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Waitākere
Ranges Local Board
26 April 2018
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Chair’s
report - April 2018
File No.: CP2018/05777
1. The April Storm
The
big news this month has been the storm that hit Auckland on April 10 and the
subsequent aftermath.
It
caused severe disruption to the west’s supply of power and to the day to
day lives of westies.
As
I write this the repercussions are still being felt. Thankfully most of
West Auckland has now had its power supply restored. But for many areas,
particularly on the west coast, the return of power took quite a while.
Now
that things are settling down it is time to review what happened and what needs
to be done to lessen the disruption that will be caused by the next significant
storm event.
Because
it is clear that with climate change and particularly the increase in
temperature in the waters surrounding New Zealand the frequency and intensity
of these sorts of storm events are going to increase, not decrease.
The
storm was determined to be a category two storm with category one being the
weakest and four being the strongest. Category four storms are meant to
cause widespread damage and power outages. The question will be asked why
did a category two storm cause this much damage, and what will happen when a
really big storm hits.
Wind
speeds of 140 kph were recorded in various parts of the city with the peak of
210 kph occurring near the Manukau Heads.
But
the recent tropical cyclone Gita which battered Tonga had wind speeds of up to
278 kph. And the highest ever recorded figure was 408 kph in Western
Australia in 1996.
It
is important that a thorough review of Auckland’s ability to handle the
next big storm is conducted. Because as a city we need to be better
prepared.
Undergrounding
of the electricity supply is clearly something that is going to have to be
considered. But the problem will be the budget required.
And
for the coastal villages such as Piha localised power generation should be
given serious consideration. With enough solar panels and a wind turbine or two
combined with an intelligent localised network it could become self sufficient
in power and show the rest of the country how it is done. Great Barrier Island
Aotea relies on solar power and generators. Maybe Piha should think about doing
the same.
Vector’s
information supply was frankly woeful. The phone App is a great idea but the
data it was supplying did not reflect my on the ground experience. The data
should be seamless. The App should be showing Vector’s synopsis of its
own data. Clearly things needs to change things if this is the case.
The
community response was magnificent. Local fire brigades did what they could to
make sure that residents had somewhere to go to for basics such as a wash or a
toilet stop. Local community groups and individuals volunteered the use of the
resources that they had. Council officers volunteered their time to go door to
door in some areas to check that each household was ok.
The
local community facebook pages performed a good job in disseminating
information. Bethells Te Henga’s Bukino Faso quality communications
infrastructure needs a rethink because in times of crisis reliable
communications channels are vital.
Council’s
response will need to be reviewed. I had the benefit of regular information
updates which I then posted on social media. But we will need to check to make
sure this is sufficient and if the supply of urgent resources was adequate.
We
need to review what has happened. And make sure that next time we are better
prepared.
2. Kauri dieback
Auckland
Council has confirmed that much of the Regional Park out west will be closed in
an attempt to deal with Kauri dieback.
This
issue has been a bit of a roller coaster for Auckland Council and for the local
board over the past few months.
A
few months ago Te Kawerau A Maki declared a Rāhui over the Waitakere
Ranges. I have every respect for their rationale and for their deep
abiding interest in the ongoing health of Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa, the great forest
of Tiriwa. The declaration of the Rāhui was caused by concern
at Council’s ongoing delay at doing something to meet this crisis that
the forest is facing.
The
local board’s initial position was that all tracks deemed to
be high and medium risk of the further spread of the disease should be shut.
It was clear over Christmas that this was not working and we reviewed our
position and decided that the forest should be closed and tracks only reopened
when they were determined to be safe. We also believe that a
comprehensive review of the use of the forest has to occur and a vision for its
future formulated.
We
made representations to the relevant committee and the Council has decided to
close the forest. Some safe tracks will be permitted to remain open but
the list will have to be worked through with Te Kawarau A Maki.
This
issue is a really tough issue and I suspect that for as long as I remain in
politics, however long that is, the health of Kauri will continue to be one of
the most important issues requiring attention. But the King of Te
Wao Nui a Tiriwa is threatened and we all elected members owe it to do what we
can to preserve it.
3. Greenways
consultation
The
Waitakere Ranges Local Board is consulting on our draft greenways plan.
The intent is to show current walkways and formulate a plan to help guide
future improvements to the walking and cycling network in this area.
The
draft plan covers the urban and near-urban areas of the Waitakere Ranges,
including the eastern foothills.
The
aim is to ensure that locals can easily and safely get around using pathways.
If
we are going to create a sustainable city then we need transportation networks
that do not rely in cars and that are safe and reliable. Walking and
cycling are important, healthy, and sustainable modes of transport that we need
to continue to promote.
