Minute Item Attachments of Albert-Eden Local Board

Albert-Eden Local Board

01 May 2025

Albert-Eden Local Board feedback on Annual Plan 2025-2026 regional topics

Overall direction

Proposal

Support / Do not support

Local board input

The overall plan

This includes prioritising investment in:

· transport

· water; and

· fairer funding for local communities.

An average 5.8 per cent rates increase

Support

- Strongly support the implementation of fairer funding for local boards, and thank the Mayor and Auckland Council CEO for agreeing to manage 2025/2026 cost pressures and budget oversights.

- Request the current approach to managing cost pressures for is continued for FY27.

- Note that key advice will not be ready in time for next year's Annual Budget discussions (i.e. striking a targeted rate, Asset Management Plans, Growth scenario, Portfolio Review, divestments, changes in services levels, strategic briefings) and the development of the 2026 Local Board Plans could provide the optimal place to identify solutions.

- Request timely quality advice to support the implementation of Fairer Funding.

Destination management and major events

Introducing a bed night visitor levy on short-stay commercial accommodation, to fund destination management, marketing and major events

Support

Request that significant majority of revenue obtained is to be ‘ringfenced’ for the purposes outlined.

Changes to other rates, fees and charges

Proposal	Support / Do not support	Local board input
3% increase to the overall waste management targeted rate for a typical household	Support	We note the results from the trial for fortnightly collections are yet to be reported. Our support for an increase is based on the assumption that weekly collections will remain.
Introduction of the refuse targeted rate to the former districts of Rodney and Franklin.	N/A
Animal management fees: increase dog adoption fee from $350 to $450	Support
Animal management fees: increase vet fee from $75 to $150.	Support
Changes to some cemetery fees	Support	Note potential equity impacts on religious communities who may not have a choice about which day to hold a burial.
Realign bach fees into pricing tiers based on occupancy levels, capacity and location	Support
Align staff charge out rates with staff pay bands for services in regional parks	Support

Albert-Eden Local Board key advocacy initiatives

Initiative	Description
Responding to growth	Growth funding to respond to the increase in development and support the future community living in our area and for upgrading or expanding existing parks, acquisition of new open space, sportsfields, building new indoor court facilities and community facilities. Pt Chevalier to be considered as a priority area, to cater for the heavy intensification at Kukūnga Waka (Carrington residential development) and other developments.
Pt Chevalier library and community centre	Additional funding to be able to deliver a replacement library and community centre services in Pt Chevalier.
Maungawhau Precinct Development	Accelerate the Maungawhau precinct development surrounding Maungawhau station, coordinated with the City Rail Link delivery schedule, and in partnership with stakeholders to ensure the project contributes positively to the future of Eden Terrace, Newton and the Uptown commercial area.
Dominion Road	Upgrades to Dominion Road corridor, given the changes to the light rail project and lack of investment in the area over the past decade.
Enhancing Compliance and Enforcement to Address Roaming Dogs	Additional dog control resourcing and enforcement to better address roaming dog issues.
Flood affected properties	Accelerated removal of buildings from purchased properties noting the negative impact empty and damaged buildings have on neighbours and the local community, and that expedited removal will allow sites to be potentially used for flood resilience projects. An additional approach to ensure an acceptable level of maintenance and upkeep for private properties outside buy-out scheme which may appear ‘abandoned’, to ensure they do not become derelict, safety hazards or a risk to the wider community, or attract illegal dumping.