Minutes of Extraordinary Meeting of the Ōrākei Local Board

That the Ōrākei Local Board endorse the draft Decision-making Responsibilities of Auckland Council’s Governing Body and local boards policy.

CARRIED

9	Local Board feedback on the draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2031
	The Board’s feedback on the draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2031 was tabled at the meeting. A copy has been placed on the official minutes and is available on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment.
	Resolution number OR/2021/54 MOVED by Member S Powrie, seconded by Member M Voyce: That the Ōrākei Local Board: a) provide its feedback as tabled on the draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2031 to Auckland Transport by 18 May 2021 for inclusion in its feedback report to the Governing Body and Regional Transport Committee for consideration. b) appoint Member Sarah Powrie to present the Board’s views on the draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2031 to the Governing Body (Planning Committee) currently scheduled for its 3 June 2021 meeting. CARRIED
	Attachments a 6 May 2021 - Ōrākei Local Board - Item 9: Local Board feedback on the draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2031, Board feedback

Local board consultation feedback and input into the 10-year Budget 2021-2031

Suzanne Weld, Senior Local Board Advisor and Rachel Cho, Local Board Advisor were in attendance to speak to this report.

Resolution number OR/2021/55

MOVED by Chairman S Milne, seconded by Deputy Chairman T Elliott:

That the Ōrākei Local Board:

a) receive consultation feedback on the proposed Ōrākei Local Board priorities and activities for 2021/2022 and key advocacy initiatives for 2021-2031.

b) note that 23 per cent of submitters support all the proposed Ōrākei Local Board priorities and 43 per cent of submitters support most of the proposed Ōrākei Local Board priorities for 2021/2022 below:

i) Implement multiple environmental programmes along the coast, in Pourewa Valley and in our community reserves

ii) Advance plans to improve community access to coastal reserves e.g. Hakumau Reserve and The Landing

iii) Continue to monitor and implement measures to improve water quality in our waterways and wetlands

iv) Work with our community, business and resident associations to undertake placemaking at our local centres of Ellerslie, Remuera and Ōrākei

v) Support local businesses and town centres in their recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19

vi) Improve community safety in the bays through traffic calming, CCTV and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) implementation

vii) Finalise an Ōrākei Arts Plan to guide future enhancement of art, local heritage and culture at our public facilities and places

viii) Investigate and plan for continued improvement of our fields at Thomas Bloodworth Park and Shore Road East.

c) provide the following feedback on the Long-term Plan 2021-2031 regional proposals:

i) Ōrākei Local Board is generally not in favour of increasing rates during a time of financial hardship for many Aucklanders. However, the Board supports the one-off 5 per cent increase in average general rates, particularly due to the need to address the climate emergency, meeting the needs of substantial population growth, advancing the replacement of ageing water-services infrastructure, to retain the Local Board Transport Capital Fund, and in recognition of Auckland’s need for capital investment within sustainable borrowing limits.

ii) The Board supports the investment package proposed in the Long-term Plan 2021-2031, as supported by the 51 per cent of Ōrākei Local Board respondents (excluding pro forma submitters) and 41 per cent of respondents (including pro forma submitters), noting that:

A) the feedback expressed at various in-person community engagement functions (including multiple business associations, residents associations, ethnic community associations, youth presentations) hosted by the Board was supportive

B) the Board acknowledges Auckland Council’s efforts to find savings during this time of economic recovery and the organisation’s commitment to focus on core business as part of its recovery strategy

C) the Board supports the proposed investment package, including rates increases, recognising that this approach will enable the maintenance of local community services, upgrades in infrastructure and the retention of the Transport Capital Fund.

iii) note that in the consultation feedback, local respondents expressed concerns about growth pressures arising from in and around the local board area and the infrastructure upgrades required to support it.

iv) recommend that there is an increase to development contributions to support the demands from these growth pressures.

v) support the proposal to provide additional investment to respond to climate change challenges, noting that this has received 62 per cent support from local board submitters and the strategic alignment this proposal has with the Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2020.

