Landowner
approval and community lease for Upper Harbour Regional Marine Centre at
Hobsonville Point
File No.: CP2022/12049
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
grant landowner approval to Kāinga Ora to construct services and
supporting structures for the proposed marine recreation centre at 9 Boundary
Road, Hobsonville (LOT 9 DP 511649 and LOT 4 DP 206311).
2. To
grant landowner approval to the Hobsonville Point Marine Sports Recreation
Centre Charitable Trust (the trust) to construct the proposed marine recreation
centre at 9 Boundary Road, Hobsonville (LOT 9 DP 511649 and LOT 4 DP 206311).
3. To
grant an agreement to lease to the Hobsonville Point Marine Sports Recreation
Centre Charitable Trust at the conclusion of the works to be undertaken by
Kāinga Ora for the construction of the proposed marine recreation centre.
4. To
grant a lease to the Hobsonville Point Marine Sports Recreation Centre
Charitable Trust at the completion of marine recreation centre.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
5. Kāinga
Ora seeks landowner approval to construct the services and building platform
for the marine recreation centre proposed at the council owned land at 9
Boundary Road, Hobsonville. The trust are considering occupying the platform
while it generates funding for the rest of the facility.
6. Once
funding is secured, the trust proposes to construct a marine recreation centre
on the platform. Most of the facility as well as the water access structures
will be in the Coastal Marine Area.
7. The
council owned parcels affected at 9 Boundary Road are LOT 9 DP 511649 and the
adjacent LOT 4 DP 206311. Both parcels of land are classified esplanade reserve
under the Reserves Act 1977.
8. The
application aligns with the Upper Harbour Local Board Plan, the Upper Harbour
Open Space Network Plan and previous resolutions made by the board.
9. The
facility itself will be owned by the trust and will therefore have no direct
financial implications for the board.
10. Staff
consider that public notification for the proposed agreement to lease and
subsequent lease has been sufficiently covered during the public notification
process that took place as part of the resource consent for the proposed
facility, during which no objections were received.
11. Iwi
engagement on behalf of council for the proposal was undertaken between 15 July
2022 and 12 August 2022. No concerns were raised.
12. Staff
recommend granting landowner approval to Kāinga Ora and the trust for the
proposed facility and supporting structures, as well as granting an agreement
to lease and subsequent community lease to the trust.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Upper Harbour Local
Board:
a) grant landowner
approval to Kāinga Ora to construct the supporting structures,
infrastructure and building platform for the proposed marine recreation centre,
as shown in Attachment A;
b) grant landowner
approval to Hobsonville Point Marine Sports Recreation Centre Charitable Trust
to construct the marine recreation centre, as shown in Attachment B;
c) grant an agreement to
lease for five years to Hobsonville Point Marine Sports Recreation Centre
Charitable Trust for land legally described as Lot 9 DP 511649 and Lot 4 DP
203611 as indicated on the site plan (Attachment B) on satisfactory completion
of Kāinga Ora’s construction of the supporting infrastructure and
first floor platform for the future centre;
d) grant subject to all
terms and conditions of the agreement to lease being met a new community ground
lease to Hobsonville Point Marine Sports Recreation Centre Charitable Trust on
the following terms and conditions:
i. Term: 10 years
plus one ten year right of renewal;
ii. Commencement
date: immediately following the satisfactory completion of the marine
recreation centre;
iii. Rent: $1;
iv. Community Outcomes Plan to
be developed two years after the completion of the Marine recreation centre;
and
e) note all other terms
and conditions in accordance with conditions of the consents issued, the
Auckland Council Occupancy Guidelines 2012 and the Reserves Act 1977.
Horopaki
Context
13. Kāinga
Ora and the Hobsonville Point Marine Sports Recreation Centre Charitable Trust
(’the trust’) are seeking landowner approval to construct a new
marine recreation centre at 9 Boundary Road (LOT 9 DP 511649) and the adjacent
LOT 4 DP 206311 in Hobsonville.
14. Kāinga
Ora will deliver the supporting infrastructure listed below:
· installing services
(wastewater, stormwater, electricity, telecom, water supply) to the edge of the
future building (Attachment A);
· construct
piles and first floor platform for future building; and
· construct
the associated water access structures (jetty and pontoon) required by the
marine recreation centre.
