Agenda of Devonport-Takapuna Local Board - Tuesday, 23 September 2025

1 Nau mai | Welcome

The meeting was opened 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

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.

2 Ngā Tamōtanga | Apologies

At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.

3 Te Whakapuaki i te Whai Pānga | Declaration of Interest

Members are reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from decision making when a conflict arises between their role as a member and any private or other external interest they might have.

4 Te Whakaū i ngā Āmiki | Confirmation of Minutes

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whakaū / confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Tuesday, 19 August 2025, and the extraordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Tuesday, 2 September 2025, including the confidential section, as a true and correct record.

5 He Tamōtanga Motuhake | Leave of Absence

At the close of the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.

6 Te Mihi | Acknowledgements

At the close of the agenda no requests for acknowledgements had been received.

7 Ngā Petihana | Petitions

At the close of the agenda no requests to present petitions had been received.

8 Ngā Tono Whakaaturanga | Deputations

Standing Order 7.7 provides for deputations. Those applying for deputations are required to give seven working days notice of subject matter and applications are approved by the Chairperson of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board. This means that details relating to deputations can be included in the published agenda. Total speaking time per deputation is ten minutes or as resolved by the meeting.

At the close of the agenda no requests for deputations had been received.

9 Te Matapaki Tūmatanui | Public Forum

A period of time (approximately 30 minutes) is set aside for members of the public to address the meeting on matters within its delegated authority. A maximum of three minutes per speaker is allowed, following which there may be questions from members.

9.1 Public Forum - Cameron Smythe - Woodall park Skate park

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. Cameron Smythe will be in attendance to address the board regarding the Woodall Park Skate park

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) receive the presentation from Cameron Smythe and thank him for his attendance

10 Ngā Pakihi Autaia | Extraordinary Business

Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“An item that is not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with at that meeting if-

(a) The local authority by resolution so decides; and

(b) The presiding member explains at the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public,-

(i) The reason why the item is not on the agenda; and

(ii) The reason why the discussion of the item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.”

Section 46A(7A) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“Where an item is not on the agenda for a meeting,-

(a) That item may be discussed at that meeting if-

(i) That item is a minor matter relating to the general business of the local authority; and

(ii) the presiding member explains at the beginning of the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public, that the item will be discussed at the meeting; but

(b) no resolution, decision or recommendation may be made in respect of that item except to refer that item to a subsequent meeting of the local authority for further discussion.”

11 Ngā Pānui mō ngā Mōtini | Notices of Motion

Under Standing Order 2.5.1 (LBS 3.11.1) a Notice of Motion has been received from Member G Wood for consideration under item 12.

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	NoM Takapuna Beach rocks scattered along the beach	11
b ⇩	Takapuna Beach with rocks/polo event Attachment	13

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

Woodall Park, Narrow Neck – Approval of concept design for a new skatepark

File No.: CP2025/19886

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To seek approval of the concept design for a new skatepark at Woodall Park, Narrow Neck and to progress the project to detailed design and construction.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. Devonport-Takapuna Local Board allocated $945,246.73 from Local Capex funding towards the investigation of the future relocation of Ngātaringa Skate Park to Woodall Park. The funding was approved by the local board as part of the 2025/2026 Community Work Programme on 17 June 2025 (resolution number DT/2025/108) and allocated from the Local Capex budget in financial years 2023/2024 ($105,246.73) and 2025/2026 ($840,000.00).

3. Devonport-Takapuna Local Board approved Woodall Park, Narrow Neck as the preferred site for the relocation of the Ngātaringa Skate Park on 20 August 2024 (DT/2024/124).

4. The local board directed staff to consult with the community about the proposed skate park at Woodall Park. The intended outcome of the consultation was to understand how the park is currently used and what level of complexity and style of skate facility the community would prefer to see.

5. Community consultation revealed a strong preference for a skate park that blends street and bowl elements, along with transitions and turnaround features, integrating shelter and seating areas to create a cohesive and functional public space.

6. The proposed location of the skate park within Woodall Park and the public consultation feedback was presented to the local board at a workshop held on 4 March 2025. The local board indicated support for the skate park and provided their feedback.

7. A concept design for an 850m2 skate park (concept A) was developed integrating feedback from community groups. However, due to cost restraints further design refinement was required.

8. Staff presented a revised skate park design (concept B) to the local board on 14 August 2025 which integrates the required skate elements into a reduced 641m2 footprint.

9. Staff now seek local board approval of the recommended revised skate park design (concept B) before progressing the project to detailed design and construction.

10. Subject to local board approval of the proposed concept design, detailed design and consenting will begin followed by the procurement process to confirm a physical works skate contractor. Physical work is expected to commence in March 2026.

11. Progress updates on the project will be provided to the local board as part of the Parks and Community Facilities quarterly reports.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whakaae / approve concept design B (a smaller concrete skate park with a reduced footprint of 641m²) for the new skate park at Woodall Park, Narrow Neck as per attachment B of this agenda report and request staff to progress the project to detailed design and construction.

Horopaki

Context

12. As part of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board’s 2025/2026 Community Work Programme, the local board approved a project to investigate the future use and location of the facility currently at Ngātaringa Skate Park (Resolution number DT/2025/108). The local board has allocated $945,246 from the Local Capex budget.

13. On 23 May 2023, staff presented a summary of the skate park site investigation to the local board. The investigation recommended against rebuilding the skate park at Ngātaringa Park. Instead, Woodall Park was identified as the preferred location for a new facility. This decision was based on a desktop investigation that evaluated potential sites using the following key criteria:

· Park size: a minimum area of 1000m² was required

· Catchment size: the number of people in the surrounding area

· Accessibility and visibility: how easy the site is to get to

·

Complementary facilities: the presence of other amenities such as toilets.

14. Woodall Park offers excellent catchment coverage from a geographic and accessibility perspective for a new skate park.

15. Incorporating a range of facilities and activities in one location will help foster social interaction, physical activity and creative expression.

16. A modern skatepark has an asset life of 40 years, and staff believe the benefits of relocating to Woodall Park will provide enduring value to the community.

17. Woodall Park is a large park within the suburb of Narrow Neck, approximately a 12-minute walk / 4-minute bike ride north-east of the existing skate park at Ngātaringa Park. The park is bounded by Seabreeze Road, Old Lake Road and Wairoa Road.

