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Resolution
number WH/2025/56
MOVED by Chairperson
K Thomas, seconded by Member R Clow:
That
the Whau Local Board:
a)
receive Annual Plan
2025/2026 consultation feedback on the proposed Whau Local Board priorities
and activities.
b)
receive
consultation feedback on regional topics in the Annual Plan 2025/2026 from
people and organisations based in the Whau local board area.
c)
provide the
following input on regional topics in the proposed Annual Plan 2025/2026 to
the Governing Body.
General
i)
support the
following financial proposals:
A)
retaining the
agreed rates increase of 5.8 per cent, consistent with the 2024-2034
Long-term Plan.
B)
targeted rates
including increasing 3.5 per cent to the Natural Environment Targeted Rate
and Climate Action Transport Targeted Rate, increasing the Water Quality
Targeted Rate, and increasing 3.3 per cent to the Waste Management Targeted
Rate.
C)
aiming for a group
debt to revenue limit of 250 per cent noting the qualification of adequate
headroom.
D)
delivering a
further $47 million in savings, so long as those savings do not include
service cuts that will impact our community.
E)
continuing to
invest in services and activities with $4 billion of capital investment.
Transport
ii)
support the
development of the 30-year Auckland Integrated Transport Plan.
iii)
support removing
level crossings on the rail network, however note that crossings on the mid
and outer parts of the Western Line are prioritised later in the 20 year
programme.
iv)
urge that this work
on the Western line be prioritized sooner so that the Whau can fully
capitalize on the benefits of the City Rail Link.
v)
support investment
in a road safety programme.
Water
vi)
support increased
investment in asset renewals to improve the resilience and efficiency of
Auckland’s water assets.
vii) support stormwater separation works.
viii) support continued investment in the Industrial
Pollution Prevention programme to work with specific targeted industries.
ix)
support investment
in the Making Space for Water Programme to strengthen Auckland’s
resilience to flooding to accelerate delivery of the programme within six
years instead of across 10 years, noting known high-risk areas in the Whau
local board area.
x)
acknowledge that
blue-green networks provide additional benefits such as providing green space
and amenity.
Built environment
xi)
support the timely
completion of Eke Panuku’s Unlock Avondale project.
xii) acknowledge the work that has already been
done in the Unlock Avondale project by Eke Panuku.
Natural environment
xiii) continue to support closed landfill and
coastal landfill remediation, and request action on the contaminated site at
Tahurangi / Crum Park, and Archibald Park that has risk of leaching into the
Whau River.
Community
xiv) support the implementation of fairer funding
for local boards, noting that the Whau Local Board has been historically
underfunded.
xv) thank the Mayor and CEO for agreeing to manage
2025/2026 cost pressures and budget oversights but note that staff have
advised that from 2026/2027, the new Fairer Funding allocation will be used
to cover cost pressures identified in 2025/2026 and any new yet to be
discovered cost pressures.
xvi) note its concern that accurate, detailed
information has not been available to local boards through much of the work
programme process creating uncertainty and inefficiencies in time and effort.
xvii) note its disappointment that the 2025/2026
cost pressures have only been addressed for 2025/2026 and will need to be
addressed in the new term.
xviii) consider that cost pressures should be funded
through inflation and rates increases, noting that if not, from 2026/2027
many local boards will have to cut services to manage cost pressures and that
will result in many local boards being worse off under Fairer Funding.
xix) request increased department resources to meet
the increased advice and delivery needed to support the implementation of
Fairer Funding.
xx) support investment in safety initiatives and
wardens, particularly around main transport hubs such as New Lynn.
Economic and
cultural development
xxi) request that relevant, informed, quality
advice and support on local economic development is available to local
boards.
Well-managed local government
xxii) support investment into Māori outcomes
including the Marae Infrastructure Programme and capacity funding.
xxiii) advocate for a change to the criteria and
financial parameters for the Marae Infrastructure Programme and Cultural
Initiatives Fund to enable support for marae in the planning and design
phase, for example Te Henga marae.
xxiv) support progressing Te Kawerau ā
Maki’s key projects, in particular:
A)
Waitākere
Ranges Heritage Area Deed and a new forum and plan.
B)
Te Henga marae and
papakāinga.
xxv)
note and support
the request for funding to create a Te Kawerau ā Maki Community Officer
role in West Auckland to better connect with local boards and local
communities.
xxvi)
note the asset
recycling target of $300 million set in the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 include
proposals of non-service properties and further note Whau Local Board’s
previous advocacy requesting local boards be able to determine the status of
non-service properties.
xxvii)
continue to support
the retention of 13 Crown Lynn Place New Lynn for further investigation of
open space needs and uses for the site to meet demands due to significant
upzoning and brownfield development in the adjoining areas.
Major projects
xxviii)
support the
progression of Te Whau Pathway and continue to advocate to progress the
construction of Section 2: Rizal Reserve to Ken Maunder crossing the Whau
River to connect the Avondale and New Lynn sections of Te Whau Pathway.
xxix)
support the
delivery of Te Hono - Avondale Community Centre.
xxx)
advocate for the
purchase of significant land at the Avondale Racecourse.
Funding major
events, destination marketing and visitor attraction
xxxi)
support Council’s
continued advocacy to Central Government to implement a bed night visitor
levy.
Changes to other
rates, fees and charges
xxxii)
generally support
increases to animal management fees, but note the need to keep dog adoption
fees reasonable in order not to discourage public uptake of dog adoption.
xxxiii)
support changes to
cemetery fees, acknowledging that existing fees are well below those charged
by other providers.
xxxiv)
note with concern
the fact that Waikumete Cemetery is currently at capacity, so Whau residents
are restricted in their options for funeral arrangements.
d)
whakarite / provide
the following local board advocacy for the Annual Plan 2025/2026:
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Initiative
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Description
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Acquisition of park land at Avondale Racecourse
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Acquisition
of significant park land in Avondale Racecourse as part of region wide
reprioritisation of funding for open space acquisition.
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Whau Aquatic and Recreation Centre
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Acquisition of land to follow site identification
to deliver the Whau Aquatic and Recreation Centre by 2032, which will
benefit all the inner-west and Waitakere Ranges local board areas.
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Te Whau Pathway
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Construction of the bridge across the Whau River
to connect the Avondale and New Lynn sections of Te Whau Pathway.
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Cost pressures
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Advocate for cost pressures to be funded through
inflation and rates increases. Many local boards will be forced to
significantly cut services to meet the identified and new cost pressures
from 2026/2027 onwards, the impact on local services year on year would be
catastrophic.
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Deed of Acknowledgement
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Request that the Governing Body allocate funding
and resource to complete the WRHAA Deed of Acknowledgement and a WRHA
Strategic Plan in 2025/2026.
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CARRIED
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