15. The trust and
Kāinga Ora have entered into a memorandum of understanding that states
that the piles and platform will be owned and maintained by the trust.
16. The trust
will build the facility itself, which will be done later once the trust has
secured funding. While funding is being sought, the trust is considering
occupying the building platform built by Kāinga Ora so that they can
continue operating during this time. This will be formalised via the agreement
to lease. Plans for the facility as well as the possible site layout and
structures during the funding period are contained in Attachment B.
17. The majority
of the facility as well as the water access structures (jetty and pontoon) will
be in the Coastal Marine Area which is subject to the existing coastal permits
which have now been transferred to Kāinga Ora from Eke Panuku.
18. A report
seeking the views and preferences of the local board on whether it supported Kāinga
Ora vesting the jetty and pontoon structures to Auckland Council was provided
on 7 July 2022. The report discussed the financial implications of these
structures.
Hobsonville Point Marine
Sports Recreation Centre Charitable Trust
19. The Hobsonville
Point Marine Sports Recreation Centre Charitable Trust was registered under the
Charitable Trust Act 1957 on 20 June 2017.
20. The
trust’s purpose is to fund, construct, maintain and operate a marine
sports recreation building at Catalina Bay, Hobsonville. The Trust will also
support other community marine sports and recreational groups by providing a
facility for their use along with advice, training and guidance on running
their groups.
21. The
trust’s core stakeholders are The Hobsonville Yacht Club, Westlake
Boy’s Rowing Club, Kāinga Ora and Hobsonville Point Residents
Society.
22. The yacht
club and rowing club both currently occupy other parcels of land within the
Catalina Bay area. Due to the ongoing development of the area, these sites will
no longer be viable to the clubs. This is one of the drivers to build a new
facility at Catalina Bay to house both of the communities’ marine sports
groups.
23. This project
has been planned since October 2009 when the Crown and the then Waitakere City Council
recognised the need to have a facility on The Landing at Hobsonville Point for
water based recreational uses and other community uses. The Crown and the
Waitakere City Council agreed to work together with interested representatives
of the community to ensure that an appropriately sized and located facility was
developed at The Landing.
24. Fundraising
for the detailed design is underway so the trust can obtain building consent.
Once this is completed, the major fundraising effort to raise funds for the
actual building of the marine centre will be undertaken.
25. Auckland
Council’s Community Occupancy Guidelines 2012 sets out the requirements
for community occupancy agreements. The trust meets the requirements via its
purpose and intent. As the group is new, council cannot comment on their
financial stability or history of providing services. However, the
trust’s two major stakeholders are well established and have a long
history of providing community outcomes for the area.
26. The agreement
to lease will provide for certain conditions to be met before any lease can
commence. This will protect council from any ongoing lease obligations if the
facility is not built.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
Land classification
27. LOT 9 DP
511649 and LOT 4 DP 206311 are both classified esplanade reserve under the
Reserves Act 1977. Aerial images of the council owned land are shown in
Attachment C.
28. The purpose
of local purpose (esplanade) reserves is set out in the Resource Management Act
1991 (RMA) s 229:
229 Purposes of esplanade
reserves and esplanade strips:
An esplanade
reserve or an esplanade strip has 1 or more of the following purposes:
(a) to contribute to the protection of conservation values by, in
particular,—
(i) maintaining or enhancing the natural functioning of
the adjacent sea, river, or lake; or
(ii) maintaining or enhancing water quality; or
(iii) maintaining or enhancing aquatic habitats; or
(iv) protecting the natural values associated with the
esplanade reserve or esplanade strip;
or
(v) mitigating natural hazards; or
(b) to enable public access to or along any sea, river, or lake; or
(c) to enable public recreational use of the esplanade reserve or
esplanade strip and adjacent
sea, river, or lake, where the use is compatible with conservation values.
29. The proposed
marine recreation centre, along with the associated jetty and pontoon, will
improve and enable public access to the water by providing physical access
structures (jetty and pontoon) as well as providing services that will
facilitate and encourage water-based activities, such as sailing and kayaking.