vi) note a petition was submitted during the consultation by local community organisation Hapua Thrive, which currently has 1,072 signatories, and that the petition supports both the extension and the increase to the Water Quality Targeted Rate which will enable the proposed Eastern Isthmus infrastructure upgrade programme. This petition was only counted as one submission.

vii) acknowledge that the proposed increase and extension to the Water Quality Targeted Rate and the five per cent increase in the general rate will have a significant benefit to the local water quality in Hobson Bay and the beaches from Parnell to Glendowie due to enabling the Eastern Isthmus infrastructure upgrade programme to be brought forward by six years ie 2028 to 2022 (Page 451 of the Supporting Information to the Auckland Council 10-year Budget)

viii) support increasing the Water Quality Targeted Rate annually in line with proposed average increases in general rates, noting that this proposal received higher levels of support (56 per cent) in the Ōrākei Local Board area relative to the rest of Auckland (45 per cent)

ix) support the extension and increase of the Water Quality Targeted Rate for a further three years (from 2028 until 2031), recognising that the Water Quality Targeted Rate will be directed towards the Eastern Isthmus Programme as stated in Pages 453-456 of the Supporting Information to the Auckland Council 10-year Budget.

x) does not support the adoption of the proposed approach for community services, specifically the reduction in building and asset maintenance related expenditure at a time when community spaces are under extra pressure due to growth and intensification and supports the increased focus on providing multi-use facilities in the future.

d) provide the following feedback on proposed changes to the other rating policies:

i) support extending the Natural Environment Targeted Rate, noting that there is high community support for the enhancement of the whole of the Pourewa Valley, cleaning up Hobson Bay and other coastal areas, improving streams, wetlands and other important ecological sites as well as other areas of the city

ii) support for extending the Natural Environment Targeted Rate recognises that the targeted rate will be directed towards pest plant control of ecologically significant parkland and support for community-led conservation, which are relevant outcomes for the Board’s advocacy initiative Pourewa Valley (Pages 448-449 of the Supporting Information to the Auckland Council 10-year Budget)

iii) support the proposals to extend the Urban Rating Area, charging farm and lifestyle properties in the Urban Rating Area residential rates, extend the City Centre Targeted Rate and introduce the Rodney Drainage Targeted Rate as these were supported by more than fifty per cent of submitters who responded to these proposals.

iv) support Vector’s offer of $10 million to improve power supply resilience by agreeing to a targeted rate that will allow better tree pruning to enhance storm resilience.

e) Due to the minimal feedback received from submitters on the following rating policies, the Board remains neutral on:

i) Accommodation Provider Targeted Rate

ii) Waitakere Rural Sewerage Targeted Rate

iii) Clevedon Water Connection Targeted Rate.

f) receive the consultation feedback on the Ōrākei Local Board priorities for 2021/2022.

g) approve its advocacy initiatives for inclusion (as an appendix) to its 2021/2022 Local Board Agreement as per the table below:

