Agenda of Extraordinary Meeting of the Ōrākei Local Board

Ōrākei Local Board

05 November 2020

Adoption of the Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020

File No.: CP2020/15982

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To adopt the final Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 requires that each local board complete a local board plan for adoption every three years and uses the special consultative procedure (SCP) to engage with their communities.

3. The consultation period for the SCP ran from 13 July to 13 August 2020.

4. The local board has considered all submissions and feedback received from the consultation period. Substantive changes and minor edits for clarification are proposed.

5. The Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020, which includes the proposed changes, is attached to this report.

6. Pending adoption of the plan, photographs, maps and other design features will be added for final publication.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Ōrākei Local Board:

a) adopt the Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020 as set out in Attachment A of the agenda report.

b) delegate authority to the Chairperson and/or other nominated member(s) of the Ōrākei Local Board to approve any minor edits that may be necessary to the Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020 prior to publication.

Horopaki

Context

7. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 states that each local board must:

· adopt their local board plan by 31 October of the year following an election

· use the special consultative procedure (SCP) to engage with their communities.

8. Local board plans are strategic documents developed every three years. They set direction for local boards and reflect community priorities and preferences. They provide a guide for local board activity, funding and investment decisions. They also influence local board input into regional strategies and plans, including annual budgets.

9. The plans inform the development of the council’s 10-year budget. They also form the basis for development of the annual local board agreement for the following three financial years and subsequent work programmes.

Timeframes

10. The implementation of COVID-19 alert levels forced a delay to the consultation period planned in June and July 2020 to be rescheduled to July and August 2020.

11. Every effort has been made to adopt the Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020 in October, however the unavoidable change to the dates of the consultation period has required a small extension of time. This is to ensure the local board had sufficient time to consider the submissions received.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

Consideration of submissions and feedback

12. The Ōrākei Local Board has considered the submissions and feedback received.

13. Public feedback on the draft plan was largely positive. The majority of submitters were supportive of the plan, its direction and themes covered.

14. The consultation questions were focused on specific themes or topics which then generated more feedback on those topics. These more targeted questions were:

· Do you think our plan will help our community and local businesses recover from the impact of COVID-19?

· What do you think about our proposal to enhance the Pourewa Valley?

· What do you think about our proposal to undertake placemaking and safety initiatives, and foster greater participation by and inclusion of our diverse communities?

15. The final question was designed to enable respondents to provide feedback on any other issues or topics they thought were important.

16. The feedback on the question about COVID-19 indicated that while 42 per cent of respondents believe the plan would help, a slightly greater proportion did not know whether the plan would help the community and local businesses recover from the impact of COVID-19 on the community. 15 per cent did not believe the plan would help.

17. Responses to the proposals for Pourewa Valley and community initiatives were largely positive with each question receiving 79 per cent support.

18. Consultation on the draft Ōrākei Local Board Plan coincided with the first stage of consultation on the management plan process for the parks and reserves across the Local Board area. This appeared to generate feedback on two parks, Waiatarua Reserve and Madills Farm Reserve, where comments centred on dog-exercise issues. For Madills Farm, in addition to the dog-exercise comments, a large number of respondents expressed their perception that there was an increasing imbalance of sports and community activities on the park. For Waiatarua Reserve, the feedback about on-leash and off-leash dog areas was received mostly via social media.

19. Two other parks were also the focus of several submissions each. Seven submitters advocated for the retention of Tagalad Reserve in Mission Bay and another seven requested the upgrade of Bloodworth Park for cricket in conjunction with Shore Road Reserve field improvements.

20. Overall, when submitters were asked to identify their top three outcomes from the draft plan, restoring the environment and improving sports parks and open spaces were the outcomes that received the most support.

21. The key feedback points, analysis and subsequent proposed changes to the outcome chapters are outlined in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Substantive changes to the draft Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020