However, it is worth noting that the facility may not necessarily directly
support the conservation related purposes of esplanade reserves, described
above.
30. Previous
legal advice regarding the proposal’s compatibility with the
classification of local purpose esplanade reserve was that it was feasible
given it would not restrict public access to the reserve.
31. The
classification report from 21 October 2021, resolution number UH/2021/136,
stated that: “Legal advice was considered in relation to 9 Boundary Road
Reserve and the proposed development of marine recreation facilities. The
classification of local purpose (esplanade) is considered appropriate as the
proposed development does not intend to restrict public access and the land
should be viewed as forming part of the contiguous line of council esplanade
reserves around the peninsula”.
Public notification and engagement
32. As there is
no adopted reserve management plan, public notification is required under the
Reserves Act 1977 prior to any lease being granted. This was done as part of
the resource consent process; no concerns objections were received.
33. Iwi
engagement is also required under the terms of section 4 of the Conservation
Act 1987 prior to any lease being granted. This is detailed in paragraphs
50-55.
34. The trust has
submitted a comprehensive application supporting the proposed new marine
recreation centre. The application includes ways forward for progressing the
new build.
35. While the
trust is newly formed, its main stakeholders are the Hobsonville Yacht Club,
Westlake Boys Rowing and Hobsonville Point Residents Society, all of which are
very well established.
36. The
trust’s main purpose is currently to establish the marine recreation
centre as a home for water sports in the area.
37. A community
outcomes plan detailing the trust’s goals and outcomes will be negotiated
once the marine recreation centre is complete.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
38. The Assessment of Environmental Effects
provided as part of the resource consent application states that “the
proposal has regard to the effects of climate change by locating the structure
on piles to allow for sea level rise”.
39. It is
anticipated that activation of the park will initially result in an increase of
greenhouse gas emissions whilst the centre is being constructed. Once
completed, the activities of the centre (predominantly sailing and rowing) will
have little impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
40. The shared
space will enable and provide opportunity for people to enjoy positive healthy
lifestyles and will increase capability and connections within local community.
41. To improve
environmental outcomes and mitigate climate change impacts, the council
advocates that the lease holder:
· use
sustainable waste, energy and water efficiency systems;
· use
eco labelled products and services; and
· seek
opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from lease-related activities.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
42. The following
staff have been consulted on the proposal. No fundamental objections to the
proposed marine recreation centre have been received:
· Sport
& Recreation Lead, Parks Services
· Parks
& Places Specialist, Parks Services
· Parks
Planning, Parks Services
· Facilities
Manager, Community Facilities
· Urban
Forest Manager, Community Facilities
· Manager
Area Operations, Community Facilities
· Manager
Design, Project Specialisation, Community Facilities
· Team
Manager Ecological Advice, Infrastructure and Environmental Services
· Principal
Coastal Specialist, Infrastructure and Environmental Services
· Senior
Programme Manager, Development Programme Office
43. As per
paragraph 18, staff advice regarding the ownership and maintenance of the water
access structures was provided to the board via report on 7 July 2022.
Ngā whakaaweawe
ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
44. Public
notification was undertaken as part of the resource consent process for the
proposed facility, during which no objections were received.
45. The
application aligns with the Upper Harbour Local Board Plan Outcome 3 –
“Healthy and active communities” by providing water-based
recreation opportunities for the local area.
46. Water access
and water sports are also identified in the Upper Harbour Open Space Network
Plan as important components of sport and recreation in the local board area.
47. The
jetty and pontoon were advocacy items in the Annual Budget 2022/2023 for the
Upper Harbour Local Board. The local board passed resolution number UH 2022/47
which sought the Governing Body to accept the vesting of the new community
pontoon and jetty to Auckland Council.
48. During a
workshop held on 26 May 2022, the local board again expressed its support for
the facility and jetty. This support was confirmed at the community forum
meeting on 7 July 2022 with resolution number UHCF/2022/23.
49. On 11 August
2022 the Parks, Arts, Community and Events (PACE) Committee approved the vesting of the jetty and pontoon structure, once
constructed, at The Landing, Hobsonville Point from Kāinga Ora to Auckland
Council.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
50. Auckland
Council is committed to meeting its responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi
which are outlined in council’s key strategic planning documents; the
Auckland Plan, the Long-Term Plan 2021-2031, the Unitary Plan, and local board
plans.