18. Woodall Park is characterised as a large grassed open space with mature trees adjacent to the Waitematā Golf Club. Tennis and basketball courts along with the Devonport Squash Club are located on site. Car parking is available at two locations, to the north of the park near Narrow Neck beach and adjacent to the squash club to the south-east. A well-used BMX track has been established by a community group within a stand of mature trees at the park.

19. Woodall Park is a closed landfill site. The approximate landfill extent covers the park’s grassed open space area in its entirety. Therefore, all design considerations must be tailored to the site's constraints, requiring approval of all project details through Auckland Council's closed landfill team via their Asset Owner Approval (AOA) process.

20. Initially, staff presented three skate park concept options for Woodall Park located within the tennis court footprint. On 7 November 2023, the local board requested staff to investigate the open space to the north of the site as an alternative location for the skate park.

21.

Figure 3: Location plan of skate park in Woodall Park for consultation ,An aerial view of a park

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

An area adjacent to the BMX track was identified as a suitable position for a skate facility at Woodall Park and this information was shared during the public consultation period. The site

22. The local board approved the open space within the northern section of Woodall Park as the preferred site for the relocation of the Ngātaringa Skate Park on 20 August 2024 (DT/2024/124).

23. Due to budget allocation and alignment with the Auckland Region Skate Service assessment, the scope of the Woodall skate park proposal has been revised since inception. The original plan for a destination or regional-scale park (1,000m²or more) is not feasible. The project was re-scoped to a suburb-scale skate park, with a footprint between 600m²and 900m². This adjustment will ensure the project can still move forward while meeting fiscal constraints.

24. Community consultation sought feedback on how people currently use Woodall Park, their preferred activities at the park, what skill level the skate park should cater for, what design features the skate park should include and whether the community had any concerns about the proposed skate park.

25. Staff presented the community consultation feedback to the local board on 4 March 2025 and were directed to commence the development of the skate park concept design based on the feedback provided.

26. Staff presented a skate park concept design (concept A) in the preferred site location on 15 July 2025. The design presented a large 841m2 skate park (Attachment A).

27. The selection of the skate park’s location within Woodall Park uses a ‘crime prevention through environmental design’ (CPTED) approach. This method prioritises natural surveillance to enhance safety, as the site is highly visible to park users, passing pedestrians and nearby residents on Wairoa Road.

28. The skate park location is 90m from homes on both Wairoa Road and Seabreeze Road, and approximately 150m from the public toilets at Narrow Neck Beach.

29. The concept proposal-initiated discussions around the location, budget, footprint size, noise and management plan. Consequently, the local board deferred the report to a later business meeting (DT/2025/82).

30. A further revised concept design (B) was developed in conjunction with the Devonport skate advisory group and the project skate park designer. The revised concept was presented to the local board at a workshop on 12 August 2025. The revised design saw a reduction in footprint from 850m2 to 641m2, but still maintains key elements recommended through consultation (Attachment B).

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

Community consultation

31. The public consultation period was from 4 October to 8 November 2024 and included an AK Have your say online survey and open day held at Woodall Park on 3 November 2024. The consultation aimed to reach the local skating community and other community members who use the park.

Findings from engagement

32. The key aspects received from the engagement are summarised below:

· 71 per cent of all respondents were supportive of a new skate park being built at Woodall Park.

· 69 per cent of Devonport-Takapuna Local Board respondents were supportive of a new skate park being built.

· Most respondents walk, skate, cycle, scooter or rollerblade/skate to Woodall Park.

· Most respondents want a skate park to cater for all skill levels.

· Skateboard, scooter and BMX bikes are the three highest used wheeled play equipment within households.

· Most households who responded to the engagement have skateboards as their main wheel play equipment.

· Most skaters prefer a street styled skatepark with transitions, bowls and turn around features.

· Key concerns of respondents include loss of green space, noise, antisocial behaviour, and developing a skate facility on a closed landfill site and in a flood plain.

Concept design development

33. The skate park concept design was developed following community consultation incorporating feedback from local skaters and skate advisory groups. The skate elements preferred and incorporated within the design were:

a) flat ground street styled environment

b) granite street features

c) flow bowl environment with mini ramps

d) raised platform areas with level change street features

e) turnaround skate features

f) raised platforms around skate park edge.

34. The images below identify some of the key design elements considered.

Flat ground street styled environment
Flow bowl environment Open ended mini ramp Street features

Shelter and seating areas Turnaround skate features Useable edge to raised platform
Figure 4: Precedent images of skate features preferred by the community.

Concept A

35. Skate park concept A was designed with a concrete footprint of 850m² and incorporated seating and shade within social event spaces (Attachment A).

36. The integration of carefully selected landscape elements such as bunding, trees and shrubs help to soften the skate park’s inherently hard aesthetic, helping to blend it into the existing natural landscape.

37. Raised banks at the north and south end of the skate park are designed to reduce sound propagation.

38. Accessible concrete pathways provide vital connections to the skate park and lead users to large, sheltered seating areas that could be used for future events.

A plan of a park

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Figure 6: Skate park concept A perspective,Aerial view of a skate park

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Figure 5: Skate park concept A (concrete footprint of 850m²) plan

39. Due to rising construction costs and the large scale of the original design, staff and designers have concluded that Concept A presented in July 2025, is no longer the recommended option for the Woodall Park skate park.

40. As a result, a smaller-scale design, Concept B, was developed to fit within the project's budget and was presented to the local board for discussion at a workshop held on 12 August 2025.

Concept B

41. Skate park Concept B is a smaller concrete skate park with a reduced footprint of 641m² still providing similar skate features requested by the skate community for inclusion as detailed above (Attachment B).

42. The reduced footprint still caters to a suburb scale skate provision when considered in the broader Auckland wide context (600 – 900 m²) which is acceptable for this location.

43. The revised concept design includes a smaller all abilities ‘closed bowl’, this design offers safety advantages compared to the bowl design in option A. The revision is supported by local skate advocates.

44. By zoning areas within the skate park, skaters of mixed abilities have less overlap which reduces user frustration and provides a safer facility.

45. To reduce the scale of facility to fit the existing project budget, seating, shade and planting have not been incorporated into the project cost, however accessible concrete pathways provide connections to the skate facility linking from an existing path linking Wairoa Road and Seabreeze Road.

