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Parks,
Recreation and Sport Committee
31 August 2016
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General
Manager's Report - Parks, Sports and Recreation
File No.: CP2016/19162
Purpose
1. To
update the Committee on successes and delivery of the past three years
undertaken by the Department of Parks, Sports and Recreation to support
implementation of plans and policies of Auckland Council.
Executive
summary
2. This
report has been written to update the committee on a range of projects across
the Parks, Sports and Recreation portfolio; celebrate some of the highlights
and achievements and note progress on approved work programmes over the past
three years.
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Recommendation/s
That the Parks, Recreation and
Sport Committee:
a) receive
the update report from the General Manager – Parks, Sports and
Recreation.
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Comments
Leisure
3. Leisure
was formed in July 2013 bringing together a unit to align the delivery of the
41 pool and leisure centres across Auckland. During that time Leisure has
grown significantly and become more focused in our goal to “Inspire
Aucklanders to be Active” and develop a “Game Plan” that
provides a framework to all Leisure staff on how we will achieve this.
4. The
challenge for Leisure has been differentiating itself from other providers in
the market which are also part of the industry focussed on getting Aucklanders
active. This required us to shift our focus from competing with those other
providers, to focusing on those people in our community who struggle to be
active on a regular basis and are not being catered for in that system. In
order to do that effectively we have had to understand our customers more, find
out what their barriers and challenges are and develop programmes and
structures to support their needs. We have developed some in-depth
customer insights that are now guiding our delivery and the services we
provide.
5. Leisure’s
financial performance has improved considerably since reestablishing the unit
in 2013. Leisure now has a more focused and aligned approach and has the
ability to make our size work with some significant gains in the procurement of
contracts and services. Leisure’s net operating position has
reduced rates funding from $10.8 million to $5.7 million, an average of
$1.6 million improvement per year ensuring Leisure continues to deliver on the
Business of Leisure programme put forward as part of the LTP and with the end
goal of becoming operationally cost neutral within 10 years.
6. In order to drive this focus and on-going improvement Leisure has
rolled out a programme of work to embed continuous improvement, or Lean
thinking, across the service with the goal to have continuous improvement embed
in our culture. Leisure is already seeing the benefits of providing its
teams with the tools and systems to break down the old thinking of “we
have always done it that way” and “it if isn’t broken why fix
it”. This allows our teams to critically analyse situations and put the
customer at the centre of the conversation as well as being comfortable in
asking the question why do we do it that way, does it work for the
customer? Through this training staff are becoming more empowered and the
flow on effect is improving staff engagement and ownership.
7. Over
the last three years Leisure successfully delivered some major projects
including:
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The completion and opening of Toia,
Ōtāhuhu
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Major upgrade of the Mt Albert Aquatic Centre
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Major renewals of Glenfield Pool and Leisure
Centre, West Wave Pool and Leisure Centre and the Takapuna Early Childhood
Centre.
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Near completion of the new Albany Stadium Pool
and a major upgrade of the Stanmore Bay Pool and Leisure Centre
8. These upgrades and new facilities continue
to enhance the services we are able to provide Aucklanders and ensure our facilities are fit for purpose now and
into the future.
9. During
this period Leisure has also successfully retendered all but one of the
Facility Management contracts. We now have alignment across all 41 of our
council-owned pool and leisure centres. This allows us to start maximising our
size and function more as a network rather than individual sites.
10. Leisure has made some significant improvements since forming in
2013. There is however still more work to do to inspire Aucklanders to be active and establish the
foundations which will allow us to achieve that goal.
Auckland Sport and Recreation
Strategic Action Plan
11. Launched in March 2014, the Auckland Sport and Recreation Strategic
Action Plan (ASARSAP) is
Auckland’s guide to planning, designing and delivering recreation and
sport opportunities. The plan sets out a 10 year strategic vision with actions
to guide the investment, resource and effort of all parties.
12. Auckland
Council supports sport and recreation in many ways, including the provision of
facilities and open space, delivering programmes and investment in the sector.
The council’s Sport and Recreation Investment programme supports the
delivery of the Auckland Sport and Recreation Strategic Action Plan to
encourage more Aucklanders, to be more active, more often. In 2015/2016
$500,000 was allocated to a number of organisations through the Regional Sport
and Recreation Grants Programme. A further $1 million was allocated through the
Community Access Scheme.
13. The first annual report
to Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee and One Voice on ASARSAP
implementation was presented in November 2015. Highlights and key
achievements include:
· Collective implementation resulted in 20 per
cent increase in investment into the Auckland sport and recreation sector by
key strategic partners
· Ministry of Health investment of $14 million
into three Healthy Families communities as a result of a collaborative and
strategic approach
· New investment of $1.3 million targeting increased
community sport and recreation participation in Indian and Samoan communities
in Auckland.