51. According
to the resource consent decision for the proposed facility, Kāinga Ora had
“been working with Te Kawerau a Maki and Ngāti Whatua o Kaipara in
the 12 months leading up to the lodgement of the application, with regular
meetings undertaken to provide general updates on the project design”.
52. The
applicant also sent a letter detailing the proposed works to the following iwi
groups on 2 August 2019:
· Te Kawerau a Maki
· Ngāti Whatua o Orakei
· Ngāti Whatua o Kaipara
· Te Akitai o Waiohua
· Ngāti Te Ata
· Ngāti Tamaoho
· Ngāti Maru
· Ngāti Whanaunga
· Te Patukirikiri
· Ngāti Paoa
· Ngai Tai ki Tamaki
53. The trust has
entered into a memorandum of understanding with Te Kawerau a Maki which
outlines the way the two parties will work with each other in the construction
and management of the proposed facility.
54. Under section
4 of the Conservation Act council staff sought feedback from mana whenua groups
identified as having an interest in land in the local board geographical area.
Staff provided documents containing detail on the proposed new agreement to
lease and subsequent lease. Staff also acknowledged the history of previous
engagement with iwi on this project.
55. Staff
received feedback from Te Kawerau a Maki acknowledging they have a relationship
with the trust and have no objections. Ngāti Paoa support Te Kawerau a
Maki on this lease.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
56. The
foundations, platform, services and facility will be owned by the trust. The
associated jetty and pontoon will be owned by council, as resolved by the
Parks, Arts, Community and Events Committee on 11 August 2022. The report
provided on 11 August included the detail on the ongoing operational costs of
the jetty and pontoon.
57. All on-going
maintenance of the marine recreation centre will be the responsibility of the
trust.
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
|
Risk
|
Mitigation
|
|
Council left with building
platform in the reserve indefinitely if the Marine recreation centre is not
completed.
|
If council approves the items
to be delivered by Kāinga Ora (listed in paragraph 14) prior to the
Trust securing funding for the remainder of the facility, council could be
left with these assets in the reserve indefinitely if the marine recreation
centre is not completed.
Based on the trust’s
purpose, intent and membership, the risk above is somewhat mitigated and the
agreement to lease will provide for certain conditions to be met before any
lease can commence. This will protect council from any ongoing lease
obligations if the facility is not built.
|
|
Lack of toilets for the
general public using the wharf.
|
Staff have worked with the
trust on making one toilet in the Marine Recreation Centre accessible to the
public. This toilet will be accessed without going inside the building and
will be cleaned by Auckland Council.
|
|
Lack of storage for the
general public using the wharf.
|
Work with
the trust to provide a storage space within the area between the proposed
jetty and the marine recreation centre for the public to store things like
launching trolleys and kayak carts.
|
|
Poor management of platform
(for the future building), jetty and pontoon whilst funding is being raised
for the marine recreation centre.
|
If the trust decide to occupy
the platform during fundraising, the agreement to lease will provide for
certain conditions to be met before any lease can commence. This will ensure
the area is being managed appropriately during that time.
|
|
Club displaced during the
facility’s construction.
|
During the construction of the
marine recreation centre, the building’s platform will no longer be
available for the club to occupy. During this time, the club will need to
seek alternative location(s) to operate from.
|
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
58. If the local
board grants landowner approval and agreement to lease to the trust and
Kāinga Ora for the new marine recreation centre and supporting infrastructure,
staff will formalise the approvals with the relevant approval documents.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
|
No.
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
a⇩
|
Supporting infrastructure
|
13
|
|
b⇩
|
Facility plans
|
15
|
|
c⇩
|
Aerial images
|
27
|
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Devin Grant-Miles - Land Use Advisor
|
|
Authorisers
|
Lesley Jenkins - Local Area Manager
Heather Skinner - Senior Local Board Advisor
|
Local board feedback on the proposed
Auckland Climate Grant programme 2022/2023
File No.: CP2022/12001
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To seek local board feedback on the proposed new Auckland Climate
Grant, including grant programme scope and criteria, priority action focus
areas and timing of funding rounds.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
2. Budget
for a climate grant programme was allocated through the 10-year Budget
2021-2031.
