior to Christmas Thales delivered the first release of version 7.0 (customer facing enhancements) for Integrated Fares, ready for AT to commence testing. Some minor changes to zone boundaries were also approved to mitigate some passengers who would have had fare increases under integrated fares. Initial testing of version 7.0 has commenced. Integrated fares implementation is targeted for mid-2016. A late February 2016 annual PT Fares review will be implemented as a stepping stone to integrated fares.

· Ferry Improvements – Waiheke Ferry Services: strong growth has been experienced on the route during the year, reaffirming the route as being the most popular on the Auckland Ferry network. A local initiative to display interpretative signage at Matiatia was delivered with the Waiheke Local Board in the last quarter, and way-finding signage was updated and replaced at Matiatia as well. Next quarter will see the installation of a purpose-built customer information/ticket office by Explore. Overall patronage to Waiheke has grown over 10% in the last 12 months with the combination of Fullers and Explore services.

Road Design and Development

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

Future proofing of the SMART route on the Kirkbride (trench) intersection is progressing together with the infrastructure works by Highway Network Operations of NZTA. This element of the project is expected to be complete in 2022. AT is working with the East West team to ensure the projects are well aligned at the critical points. The indicative business case is being updated for LRT and heavy rail. The cycle strategy for the wider Mangere area is also underway.

9. AMETI (Auckland, Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative) – Pakuranga Road Busway

Involves provision of a signalised Panmure roundabout, two-lane busway, Walking and Cycling facilities, Panmure bridge upgrade and upgrades to existing bridge and local roads towards Pakuranga Town Centre. A completion date is subject to the outcome/approval of a revised delivery strategy by the AT Board by February 2016. The Notice of Requirement lodgement is ready to proceed, with lodgement pending the outcomes of cultural mitigation discussion. The expected lodgement date is mid-February 2016.

10. Tamaki Ngapipi Intersection Safety Improvements

Involves installation of traffic lights at the Tamaki Drive/Ngapipi Road intersection to address safety issues. The design aims to encourage shared use by reducing conflict points and maintaining efficient movement through the intersection. The AT Board has approved the preferred option, that allows five Pohutukawa trees to be retained, and this option will be taken forward to consenting and construction. Detailed design is underway to finalise the proposal for consenting.

Services

11. Community and Road Safety Programme

· Delivered alcohol checkpoints in partnership with NZ Police

· Delivered child restraint checkpoints and Plunket promotions in partnership with NZ Police

· Delivered safety messages to motorcycle riders regarding high visibility vests and training in Northcote

· Delivered a targeted social media campaign for high risk young drivers in Henderson

· Delivered a ‘Train the Trainer’ course to local community and NZ Police for Learners Licence in Henderson

· Delivered learner and restricted licencing programmes to high risk young drivers in Mangere

· Delivered a targeted social media campaign for high risk young drivers in Mangere

· Supporting the Accident Compensation Corporation(ACC) and NZTA Young Drivers Signature programme in Mangere.

12. Commute Travel Planning

· Unitec Travel Plan – Unitec won the 'Think outside the car award for creative excellence' for its cycling programme including installation of 10 covered, student-designed bike racks

· Waitemata District Health Board was awarded the carpooling award at the AT Commute awards for its Carpooling programme.

13. Travel Demand (2015/16 Year)

Transport Choice campaign – ‘Time to cool your love affair with your car' video campaign was promoted for eight weeks primarily via online media and the AT website. Promoted travel choice and encouraged Public Transport, Walking, Cycling, Carpooling and Flexi-working. Over 625,000 views of the videos are recorded – which is a high rate and demonstrates increased awareness.

Road Corridor Delivery

14. The Assets and Maintenance Group is tasked with the responsibility for a wide range of activities within the Road Corridor. These include but are not limited to:

· the delivery of roading and streetlight maintenance and renewal programmes

· managing the access, co-ordination and traffic management impacts of activities taking place within the road corridor

· promoting design innovation and efficiency around how work is carried out on the network

· the development of long term asset management plans and modelling which support the decision making process around the management of Auckland’s roading assets.

15. Road Corridor Delivery

· In the 2015/2016 financial year AT is planning to deliver 37.7km of pavement rehabilitation, 480.1 km of resurfacing (comprising 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.