Sport and
Recreation
14. Developing facilities in
partnership with others achieves sport and recreation outcomes by leveraging
third party land and funding. Thirty-six facility partnership
projects with council investment of approximately $1.7 million and
a total project value of $3.5 million, have been completed over the
last three years. Twenty-eight facility partnership projects are ongoing with
council investment of approximately $9 million towards a total project value of
over $40 million.
15. The
Millennium Pool in Mairangi Bay was completed with council partnership
investment of $13 million towards the total facility cost of $27 million
ensuring community access to the pool facility and the opportunity for Auckland
to host international and national swimming events.
16. The
facility partnership with Auckland Rowing has commenced with central, west and
southern local boards jointly funding the development of water access and
pontoons on the Tamaki River. The project will bring much needed water access
to this area for waka ama and paddle sports where the sector is experiencing
growth in participation. This is a three phased project with further work to
develop a multipurpose water facility at the site currently occupied by rowing.
This community-led project is led by Auckland Rowing with support from the
Sport and Recreation partnerships team.
17. The completion of
the three year project with Sport New Zealand and Aktive aimed at building
knowledge, processes and resources to support the development multi-sport partnerships in Auckland. The project
was successful in achieving a wide range of outcomes with the most important
being a shift in sector thinking on the importance of partnerships, including:
· 40 sports clubs across eight partnerships with over 180
club volunteers part of partnership conversations
· Investment of over $3.5 million into eight partnership
sites delivering significant improvements to sport facilities and greater
diversity of sport activity
· Growth in club membership at partnership sites by more than
67 per cent
· Two sport partnership conferences bringing together over
250 people from the sport and recreation sector including clubs, regional
sports organisations, tertiary sector, local boards and councillors
· Development of a variety of resources, video case studies
and material which supports the development of sport partnerships.
18. The
Boroughs is a partnership project between Spark and the Auckland Council to
develop five outdoor basketball courts across Auckland. The southern court
(Otamariki Park, Ōtara) was completed in September 2015 and, based on the
learning’s from its development, the council is now leading the project
implementation with three more courts being delivered before summer, namely:
Hooton Reserve (Albany) in the north, Avondale Central Reserve in the west and
Victoria Park, near the CBD. The partnership with Spark is working well, with
the council focused on the capital development and Spark focussed on the
technology and overall project communications.
19. The
‘Sport Beyond School’ Active Communities Project won the New
Zealand Recreation Association
Outstanding Community Recreation Programme Award for 2015. This project
was a partnership between the University of Auckland, Auckland Council, College
Sport and the four regional sports trusts, targeting ongoing participation in
sport and recreation for school leavers.
20. Auckland
Council, in collaboration with Unitec Institute of Technology Bachelor of Sport
(Management) students, hosted a Youth Speak Sport Summit at Eden Park Stadium
in May, during Youth Week. More than 100 students from schools across Auckland
attended to have a voice for the future of sport and recreation in Auckland.
The event was co-led with young people – Unitec students and
representatives from the council’s Youth Advisory Panel and Local Youth
Boards. A significant outcome of the event was the design and voting of top
projects by young people, the most popular being movies at the
pools/parks/beach and ‘tagging blocks’ with bluetooth speakers.
Parks, Sport and Recreation will now be working alongside young people to
implement these ideas in their communities.
21. The council has
partnered with innovative New Zealand mixed reality experience designers GeoAR
Games to trial a new smart phone app as a way to activate our parks.
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An agreement has been signed to trial GeoAR's
‘Magical Park’ digital playground app in eight parks around
Auckland for two months from 4 July to 4 September. The digital playground
experience is aimed at children aged 6-11, allowing them to explore digital
content in the real world by viewing it through their smartphone or tablet
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The two month trial is in, Pukekohe Hill
Reserve, Onepoto Domain, Harbour View Reserve, Okahu Bay, Victoria Park,
Auckland Domain, Roberta Reserve, Long Bay Regional Park.
Parks
22. The Auckland Council Parks and Open Space Strategic Action Plan 2013
(POSSAP) is a key deliverable of The Auckland Plan. The POSSAP establishes four
areas of focus for all open space: Treasure; Enjoy; Connect; Utilise. The
services provided by the Parks team play a unique and special role in meeting
these outcomes:
POSSAP focus areas
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Focus
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Description
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Priorities
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Examples of how Parks delivers on these priorities
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Treasure our parks and open spaces
Manaakitia te taiao
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Protecting and conserving our parks
and open spaces and improving people’s ability to understand and
appreciate their value and significance.
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· Protect and care for
Auckland’s special places
· Protect our coastline and waterways
· Restore and enhance Auckland’s
native biodiversity
· Tell our stories and histories.