3. In
2021/2022 these additional funds were distributed through the existing Regional
Environment and Natural Heritage grant while staff worked to establish a new
grant scheme.
4. Staff
have now developed a proposal for a new Auckland Climate Grant. This has been
developed with feedback from mana whenua and community group stakeholders.
5. In
2022/2023 the Auckland Climate Grants programme has a budget of $400,000.
6. The
purpose of the grant scheme is to support projects that will:
· reduce
greenhouse gas emissions through community-based action
· build
community resilience to climate change impacts
· support
Māori-led responses to climate change.
7. Key
priority areas for funding for the grant in 2022/2023 have been identified,
based on the priorities in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri and an analysis
of other available grants. They are:
· Transport:
Projects that support a low carbon and safe transport system
· Built
environment and Energy: Projects that support a built environment and energy
system that provides for a low carbon, climate disaster resilient Auckland
· Food:
Projects that support a low carbon, resilient, local food system and enable
Aucklanders to make sustainable and healthy food choices
· Māori-led
projects: Projects that build Māori capacity to respond to climate impacts
and support mana whenua and mātāwaka to reduce emissions and build
community resilience.
8. All
local board feedback received by 26 August 2022 on the proposed Auckland
Climate Grant will inform the recommendation to the Environment and Climate
Change Committee.
9. The
proposed Auckland Climate Grant will be presented to the Environment and
Climate Change Committee for approval on 8 September 2022.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Upper Harbour Local
Board:
a) provide feedback on the proposed Auckland Climate Grant.
Horopaki
Context
New funding for a climate grant scheme
10. Budget for a
climate grant programme was allocated through the 10-year Recovery Budget
2021-2031. The grant was intended to provide increased investment to support
local community-based climate projects that would:
· reduce
emissions
· increase
community resilience to climate impacts
· generate
more community-based climate action projects, reaching at least 20,000
Aucklanders over 10 years.
11. Previously
support for regional sustainable living projects has been allocated through the
Regional Environment and Natural Heritage (RENH) grant programme.
12. In 2020/2021
staff distributed the increased funding for community climate projects through
the RENH. This allowed funds to be allocated rapidly to the community by
December 2021, after the adoption of the Recovery Budget in July 2021.
13. While funds
were being allocated in this fashion, staff carried out a review of the current
processes used to distribute climate and sustainability grants through the RENH
along with the other priorities it covers such as conservation, water quality
and kaitiakitanga.
14. Staff also
consulted with subject matter experts involved in administering the RENH and
applicants on their experience of using the existing grant scheme.
15. The review
showed that there are various disadvantages to continuing to use the existing
Regional Environmental and Natural Heritage Grant to distribute climate and
sustainability projects. These include that the:
· existing
process covers many priorities with less clear guidance about what type of
climate projects to fund than might be expected from a stand-alone climate
grant
· assessment
processes are more complex and time consuming for staff due to the wide range
of priorities – they require various moderation and review workshops to
ensure that grants are being compared fairly across the range of priority
areas.
16. Staff
determined that creating a stand-alone climate grant would provide a better
experience for applicants and simplify and improve the grant assessment
process.
Stocktake of existing grants and analysis of allocations
17. To develop a
new climate grant, staff carried out a review of other grants that are
available to fund projects which have climate outcomes. Grants identified
include the:
· RENH
– provides funding for conservation projects
· Community
Coordination and Facilitation grant – supports capacity building for
conservation groups
· Waste
Minimisation and Innovation Fund
· Love
Food Hate Waste
· Auckland
Transport Community Bike Fund
· Ngā
Tiriti Ngangahau - The Vibrant Streets Programme
· local
board grants to projects with climate outcomes.
18. Grants
external to Auckland Council, such as those offered through Foundation North
were also considered. This process aimed to avoid the grant
‘duplicating’ or ‘replacing’ other potential sources of
funding for community groups.
19. Staff also
analysed allocations from regional and local grants to over 200 projects with
climate outcomes over the last five years. This review yielded insights into
which areas the community are already active and working in (and seeking
funding in). It also identified that some Aucklanders are being under-served by
our current grants processes.