46. Raised banks and built-up sides, at the north and south end of the skate park are designed to reduce sound propagation by reducing the potential noise impact affecting neighbouring properties.

Figure 7: Skate park concept B shown within the wider landscape

47. The most crucial difference in the design proposals is the capacity to accommodate more users simultaneously, especially during peak hours. The 850m² footprint of concept A allows for greater spacing between features, which reduces congestion.

48. While concept B provides better value for money and a more financially viable outcome, the current budget does not include funding for planting the low-level mounds around the skate park or shade facilities, so they have been removed from the design.

49. To ensure these assets are completed, two alternative delivery options have been proposed:

a) Funding could be allocated in a future financial year to cover the cost of the additional assets.

b) The planting could be completed through a community-led initiative, such as Restoring Takarunga Hauraki (RTH).

50. The proposed skate park at Woodall Park is situated near two existing Watercare assets: a gravity-feed wastewater pipeline and a local water pipeline. While staff believe it's feasible to build over these pipelines, this cannot be definitively confirmed until the developed design phase is complete.

51. Therefore, the final location may need to be adjusted to suit. Should it be confirmed that building directly over the pipelines is not possible, the skate park will remain as indicated on the proposed plans up to 15 meters north of the existing footpath. This provides a 2-meter offset from the pipeline assets, and new connecting paths ensure accessibility. The final design must be coordinated with Watercare to ensure compliance and project success.

Recommended option

52. It is recommended that the local board approve the proposed concept B design (Attachment B) to allow the project to continue to developed and detailed design, procurement and construction.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

53. The council’s climate goals as set out in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan are:

· to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and

· to prepare the region for the adverse impacts of climate change.

54. It is anticipated that there will be an increase in carbon emission from construction, including contractor emissions. Staff will seek to minimise carbon and contractor emissions as much as possible when delivering the project.

55. Maximising the upcycling and recycling of existing material, aligned with the waste management hierarchy (prevention, reduction, recycling), will also be prioritised to ensure minimum impact.

56. Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions will be achieved through sourcing of low-carbon material options (including sourcing materials locally) and the use of products with environmental declarations for embodied carbon reductions.

57. Sustainability tracking will capture and report waste diversion and carbon reduction measures.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

58. Council staff from within the Customer and Community Services directorate (Parks and Community Facilities operational management and maintenance and Active Communities), and Coastal specialist teams have been consulted. They are supportive of the skate park as it will improve the facilities on offer at the park.

59. The Auckland Council Closed landfill team are supportive of the concept skate park and will be engaged throughout the project.

60. The project will deliver improvements to the needs of the skating community.

61. Collaboration with staff will be ongoing to ensure that the development of a skate facility at Woodall Park is integrated appropriately into the operational maintenance and asset management systems once completed.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

62. The project will benefit the community by providing a new recreation area for surrounding residents and respond to population growth in the area. This aligns with the local board objective of ensuring local public spaces are fit for purpose and affordable and meet the needs of growing communities.

63. The project team have consulted with the Devonport Skate Group and East Skate group, and representatives from these groups will be updated as the project progresses.

64. The proposed location of the skate park and the public consultation feedback were presented to the local board at a workshop on 4 March 2025. Further design information and concept options were shared at July and August workshops. The local board indicated its support for the skate park and requested consideration of the following points raised:

Table 1: Consideration points for skate park

Point raised	Response
Visual impact and increased noise	Planting can be incorporated into the concept plan to reduce the visual impact of the skate park and to help reduce noise.
Noise assessment	While no detailed noise assessments have been carried out, the proposed skate park is located over 90 meters from the nearest house. This is a greater distance than other existing skate parks in the area, including Birkenhead (30m), Glenfield (30m), and Forrest Hill (40m).
Loss of open space	The open space is larger than 16,000 m². The skate park's concrete footprint is 641 m², which is 4 per cent of the total area. Including the embankment, the total footprint is larger: · An unplanted, 1:5 gradient embankment would bring the total to 8.85 per cent of the open space. A planted, 1:3 gradient embankment would bring the total to 6.7 per cent of the open space.
Additional rubbish bins required	Staff are proposing to install additional rubbish bins within the seating and social areas.
Alcohol ban	A private property owner, nearby resident, or local business can make a request for this change with evidence, this includes evidence of a high level of alcohol-related crime or disorder in the public area (for example disorders like littering or offensive behaviours at a park) that are caused or made worse by consuming alcohol at that area. Auckland Council’s regulatory team will then carry out an assessment to determine if there is sufficient information to report to the local board and the local board will make the decision.
Development in flood plain	Auckland Council’s Coastal Adaption Specialist team confirmed that the proposed skate park location is acceptable on the basis that drainage is designed to avoid water ponding.
Design life	The skate park will be designed with a 40-year design life.
Woodall Park management plan	The current draft management plan for Woodall Park allows investigation opportunities to provide additional recreational opportunities, including natural play and potentially provision for a new skate park.
Kilikiti play	The remaining open space is adequate to cater for kilikiti play, a typical cricket sized oval of 130 x 80m is adequate.
Build over existing underground services	Staff will investigate this further in the developed/detailed design phase and determine the associated costs and approvals required.
Construction cost	The size of the skate park can be reduced to ensure the cost is within budget.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

65. Auckland Council is committed to meeting its responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its statutory obligations and relationship commitments to Māori. These commitments are articulated in the council’s key strategic planning documents, the Auckland Plan, the Long-term Plan 2024-2034, the Unitary Plan (operative in part), Whiria Te Muka Tangata Māori Responsiveness Framework and local board plans.

66. Engagement with mana whenua on this project was not undertaken as part of the consultation process. The project will benefit Māori and the wider community through the development of a new facility that will have ongoing community use into the future.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

67. A total budget of $945,246 has been allocated for the project over multiple financial years (FY2023 – FY2026) by the local board as part of their 2025/2026 Parks and Community Facilities Work Programme. This allocation is for the entirety of the project cost, including design and construction of the skate park.