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· Interpretation programmes
· Cemeteries record and tell a story
of Auckland’s history and diversity
· Ranger service
· Together with other teams across
council and external partners the protection of fauna and flora (eg open
sanctuaries, environmental programmes)
· Pest and weed management programmes.
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Enjoy our parks and open spaces
Ngā papa te rēhia
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Ensuring our parks and open spaces
can meet the needs of our growing population.
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· Accommodate more use and activities
· Balance diverse demands
· Create safe and enjoyable places
· Expand the open space network
· Promote the open space network.
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· Concessionaires
· Baches, camping, mountain bike
trails and tracks, equestrian trails, orienteering, walking tracks
· Working together with volunteers and
other partners to deliver on Parks’ outcomes
· Increasing capacity across sports
fields.
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Connect our parks and open spaces
Ngā papa haumi
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Creating a green network across
Auckland by linking our parks, open spaces and streets.
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· Create greenways across Auckland
· Create a regional network
· Connect our natural areas
· Link with the transport network.
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· Greenways connections through parks
· Parks provide a connection to the
Auckland region coastline
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Utilise our parks and open spaces
Ngā papa ra nga hau
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Using our parks and open spaces to
create a green, resilient and prosperous city with thriving communities.
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· Connect our communities
· Build a green infrastructure network
· Provide world class experiences
· Respond to our changing environment.
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· Over six million visitors to
regional parks and the Auckland Botanic Gardens during 2015/16
· Adapting our services to meet
changing demands, e.g. cemeteries and the different cultural expectations
regarding burial and cremation services
· Sports Infrastructure Development
programme
· Five to six million booked
participations across sports parks annually.
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23. Public open space generates a wide range of benefits for
individuals, groups and the community as a whole. They include:
· Physical benefits, measured in terms of participation
in organised sports and informal exercise contributing to public health
· Amenity of places creating a sense of place, adding
value to surrounding properties and the enhancing the cityscapes as a whole.
· Social benefits contributing to personal wellbeing,
human development, social interaction, cultural and spiritual identity.
· Environmental outcomes such as landscape protection,
ecological viability and biodiversity.
· Economic outcomes as a context for tourism, commercial activity and
the value of private property.
Local Park
projects
Orakei Point
to Shore Road walkway
24. This
project includes the development of a board walk that connects pedestrians and
recreational cyclists between Ōrākei Point and Ōrākei Basin
to the connecting boardwalk at Shore Road. The development of a continuous
walkway around the coastal edge has been a strategic objective of the
Ōrākei and Waitematā local boards’ plans. The completion
of this link is a key milestone in the completion of the walkway.
Orakei Basin
25. This
is a site of significance within Auckland’s local parks network and is
highly valued by the Ōrākei community. A key project delivered over
the past three years was the upgrade and renewal of the access road, which has
improved access for park visitors and community groups who base their
activities and programmes at the basin.
26. Planning
is underway for the upgrade of tracks and trails which will improve the level
of service for recreational visitors to the basin. Consultation and engagement
with stakeholders and user groups is a key aspect of the planning and delivery
of the work program, and staff will continue to engage with these groups to
ensure community benefits are a key outcome for all projects implemented at the
basin.
Onehunga
Foreshore Restoration Project (Taumanu)
27. The planning and development of park spaces and beaches along the
Onehunga foreshore of the Manukau Harbour was completed in 2015, as part of
the revitalisation and development of the Onehunga Bay
area.
28. The
6.8ha park has 1.4km of new coastline with beaches, a boat ramp and turning
bay, picnic areas, and open space. Walking and cycling paths
traverse the foreshore and link to Onehunga Bay Reserve via a gateway
bridge over SH20.
29. The
Onehunga Foreshore Restoration Project created the park to provide enduring
public access
to the Manukau Harbour, and to restore the amenity and recreational
opportunities that existed before the motorway was built across
Onehunga Bay.
Wairau
Stream Pedestrian Bridge, Milford
30. Following
10 years of planning, the project was delivered and the
bridge opened in December
2015, construction costs were around $2.2 million.
Victoria
Wharf, Devonport repair and upgrade
31. The
revitalised wharf opened in
2015. Following an innovative approach to both design and construction the
final costs were $6 million. The estimated cost of full replacement was
approximately $12 million.
Hayman Park, Manukau
32. This
park is a central feature within the Manukau City Centre and its development is
a priority for the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board. The first phase, with
Parks and Auckland Transport working together, was completed in 2014/15 with
the widening of Davies Ave adjoining the park. The local parks team has
improved sight lines throughout the park with tree removal and pruning of
mature trees and path improvements.