Key point of feedback	Analysis	Recommended change
Respondents stated how during COVID-19 lockdown they had realised and appreciated the need for community interaction, how much people were enjoying public open spaces and walkways, and the need to support local businesses	Community interaction and the provision and accessibility of public amenities and access to the local environment is important to the sense of community well-being and belonging. Providing fit-for-purpose facilities and supporting community initiatives is a key role for local boards.	Amend wording in Outcomes One, Two, Three and Five to ensure it is more precise in reflecting the feedback about the importance of supporting community interaction, ensuring planning processes and physical amenities are available to all and to encourage people to shop locally.
During the engagement events and from written feedback, Ellerslie and Ōrākei centres were highlighted as needing some focus to improve connectivity and enable greater use of local amenities	The suburbs of Ellerslie and Ōrākei are growing and the communities are highlighting opportunities and challenges that could be addressed by place-making programme.	Add a new initiative to Outcome One under the third objective, Neighbourhoods and public places are safe, sustainable and attractive. Proposed wording: Work with business and residents’ associations and the wider community, using placemaking, to enhance Ellerslie and the Kupe-Kepa Precinct in Ōrākei.
There is increasing concern about the state of waterways in the local board area, especially in the Hobson Bay catchment	Recent attention has been brought to the pollution of waterways in Remuera. The current stormwater separation project in the Ōrākei suburb should see improvement to water quality in Okahu Bay. The Local Board is already advocating for the same work to be undertaken in the Hobson Bay catchment, although funding is not available.	Add a new bullet-point to the Opportunities section of Outcome Two to reflect the community’s feedback: Acting on the high concern about pollution in our waterways and bays, especially in Hobson Bay and Okahu Bay.
Both at the environment engagement event and through written feedback, comment was made that it is not always appropriate to have public access to sensitive ecological areas and some places should be left to develop on their own.	There are ecologically sensitive areas, or areas which at certain times of the year may need to be excluded from the public, but in general in our urban environment these will still need some intervention e.g. weed or pest management. It may be possible to identify areas where this is minimised, especially in time once they are restored to a more pristine state.	Add new wording to the second initiative under Objective three, Our forest and bush habitats continue to be enhanced for future generations: Where practicable and ecologically appropriate, build new paths and tracks to give people access to valued natural environments.
A large number of submitters expressed concern about the expansion of football activities on Madills Farm Reserve and requested that the appropriate balance between sport and community use be realised.	The existing masterplan provides guidance as how the park will be developed and managed. The park is also being considered as part of the management plan process for all parks in the Local Board area. Early consultation on this process also attracted similar feedback from the local community. The football club has grown in recent years and is still growing, so facilities will need to be upgraded to meet the club’s needs. The club, other sports groups and the community will need to work together to determine the appropriate balance of club and community uses.	Add the wording in bold below to the fourth initiative under Objective two (Sports parks are upgraded to provide for more use as the local population changes and residential areas intensify): Work with sports clubs to progress the upgrade or development of new clubrooms and changing facilities on Michaels Avenue Reserve and Madills Farm Reserve, ensuring that the appropriate balance between sporting and community use is achieved.

22. Other changes to the plan which respond to submissions include:

· Amending the message from the Ōrākei Local Board Chair to acknowledge the community’s feedback and to make the wording relevant to the finalised plan.

· Adding a descriptor to each outcome which summarises the theme of the outcome, building in the community sentiment from the feedback

· Updating the “What you’ve told us” box to reflect the most recent feedback

· Editing and tightening up wording to make the plan more concise, easier to read and reflect more closely the priorities and preferences articulated by the community in its feedback.

Changes to the Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020

23. Staff recommend adopting the Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020 (Attachment A) which incorporates the proposed substantive changes to the outcome chapters as described in Table 1 and other minor changes.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

24. The Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020 reflects the impacts of predicted climate change.

25. Outcomes two and four of the plan include commentary as well as specific objectives and initiatives which aim to minimise or manage the effects of climate change. These are set out in the table below:

Outcome 2: Our land, forests, waterways and marine environment are protected, restored and enhanced	Outcome 4: Our transport infrastructure is efficient and connected, enabling people to move around safely and effectively using a range of options
Commentary: Climate change, together with reducing environmental degradation, are challenges identified in the Auckland Plan 2050. We must be mindful of the effects that climate change will have on our area, particularly in low-lying parts and the Tāmaki Drive coastal edge, and support projects that help reduce carbon emissions. We will need to adapt and develop new ways of building resilience into our infrastructure, while minimising flooding and storm effects on people’s homes and public facilities. Challenge: The effects of climate change continue to influence how we plan and develop our coastal assets, reduce emissions and respond to a changing climate.	Commentary: You’ve identified public transport, which must include bus and train services, as needing more attention. This is tied to Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland's Climate Plan goal of halving net emissions by 2030 and reaching zero net emissions by 2050.
Objective 4: Alternative modes of transport are enabled and encouraged to ease congestion across our area and to reduce our carbon footprint Initiative: Advocate to AT for alternative modes of transport such as walking, cycling, scootering and public transport, and promote community understanding of their benefits with the aim of increasing uptake
Objective 4: More sustainable waste management options and support for community climate action, including community education programmes Initiative 1: Deliver workshops, including an annual Environment Forum, on caring for the local environment, and sustainable home and business practices Initiative 2: Support regional and community-led initiatives that promote zero waste, recycling, and composting Initiative 3: Work with communities to develop future-proofed solutions for areas and structures at risk of sea-level rise, coastal inundation and storm damage	Objective 5: Transport infrastructure is resilient and free from flooding and other natural hazards Initiative 3: Design and construct infrastructure to be resilient and future proofed against climate hazards and risk Initiative 5: Complete the programmed works to reduce flooding in the Portland Road / Shore Road area and low-lying areas of Tāmaki Drive

Outcome 2: Our land, forests, waterways and marine environment are protected, restored and enhanced

Outcome 4: Our transport infrastructure is efficient and connected, enabling people to move around safely and effectively using a range of options

Commentary: Climate change, together with reducing environmental degradation, are challenges identified in the Auckland Plan 2050. We must be mindful of the effects that climate change will have on our area, particularly in low-lying parts and the Tāmaki Drive coastal edge, and support projects that help reduce carbon emissions. We will need to adapt and develop new ways of building resilience into our infrastructure, while minimising flooding and storm effects on people’s homes and public facilities.