Table 2: Outline of funding allocated for the project and surplus

Budget source	FY2022/2023	FY2023/2024	FY2024/2025	FY2025/2026	Total
Local Capex	$22,078	$21,415	$61,753	$840,000	$945,246
Total budget					$945,246
Concept A budget required	$22,078	$21,415	$61,753	$1,132,940	$1,238,186
Deficit					($292,940)
Concept B budget required	$22,078	$21,415	$61,753	$840,000	$945,246
Option for amenity planting (if volunteer groups are not involved)				$35,000	$35,000
TOTAL	$22,078	$21,415	$61,753	$875,000	$980,246
Deficit (amenity planting)				$35,000	$35,000
(Social area and shade sail x1 50m2)				$40,000	$40,000
Consequential opex budget required for skate park	$3,000 per year		$30,000 (10 years)
Consequential opex budget required for plant maintenance	$1,400 per year		$14,000 (10 years)

68. The estimated costs to deliver the new Concept A skate park are $1,238,186 including professional services, staff time and contingency. This estimate includes planting and shade sails for seating areas in the skate park.

69. The estimated costs to deliver the revised and preferred Concept B skate park are $945,246 including professional services, staff time and contingency. This estimate excludes planting and shade sails for social areas in the skate park.

70. If there was a preference for planting to be incorporated into skate park Concept B and not delivered through a community-led initiative, this is estimated to be $35,000 – allowing for 350m² of shrub planting around the facility. Alternatively, the planting can be delayed until funding becomes available in the FY2027 work programme.

71. The cost of a shade sail or shelter, informal seating and social area (under 50m2) is estimated to be $40,000 but is currently unfunded.

72. The projected annual maintenance cost (consequential opex) for the skate park is $3,000. This figure is subject to an annual escalation in accordance with the inflation rate.

73. The projected annual maintenance cost (consequential opex) for the planting for Concept B is $1,400. This figure is subjected to an annual escalation in accordance with the inflation rate.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

74. The following risks and mitigations have been considered in Table 2 – Risks and Mitigations:

Table 3: Risks and Mitigation

Risks identified	Mitigation
Timeframe
The local board does not support the concept plan	The scope would need to be redefined, but this will subsequently delay and extend the timeframes to deliver the project.
Health & Safety
Poor construction practices or design could lead to injury.	Health and safety measures will be identified and will be put in place to manage any risks during construction.
Budget
Current cost estimate is at concept level only	The budget required for the physical works phase will be confirmed once the project is tendered. Should the cost required for physical work come in significantly higher than the budget, then the local board will be consulted to discuss a way forward.
Construction
Poor weather during construction may hold up delivery	Construction methodology and programme to allow for wet weather.
Delay in Closed landfill Asset Owner Approval	Consult regularly with the Auckland Council Closed landfill team to minimise design aspects that would put the project at risk. Utilise closed landfill specialists throughout the project who can assist with adequate design and construction methodology. Ensure the Asset owner approval is submitted early to allow for adequate processing time.
Damage to existing paths due to construction works	Jakmats or similar will be used to minimise the impact of machinery on the path. If damage were to occur, this would have to be remedied at a cost to the project.
Reputational	If the plans are not supported, it may lead to community disappointment and contribute to a drop in consultation and engagement of future projects. There will be a lack of provision of skate facilities in the local area and informal skating equipment may continue to be installed in the local park.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

75. The table below summarises the anticipated next steps and estimated delivery timeframes for stage one of the project. The estimated timeframes assume successful and timely completion of each identified project step. Unforeseen delays in the procurement of a design and build may have the potential to delay completion of the project beyond the identified timeframe.

Table 4: Next steps and delivery timeframes

Project phase	Planned completion timeframe
Detailed design and Resource Consent The concept design will be progressed into detailed design along with an application for resource consent and Closed landfill Asset owner approval.	October 2025 – January 2026
Procure physical works contractor/build partner The tender will be submitted to a suitable contractor as per the procurement guidelines.	January 2026 – February 2026
Physical works An accurate commencement date and the duration of the physical works is not known at this time and will be confirmed at a later stage but is envisaged between the dates specified.	March 2026 – May 2026

76. Progress updates on the project will be provided to the local board as part of the quarterly reports.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Woodall Park Skate Park - Concept Design A	29
b ⇩	Woodall Park Skate Park - Concept Design B	41
c ⇩	Woodall Park skate park consultation overview	47

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Xavier Choi – Project Manager

Authorisers

Taryn Crewe - General Manager Parks and Community Facilities

Trina Thompson - Local Area Manager

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants Round One 2025/2026 grant allocations

File No.: CP2025/19015

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To fund, part-fund or decline the applications received for Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants Round One 2025/2026.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. This report presents applications received for the Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants Round One 2025/2026 as shown in Attachment B to the agenda report.

3. The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board adopted the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Community Grants Programme 2025/2026 on 20 May 2025 as shown in Attachment A to the agenda report. The document sets application guidelines for community contestable grants.

4. The local board has set a total community grants budget of $200,000 for the 2025/2026 financial year.

5. Fifty applications were received for Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants, Round One 2025/2026, requesting a total of $324,124.49

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) agree to fund, part-fund or decline each application in Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants Round One 2025/2026 listed in the following table:

Table One: Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants Round One 2025/2026 grant applications.