33. In
2015, when it needed to be moved from central Auckland to support the response
to a fruit fly incursion, the Pasifika Festival was held in the park. A concept
design for the new playspace to be sited on the park is being developed.
Barry Curtis Park, Flat Bush
34. Barry
Curtis Park is the major premier local park development in the southern part of
Auckland. In the last three years the park has continued to be developed
with the completion of six new sand carpet platforms, installation of cricket
wickets and training lights for this community’s active recreation
participants.
35. Work
has continued on the John Walker Promenade, the main shared pathway running
through the park; the development of a shelter for walkers has been completed
and a new public toilet changing facility will be completed in 2017.
Auckland’s First World War Heritage
Trail
36. This trail commemorates a selection of sites from Wellsford to
Waiuku that were used during the First World War. It focuses on the
experiences of those on the home front.
37. The
56 sites on the trail, many of which are on local parks, reflect the themes of
this commemorative period including going to war;
training, administration and defence; the home front; the economic war effort;
opposition to the war and enemy aliens and rehabilitation and remembrance.
38. As
well as on-site interpretive signage and markers, a
brochure and online information was developed.
Enterprise booking system
39. This
system is being introduced across Auckland Council with a view to having a
centralised system for all council bookings. Sports parks have introduced the
system over the last few months and regional parks will be included over the
coming months.
Takapuna Beach Playground
40. The
Takapuna Beach all abilities playground was opened officially on 14 August, to
local and national media attention. The playground was completed due to
the generosity of local benefactors, Jackie and Chris Reeves, who underwrote
the project, in association with The Takapuna Beach Playground Trust.
41. A
number of local businesses, sponsors and private donors also contributed to the
success of this project. Experts in the field of disability playgrounds
consider it to be a model example of best practice. This project can be
considered a flagship of Community Empowerment. Supported by local board
funding, dedicated staff and consultants have been working hard for almost two
years to facilitate this excellent outcome.
Parrs Park playground, Oratia
42. Parrs
Park is a highly visited quality park with multiple sports fields and the first
publicly owned artificial sports field in the region. The playground was
upgraded in August 2014 to a destination facility that celebrates the
area’s orcharding history. It offers play for all ages with sand and
water play, a challenging high tower with a long slide and a twisting slide,
and several swing experiences.
Tui Glen Reserve playground, Henderson
43. Tui
Glen Reserve is in close proximity to West Wave Aquatic Centre and provides
important linkages to Henderson town centre. The park was fully activated
by the construction of Tree Tops Playspace in August 2013. The playground
provides a dual flying fox, three linked climbing towers with high slides and a
crow’s nest climbing frame.
Te Ara Hura walkway – Waiheke Island
44. Officially
opened in November 2015, Te Ara Hura – which means ‘the discovery
path’ is a 100km walking trail designed to help people discover the real
Waiheke, one step at a time. It links coastal tracks and bush trails with
back country roads to create up to seven days of walking from the headlands
around Matiatia, through the beaches and baches of the northern coastline
around the far end and into the forest heart of the island.
Cemeteries
Auckland Cemeteries Demand and Capacity
Modelling project
45. This
project analysed the spatial alignment of cemetery facility capacity and demand
to provide an evidence base around where and when gaps in provision will occur.
This analysis was then used to provide recommendations for an investment
programme for cemeteries.
Development of the
Cemeteries
46. The
Western Block at Manukau Memorial Gardens was completed in 2015/16 and will
provide another 20 years of capacity for the southern Auckland area. The
detailed planning and design for new burial subdivision at North Shore Memorial
Park has been completed. The feasibility of further development of burial
provision at Waikumete has been assessed against the Proposed Unitary Plan and
informed by the recently completed Waikumete Cemetery Management Plan.
47. Public
engagement with development projects, the opening of the Waikumete
Children’s Cemetery, and open days have been successful in understanding
the contemporary needs of Auckland’s diverse community.
ISO9001 accreditation
48. Manukau
Memorial Gardens and North Shore Memorial Park has continued to achieve this
accreditation, whilst Waikumete has recently achieved accreditation.
Regional Cemetery Management System.
49. The
business case has been approved for this project with delivery planned for
2016/17. The system will ensure that records for the existing and future
interments at council cemeteries will be available for future generations. This
will enable the cemetery team to provide an enhanced customer experience and
ensure records are stored in a central location.
Regional Parks
50th
anniversary of regional parks
50. This
celebration began at Wenderholm in December 2015 with the 50th
anniversary of Auckland’s first regional park.
The event was attended by Mayor Len Brown and people associated
with the early establishment of the regional park. Other activities during the anniversary
year included ‘The Big Campout’ and other volunteer celebrations.
Atiu Creek
51. A
pou dedication ceremony was held with two new pou kaitiaki installed in
June 2016.