Table 1: Progress against Asset Renewal Targets

· Pavement rehabilitation projects have been completed on Kohimarama Road, Ranui Station Road, Edmonton Road, Robertson Road, Te Irirangi Drive, Ormiston Road, Whitford Road, Glenbrook Road, Linwood Road, Clyde Road, Lakeside Drive, Maygrove Drive, Brigham Creek Road, Mokoia Road, Kahika Road, Diana Drive, Glenmore Road, South Head Road, Waitoki Road, Mahurangi East Road, Hector Sanderson Road and Blind Bay Road. Further projects are underway on College Road, Hunua Road, Roscommon Road, St George Street, Bairds Road and Cavendish Drive.

· Contracts have been awarded to two suppliers for the provision of Light Emitting Diode (LED) luminaires for the 2015/16 year. In the 2015/16 year approximately 11,000 of the existing 70W High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps on the network will be replaced with LED luminaires and connected to the new central management system. Initially most will be in the central and north contract areas. The LED retrofit programme is being accelerated with the aim of completing the replacement of all the existing 70W HPS lamps by 1 July 2018 so as to maximise the available subsidy from the NZTA.

16. Road Corridor Access

· 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 2 is 94% (against the target of 90%)

· With an anticipated dip in numbers for December, the Corridor Access Request (CAR) team continues to process around 1,300 applications per month. These requests are for AT operations (inclusive of CRL) and various utility operators to access and maintain the assets sitting within the road corridor. Access is also sought by private operators and individuals who need to access the road network to undertake activities such as private water connections etc.

17. Strategic Asset Management and Systems

· AT inherited an inventory of 117 permanent traffic counting sites across the Auckland region. These comprise inductive loops installed in the road pavement which detect passing vehicles through electro-magnetic induction. The loops provide details of traffic flows by vehicle category. In addition, AT can deploy pneumatic tubes installed across traffic lanes to undertake ad-hoc traffic counts. These are used where there are no permanent loops installed.

· The information generated by the loops provides an ongoing record of traffic growth across Auckland, which is used to inform infrastructure design as well as providing current and trend information for the Auckland traffic and growth models managed by the Auckland Joint Modelling Applications Centre (JMAC). The output from these models has been used in the development of the Integrated Transport Programme (ITP), defining AT’s road hierarchy for ONRC, and will be used for the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP).

· During the period October to December inclusive, a total of 493 traffic counts were undertaken using a mixture or permanent sites and pneumatic tubes. Additionally, 57 additional counts were undertaken over the Christmas holiday period to identify recreational traffic flows which may be significant at certain locations. Sixteen of these were on Waiheke and four on Great Barrier Island.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Schedule of activities undertaken for the first quarter (2015/16) ending 30 September 2015	95
b View	Travelwise Schools activities broken down by local board	105
c View	Traffic Control Committee Decisions broken down by local board	107
d View	Local Board Advocacy Report	109
e View	Local Board Transport Capital Fund Report	111

Signatories

Authors

Various Auckland Transport authors

Authorisers

Jonathan Anyon, Elected Member Relationship Team Manager

Victoria Villaraza - Relationship Manager

Puketāpapa Local Board

25 February 2016

Better Urban Planning Issues Paper and Resource Legislation Amendment Bill

File No.: CP2016/01958

Purpose

1. To provide the local board with an opportunity to comment on:

· the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the system of urban planning in New Zealand as outlined in its ‘Better Urban Planning Issues Paper’, which was released for public comment on 9 December 2015; and

· the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill, which had its first reading on 3 December 2015 and was subsequently referred to central government’s Local Government and Environment Select Committee for consideration.

Executive Summary

2. Council has the opportunity to respond to the Productivity Commission’s (the Commission) enquiry into the system of urban planning in New Zealand, as well as to make a submission on the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill (the Bill) currently under consideration by the Local Government and Environment Select Committee.

3. Although the two pieces of work are discrete and run by different central government agencies, the wider reform of urban planning and resource management provide a common context to these projects. Both work programmes are running on a similar timeframe, therefore Auckland Council has aligned the process to enable responses on both matters, including local board engagement. More detail regarding these programmes is presented in the ‘Comments’ section of this report.