Application ID	Applicant	Requesting funding for	Amount requested	Grants advisor recommendation	Decision and conditions
LG2602-101	New Korean Symphony Orchestra Charitable Trust	Towards the cost of the music director and venue hire fee at Westlake Boys for the New Korean Symphony Orchestra 5th Annual Concert.	$5,500.00	Partial funding: $1,500.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-102	Oceania Literacy Trust	Towards the cost of books for participating families	$7,000.00	Partial funding: $1,500.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Supports underrepresented communities
LG2602-103	Project Employ Limited	Towards the cost of external facilitator for three Neurodiversity Awareness courses in Takapuna	$8,068.00	Partial funding: $3,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Supports underrepresented communities, Shows collaboration and support with the local community
LG2602-104	North Shore Budget Service Inc	Towards presenter cost, printing, travel, and signage	$9,880.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Objection from subject matter expert, Ineligibility from the local board grant programme, Minimum for this project to proceed was above reasonable funding
LG2602-106	North Shore Neighborhood Support Incorporated	Towards catering, chilly bin, event facilitator, tables, and event and promotional signage and banners	$3,031.00	Partial funding: $2,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-107	YES Disability Resource Centre Services Trust	Towards catering, marketing, clothing racks, rubbish bins, performer fee, bean bags, and outdoor games	$2,476.04	Partial funding: $2,476.04 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Supports underrepresented communities
LG2602-108	North Shore Chinese Association Incorporated	Towards venue hire, marketing, and promotion	$5,000.00	Partial funding: $2,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Aligns with wider Auckland Council plans and priorities
LG2602-109	Guardians of Our Children Charitable Trust	Towards running expenses of the Make Them Proud-Parental Disputes Workshop and the Tatou Talatalanoa support programme	$10,000.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Ineligibility from the local board grant programme (operational expenses)
LG2602-110	Kaipātiki Project Inc	Towards staffing costs for EcoFest North	$5,000.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Ineligibility from the local board grant programme (operational expenses, such as: wages)
LG2602-111	Devonport Community House Inc	Towards face-painting, lighting, coordination, photography, and decorations	$5,435.00	Partial funding: $2,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-112	North Shore Croquet Club Inc	Towards new croquet balls	$2,000.00	Partial funding: $1,500.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-115	NZ Sculpture OnShore	Towards security costs for the NZ Sculpture OnShore event at Takapuna fort	$10,000.00	Partial funding: $4,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Large impact on local residents, Shows collaboration and support with the local community
LG2602-116	Pupuke Birdsong Project Takapuna Community Facilities Trust	Towards marketing, venue hire, and waste management for the Discover Pupukemoana 2026 event at Lake Pupuke	$3,631.00	Partial funding: $3,631.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Large impact on local residents
LG2602-119	Takapuna Grammar School Board of Trustees	Towards netball goal posts for use at Takapuna Grammar School	$7,186.54	Partial funding: contingent on subject matter expert feedback Reasons to fund/partially fund: Aligns with local board priorities, Large impact on local residents Reasons to decline/partially decline: Ineligibility from the local board grant programme
LG2602-120	Wilson Home Trust	Towards presents, catering, and petting zoo for the Wilson Home Trust Christmas Santas Grotto	$2,500.00	Partial funding: $1,500.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Supports underrepresented communities
LG2602-121	North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust (The PumpHouse)	Toward audiovisual software for the theatre	$2,000.00	Partial funding: $2,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Large impact on local residents
LG2602-122	North Shore Cricket Club	Towards venue hire for cricket training	$3,000.00	Partial funding: $1,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-124	PHAB Association Inc	Towards pergola, concreting, and alarm system at the Phab Association Inc premises	$8,000.00	Partial funding: $5,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Large impact on local residents, Supports underrepresented communities
LG2602-125	NZ Filipino Sto Nino Devotees Trust	Towards venue hire for the Annual Fiesta and Sinulog NZ Festival	$8,000.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Political/Religious promotion is ineligible, Objection from subject matter expert, Ineligibility from the local board grant programme
LG2602-126	Age Concern Auckland Trust	Towards salaries, volunteer expenses, venue hire, craft materials, and refreshments	$8,943.18	Partial funding: $3,600.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Large impact on local residents, Supports underrepresented communities
LG2602-127	Stanley Bay Petanque Club Incorporated	Towards coastal erosion control through vetiver grass planting at Stanley Bay Petanque Club	$10,000.00	Partial funding: $4,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-128	Milford Sea Scout Group	Towards repairing fire exit door and replacing fire exit stairs	$6,889.08	Partial funding: $5,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-129	Milford Bowling Club Incorporated	Towards chemicals for bowling green maintenance	$7,618.58	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Ineligibility from the local board grant programme (operational expenses, such as: cleaning expenses)
LG2602-131	Devonport Folk Music Club	Towards advertising, performers, canopy, and sound for the Folk in the Park	$2,680.00	Partial funding: $2,680.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-133	Casting Link Limited	Towards camera, venue hire, marketing, tripod, materials, and refreshments	$2,369.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Objection from subject matter expert, Low community benefit in the local board area, Other: Limited evidence of future use of equipment requested, within the local board area
LG2602-134	Brain Play Limited	Towards equipment hire for STEM workshops from 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025	$9,438.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Objection from subject matter expert, Lower priority application in an oversubscribed round
LG2602-135	Environmental Education for Resource Sustainability Trust	Towards native plants, recycling bins and courier costs	$4,926.39	Partial funding: $3,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-136	Badminton North Harbour	Towards the cost of shuttlecocks	$5,035.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Objection from subject matter expert, Other: Initial request was towards items with limited future use
LG2602-137	Warriors Community Foundation	Towards equipment and resources from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026	$9,385.30	Partial funding: $4,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-138	North Shore Squash Rackets Club	Towards solar panels at 21 Shea Terrace	$10,000.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Objection from subject matter expert, Lower priority application in an oversubscribed round
LG2602-139	Devonport Business Association	Towards decorations, displays, and planters for the Devonport Village Beautification & Seasonal Activation project	$10,000.00	Partial funding: $5,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Large impact on local residents
LG2602-141	HeArt by Aroha	Towards venue, materials & supplies, volunteer support, catering, photo and videography, music, lighting, and recognition gifts and prizes.	$2,964.62	Partial funding: $1,500.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-143	New Zealand Community Charitable Trust	Towards designs, banners, publicity, layout, procurement, prizes, catering, accounting fee, and other expenses for the "Elegant Elderly Tea Gathering	$2,930.07	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Objection from subject matter expert, Issues with quotes or other required documents, Other: Application not sufficiently developed
LG2602-144	The Rose Centre	Towards signage at 4 School Road from 1 October 2025 to 26 October 2027	$8,965.70	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Minimum for this project to proceed was above reasonable funding, Other: Recommend that group reapply next round with 50% contribution
LG2602-145	North Harbour Triathlon Club	Towards purchasing shipping containers for storage	$5,000.00	Partial funding: $1,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Aligns with local board priorities Reasons to decline/partially decline:
LG2602-146	Rockit Design	Towards wages, marketing, art equipment, electronic equipment, rent and overhead costs at Devonport Ferry Terminal on 7 May 2026	$10,000.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Minimum for this project to proceed was above reasonable funding
LG2602-147	Milford Cruising Club	Towards paramedics for the A-Class Catamaran World Championships at Milford Cruising Club	$10,000.00	Partial funding: $6,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Large impact on local residents
LG2602-148	Nightsong	Towards marketing for a presentation of The Worm at The PumpHouse Theatre	$9,900.00	Partial funding: $4,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Large impact on local residents
LG2602-149	Gymnastics Community Trust	Towards trampoline landing mats	$5,855.00	Partial funding: $1,500.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-152	Cooper & Co Real Estate Limited	Towards medics, stage costs, performers and waste management for the Devonport's Jingle in the Park event at Windsor Reserve	$9,859.00	Partial funding: $4,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Large impact on local residents, Shows collaboration and support with the local community
LG2602-153	Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust	Towards renovations at Devonport Plunket	$10,000.00	Partial funding: $3,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-154	All Hands Aotearoa Incorporated	Towards sound and lighting, venue hire, disposables, catering, marketing, instruments, entertainment, gifts, photographer, cleaning, and printed materials for the Indus Heritage festival.	$9,950.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Minimum for this project to proceed was above reasonable funding
LG2602-155	SANZ 1st Devonport Scout Group	Towards camp stretchers, tents, and shirts	$3,000.00	Partial funding: $1,500.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-156	Mr Paul Cornish	Towards flyers, design update, and three road signs	$1,009.00	Partial funding: $1,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities Reasons do decline/partially decline: Ineligibility from local board grant programme (requested below the minimum)
LG2602-157	Respect Trust	Towards wages, catering and resources at 431 Lake Road from 6 October 2025 to 12 December 2025	$10,000.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Ineligibility from the local board grant programme (initiatives that are eligible and can be funded by central government),
LG2602-158	Better Blokes Charitable Trust	Towards milage, catering, stall costs, banded pens, printing, gazebo purchase, online marketing and marketing design at 84 Chartwell Ave from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026	$10,000.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Ineligibility from the local board grant programme (initiatives that are eligible and can be funded by central government), Minimum for this project to proceed was above reasonable funding
LG2602-160	Depot Arts and Music Space Trust	Towards microphone stand and computer from 13 October 2025 to 1 December 2025	$6,198.99	Partial funding: $2,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities
LG2602-161	Rainbow Youth Incorporated	Towards room hire and catering at 19 Northcote Road from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026	$1,500.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Ineligibility from the local board grant programme (overdue accountability report)
LG2602-162	Te Karanga Charitable Trust	Towards staffing costs for the North Navigators Program at Shore Junction	$10,000.00	Partial funding: $3,000.00 Reasons to fund/partially fund: Subject matter expert support, Aligns with local board priorities, Supports underrepresented communities
LG2602-163	Good Bitches Trust	Towards cake boxes, volunteer rostering system, staff costs, operational subscriptions, advertising, volunteer training, and volunteer recognition expenses	$2,000.00	Decline Reasons to decline/partially decline: Ineligibility from the local board grant programme (operational expenses)
Total			$324,124.49
Total