Long Bay
Restaurant
52. This
development was halted indefinitely following the uncovering of twenty eight
koiwi on the site.
Staff worked closely with mana whenua throughout the process of archaeological
excavation and the re-interment of the discovered koiwi.
Tawharanui
and Shakespear Open Sanctuary
53. Takahē
were first released into the Open Sanctuary at Tawharanui Regional Park in
2014. The population is thriving and has been topped up with additional birds.
54. North
Island robins, or toutouwai were released into the Open Sanctuary at Shakespear
Regional Park in early 2016.
Hunua Ranges
55. The
Hunua kōkako recovery project celebrated 20 years of a successful
partnership with the Department of Conservation and volunteers, and a breeding
programme that has grown to 60 pairs.
Waitawa Regional Park
56. The
park was opened 2014 and includes best practice examples of interpretation
telling the story of the park’s Māori history, a 1950s holiday
destination and site for manufacturing explosives. Removal of an
old pine plantation has made way for the planting of over 100,000 native trees.
57. The
park also now boasts 14 km of mountain bike track, 20 km of walking track, a
horse park area and riding tracks and the fishing wharf has been reopened. The
refurbished Waitawa Bach also opened for booking.
Infrastructure
developed across the regional park network
58. The
infrastructure installed will support the delivery of mountain biking
experiences at Atiu Creek and Waitawa and the Hunua Ranges; horse riding
facilities developed at Awhitu, Atiu Creek and Waitawa; orienteering courses
developed at Atiu Creek, Duder, Mahurangi, Shakespear, Waharau and Karamatura;
disk golf (NZ Disk Gold Championships) at Waitawa and Pae o te rangi (Waitakere
Ranges).
Park/Land acquisitions
59. There
have been a number of land acquisitions in the Parks portfolio including:
· 217 hectares at Te
Arai
· 78 hectares adjacent
to Te Rau Puriri Regional Park
· 80 hectares at Piha
and Karekare
· 18 hectare Heritage
Protection Zone at Long Bay Regional Park
· 20 hectares of a
conservation block at Mahurangi East
· 83 hectares at the
Glenfern sanctuary on Great Barrier Island.
Auckland Botanic Gardens: Visitor
engagement
60. An
upgrade of the website (aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz) has seen growth in
website use of 42 per cent on 2014/15. This is supported by growth in followers
on social media channels that are being used to profile the work of the gardens
and reach out to supporters.. Increased profile has also been achieved through
various television and radio appearances and delivery of presentations at
national conferences as well as representation on committees of national
organisations.
Auckland Botanic Gardens: Volunteer
programme.
61. This
programme has grown by 52 per cent in the past three years from 4913 hours in
2013/14 to 7457 hours in 2015/16. Areas of research and visitor service
delivery support are the areas of strongest growth and are reflective of the
development of both the research partnerships and event and engagement services
delivered at the Gardens.
Auckland Botanic Gardens: Education
programme.
62. Auckland
Botanic Gardens has seen a growth in schools attending the Learning Through
Experience programme, with 9533 students visiting in 2015/16 and also increased
uptake of community engagement activity through school holiday programmes,
workshops, walks and talks.
Auckland Botanic Gardens: Horticulture.
63. Horticultural
improvements were supported by the completion of the Plant Collection
Guidelines in 2014/15 and the addition of a significant aloe collection
of 350 different species. The nursery at the Auckland Botanic Gardens
achieved certification in nursery biosecurity to ensure the risk of
transferring plant diseases and pets to regional parks is minimised.
Significant events across parks
64. Sculpture
in the Gardens held at the Auckland Botanic Gardens during November 2013 to
February 2014 and November 2015 to March 2016 where between 320,000 and 350,000
visitors attended each event.
65. Eye
on Nature has 1400 children attending the schools days each year at the
Auckland Botanic Gardens and family event attendance has grown from 6000 in
2014/15 to over 10,000 in 2015/16.
66. Ambury
Farm Day is held each October with the 2015 drawing 36,000 people
and a 89 per cent zero waste result.
67. Splore
annual music and arts festival is held at Tapapakanga Regional Park with
the February 2016 event hosting 8,000 visitors over three days.
68. FIFA
Under 20 World Cup – held during May and June 2015 on a number of
council park training venues.
69. Auckland
Domain – the flowering of the ‘Amorphophallus titanum (also
known as the corpse flower) flowered in November 2013 and June 2015 attracting
thousands of visitors to the Auckland Domain Wintergarden..
Volunteers and partnerships
70. Regional
parks have started two new partnership groups with the Friends of Hunua Ranges
and Friends of the Ambury Farm and Foreshore. They have continued to nurture
relationships with groups such as Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Society Inc
(TOSSI), Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society Inc (SOSSI), Ark in the Park, the
Hunua Kōkako Recovery Project and various others.