Advocacy Initiatives
Initiative	Description	Advocating to:
To complete construction of both the north and south links to the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path	The north-south links to Section 2 of the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path will improve safety for users of the shared path and reduce road network congestion by providing off-road access to schools and commuters. They will provide connectivity and improved access for multiple communities across the Pourewa Valley from Meadowbank to Kohimarama. As adopted by the Local Board, the project is the Board’s One Local Initiative (OLI) as approved under the 10-year budget 2018-2028 and is now included in Auckland Transport’s draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP). The current contract for the Section 2 is underway and due for completion mid-2022. There is now an opportunity to leverage cost efficiencies by ensuring design and construction work of the links occurs in parallel to the Section 2 works. The Board previously committed $2.1million to this project from its Local Board Transport Capital Fund. The Board requests the Governing Body to continue to support the allocation of funding for this project in the draft RLTP and advocate to Auckland Transport to deliver the OLI within the timeline set out in the RLTP.	Governing Body / Auckland Transport
Enhance Pourewa Valley	Pourewa Valley has the potential to become a significant ecological asset to Auckland – another jewel in Auckland’s crown, being one of the largest urban forests in the country. Located in the heart of the Ōrākei Local Board area, it is a known bird corridor and supports a range of coastal, estuarine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats within 10 km from Auckland’s city centre. When Section 2 of the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path is completed mid-2022 many local residents and visitors will experience Pourewa Valley’s recreational, cultural and ecological values. The Board requests the Governing Body to allocate funds from the Natural Environment Targeted Rate for its restoration and enhancement. Proposed works which will largely be undertaken by volunteers and local environmental groups are detailed in the Pourewa Valley Integrated Plan, adopted by the Board in September 2019. The Board aims to leverage this allocation by philanthropic contribution from numerous keen supporters of the Plan.	Governing Body
Expedite the Hobson Bay catchment wastewater/stormwater separation	Hobson Bay has a worn out, ageing stormwater/wastewater network which cannot support on-going infill resulting from increasing growth pressures. The Board acknowledges the substantial work completed by Healthy Waters, Watercare, and local community groups and the support and ongoing advocacy of the Waitemata Local Board. As the Western Isthmus project nears completion, the Board recommends that planning and investigation work begin immediately on the Eastern Isthmus infrastructure upgrade. The Board also notes the particularly high levels of community support for this initiative, noting the local feedback on the Long-term Plan 2021-2031 as well as Auckland Council’s receipt of a petition coordinated by local community organization, Hapua Thrive as part of the consultation. This petition supports the Eastern Isthmus upgrade programme and currently has 1,072 signatories. The Board requests the Governing Body to prioritise water quality improvements in Hobson Bay and the separation works for the Remuera catchment by bringing the work forward from 2028 to 2022 as detailed on page 451 of the Supporting Information to the Auckland Council 10-year Budget.	Governing Body
Retain growth funding for Colin Maiden precinct for 2022/2023	This area is experiencing substantial growth pressures from Stonefields and the Tamaki Regeneration area, as well as major multi-storey development proposals near Colin Maiden Park. A Colin Maiden Precinct Masterplan and transport and circulation plan have been completed for the Colin Maiden Precinct and these need focused co-ordination and on-going implementation. People from several local board areas use sports and recreational facilities in Colin Maiden Park and Ngahue Reserve. For example, it is the home of Auckland Netball and the Auckland University Rugby Club. Auckland Hockey has resource consent to construct a base there, Oceania Football Club is finishing its development and there are several buildings available within the park for commercial lease. There is a need to maximise the sub-regional potential of and opportunities for the Colin Maiden Park as they arise. It is not a regional asset, but exceeds the scale of a local park, so it requires a subregional focus. The Board requests the Governing Body to retain the $2.7 million growth funding currently proposed in the 2022/2023 year of the LTP to allow on-going implementation of the Masterplan. Focus and co-ordination by parks planning staff is now needed to ensure opportunities are maximised and the asset is not degraded at a time when use by multiple clubs is increasing from across the region.	Governing Body
Transport Capital Fund	The Board strongly advocates for the retention of the Transport Capital Fund, noting its crucial role in realising the Board’s transport related priorities for the area at the community level.	Governing Body/ Auckland Transport

CARRIED

Allocation of Operational Budget for Waiatarua Reserve Weed Management

Resolution number OR/2021/56

MOVED by Member M Voyce, seconded by Member D Wong:

That the Ōrākei Local Board allocate $5000 from its Locally Driven Initiatives Operational Expenses budget for the preparation of a weed management plan for Waiatarua Reserve.

CARRIED

12 Consideration of Extraordinary Items

There were no extraordinary items.

5.18 pm The Chairman thanked Members for their attendance and attention to business and declared the meeting closed.

CONFIRMED AS A TRUE AND CORRECT RECORD AT A MEETING OF THE Ōrākei Local Board HELD ON

DATE:.........................................................................

CHAIRMAN:................................................................

Chairman	Mr Scott Milne, JP
Deputy Chairman	Troy Elliott
Members	Troy Churton
	Colin Davis, JP
	Sarah Powrie
	Margaret Voyce
	David Wong, JP