4. The governing body has allocated decision-making responsibility to make submissions to central government on legislation, including official submissions from Auckland Council that incorporates the views of local boards. The Auckland Development Committee (ADC) will be deliberating council’s response to the Issues Paper and its submission, and the Bill at its 10 March 2016 business meeting. As part of that process the ADC will consider local board views to ultimately inform its responses to central government. Local boards are therefore asked to provide formal comment on both topics by 8 March to enable the reporting of local views to ADC at its March meeting.

Recommendation/s

That the Puketāpapa Local Board:

a) Provide feedback no later than 8 March 2016.

Comments

Better Urban Planning Issues Paper

5. Central government has asked the Productivity Commission (the Commission) to undertake an inquiry into the system of urban planning in New Zealand. The main purpose of the inquiry is “to review New Zealand’s urban planning system and to identify, from first principles, the most appropriate system for allocating land use through this system to support desirable social, economic, environmental and cultural outcomes.”^{^[1]}

6. The inquiry will look beyond the current resource management and planning system to consider fundamentally different ways of delivering urban planning and development. The scope of the inquiry includes the different types of interventions, the funding arrangements, and the governance frameworks that are currently delivered by:

· the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA2002);

· the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA1991);

· the Land Transport Management Act 2003 (LTMA2003); and

· elements of the Building Act 2004, the Reserves Act 1977 and the Conservation Act 1987 that relate to land use.

7. Given the ‘blue skies’ nature of the inquiry, it will not critique previous or ongoing reforms to legislation that make up the urban planning system. However, the inquiry will consider lessons that can be drawn from the current planning system and its implementation in urban areas.

8. The Productivity Commission released a discussion document entitled ‘Better Urban Planning Issues Paper’ (included as Attachment A to this report) on 9 December 2015. The Issues Paper is the first phase of the Commission’s enquiry, which will inform a draft report that will be publically released in July 2016 for further public comment before a final report is due to central government on 30 November 2016.

9. The Issues Paper asks specific questions on the principles for urban planning (refer to ‘summary of questions’ appendix to Issues Paper, p.76-80 of Attachment A) as a basis for generating responses. It is recommended, however, that the local board focus predominantly on particular matters of relevance to the board’s governance role and the Auckland context. The board may wish to consider several of the following questions to help formulate its feedback, namely:

· How could a new model best deal with the complex and dynamic nature of urban environments?

· How does the allocation of responsibilities to local government influence land use regulation and urban planning?

· What allocation of responsibilities to different levels of government would support better urban planning?

· What principles around consultation and public participation should the Commission consider in the design of a new urban planning system?

· What should be the appropriate level of consultation in making land use rules or taking planning decisions?

· How should a new model be designed so as to avoid unnecessary administrative, economic and compliance costs?

· Are there any aspects of the existing planning system worth keeping in a new system?

· What information about environmental outcomes and other urban outcomes would a decision-maker need to make good urban planning decisions?

· How could a future planning system be designed to reflect the differing circumstances and needs of New Zealand cities? Are new or different planning and funding tools needed?

10. Council will most likely provide comment on the draft report once it is forthcoming in July, in addition to providing a response to the Issues Paper. Assuming this is the case, local boards will have another opportunity later in the year to provide further input into the inquiry once the draft report is released.

Resource Legislation Amendment Bill

11. The purpose of the Resource Legislation Amendment Bill (the Bill) is to “create a resource management system that achieves the sustainable management of natural and physical resources in an efficient and equitable way.”^{^[2]} The Bill introduces a range of amendments with three main objectives:

· better alignment and integration across the resource management system;

· proportional and adaptable resource management processes; and

· robust and durable resource management decisions.

12. The publically available departmental disclosure statement for the Bill prepared by the Ministry for the Environment is provided as Attachment B to this report. It brings together in one place a range of information to support and enhance Parliamentary and public scrutiny of the Bill itself. In particular, the disclosure statement identifies:

· the general policy intent of the Bill and other background policy material;

· some of the key quality assurance products and processes used to develop and test the content of the Bill; and

· the presence of certain significant powers or features in the Bill that might be of particular Parliamentary or public interest and warrant explanation.