71. The ‘Kaitiaki mana whenua ranger trainee programme’ ran
successfully in southern regional parks for a six month period with four
trainees during 2015/16. This programme grew out of a collaborative approach to
iwi engagement during the Hunua Ranges pest control (1080) programme.
72. The
Auckland Botanic Gardens has established many research partnerships including
with Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), Manukau Beautification Charitable
Trust (MBCT) , University of Auckland and Ministry for Primary Industries
(MPI), Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens and the New Zealand Camellia
Society.
73. These
partnerships have enabled research to be undertaken in areas such as
sustainable meadows, camellia petal blight, kauri dieback and other sustainable
horticultural initiatives like organic gardening practices.
74. At
the Auckland Botanic Gardens a partnership Memorandum of Understanding has been
drawn up with the Department of Conservation and Botanic Gardens Association of
New Zealand (BGANZ) for ex-situ plant conservation.
75. A
total of 172,522 volunteer hours for 2015/16 were spent across all parks
helping to deliver on parks’ outcomes.
Awards across Parks
Albany Lakes Civic Park
76. The
winner of the New Zealand Recreation Association Outstanding Park Award 2015.
This prestigious award recognises the innovative design of this park, which
integrates stormwater ponds within the park to create a vibrant and exciting
open space.
Myers Park Upgrade Stage 1
77. This
new destination playground, with a new entrance and wayfinding signage, new
lighting and CCTV, was awarded a Resene Total Colour Master Nightingale Award
and Resene Total Colour Landscape Award.
Waterview Reserve playground
development.
78. The
consultation, design and development of a new destination playground at
Waterview Reserve, which was delivered as part of the SH20 development of the
Waterview area, was a New Zealand Planning Institute 2016 award winner for Best
Practice in Consultation and Participation Strategies and Processes.
Green Flag Awards®
79. Originally set up in the UK, the Green Flag
Award® scheme recognises and rewards the very best public green spaces internationally. A total of nine awards were achieved across parks including four
local parks (Olympic Park, Parrs Park, Taipari Strand and Sanders Reserve),
four regional parks (Long Bay, Tawharanui, Ambury and Whakanewha) and Waikumete
Cemetery – the first cemetery to achieve a Green Flag Award in the southern
hemisphere.
Hunua
Project
80. The
Hunua Ranges pest management (1080) programme was a highly successful
interdepartmental collaboration project that has been recognised with a Local
Government New Zealand award for environmental impact.
81. The
support of mana whenua with the pest control and monitoring programme
provided opportunities for tangata whenua to strengthen their connection to the
land, to provide for their hauora (long term wellbeing) and to be involved in
in the park management processes in ways which have particular regard to the
practical expression of kaitiakitanga.
82. The
successful application of 1080 has reduced the rat and possum population to
lowest-ever levels. As well as contributing to a boom in the kōkako
population, this project has facilitated the possibility of reintroduction of
other species such as the brown kiwi.
Auckland Botanic Gardens
83. Implementation
of the Auckland Council Disability Operational Action Plan has led to a silver
accreditation being awarded to the Auckland Botanic Gardens by Be. Accessible
in acknowledgement of the great advances made in the accessibility space.
Auckland Domain
84. On
22 August 2013, the Governing Body resolved that decision making for Auckland
Domain would be geographically split, with the Waitematā Local Board being
allocated responsibility for the playing fields and two community recreational
leases (Auckland Bowling Club and Parnell Tennis Club), and the balance of land
within Auckland Domain being allocated to the Parks, Recreation and Sport
Committee.
85. Given
the challenges associated with split governance and many activities happening
across the Domain a working party was established and this later evolved into
the Auckland Domain Committee. The first meeting of the Auckland Domain
Committee was held on 15 August 2015. It is a unique decision making
model and an excellent opportunity for local board members and councillors to
work together to determine the future of Auckland’s oldest and most
sizable park in close proximity to the CBD. Several significant achievements
have been clocked up since the establishment of the committee, including:
Master Plan
86. In July
2016 a new Master Plan for Auckland
Domain was adopted. This followed a five year effort since it was
evident, soon after amalgamation, that there were many competing demands that
could erode the value of the Domain and there was an opportunity to enhance the
accessibility of the Domain. Significant shifts signalled under the plan
are – opening up the Kari Street area as public parkland and a space for
events, play and respite, consolidating car parking while increasing pedestrian
and cycle access and increasing public transport access, enhancing the natural
playspace and telling the stories of the Domain.