The
consultation is important because the results will inform future development
decisions.
The
documents can be located at https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/have-your-say/topics-you-can-have-your-say-on/waitakere-ranges-greenways-plan/Pages/default.aspx.
Consultation closes on May 21, 2018.
4. Kauri Karnival
One
of Council’s flagship events is the Kauri Karnival which has been held
each year for the past three years.
The
Karnival is for two reasons, to celebrate Kauri and educate people on its
plight and for kids to have fun.
A
lot of background work went into this year's Karnival by Saffron Toms and she
deserves special praise for her work. The event went without a hitch and
there were many happy kids present.
5. Henderson Centre
During
my term as a Councillor on Waitakere City Council one decision that I was proud
of was the decision to build the new civic centre and to locate it adjacent to
the Henderson Train Station. The decision allowed for the development of
the station and helped with the kick start of the new Rail system and was a
statement that the future of the city involved support for public transport.
We
are now seeing the results of the past two decades investment in rail which
includes the double tracking of the Western Line and the introduction of
electric trains. Back in 2002 the total passenger count in the region was
about 2 million trips a year. Last year the figure was 20 million trips
with almost 7 million of those occurring on the Western Line alone.
The
Henderson development was ideal. It was the home for Council activity and
provided citizens with a variety of means to get there including train and bus.
And
the civic centre was quite special with its focus on the Waitakere Ranges and
its Te Kawarau A Maki inspired design. TKAM contributed to the project
with two magnificent Pou and in foregoing a Treaty of Waitangi claim so that
the land could be utilised.
It
is clear that Henderson has had a difficult time lately. I believe a
major cause is the opening of the North West shopping centre. This and
the Henderson Shopping Centre both have struggled ever since. It seems
clear to me that we have too many shops and not enough shoppers. The
staging of the opening of the North West Shopping Centre should have been
managed so that shops were opened as the projected population growth occurred.
Council
decisions have not helped. Moving Auckland Transport employees out of
Henderson to a more expensive central location has reduced the viability of the
centre. My personal view is that AT staff should walk the walk and
embrace public transport. And what better place to have a Public
Transport manager than on top of a railway station?
Recent
news that Panuku is intending to sell the Centre has been met with dismay by
many out west. It feels like we are going to lose what was the proud civic
centre of Eco city.
The
Henderson Massey Local Board and its chair Shane Henderson have been doing
their best to slow down the sale process so that the best for West Auckland can
be achieved. The Waitakere Ranges Local Board was happy to endorse a series
of resolutions that the Henderson Massey Local Board had passed.
And
I am pleased that Auckland Council has decided to have a rethink on the
proposed sale.
The
Henderson Civic Centre was a brave attempt to create a civic space entwined
with public transport. To my way of thinking it represents the future and
not the past of urban renewal. I hope that Council can find a way to
retain the current civic spaces and to invigorate the area so that Henderson
and West Auckland can benefit.
6. Ecoday
Ecomatters
has again held its annual ecoday event in New Lynn. The Local Board again
had a stall.
The
day shows clearly how interconnected West Auckland and the various
environmental movements are. I personally had a direct affinity with
three different stalls and most people there had a similar relationship.
The
event is a great opportunity to network and talk about issues and cultivate
thinking as well as exposing the general public to new strands of environmental
thinking.
Well
done again to Ecomatters Trust for their continued dedication to all things
environmental.
7. What Now
One
of the more fun things I have had to do as part of this job is appear on the
kid’s programme What Now.
They
recently filmed an episode at Glen Eden Primary and I was invited on to receive
a gift from Otara (thanks Otara!) and to then give a gift to the next town
which was Orewa.
The
show was two hours of professionally organised chaos. It was amazing how
amongst so many random events the production crew managed to keep things
organised.
Thanks
to Jennifer Conlon and the Glen Eden Business Improvement District and in
recognition of Oratia’s past as a fruit basket I gave away a fruit tree.
There are not enough fruit trees in the world and for us it seemed a
really apt gift.
I
also got to give (and failed) a westie hand sign live on National TV!
I
declined the invitation to be slimed …
Greg Presland
Chair Waitakere Ranges Local Board
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Ngā tūtohunga / Recommendation/s
That the Waitākere Ranges
Local Board:
a) receive
the Chairperson’s report for April 2018.
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Ngā
tāpirihanga / Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Ngā kaihaina / Signatories
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Authors
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Brenda Railey - Democracy Advisor
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Authorisers
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Glenn Boyd - Relationship Manager Henderson-Massey,
Waitakere Ranges, Whau
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