The
development of open space landscaping and built assets within the Three Kings
Quarry Precinct
File No.: CP2022/11677
Te take mō te pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
approve the concept plan for the development of open space landscaping and
built assets within the Three Kings Quarry Precinct developed by Fletcher
Living.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
2. Working
closely with Auckland Council staff, developer Fletcher Living produced a
concept plan for the development of open space within their Three Kings Quarry
Precinct development site.
3. The
concept plan focuses on areas within the quarry precinct that the developer
will vest to the council, and land that the council already owns which Fletcher
Living will develop on the council’s behalf.
4. Fletcher
Living has engaged Boffa Miskell to design the open space network within the
quarry precinct, with park elements proposed to provide both passive and active
recreation, as well as landscaping, planting and cultural narrative elements.
5. The
concept plan has been amended after consultation with the local board at three
workshops in 2021 and another one in 2022.
6. Development
of the reserve and open space landscaping, assets and play elements (hereby
referred to as the open space) will be developed by Fletcher Living at their
cost and vested with Auckland Council.
7. It
is recommended that an Infrastructure Funding Agreement (IFA) is entered into
between the council and Fletcher Living to record what is being delivered and
handed over to the council. It is recommended this agreement includes details
regarding the applicant’s contribution to maintenance costs.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Puketāpapa Local
Board:
a) approve
the concept plan (attachment A) and subsequent construction of the open space
shown on the Three Kings Quarry Open Space Masterplan Revision E, prepared by
Boffa Miskell and Fletcher Living.
b) approve
that the assets are taken on by the council upon practical completion and
conclusion of agreed maintenance periods being:
i) 2-year
developers maintenance obligation for all additional assets excluded from the
Land Exchange Agreement, specific to the open spaces within the Land Exchange
Agreement.
ii) 5-year
developers maintenance obligation of land and assets vested with the council as
part of the ongoing resource consent.
c) delegate
to the General Manager of Parks and Community Facilities authority to negotiate
the infrastructure funding agreement on terms acceptable to the council’s
Infrastructure Funding team, including maintenance periods.
d) delegate
to the General Manager of Parks and Community Facilities authority to assess
and approve engineering detail for the open space development.
Horopaki
Context
8. Fletcher
Living hold the resource consent (BUN60309797) for the earthworks, remediation,
and development of the quarry which enables the open space formation.
9. The
open space network comprises two main portions:
a) The southern portion
which is entirely covered by a land exchange agreement and includes sports
fields; and
b) The northern portion,
also identified as the northern perimeter park, which will be developed as part
of an ongoing resource consent (Riu-consent).
10. The Three
Kings Quarry Precinct open space network has been designed by the developer,
Fletcher Living, working with landscape design company Boffa Miskell, and with
significant input from Auckland Council Staff (Parks, Sport and Recreation,
Community Facilities and Healthy Waters).
11. The design
builds on previously agreed actions from the Land Exchange Agreement 1 (LEA1),
Infrastructure Funding Agreement 1, the Developer’s settlement agreements
for the Three Kings Quarry, and aligns will previous planning documentation
developed by Auckland Council in consultation with the Puketāpapa Local
Board, including the Three Kings Plan 2014, and the Three Kings Local Park
Needs Assessment 2021.
12. This concept
plan focuses on areas within the quarry precinct that the developer will vest
with the council (northern portion), and land that the council already owns
which Fletcher Living will be developing on the council’s behalf
(southern portion).
13. The following
have been excluded from the concept plan:
(a) Public areas outside of
these formal processes, such as Western Reserve, are out of scope for this
concept plan.
(b) The specific design of the
sports field is excluded from this approval as it forms part of separate
approvals from existing agreements.
(c) Proposals for a Whare
Manaaki cultural facility, publicly accessible lifts, and details around park
naming have also been excluded from this concept plan as the items are still
being agreed upon. These will require separate approval from the local board should
it be delivered on parkland or vested with the council.
14. Acquisition
of the open space has been approved by the governing body through the
agreements mentioned in point ten above.
15. This open
space network will be the main recreational asset within the Three Kings Quarry
residential development, serving both the growing communities within and around
the site and the existing communities surrounding the precinct.
16. The concept
design has been amended through consultation with the local board at local
board workshops on 03 June, 08 July and 09 September 2021, and on 07 July 2022.