20. The proposed
new climate grant aims to expand areas of community enthusiasm for climate
action and to make the grant process more accessible to some under-served
groups (including Māori, Pacific people, other diverse ethnic groups and
youth-led organisations).
21. Three online
workshops were also held to get feedback from community group stakeholders and
previous grant applicants in May 2022.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
22. An outline of
the proposed grant purpose, priorities, criteria, activities that are in scope
and exclusions are provided below for local board members to review.
Proposed grant purpose
23. For the
2022/2023 pilot year the Auckland Climate Grant programme has a proposed purpose
of supporting projects that:
· reduce
greenhouse gas emissions through community-based action
· build
community resilience to climate change impacts
· support
Māori-led responses to climate change.
24. The Auckland
Climate Grant programme will support community projects focused on providing
resources, education, and opportunities that result in more Aucklanders
engaging with climate change issues. It will support Aucklanders to make
behaviour changes in areas with the greatest greenhouse gas emissions reduction
potential.
25. Projects that
support reductions in greenhouse gas emission will be the focus for the
2022/2023 funding allocations with a target allocation of 70 per cent of
grants. This allocation target will be reviewed annually. This 70 per cent may
also include projects that are Māori-led (the purpose statements are not
exclusive).
26. The Auckland
Climate Grant programme will also support projects that build community
resilience to respond to the impacts of climate change. Projects should focus
on giving Aucklanders a voice in proactive community resilience planning and
climate adaptation, particularly communities who will be the most vulnerable to
climate impacts and have traditionally been under-served by the council.
27. By building
stronger connections between neighbours and within neighbourhoods, at key
community sites, and with community-based organisations, projects can create
resilience against climate-related stresses with a focus on food and energy.
28. The Auckland
Climate grant programme will also aim to support projects that enable mana
whenua and mātāwaka to respond to climate change. The allocation of
funding will recognise the partnership between the council and Māori-led
organisations – particularly mana whenua in the council’s role as a
partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Scope and criteria
29. Projects
supported through the Auckland Climate Grant programme should meet one or more
of the following criteria:
· result
in new or expanded climate action activity, either by implementing new
initiatives, or by significantly expanding the scope or coverage of existing
activities
· support
mana whenua and mātāwaka to reduce carbon emissions and build
community resilience to climate related impacts
· provide
support and resources to Māori organisations and community groups to build
organisational capacity and capability, develop strategic plans and develop
sustainable funding models, increasing the total funding or support secured for
climate projects in Auckland
· increase
participation in climate action activity in high emission communities
(generally, higher income communities) targeting the highest emitting behaviours
· increase
participation in activities that build community resilience in under-served
communities who most need our support to respond to climate impacts
· support
Aucklanders of different ages, abilities and ethnicities to take climate
action.
Climate action priority areas
30. Projects
supported through the climate grant may address a wide range of the priorities
included in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan
including built environment, energy, transport, communities and coast, food,
and Te Puawaitanga ō te Tātai.
31. For the
2022/2023 pilot year priority will be given to applications under the
transport, energy and food themes and to Māori-led projects. This will
include:
· Transport:
Projects that support a low carbon, safe transport system that delivers social,
economic and health benefits for all
· Food:
Projects that support a low carbon, resilient, local food system that provides
all Aucklanders with access to fresh, sustainable, affordable and healthy food
and projects that support Aucklanders to make sustainable dietary choices
· Energy:
Projects that support a built environment and energy system that provides for a
low carbon, climate disaster resilient Auckland
· Māori-led
projects: Projects building Māori capacity to respond to climate change
and supporting mana whenua and mātāwaka to reduce emissions and build
community resilience.
32. Some projects
that support other priorities in the plan may also be funded. These include:
· Built
environment: Projects that support a low carbon and resilient built environment
· Communities:
Projects that support communities to increase awareness of climate change and
to prepare for changes in our climate and coastline and projects that support
Aucklanders to understand their carbon footprints and changes they can make to
reduce these.
33. Applicants
will be directed for future guidance on what types of activities to support
through these priorities to Auckland Council’s Live Lightly website,
which provides advice and information for individuals and community groups on
climate change: https://livelightly.nz/.