Auckland Domain tree plan
and events guidelines
87. The tree plan was adopted providing a framework for management and
ongoing enhancement of the significant tree asset in the Domain. An
events guideline was also adopted to provide clarity and support for the
increasing demand for events on the Domain.
Renewal/upgrade projects –
88. Significant
renewal/upgrade projects to restore heritage icons in the Domain to their
former glory, included:
· The brick by brick rebuild of the wall surrounding the
Wintergarden which was collapsing and the cleaning and restoration of the
Temperate House.
· The complete rebuild
of the Watson’s Bequest reflection pond which re-opened after a two year
long project in May 2016. The original pond and associated statues were
tendered in 1954 and officially unveiled on 19 October 1955. They were a
bequest from Alexander Richard Dickey Watson (hence the area is commonly
referred to as Watson’s Bequest). Mr Watson was born in, and for many
years was a resident of, Auckland. The bequest and associated sculpture
commemorated the first 100 years of the history of the city of Auckland. The
pond was designed by Tibor Donnor, the significant Auckland City Council
architect and the stonework was built by Scarborough Bros of Scarborough Terrace
fame. The statue consists of three figures representing Auckland finding its
strength, wisdom, and fertility. The pond was described as a free form
modernist influenced pond to create a setting for the statues and includes and
elaborate mosaic. The rebuild was extensive as the pond lining had been
significantly damaged by tree roots so the mosaic tiles and entire base of the
pond was rebuilt with great care of attention paid to the original design.
Watsons
bequest in 1964
The Auckland Lantern Festival
–
89. This
was held in the Auckland Domain for the first time from 18-21 February
2016. With an estimated 150,000 people attending the Domain attracted a
lot more attendees and stretched the park to its limit but was a much loved
event showing off the magnificence of the mature trees and introducing a lot of
Aucklanders to Watson’s Bequest and the open spaces beyond.
90. As
previously mentioned the Wintergarden team has been engaging a number of
Aucklanders with thousands flocking to the second flowering of Amorphophallus
titanum (titan arum) or corpse flower. They have also been developing an active
Facebook page and OurAuckland has run regular ’Flower of the Month’
features.
Professional accreditation
91. Two
members of the Parks team (Mark Bowater and Jane Aickin) achieved the New
Zealand Recreation Association Accredited Recreational Professional (ARPro)
certification. This accreditation is to recognise an individual’s
standard of professional attainment within the recreation profession.
Sportsfield Capacity Development programme
(SFCD)/Sport Infrastructure Development programme
92. During
the last three years (2013/14 to 2015/16) of the SFCD programme the council has
invested $62.9 million in the region’s sports fields, on capacity
increase and supporting infrastructure projects, and a further $13.8 million on
asset renewals.
93. This
three year investment delivered an additional 641 playing hours per week of
which 253.5 playing hours were provided by regionally / growth funded SFCD
projects and the balance by Long-term Plan or local board funded projects.
Summary: SFCD Programme Investment FY 14 to FY16
|
|
2013/14
|
2014/15
|
2015/16
|
3 Year Total
|
|
Total funding
|
$16,219,619
|
$24,163,600
|
$22,552,379
|
$62,935,598
|
|
Capacity increase hours/week
|
|
|
|
|
|
SFCD Regional fund / growth
|
66.5
|
120
|
67
|
253.5
|
|
Long-term Plan / local board fund
|
286.5
|
89
|
12
|
387.5
|
|
Total capacity added
|
353
|
209
|
79
|
641
|
94. The
three year investment delivered:
· Seven artificial turf fields plus floodlights
· One hybrid turf field (still to be completed)
· 41.25 new sand carpet fields
· One field sand slit
· 34.75 fields floodlights
· Eight new soil fields
· 30 fields irrigation
· Two fields drainage improvement
· Two new toilets blocks plus a contribution to one new
set of toilets and changing rooms.
95. Significant
projects during the last three years include:
· Two artificial turfs at Ashley Reserve in Long Bay
· One artificial turf at Greville Park in Forrest Hill
· One and a half artificial turfs at QBE Stadium in
Albany
· Development of a new sports park at Opaheke Reserve in
Papakura
· Extension of Metro Park in Orewa.
2015/16 innovation
96. Research
and innovation has been a priority and in 2015/16 focused on grass growth with
the aim of lowering costs and reducing the time fields are out of play
following upgrades or renewal. Three successful trials were undertaken:
· The use of humic
acid, a natural fertiliser, resulted in increased grass growth and reduced the
time the fields were out of play by about a month.
· Growing couch grass for re-location and re-turfing
instead of stolonising provided time and cost benefits with fields playable
within two weeks rather than several months.
· Establishing couch grass by seeding rather than stolonising is providing
promising results for earlier grass establishment.