Horopaki

Context

6. The local board allocates grants to groups and organisations delivering projects, activities and services that benefit Aucklanders and contribute to the vision of being a world class city.

7. Auckland Council’s Community Grants Policy supports each local board to adopt a grants programme.

8. The local board grants programme sets out:

· local board priorities

· lower priorities for funding

· higher priorities for funding

· exclusions

· grant types, the number of grant rounds and when these will open and close

· any additional accountability requirements.

9. The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board adopted the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Community Grants Programme 2025/2026 on 20 May 2025 as shown in Attachment A to the agenda report. The document sets application guidelines for community contestable grants.

10. The community grants programmes have been extensively advertised through the council grants webpage, local board webpages, local board e-newsletters, Facebook pages, council publications and community networks.

11. The local board has set a total community grants budget of 200,000 for the 2025/2026 financial year.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

12. The aim of the local board grants programme is to deliver projects and activities which align with the outcomes identified in the local board plan. All applications have been assessed utilising the Community Grants Policy and the local board grant programme criteria. The eligibility of each application is identified in the report recommendations.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

13. The local board grants programme aims to respond to Auckland Council’s commitment to address climate change by providing grants to individuals and groups with projects that support community climate change action. Community climate action involves reducing or responding to climate change by residents in a locally relevant way. Local board grants can contribute to expanding climate action by supporting projects that reduce carbon emissions and increase community resilience to climate impacts. Examples of projects include:

· local food production and food waste reduction

· decreasing use of single-occupancy transport options

· home energy efficiency and community renewable energy generation

· local tree planting and streamside revegetation

· education about sustainable lifestyle choices that reduce carbon footprints.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

14. Based on the main focus of an application, a subject matter expert from the relevant department will provide input and advice. The main focus of an application is identified as arts, community, events, sport and recreation, environment or heritage.

15. The grants programme has no identified impacts on council-controlled organisations and therefore their views are not required.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

16. Local boards are responsible for the decision-making and allocation of local board community grants. The Devonport-Takapuna Local Board is required to fund, part-fund or decline these grant applications in accordance with its priorities identified in the local board grant programme.

17. Staff will provide feedback to unsuccessful grant applicants about why they have been declined, so they can increase their chances of success in the future.

18. A summary of each application received through Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants, Round One 2025/2026 applications is provided in Attachment B.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

19. The local board grants programme aims to respond to Auckland Council’s commitment to improving Maori wellbeing by providing grants to individuals and groups who deliver positive outcomes for Maori. Auckland Council’s Maori Responsiveness Unit has provided input and support towards the development of the community grants processes.

20. Twenty five applicants applying to Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants Round One 2025/2026 indicated that their projects targeted Māori or Māori outcomes.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

21. The allocation of grants to community groups is within the adopted 10-year Budget 2021/2031 and local board agreements.

22. The local board has set a total community grants budget of $200,000 for the 2025/2026 financial year.

23. Fifty applications were received for Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants, Round One 2025/2026, requesting a total of $363,440.41

24. Relevant staff from Auckland Council’s Finance Department have been fully involved in the development of all local board work programmes, including financial information in this report, and have not identified any financial implications.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

25. The allocation of grants occurs within the guidelines and criteria of the Community Grants Policy and the local board grants programme. The assessment process has identified a low risk associated with funding the applications in this round.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

26. Following the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board allocating funding for round one of the local grants and multi-board grants, grants staff will notify the applicants of the local board’s decision.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	2025/2026 Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Grants Programme	147
b ⇩	2025/2026 Devonport-Takapuna Local Grants Round One Application Summary	153

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Vincent Marshall - Grants Advisor

Authorisers

Pierre Fourie - Grants & Incentives Manager

Trina Thompson - Local Area Manager

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

Proposal to exchange reserve land for other land at Northboro Reserve

File No.: CP2025/19022

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. For the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board to agree to rescind part of the resolution from 15 April 2025, which sought to progress the proposal to revoke the reservation of land as a reserve of part of Northboro Reserve.