34. Priority
areas will be updated on an annual basis.
Exclusions
35. General grant
programme exclusions outlined in the Community Grants policy will apply to the
Auckland Climate Grants. In addition, specific exclusions for the Auckland
Climate Grants programme are:
· climate
action projects focused on the natural environment, industry and the economy
are out of scope for the Auckland Climate Grant programme – this will
avoid duplication with other funds such as the RENH and Climate Connect, the
new climate innovation hub being developed by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
· projects
with a focus on the circular economy, food waste, composting, upcycling,
recycling, repair and reuse should apply through the Waste Minimisation and
Innovation Fund
· activities
whose primary purpose is the private gain or advancing of private business
interests without a significant public good component
· purchase
of vehicles and any related ongoing maintenance, repair, overhead costs or road
user charges
· conference
fees and costs
· funding
for existing roles or organisational costs
· subscription
services where these are ongoing and not associated with a specific event or
outcome
· replication
of council services
· websites
and electronic platforms.
Applicants
36. The grant
will be open to community groups, neighbourhoods, mana whenua and
mātāwaka applicants, social enterprises, businesses, business
improvement districts and education providers (early childhood centres,
schools, kura and tertiary institutions).
37. Staff propose
to hold several response grants rounds which are intended to make the application
process quicker, simpler and easier for community groups and increase the
volume of successful applications from under-served groups.
Types of grants available
38. Grants from
$1,000 up to $50,000 will be offered, with both response grants and strategic
grants available as shown in Table 1 below.
Response grants ($1,000 - $15,000)
39. These grants
seek to grow community participation in climate action, and amplify existing
community action, particularly among under-served communities such as youth,
Pacific peoples and Māori-led groups.
40. Applications
will be encouraged from groups that have not previously engaged with climate
action activity or are rapidly building capacity in this area.
41. Staff propose
that for these smaller grants, allocation decisions will be made by the General
Manager of Environmental Services.
Strategic grants ($15,000 – $50,000)
42. These grants
seek to support programmes and activities aligning with the Auckland Climate
Grant purpose, scope and priority actions. Strategic grants will be expected to
have more significant impacts than response grants. They could potentially be
used to either expand best practise projects or develop innovative new
responses to the climate challenge.
43. Staff propose
that allocation decisions for strategic grants could be made by the Environment
and Climate Change Committee (or equivalent committee) in future years.
44. In 2022,
because of the timing of the proposed grant adoption decision in early
September, staff propose that decision-making for the strategic grant be
delegated to the General Manager Environmental Services for this year. This
will provide continuity of funding for community groups by December 2022.
45. If grants are
approved by a committee of council, it will not be possible for them to be
allocated to community groups until May 2023 due to the timing of the election
and the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Table 1. Timing of grants
rounds
|
|
Open
|
Close
|
Decision date
|
|
Response
grants
|
September 2022
February 2023
April 2023
|
October 2022
March 2023
May 2023
|
November 2022
April 2023
June 2023
|
|
Strategic
grants
|
September 2022
|
October 2022
|
December 2022
|
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
46. The Auckland
Climate Grant will support projects that lead to community climate change
action to reduce carbon emissions and increase community resilience to climate
impacts. The provision of grants through the Auckland Climate Grant programme
contributes towards Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri:
Auckland's Climate Plan action area C4: Remove barriers and support community
initiatives that reduce emissions and build resilience in a fair way.
47. Individual projects supported through the Auckland Climate Grant programme may
respond to a range of action areas within Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri:
Auckland's Climate Plan including:
· Action
area T3: Increase access to bicycles, micro-mobility devices and the safe,
connected and dedicated infrastructure that supports their use
· Action
area C1: Work together to strengthen the resilience of our communities, people
and places
· Action
area F4: Increase supply and demand for local, seasonal and low carbon food.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
48. The
Auckland Climate Grants may potentially impact work within the Waste Solutions
and Customer and Community Services departments, and the existing support
provided to community-led food initiatives. Input from the Waste Solutions
department and Regional Service Planning, Investment and Partnerships team
within Customer and Community Services was sought during the development of the
Auckland Climate Grant and their views on relevant applications will be sought
during the delivery of the 2022/2023 pilot grant rounds.