13. The current package of resource management reform proposals is comprised of over 40 individual proposals aimed at delivering substantive, system-wide improvements to the resource management system. The table below highlights several key proposals within the Bill that the local board may wish to consider when formulating its feedback:

Area

Key matters to note within the Bill

National direction

§ Introduces a new regulation-making power in the RMA1991 to permit specified land uses so as to avoid unreasonable restrictions on land

§ Prohibits and removes council planning provisions that supplicate the functions in, or have the effect of overriding, other legislation or impose unnecessary restrictions on land use for residential development

§ Enables the development of a national planning template to improve the consistency of RMA plans and policy statements, reduces complexity and improves the clarity and user-friendliness of plans

§ Amends sections 30 and 31 of RMA1991 to make it a function of regional councils / territorial authorities to ensure sufficient residential and business development to meet long-term demand

§ Removes the explicit function of regional councils / territorial authorities to manage hazardous substances.

Plan making

Plan making (cont.)

§ Proposes changes to enable a more efficient, flexible and proportionate plan change process; introduces two new planning tracks for territorial authorities:

o streamlined process – provides more flexibility in planning processes and times to allow these to be tailored to specific issues and circumstances

o collaborative process – encourages greater front-end public engagement intended to better reflect community values, reduce litigation costs and avoid lengthy delays

§ Proposes a statutory obligation on territorial authorities to invite iwi to form an iwi participation arrangement to establish engagement expectations when consulting during early stages of plan-making process.

Consenting

§ Introduces greater proportionality in the process of obtaining resource consents by introducing a 10 working day time limit for determining simple applications (‘fast track’), and by allowing territorial authorities to treat certain activities as permitted

§ Makes consent processes more simple and efficient by identifying the parties eligible to be notified of different types of applications by refining the notification regime, and through introducing limits to the scope and content of submissions and subsequent appeals

§ Removes RMA1991 provision found in section 11 that requires subdivision to be expressly provided for in plans; make changes that clarifies the scope of conditions that may be placed on resource consents

§ Proposes a regulation-making power that requires consent authorities to fix the fees for processing certain consent applications and hearing, and the remuneration for hearings panels.

14. In addition to the matters outlined above, the Bill proposes changes to Environment Court processes and the requirements the Court can place on consent authorities, improvements to alignment of processes, and suggested amendments to the Public Works Act 1981 intended to make the land acquisition process and compensation fairer and more efficient. Further detail on these matters can be found within the first four pages of Attachment B.

Consideration

Local Board views and implications

15. The governing body has been allocated statutory and decision-making responsibilities under the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 in relation to the regulatory activities of council. The governing body has also been allocated the non-regulatory responsibility to prepare submissions to central government on legislation, including official submissions of Auckland Council that incorporate local board views. This report provides the local board with an opportunity to provide input into submissions to central government regarding potential changes to regulatory policy.

16. The table below outlines how local board views will be canvassed as part of submission development:

Date	Proposed action / relevant information
Early February 2016	§ Circulation of a written briefing on Resource Legislation Amendment Bill to local board members.
17 February	§ Local board chairpersons invited to Auckland Development Committee (ADC) workshop to discuss both pieces of work: o opportunity for local board chairpersons to provide informal input in to the framing of Auckland Council’s response and submission o written briefing on the Bill and supporting material for workshop on the Issues Paper will be shared in advance.
8 March	§ Deadline for formal feedback from local boards § Feedback received by this date will be reported to ADC when it considers council’s response and submission.
10 March	§ ADC meeting to consider response to Issues Paper and submission on the Bill § All formal local board feedback will be attached to council’s final response and submission.

17. Given the tight timeframes for reply, it is recommended that the board establish a working party consisting of the Chairperson, the regulatory portfolio lead and the regulatory portfolio associate to develop the local board’s position. The board’s feedback will be formally reported to the next available business meeting for retrospective endorsement.

Māori impact statement

18. A key goal behind the introduction of the RMA1991 (‘the Act’) was to provide better recognition and protection of Maori interests. In particular, the Act was intended to:

· identify and protect customary rights;

· take into account the values and interests of Maori, including through reflecting the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in decisions; and

· provide ways and means for Maori interests to be represented in the development of plans and consent applications.^{^[3]}

19. The Act gives effect to these objectives in a number of ways. Sections 6 and 7 of the Act, which lay out issues of national importance and other factors that people exercising powers must have regard to, include requirements to:

· recognise and provide for the relationship of Maori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, wahi tapu and other taonga; and

· give particular regard to kaitiakitanga, defined as ‘the exercise of guardianship by the tangata whenua of an area in accordance with tikanga Maori in relation to natural and physical resources, and includes the ethic of stewardship’.