2. Seeking approval to publish Auckland Council’s intention to request the Minister of Conservation to authorise an exchange to Summerset Villages (Number 49) Limited (Summerset) of reserve land at Northboro Reserve being the Primary Accessway and the Secondary Accessway for additional land owned by Summerset at Lowe Street under section 15 of the Reserves Act 1977 subject to completion of all required statutory processes and approvals.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

3. Auckland Council received a request from Summerset for a land exchange of the Primary Accessway and the Secondary Accessway for Summerset land at Lowe Street as shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1 Plan showing Primary and Secondary accessways (shown in red) and exchange land at Lowe Street (shown in blue), proposed stopping of Hillary Crescent and the closure (shown in purple). New shared path connection linking Lowe Street to the coastal shared path and proposed adjacent reserve (shown in blue).

4. There are accessways linking Northboro Reserve other than Primary Accessway, Secondary Accessway such as Lowe Street, Coastal Pathway and Eversleigh Road Accessway serving the same or similar purpose as shown in (Attachment A).

5. Summerset’s initial request to the council was to seek local board support for the revocation proposal of the Secondary Accessway under section 24 of the Reserves Act 1977.

6. On 15 April 2025, the local board at its business meeting resolved by resolution number DT/2025/55 the following motion in relation to the proposal to revoke the reservation of the land as a reserve of part of Northboro Reserve. The full resolution is included in Attachment B:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

Request to Governing Body to act as administering body for revocation of local reserve

a) Tūtohu / recommend that the Governing Body, through the Policy and Planning Committee:

i. progress the proposal to revoke the reservation of the land as a reserve of part of Northboro Reserve under section 24 Reserves Act 1977 being part of the land legally described as Lot 72 Deposited Plan 40536 in Record of Title 1121118 (Secondary Accessway) and publicly notify Auckland Council’s intention to revoke the reservation for the reason that the loss of the reserve could be justified in terms of the Reserves Act on the basis there is existing adequate provision of access to the Northboro Reserve

ii. subject to successful completion of all statutory processes that Auckland Council must complete, recommend to the Minister of Conservation that the reservation of the land as a reserve being part Lot 72 Deposited Plan 40536 in the Record of Title1121118 as a reserve status should be revoked for the reason that the loss of the reserve could be justified in terms of the Reserves Act on the basis there is existing adequate provision of access to the Northboro Reserve.

iii. tono / request that staff seeking approval from the Policy and Planning Committee on the revocation of the secondary access way until a workshop has been held with the local board on the Lowe Street proposal.

7. Following the resolution, three further workshops were held with the local board where the board requested additional material from Summerset on the overall proposal.

8. The consideration includes the proposal for an exchange of the Primary Accessway and the Secondary Accessway with a total area of approximately 1,516m² (subject to survey) for Summerset’s land at Lowe Street of approximately 2,190m² (subject to survey) and the full stopping of Hillary Crescent.

9. Road stopping process is managed by Auckland Transport which includes wide consultation and all associated costs covered by Summerset including the value of the land after the road has been stopped.

10. A valuation report from a registered valuer obtained by council staff supported an exchange of the Primary Accessway and the Secondary Accessway for Summerset’s land at Lowe Street for nil value.

11. The key benefits to council and the community of the land exchange would be:

a) Summerset will exchange its land at Lowe Street for the Primary Accessway and the Secondary Accessway at no cost to council, with an additional 674m² (approx.) of open space being added to the open space network;

b) improved legibility (including wayfinding) and visibility of Northboro Reserve;

c) the undergrounding of the High Voltage transmission line from the Primary Accessway and relocating the existing pole to a newly proposed location;

d) upgrading Eversleigh Road accessway with the replacement of a new boardwalk that will be safer and wider;

e) improved outcomes (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) – and two wider path routes at Lowe Street;

f) provision of park furniture, seating / picnic tables etc;

g) aligns with Devonport -Takapuna Greenways Plan outcomes,

h) Provision of an accessible Exeloo. The greenways network plan identified that Northboro Reserve was a priority location for a toilet and

i) all associated costs of the above will be borne by Summerset.

12. If the land exchange proposal is progressed and approved, subject to completion of all statutory processes, Summerset will amalgamate the land acquired from council with the adjoining land owned by Summerset for inclusion in the development of a retirement village.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whakaae / agree to rescind in part the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board resolution DT/2025/55 (Attachment B) on the basis that the decisions in the following resolution points a) i,ii and iii are no longer relevant.

a) tūtohu / recommend that the Governing Body, through the Policy and Planning Committee:

iii. tono / request that staff delay seeking approval from the Policy and Planning Committee on the revocation of the secondary access way until a workshop has been held with the local board on the Lowe Street proposal.

b) whakaae / approve the public notification of Auckland Council’s intention to request the Minister of Conservation to authorise an exchange to Summerset Villages (Number 49) Limited of the following land under section 15 of the Reserves Act 1977 being the Primary Accessway and the Secondary Accessway at Northboro Reserve of approximately 1,516m² (subject to survey) of the land parcels being part of the land legally described as and containing:

i. approximately 1,370m² Lot 71 Deposited Plan 40536 (NA779/162-Part-Cancelled) (Primary Accessway) and

ii. approximately 146m² Lot 72 Deposited Plan 40536 in Record of Title 1121118 (Secondary Accessway)

for additional land owned by Summerset at Lowe Street of approximately 2,190m² (subject

to survey) being part of the following parcels of land legally described as and containing:

i. approximately 1057m² Lot 32 DP 40536 Record of Title 547784 (4 Lowe Street)

ii. approximately 342m² Lot 31 DP 40536 Record of Title 547783 (5 Lowe Street)

iii. approximately 92m² Lot 68 DP 40536 Record of Title 547780 (6 Lowe Street)

iv. approximately 45m² Lot 30 DP 40536 Record of Title 547781 (7 Lowe Street)

v. approximately 111m² Lot 29 DP 40536 Record of Title 547780 (8 Lowe Street)

vi. approximately 158m² Lot 25 DP 40536 Record of Title 547772 (7 Hillary Crescent)

vii. approximately 117m² Lot 24 DP 40536 Record of Title 547771 (9 Hillary Crescent)

viii. approximately 268m² Lot 38 DP 40536 and Lot 39 DP 40536 Record of Title 907729 (57 Eversleigh Road)

c) whakaae / approve a hearings panel made up of the whole local board to consider and decide on any submissions or objections received, following iwi engagement and public notification process.