· The use of LED floodlighting has been
investigated. This is expected to provide operational benefits but will
not be suitable for all sites.
97. Equity
in field provision across clubs is a focus. A Needs Assessment Calculator
(NAC) has been developed to inform decisions on field allocations to ensure
there is equitable provision across clubs of fields for training, including
training under floodlights. Further research and innovation undertaken
during the three year period included a number of key projects:
· Extensive research on the impact of the rubber infill
used on artificial turfs on surface and air temperature, ambient air quality,
off-gassing and impact on stormwater quality.
· Investigation into alternate infill materials for
artificial turf.
· Trial of fibre reinforced technology with sand carpet
overlay.
· Partnering with Infrastructure and Environmental
Services to undertake research on the impact of stormwater on parks and parks
on stormwater.
· Upskilling staff to carry out the sand carpet field
performance and condition testing which informs the renewals programme.
Co-Governance
98. The
last three years has seen a
significant evolution of Auckland Council’s formal co-governance
partnerships with mana whenua and its associated commitment to these
partnerships. Highlights include:
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Reserves Board
· In 2012 Ngāti Whātua
Ōrākei received title to 34 hectares of parkland and, at the same
time, the co-governance
partnership between Auckland Council and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei expanded to include
responsibility for Pourewa Creek Recreation Reserve. A new management
plan was developed for this site and adopted in August 2016.
· In March 2013 a new
maintenance depot was built on the Whenua Rangatira, with funding from Auckland
Council. It is a sustainable building with solar panels on the roof and
composting toilets. It has become a hive of activity for community based
ecological restoration and home to an increasing number of whanau members
employed by Ngāti
Whātua Ōrākei with funding support (for contract maintenance of
the park) coming from Auckland Council. With its green walls and active
community use it has bought life to the Whenua Rangatira.
· In 2016 Ngāti
Whātua Ōrākei celebrates 25 years of co-governance and a video
has been created capturing this story and the significant progress made since
the land was returned to Ngāti
Whātua Ōrākei and the partnership with Auckland Council
commenced.
Tūpuna Maunga
· 2014 saw the
landmark Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Deed
passed into law. As part of this Treaty of Waitangi settlement, 14
Tūpuna Maunga were returned to the 13 Mana Whenua iwi and hapū of
Auckland, marking an important milestone in the restoration of these iconic
taonga (treasures) and a new co-governance era for Auckland Council and
ngā mana whenua.
· Following the
establishment of the Maunga Authority, the co-governance entity overseeing the
14 Tūpuna Maunga, great
progress has been made with four significant milestones highlighted below:
· In 2015/16 vehicle access to the tihi
(summit) of Maungawhau Mt Eden was Restricted, opening up the roads to
pedestrian access. The project was long envisioned but it wasn’t
until the establishment and collective agreement of the Maunga Authority that
the vision could be realised. The feedback from visitors and locals has
been very positive and well supported.
· In February 2016 the Maunga Authority
adopted a draft Integrated Management Plan (IMP). This was accompanied by
the adoption of a new visual identity, creating a collective and unique
identity for the maunga. In June 2016 the final IMP in was adopted
following a public hearing.
· The Tūpuna Maunga Authority invited all
of Auckland to participate in a dawn planting ceremony to mark the return of a
tree to the tihi of Maungakiekie One Tree Hill. On the spot where the previous
single tree stood, a small grove of three young tōtara and six young
pohutukawa along with kiekie and a shelter-band of native shrubs were planted.
Over the course of several years a process of natural selection will see the
stronger trees emerge. The aim is that after a decade there is a single
pohutukawa or tōtara standing on the tihi.
Parakai Reserves Board
99. With the passing of the Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara Claims
Settlement Act 2013, the Parakai Recreation Reserve Board came into
being. The inaugural meeting was held on 16 August 2013. The Parakai Recreation Reserves (approximately 18.4
hectares) is vested jointly in Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara and the
Auckland Council so presents a slightly different co-governance model than
others. The Parakai Recreation Reserve Board has been busy since its
inception developing vision/concept and embarking on a management plan
Consideration
Local
board views and implications
100. There
has been no specific engagement with local boards in relation to this update
report. Programmes and initiatives associated with Local and Sports Parks,
together with Pools and Leisure are led by Local Boards. Local Boards are
consulted with respect to specific operational aspects of Regional Parks and
Cemeteries within their District.
Māori
impact statement
101. There
has been no specific engagement with Māori in relation to this update report. The report briefly
summarises the status of initiatives and projects which are however, on an
individual basis, the subject of engagement with Māori.
Implementation
102. No issues.
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Signatories
|
Author
|
Mace Ward - General Manager Parks, Sports and
Recreation
|
|
Authoriser
|
Ian Maxwell - Director Community Services
|