20. The recognition of kaitiakitanga is a particular feature of the current system. It recognises that the many different ways in which land is valued by people can include a kinship relationship, which creates obligations for Maori of guardianship or protection of land.

21. Consultation with tangata whenua is mandatory when developing plans and regional policy statements, and the Act sets out the requirements for consulting with iwi authorities. In preparing plans and policy statements, territorial authorities must take into account planning documents recognised by an iwi authority.

22. Problems with the current consultation arrangements – particularly that iwi tend to be inundated with requests for consultation on minor consents, with the issues of real importance to iwi getting lost – are recognised in the proposed amendment to the RMA1991 allowing for iwi participation arrangements:

“The purpose of an iwi participation arrangement is to provide an opportunity for local authorities and iwi authorities to discuss, agree, and record ways in which tangata whenua may, through iwi authorities, participate in the preparation, change, or review of a policy statement or plan in accordance with the processes set out in Schedule 1 of the Act.”^{^[4]}

23. The proposed amendment will require that, when local authorities start the planning process, they sit down with iwi and come to an agreement about the way in which iwi will be able to be included.

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a View	Better Urban Planning Issues Paper (Under Separate Cover)
b View	Resource Legislation Amendment Bill (Under Separate Cover)

Signatories

Authors	Jill Pierce - Local Board Advisor
Authorisers	Victoria Villaraza - Relationship Manager

[1] Taken from terms of reference establishing Productivity Commission inquiry, which is included in Appendix A of the Better Urban Planning Issues Paper (which is attached to the agenda report as Attachment A).

[2] Taken from Ministry for the Environment website at: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/rma/rma-reforms-and-amendments/about-resource-legislation-amendment-bill-2015.

[3] Gow, L. The Resource Management Act: Origins, context and intentions. Speech to the Resource Management Law Association Conference, Dunedin, 25 September 2014. Taken from p.31 of Better Urban Planning Issues Paper, presented as Attachment A to this report.

[4] Resource Legislation Amendment Bill explanatory note, 2015.

Chairperson	Julie Fairey
Deputy Chairperson	Harry Doig
Members	David Holm
	Ella Kumar
	Nigel Turnbull
	Michael Wood

March 2016:	Implement an Expressions of Interest process
March/ April 2016	Assessment of applications undertaken
20 April 2016	Workshop of applications with the local board
April/ May 2016	Decisions made on the granting of strategic relationship grants
May/ June 2016:	Funding Agreement signed by the successful applicants
2016 (date to be confirmed)	Recipients report to the board in person on the outcomes of the project

Type of leases	Fast track	Complex
Renewals	6	2
New Leases	5	0

Group and Location	Building Ownership	Renewal Due	Renewal Term available and current rent	Notes
Auckland City Brass Band Inc Graham Breed Drive, Three Kings Reserve	Council	31/10/2011	2 Periods of 5 years. $250.00 per annum	2 renewal periods are recommended as the first will expire 30/10/2016
Fairholme Tennis Club Inc 6-8 Fairholme Avenue, Mt Roskill	Leasee	28/02/2015	2 periods of 5 years. $500.00 per annum
New Zealand Kannada Koota Inc.1011 Mt Eden Rd	Council	31/03/2015	1 period of 5 years. $500.00 per annum
The Scout Association of NZ - Western Bays Sea Scout Group 16-18 Griffen Park Rd, Griffen Park	Leasee	30/06/2011	2 Periods of 5 years. $250.00 per annum	2 renewal periods are recommended as the first will expire 29/06/2016.
Eden Roskill District Cricket Club 13 Noton Rd, Mt Roskill	Leasee	23/09/2014	2 Periods of 5 years. $250.00 per annum

Governance role	Examples
Setting direction/priorities/budget	Capex projects, work programmes, annual plan
Local initiatives/specific decisions	Grants, road names, alcohol bans
Input into regional decision-making	Comments on regional bylaws, policies, plans
Oversight and monitoring	Local board agreement, quarterly performance reports, review projects
Accountability to the public	Annual report
Engagement	Community hui, submissions processes
Keeping informed	Briefings, cluster workshops

Authors	Brenda Railey - Democracy Advisor
Authorisers	Victoria Villaraza - Relationship Manager