17. The
Puketāpapa Local Board expressed their support to progress to a formal
endorsement of the concept plan, and delegation to staff to progress detailed
design and delivery via formal development processes.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
18. The concept
plan was developed in collaboration with Auckland Council staff and
consultation with the local board throughout 2021 and 2022.
19. The total
reserve area (including the sports field) will be 72,468m2, making this a
significant new parks network for the Puketāpapa area.
20. The concept
plan proposes elements that provide for both passive and active recreation, as
well as outlining landscaping, planting and storytelling / cultural art
opportunities.
21. Key outcomes
within the plan include:
· High-quality
opportunities for play, active and passive recreation, and community activity.
· Integration
with the existing local parks network, including Western Reserve and Three
Kings Reserve, as well as providing access to key community facilities and
destinations such as the Fickling Centre and Mt Roskill Library, Mt Eden Road
transport hub, and Three Kings Town Centre.
· Improved
connections east to west and north to south through the site, as identified
within the Greenways Plan Review.
· Celebration
of the geological history of the maunga previously (or still) found on site, as
well as the rich cultural history of the site as a pa and Māori settlement.
· A
sense of place/identify within the reserve network and wider development site.
· Increased
biodiversity and significant Urban Ngahere coverage within the reserve.
· Provision
of flood detention, stormwater management, and wastewater overflow areas to
effectively manage three waters infrastructure within the quarry.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
22. In June 2019,
Auckland Council declared a climate emergency and a commitment to the community
to look at ways to consider climate implications in everything that we do.
23. Any formal
development of park infrastructure will contribute to climate change through
carbon emissions, particularly during the construction and renewal phases, and
through ongoing maintenance. This needs to be carefully considered when
creating new park assets.
24. There will be
a net positive benefit for the formation of a reserve and associated
landscaping within a former quarry site. The planting and trees will over time
absorb and store a portion of the carbon dioxide emissions made during park
creation. The design also incorporates natural products such as timber seating,
reuse of quarry rock and natural play elements which will help to reduce
emissions over a longer period of time.
25. Enhanced
stormwater management within the park and road network will increase the
resilience of the parks, the wider quarry area, and the catchment as a whole as
climate change increases the intensity and likelihood of flooding and rain
events.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
26. Parks, Sport
and Recreation (PSR), Community Facilities and Healthy Waters staff have
provided input throughout the development of the concept plan. Council staff
support the overall concept, with final details to be approved at the
engineering plan approval stage.
27. The Community
Facilities Landscape Architecture team are satisfied with the assets proposed
and will confirm robust design at the engineering plan approval stage.
28. The Community
Facilities Asset Management Team have assessed the ongoing operational costs
and is satisfied with the assets proposed.
29. The concept
plan aligns with strategic direction from previously endorsed strategic park
plans, including the Public Toilet Provision Assessment, Play Network
Assessment, and Three Kings Local Parks Needs Assessment.
Ngā whakaaweawe
ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
30. The proposed
concept plan will provide recreational benefits to the local community and add
environmental benefits of the site.
31. The local
board has delegated decision-making responsibility for the development of
recreation reserves within the Puketāpapa Local Board area. Local Board
workshops were held on 03 June, 08 July and 09 September 2021, and again on 07
July 2022 to discuss the concept plan.
32. The Local
Board indicated general support for the park's service outcomes proposed for
the site. Positive feedback was received for the play space, open space areas
including walkways, and the delivery of assets by the developer.
33. The feedback
included the below key points:
a) ensure that the passive
open space has sufficient drainage;
b) ensure that the
exercise equipment is age-friendly;
c) suggest consideration
of a short section of handrail at the corners of the main access ramps;
d) ensure geotechnical
information has been provided and that assets and land are confirmed as safe
prior to vesting;
e) ensure that the
Kingsway Stairs Park is flat;
f) not supportive of
transformers on public land;
g) suggest a bike channel
on the Kingsway stairs; and
h) uncertain about the
lighting of volcanic features.
34. Changes have
been made in response to these questions, and any remaining concerns will be
assessed by the parks planning team at engineering plan approval in keeping with
local board advice and council guidelines.
35. The
development of the concept plan for open space in the quarry precinct aligns
with the following Puketāpapa Local Board Plan 2020 outcomes and
objectives:
Outcome One: Inclusive communities that are healthy,
connected and thriving
Objective: Places that we live, learn, work and play support
us to have healthier, more active lifestyles.
Outcome Three: Our environment is protected and enhanced
for present and future generations
Objective: We all take care of waterways, parks and public
spaces.
Outcome Four: Well-planned neighbours and vibrant public
spaces
Objective: A well-used network of facilities and public
spaces that are inviting, safe and promote wellbeing.
Outcome Five: Transport options that are reliable,
accessible and less polluting
Objective: Making getting around safer.
Objective: More walking, cycling and use of public
transport.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
36. Fletcher
Living has undertaken regular engagement with mana whenua who have determined
interest in the project at both an individual and collective level, starting in
2013 when the land began the transition from a decommissioning quarry into a
future housing project, continuing up to the present day with the creation of
the concept plan.
37. As the
project transitions from the master planning stage to the design and delivery
phase, hui with mana whenua groups continue every few months. These hui designs
are workshopped for mana whenua input, particularly related to open spaces and
landscaping and cultural narrative expression and artwork opportunities.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
38. There are no
financial implications related to actions, recommendations or decisions
required for community facilities other than consequential OPEX of maintaining
the park and assets in the future.
39. The developer
will cover the entire capital expenditure to develop the open spaces. Funding
will be required to ensure ongoing maintenance of new assets and landscaping
constructed within the reserve at the conclusion of the maintenance periods
agreed in accordance with an Infrastructure Funding Agreement and the LEA1.
40. Landscaping
and assets proposed as part of the LEA1, for the southern portion of the open
space network are subject to a two-year liability defects period. The council
will maintain soft landscaping and assets identified within schedule nine of
the LEA1 immediately after practical completion and will actively notify the
developer of any defects. All defects will be covered by the developer at their
sole cost during this period.
41. For all
additional hardscape assets excluded from the LEA1, the developer agreed to
maintain for a period of two years. This will be managed through an
infrastructure funding agreement.
42. The developer
has also agreed to a 5-year maintenance obligation for the land, all hard and
soft scape assets for the northern perimeter park that will vest to the council
as part of the ongoing resource consent that sits outside of the LEA1.
43. Community
Facilities have conducted a high-level assessment and estimated the
consequential operational expenditure per annum for all of the proposed works
that fall outside of existing agreements to be approximately $146,000 ex GST
subject to detailed design. This includes $28,000 for those assets excluded
from the LEA1 area and $118,000 for areas outside of the Land Exchange Agreement
area to vest in council.
44. Operational
expenditure will commence following practical completion and conclusion of
maintenance periods in accordance with an Infrastructure Funding Agreement. Practical
completion for all stages of the development is currently expected to be in the
2025/26 financial year.
45. The parks
network will vest with the council in stages, as the development progresses.
Staging of the developments will ensure that each vested parcel is safe for the
public and serves a purpose in relation to the wider park for connection or
recreation. Obligated maintenance periods will begin after the completion of
each stage.
46. The Lead
Financial Advisor, from the Corporate and Local Board Performance, Financial
Strategy and Planning team expressed their support regarding the consequential
operating expenses that will be created by this proposal.
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
47. Risks for the
delivery of the open space network are cost escalation and inadequate handover.
These items will be managed via an Infrastructure Funding Agreement that will
be signed by both the developer’s representative and Auckland Council to
ensure that proper handover of all documents, warranties, as-builts and
producer statements occurs. Engineering plan approval will also be obtained for
all assets vested with the council before construction commencement.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
48. The developer
wishes to develop the open space network as soon as possible once the Local
Board’s approval is granted, engineering plan approval has been obtained
and the infrastructure funding agreement has been signed.
49. The plans
will progress to the engineering plan approval (EPA) stage and council staff
will assess and endorse engineering detail based on the local board’s
decision on this business case. All assets to vest with the council will
require sign-off via the EPA process.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
|
No.
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
a⇩
|
Three Kings Quarry Precinct Concept Plan
|
11
|
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Lea van Heerden - Senior Parks Planner
|
|
Authorisers
|
Mace Ward - General Manager Parks, Sports and
Recreation
Nina Siers - Local Area Manager
|