Challenge: The effects of climate change continue to influence how we plan and develop our coastal assets, reduce emissions and respond to a changing climate.

Commentary: You’ve identified public transport, which must include bus and train services, as needing more attention. This is tied to Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland's Climate Plan goal of halving net emissions by 2030 and reaching zero net emissions by 2050.

Objective 4: Alternative modes of transport are enabled and encouraged to ease congestion across our area and to reduce our carbon footprint

Initiative: Advocate to AT for alternative modes of transport such as walking, cycling, scootering and public transport, and promote community understanding of their benefits with the aim of increasing uptake

Objective 4: More sustainable waste management options and support for community climate action, including community education programmes

Initiative 1: Deliver workshops, including an annual Environment Forum, on caring for the local environment, and sustainable home and business practices

Initiative 2: Support regional and community-led initiatives that promote zero waste, recycling, and composting

Initiative 3: Work with communities to develop future-proofed solutions for areas and structures at risk of sea-level rise, coastal inundation and storm damage

Objective 5: Transport infrastructure is resilient and free from flooding and other natural hazards

Initiative 3: Design and construct infrastructure to be resilient and future proofed against climate hazards and risk

Initiative 5: Complete the programmed works to reduce flooding in the Portland Road / Shore Road area and low-lying areas of Tāmaki Drive

26. The impact on the climate of the final plans has been considered. The final publication will be an online document to minimise printing hard copies.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

27. The adoption of the Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020 will inform the development of the council’s 10-year budget. It will also form the basis for the development of the following three years’ work programmes.

28. Planning and operational areas of the council have taken part in the development and review of the draft and final plans.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

29. The local board’s views have informed the development of the final Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020. Workshops were held on 27 August, 10 and 24 September, and 1 and 8 October 2020 to discuss and consider feedback and agree any changes.

30. In developing the plan, the Ōrākei Local Board considered:

· advice from mana whenua and mataawaka

· what is already known about our communities and what is important to them

· submissions received via online forms, hardcopy forms, emails and post

· feedback provided at engagement events and online through Facebook

· regional strategies and policies

· staff advice.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

31. In developing the plan, the Ōrākei Local Board:

· considered views and advice expressed by mana whenua and mataawaka at the engagement events which they attended,

· considered existing feedback from Māori with an interest in the local board area,

· reviewed submissions received from Maori, in particular Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and the feedback that was facilitated by Hapai Te Hauora.

32. The Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020 promotes outcomes or issues of importance to Māori by committing to:

· strengthening relationships with all mana whenua, particularly partnering with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei which has its whenua and a substantial number of its community members within the local board area and assisting Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to realise its strategic goals within our area, as set out in the description of Outcome One.

· working closely with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei on restoring water quality in Ōkahu Bay and other environmental enhancement projects, and confirming the Pourewa Valley enhancement work as the top priority for the Board for the next few years.

· developing relationships and working with other mana whenua groups. Outcome Two sets out how these relationships and joint efforts are important to help realise three Auckland Plan outcomes:

o Environment and Cultural Heritage

o Māori Identity and Wellbeing

o Belonging and Participation.

· Identifying three initiatives where the Ōrākei Local Board will work with Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei,

o and the local community to restore the valley’s mauri (life force) by improving land and aquatic habitats, and explaining the natural and cultural heritage.

o eastern bays coastal recreation groups and the wider community to refresh the Tāmaki Drive Masterplan, acknowledge The Landing concept plan, and develop a new plan for Hakumau Reserve and the reserve next to Tāmaki Yacht Club.

o and groups such as the Hauraki Gulf Forum, University of Auckland, Tahuna Torea Rangers and the Tamaki Estuary Environment Forum, to clean up Ōkahu Bay, Hobson Bay, the Tāmaki Estuary, and all the eastern bays and their inland catchments.

· Recognising the need to build relationships with other mana whenua, such as Ngāti Paoa.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

33. Budget to implement initiatives and projects is confirmed through the annual plan budgeting process. The local board plan informs this process.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

34. There is a minor reputational risk associated with the adoption of the final Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020. The process of consultation is likely to have raised expectations of the local board being able to achieve particular initiatives. As a result of the economic impact of COVID-19 and the council’s significantly reduced budget, it may no longer be possible to achieve all the priorities and aspirations that were identified in the draft plan.

35. This will be mitigated by clear communication of decision-making processes.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

36. Staff recommend that responsibility for approving any minor edits following adoption are delegated to the Chairperson and/or other nominated member(s) of the Ōrākei Local Board.

37. Photographs, maps and other design features will be added to the plan for final publication. This will be an online digital document that will be available in early 2021.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments