Devonport-Takapuna Local Board
OPEN MINUTES
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Minutes of a meeting of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board held virtually via Skype for Business on Tuesday, 16 November 2021 at 2.05pm.
present
Chairperson |
Ruth Jackson |
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Deputy Chairperson |
Jan O'Connor, QSM |
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Members |
Aidan Bennett |
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Trish Deans |
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Toni van Tonder |
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George Wood, CNZM |
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Devonport-Takapuna Local Board 16 November 2021 |
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Chairperson Ruth Jackson opened the meeting with a Karakia.
Whakataka te hau ki te uru Whakataka te hau ki te tonga Kia mākinakina ki uta Kia mātaratara ki tai E hī ake ana te atakura He tio He huka He hau hū Tīhei mauri ora!
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Cease o winds from the west Cease o winds from the south Bring calm breezes over the land Bring calm breezes over the sea And let the red-tipped dawn come With a touch of frost A sharpened air And promise of a glorious day
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There were no declarations of interest.
Resolution number DT/2021/171 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Member A Bennett: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Tuesday, 2 November 2021, as a true and correct record. |
There were no leaves of absence.
There were no acknowledgements.
There were no petitions.
Resolution number DT/2021/172 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Deputy Chairperson J O'Connor: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) agree that item 8.2: Tabitha Becroft – Te Uru Tapu /Sacred Grove be accorded precedence at this time. |
8.2 |
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Tabitha Becroft was in attendance via Skype for Business to address the board on this item.
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Resolution number DT/2021/173 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Member T van Tonder: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) receive the presentation from Tabitha Becroft representing Pupuke Birdsong Project and thank her for her attendance. |
Allan Morris and Tony Lewis - Te Uru Tapu / Sacred Grove |
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Allan Morris and Tony Lewis were in attendance via Skype for Business to address the board on this item.
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Resolution number DT/2021/174 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Deputy Chairperson J O'Connor: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) receive the presentation from Allan Morris, Chair of the Rocks Body Corporate and spokesman for the Mon Desir, and Tony Lewis and thank them for their attendance. |
Note: Item 8.2 was taken prior to item 8.1
8.3 |
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Melissa Firth was in attendance via Skype for Business to address the board on this item.
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Resolution number DT/2021/175 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Member T Deans: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) receive the presentation from Melissa Firth, and thank her for her attendance. |
Resolution number DT/2021/176 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Member G Wood: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) agree that Public Forum item 9.1: William Kapea – Te Uru Tapu / Sacred Grove be accorded precedence at this time. |
Resolution number DT/2021/177 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Member T Deans: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) agree to adjourn the meeting at 3.24pm for five minutes. |
Meeting was reconvened at 3.30pm.
William Kapea – Te Uru Tapu / Sacred Grove |
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William Kapea was in attendance via Skype for Business to address the board on this item.
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Resolution number DT/2021/178 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Deputy Chairperson J O'Connor: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) receive the presentation from William Kapea, and thank him for his attendance. |
Resolution number DT/2021/179 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Member T Deans: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) agree that item 14: Approval of developed design for Te Uru Tapu / Sacred Grove of Pohutukawa at Takapuna Beach Reserve be accorded precedence at this time and deputation item 8.4 be taken under this item. |
Approval of developed design for Te Uru Tapu / Sacred Grove of Pohutukawa at Takapuna Beach Reserve |
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Note deputation item 8.4: Edward Ashby (Te Kawerau a Maki) and Gabriel Kirkwood (Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki) – Te Uru Tapu / Sacred Grove was taken under this item.
A document titled ‘DTLB agenda p48 Sacred Grove labelled diagram developed design option 1B’ was tabled. A copy of the tabled document has been placed on the official minutes and is available on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment.
Sarah Jones, Manager Area Operations – Devonport-Takapuna and Kaipātiki, Kaitlyn White, Principal Design Open Space, and Steven Krebs, Senior Urban Forest Specialist, were in attendance via Skype for Business to address the board on this item.
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Resolution number DT/2021/180 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Deputy Chairperson J O'Connor: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) receive the presentation from Edward Ashby – Te Kawerau a Maki, Gabriel Kirkwood – Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki, Adrian Pettit - Te Ākitai Waiohua, Geoff Cook – Ngāti Maru, Edith Tuhimata - Ngāti Tamaoho; and Gavin Anderson - Ngaati Whanaunga and thank them for their attendance. |
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Resolution number DT/2021/181 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Member T Deans: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: b) acknowledges mana whenua views on Te Uru Tapu Sacred Grove c) acknowledges views provided by the general community on Te Uru Tapu Sacred Grove d) considers that it is appropriate to constrain public access at Te Uru Tapu Sacred Grove to formed boardwalks, stairs, pathways, and lookouts in keeping with the significance of the site to mana whenua, and to protect the trees and understorey planting e) seeks to find a solution which balances differing views and needs f)
notes that the
consented access and viewing in the grove is comprised of several parts
– namely: OPTION 1A g) does not support Option 1A as shown in Attachment B to this agenda, which does not support re-opening the boardwalks – and in particular does not support the recommendations in Option 1A to remove all above ground elements of both the southern boardwalk and northern boardwalk, and cutting the support posts down to a maximum of 250mm above ground. OPTION 1B & GENERAL PROPOSALS h) partially supports Option 1B and the general proposals as shown in Attachment B to this agenda as detailed below i) supports the recommended retention of the stone lookout – and the associated planting and furniture enhancements and upgrades – and retention of the southern access, and the northern path
ii) supports proposals to remove acknowledged pest plants and undertake a programme of new understorey and other planting. iii) supports proposals to close several disused or unsafe entry points along the beachfront, shown as F, G, H, I, J and K on the Updated Developed Design – Option 1b plan (attached to these minutes). This is a duplicate of the plan on p48 Attachment B to this agenda report with alphabetical labels added for clarity. iv) supports in principal the Fence and Footpath Closure Typologies proposed, but does not support the proposed extended handrail on the southern access blocking the entry to the southern boardwalk, and does not support the additional fencing shown along the northern pathway blocking access via the northern boardwalk to the stone lookout. v) supports in principal the addition of general, wayfinding, and interpretive signage, and structural elements, and directs that the detailed designs, content, and locations be presented to the board for its decision. vi) does not support the proposal shown on ‘Option 1b – Partial Removal of Boardwalk’ as shown on p49 of this agenda which includes removing all above ground components of the northern boardwalk and cutting support posts to no more than 250mm from ground level. The board notes that the northern boardwalk linkage from the northern pathway provides the only all abilities and all ages access to the lookout. vii) does not support the removal of decking and balustrades from the southern boardwalk as proposed in ‘Option 1b – Partial Removal of Boardwalk’ at p49 of this agenda, except where such removal is concurrent with repair and replacement of the decking and balustrades. viii) supports the retention of the support posts and bearers at their existing height, as recommended on p49 of this agenda shown as ‘Option 1b – Partial Removal of Boardwalk’, to enable the re-opening of the southern boardwalk. ix) does not support the proposal shown as ‘L’ on the Updated Developed Design – Option 1b plan (attached to these minutes), that the sole access to the stone lookout would be via the steps from the top/rear of the lookout and to close all other access points to the lookout. In particular we do not support closure of access to the northern boardwalk, or the continued long-term closure of the access to the southern boardwalk. However, the board supports the closure of the access points outlined in ‘K’, where very steep steps at the front of the lookout end high above beach level. i) notes that the ‘in principal’ allocation of $1,051,126 in the board’s work programme to advance the Takapuna Beach Development Plan – including an estimated $881,000 for work at Te Uru Tapu Sacred Grove – was contingent on a detailed budget being provided and considered. We look forward to this being presented to a future meeting of the board, along with changes based on these revisions, for the board’s consideration and further decision. j) directs that any proposals to install cameras or lighting in the grove, as foreshadowed in the memo shown as Attachment A to this agenda, be presented to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board for its decision. TREE MANAGEMENT k) requests that ongoing and proactive tree management to support tree health and public safety be prioritised, in accordance with Takapuna Beach Reserve Management Plan 2013 (section 6, p81) and the Takapuna Beach Concept Development Plan 2014. l) requests that council staff apply for any resource consents required to carry out the necessary tree management work for tree health and public safety. m) supports the recommendations outlined in column 3 of the arborists report shown at Attachment D to this agenda, provided these do not impinge on any boardwalk. n) notes that a report by Andrew Benson of Tree Management Consultants (‘TMC’) in May 2019 contends that tree health and public safety could both be supported with less extreme pruning and intervention than is proposed in column 4 of Attachment D to this report and expresses support for further investigation of the TMC recommendations. SUPPORTING INFORMATION o) considers that the southern boardwalk must be re-opened for public use and enjoyment, in accordance with the provisions of the Reserves Act 1977 p) notes that there has been an ongoing issue with antisocial and illegal activities – which are especially inappropriate given the special significance of this site – since the closure of the boardwalk. Passive surveillance provided by people using the boardwalk may provide an effective deterrent. q) notes the petition presented to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board on 17 August 2021, signed by 2,513 residents, which read: ‘We, the undersigned, petition the Council to carry out required repairs and maintenance on the Boardwalk, make the overhanging trees safe. Further, to put in place a regular maintenance programme so the Boardwalk does not fall into disrepair, and that cares for the welfare of the Sacred Grove.’ r) notes the provisions of Section 14 (1) (b) of the Local Government Act provisions requiring that: ‘a local authority should make itself aware of, and should have regard to, the views of all its communities’ when considering its decisions. s) notes the August 2021 condition assessment of the southern boardwalk by MCS Consultants, which appears on pages 271-274 of this agenda, and which concludes that the structural supports are in good repair and that, while only some deck boards appear to have been compromised by a degree of rot, suggests that replacing the all the decking and balustrades would be an effective long-term solution. t) notes the Takapuna Beach Concept Plan 4.1.2 (concept plan project area 1 Te Uru Tapu Sacred Grove), which was adopted by the board in 2014 (DT/2014/212) includes the stone wall, boardwalk, vegetation maintenance, scheduled trees, interpretation including signage and oars, stone lookout structure, and Promenade viewing platform. u) notes that when the boardwalks were consented in 2000, the supporting documents stated that there were 27 pohutukawa in Te Uru Tapu Sacred Grove, and current reports state that there are now just 19 across public and private land. In previous presentations to the board the residents of the Mon Desir have expressed their distress that several of the grove’s majestic pohutukawa located on their land fell some years ago. Note: Under Standing Order 1.9.7 Member Toni van Tonder requested her vote be recorded against clause h) iv, h) vii and h) viii. |
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a 16 November 2021 - Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Business Meeting - DTLB agenda p48 Sacred Grove labelled diagram developed design option 1B |
Note: Item 9 taken after deputation item 8.3.
Resolution number DT/2021/182 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Member T Deans: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) agree to adjourn the meeting at 6.01pm until 6.10pm. |
Meeting reconvened at 6.12pm
There was no extraordinary business.
Under Standing Order 2.5.1 (LBS 3.11.1) or Standing Order 1.9.1 (LBS 3.10.17) (revoke or alter a previous resolution) Notices of Motion have been received from Member George Wood and Deputy Chairperson Jan O’Connor for consideration under items 12 and 13 respectively.
12 |
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Resolution number DT/2021/183 MOVED by Member G Wood, seconded by Member A Bennett: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) wishes to see the Takapuna Metro Centre together with Milford and Devonport Town Centres return quickly to a place of strength as a retail, hospitality and entertainment centre which draws people from a wide area of the Auckland region; b) asks local board officers to explore the manner in which al fresco dining on the public footpaths and other public areas, which Auckland Council is encouraging, so that cafes, cars and restaurants return to business; c) requests local board advice on the implications of alcoholic drinks being consumed with meals when diners are enjoying al fresco dining and if necessary request that Auckland Council explore a change of the liquor licensing laws, if this is required; d) request details of how appropriate streets can be closed off to vehicles more regularly and at a more reasonable cost; and e) requests what financial assistance the D-T LB would be able to assist with closure of Hurstmere Road. |
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Resolution number DT/2021/184 MOVED by Deputy Chairperson J O'Connor, seconded by Member G Wood: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) consider a memorial plaque on the park referring to its original name, J.F. Kennedy Memorial Park as part the local board’s 2022/2023 work programme. b) request that the park sign can be renamed from the 2021/2022 work programme item ID 1853. |
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Devonport-Takapuna Quick Response Round One 2021/2022, grant allocations |
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Moumita Dutta, Senior Grants Advisor, was in attendance via Skype for Business to address the board on this item.
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Resolution number DT/2021/185 MOVED by Member G Wood, seconded by Member T Deans: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) agree to fund, part-fund or decline each application in Devonport-Takapuna Quick Response Round One 2021/2022 listed in the following table: Table One: Devonport-Takapuna Quick Response Round One 2021/2022 grant applications.
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16 |
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Resolution number DT/2021/186 MOVED by Member G Wood, seconded by Member T van Tonder: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) resolve the following feedback on the Draft Development Contributions Policy 2021 on the key consultation topics: i) Simplification of the Policy: Requests that the Auckland Council’s Development Contribution Policy needs to be simplified so that it can be easily understood and explains to the community the justifications for making the claims when our people are doing all types of development or alterations. ii) Increasing Duration of the Long Term Plan: We request that the LTP is extended in is duration from ten to twenty years so that there is greater ability to make projects outside the 10 years of the plan liable for calculations. iii) Time for making payment of the DC cost: This should be made so that the developer is liable to pay the DC at the time the Code compliance Certificate is issued. iv) Cultural Initiatives Fund: the D-T LB supports this fund as proposed. |
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Resolution number DT/2021/187 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Member G Wood: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) reiterate the local board’s strong opposition to the proposed Three Waters model, as resolved by the board at its September 2021 business meeting (resolution number DT/2021/134). b) delegate members George Wood, Toni van Tonder and Jan O’Connor to prepare the local boards feedback on the Three Waters Economic Regulation Submission, noting that all members will have the opportunity to provide input in that the boards feedback will be brought to the local board’s December business meeting for retrospective approval. |
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Submission on a proposed new national waste strategy and associated waste legislation |
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Resolution number DT/2021/188 MOVED by Member G Wood, seconded by Deputy Chairperson J O'Connor: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) receive the report on the Government’s proposed new waste strategy and proposed changes to waste legislation. |
19 |
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Resolution number DT/2021/189 MOVED by Member G Wood, seconded by Chairperson R Jackson: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) note the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board governance forward work calendar for October 2021 as set out in Attachment A of this agenda report. |
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Devonport-Takapuna Local Board - Record of Workshops October 2021 |
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Resolution number DT/2021/190 MOVED by Member G Wood, seconded by Member T Deans: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) receive the records of the workshops held in October 2021. |
21 |
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A document titled ‘Supplementary members report – George Wood, November 2021’ was tabled for this item. A copy of this document has been placed on the official minutes and is available on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment.
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Resolution number DT/2021/191 MOVED by Chairperson R Jackson, seconded by Member T van Tonder: That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board: a) receive and thank member George Wood for his written report and tabled supplementary members report. b) receive and thank member Jan O’Connor for her written report. c) receive and thank member Trish Deans for her verbal report. d) receive and thank member Aidan Bennett for his verbal report. |
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a 16 November 2021 - Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Business Meeting - Supplementary members report from George Wood, November 2021 |
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No report was provided at this time. |
23 Consideration of Extraordinary Items
There was no consideration of extraordinary items.
7.43 pm The Chairperson 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 Devonport-Takapuna Local Board HELD ON
DATE:.........................................................................
CHAIRPERSON:.......................................................