49. The Auckland Climate Grants support of community-led transport
initiatives may have an impact on Auckland Transport.
Input from Auckland Transport was sought during the Auckland Climate Grant
development and their views on relevant applications will be sought during the
delivery of the 2022/2023 pilot grant rounds.
50. Input into the Auckland Climate Grant was sought from Tātaki
Auckland Unlimited. These grants will not overlap with support provided through
Climate Connect and there is no impact on Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.
51. The
Environment Climate Committee decision is not a strategy, bylaw, policy or plan
so the local board’s feedback can be made under delegated authority if
needed (Local Government Act 2022, sch7 clause 36D (1) (a)).
Ngā whakaaweawe
ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
52. Equitable
geographical distribution of grant allocations across different local board
areas will be considered alongside other factors when setting funding
recommendations for the Auckland Climate Grants.
53. Information
on funding allocation and successful applicants will be provided to all
relevant local boards following the approval of grant recommendations by the
General Manager Environmental Services or Environment and Climate Change
Committee.
54. Local boards
have the ability to operate their own local grants programmes and may choose to
fund local climate action projects and activities, some of which may complement
the grants provided at a regional level, or vice versa.
55. Local
board views are being sought on the proposal to establish the
Auckland Climate Grant programme. Local board feedback
will inform the recommendation to the Environment and Climate Change Committee
on 8 September 2022.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
56. Staff
presented to the Infrastructure and Environmental Services Mana Whenua Hui
seeking feedback from mana whenua kaitiaki representatives on aspects of the
grant development.
57. Key feedback
points included the need for the grant process to be easy and accessible to
mana whenua organisations and for the grants to build capacity of mana whenua
to respond to climate change.
58. From December
2021 to March 2022, Māori specialists in the Community Climate Action team
also met with each of the 19 iwi to seek their feedback on climate priorities
that they would like to see advanced through the sustainable and resilient
marae project. Feedback from mana whenua through this process has informed the
priorities identified in the grant scheme, particularly in relation to
Māori-led climate action.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
59. Budget
for the Auckland Climate Grants was allocated through the 10-year Recovery
Budget 2021-2031. For 2022/2023 financial year there is $300,000 available for
allocation.
60. As
climate projects had historically been supported through the Regional
Environment and Natural Heritage (RENH) grant programme, $100,000 from the RENH
grant budget will be used to support grant allocations through the Auckland
Climate grant.
61. Grant
allocations through the Auckland Climate grant response and strategic grant
rounds will be managed within the $400,000 total grant budget. The majority of
funds will be allocated through the strategic grants round.
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
62. A
risk assessment has only identified two low level risks associated with the
adoption of the Auckland Climate Grant programme. These are
listed below along with the mitigations:
· Low
reputational risk – applicants may query the grant scope, priorities and
decision making and feel these are inconsistent or unfair. This risk is
mitigated through the grant development process seeking community input and the
transparent evaluation and assessment process applied to guide decision making
· Low
financial risk – insufficient applications of sufficiently high quality
will be received to fully allocate available funds. This risk is mitigated
through grant programme promotion and applicant support. Support with the application
process will be available from Auckland Council staff and community contractors
involved with delivery of other areas of the Community Climate Action Team
local and regional work programme.
63. Once grant allocation decisions are made, staff will maintain
regular contact with grant recipients during project implementation to follow
up on progress and make sure any risks of individual projects are properly
addressed.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
64. All
local board feedback received by 26 August 2022 on the proposed Auckland
Climate Grant will be considered before an updated version is presented to
committee.
65. Staff will
present the proposed Auckland Climate Grant to Environment and Climate Change
Committee for approval on 8 September 2022.
66. Once
guidelines for the Auckland Climate Grant have been approved, staff will start
the promotion and delivery of 2022/2023 Auckland Climate Grant funding rounds.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
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Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Emma Cowie-Dixon - Principal Advisor
Jacob van der Poel - Advisor Operations and Policy
|
|
Authorisers
|
Carol Hayward - Team Leader Operations and Policy
Louise Mason - General Manager Local Board Services
Robert Marshall - Local Board Advisor
|