d) whakaae / approve following iwi engagement and public notification, subject to there being no objections that cannot be resolved and successful completion of all statutory processes and approvals, request the Minister of Conservation authorise the exchange of land in the above resolution b) by notice in the gazette.

e) tautapa / delegate to the Head of Land and Property Advisory to enter negotiations with Summerset Villages (Number 49) Limited on the terms and conditions of a conditional agreement (subject to statutory processes and approvals) including draft concept plan.

Horopaki

Context

13. Northboro Reserve is a classified recreation reserve subject to the Reserves Act 1977.

a) The Primary Accessway is legally described as Lot 71 DP 40536 and classified as a recreation reserve subject to the Reserves Act 1977 (NZ Gazette 1985 p. 4396) and

b) The Secondary Accessway is legally described as Lot 72 DP 40536 and classified recreation reserve subject to the Reserves Act 1977 (NZ Gazette 1984 p. 1606).

14. There are several accessways linking Northboro Reserve also held under the Reserves Act as recreation reserve other than the Primary Accessway, Secondary Accessway such as Eversleigh Road Accessway and Lowe Street Accessway. The Northboro Reserve is also accessed via the Coastal Pathway (Attachment A).

15. Summerset has been operating retirement villages in New Zealand since 1997. Currently it has five retirement villages operating in the Auckland region.

16. Summerset acquired some of the land parcels around Hillary Crescent from Whai Rawa Development LP (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) as a site for developing a comprehensive retirement village at Hillary Crescent.

17. In December 2024, Summerset requested that council revokes the reservation of the Secondary Accessway as a reserve and on completion of the reserve revocation process in accordance with section 24 of the Reserves Act 1977, that council disposes of the Secondary Accessway to Summerset for amalgamation with its adjoining land parcel for the proposed retirement village development.

18. After four workshops and a business meeting with the local board, this report now seeks the board’s resolution to agree to a land exchange of the Primary Accessway and the Secondary Accessway for additional land owned by Summerset at Lowe Street under section 15 of the Reserves Act 1977 and publicly notify Auckland Council’s intention to consider a land exchange of reserve land for other land under section 15 of the Reserves Act 1977 subject to completion of all required statutory processes.

19. Local boards have delegated decision making for local parks including the number of new local parks and their specific location within budget parameters agreed with the Governing Body in the Long-term Plan (LTP).

20. The road stopping of Hillary Crescent is a procedural statutory process which will be managed by Auckland Transport as road controlling authority.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

21. The Primary Accessway to be exchanged is approximately 18m wide and 74m long (1,370m²)(subject to survey). The Secondary Accessway is approximately 3m wide and 47m long (146m²)(subject to survey). They are both classified as recreation reserves subject to the Reserves Act 1977.

22. Pursuant to Section 25(5) of the Reserves Act 1977, both land parcels were vested in council as a reserve. The parcels are owned by council and are not Crown derived.

23. The proposed land exchange of the Primary Accessway and the Secondary Accessway for Summerset’s land at Lowe Street will be undertaken in accordance with section 15 of the Reserves Act 1977 which includes a requirement for public notification and mana whenua engagement.

24. In addition to the exchange of land, the proposal includes:

a) a 2.5m wide shared path to the southern side of Lowe Street, within a 10m wide landscaped strip;

b) increasing the area of public open space by 674m² at no cost to the council;

c) upgrading the existing Eversleigh Road accessway by making it accessible for all users, with a new boardwalk to be constructed to connect Eversleigh Road to the existing coastal pathway, improving the overall conditions and amenity;

d) undergrounding of the High Voltage transmission line from the Primary Accessway to a new location.

e) provision of an accessible Public Toilet (Exeloo) for Northboro Reserve with key considerations which include:

· Access to a wastewater connection

· Vehicular access for regular servicing and cleaning

· CPTED considerations / publicly visible, open location

f) Road stopping and closure of Hillary Crescent to be undertaken by Auckland Transport.

25. The key benefits to Council and the Community will be:

a) Summerset will exchange its land at Lowe Street for the Primary Accessway and the Secondary Accessway at no cost to Council, with an additional 674m² (approx.) of open space being added to the open space network;

b) improved legibility (including wayfinding) and visibility of Northboro Reserve;

c) the undergrounding of the High Voltage transmission line from the Primary Accessway and relocating the termination pole to a new location with less prominent visual presence;

d) safer, wider upgraded Eversleigh Road accessway with the addition of a new accessible grade boardwalk;

e) improved outcomes (CPTED) – two path routes at Lowe Street;

f) provision of park furniture, seating / picnic tables etc;

g) aligns with Devonport -Takapuna Greenways Plan outcomes,

h) Pprovision of an accessible Exeloo. The greenways network plan identified that Northboro Reserve was a priority location for a toilet and

i) all associated costs of the above will be borne by Summerset.

26. Summerset will benefit by:

a) incorporating the Primary Accessway and the Secondary Accessway into their development land, which will provide single contiguous ownership and the ability to plan and develop a more cohesive and integrated residential retirement village;

b) providing a safe and secure development for future residents of the retirement village, with a clear delineation of public and private areas;

c) being able to design and orientate the development of the land in a way which integrates and interfaces with the proposed exchange land, Northboro Reserve, and the streetscape, for improved connectivity.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

27. Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Action Plan, adopted by Auckland Council on 21 July 2020, sets out two core goals:

· to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and

· to prepare the region for the adverse impacts of climate change.

28. Climate change is expected to bring increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, and changing rainfall patterns. Park enhancement proposals will need to reflect these effects and take into consideration the ways parks and open space must be managed to achieve their benefits. This includes energy and waste reduction and conserving water resources.

29. None of the Primary Accessway, the Secondary Accessway, Lowe Street Accessway and the Eversleigh Road Accessway are within flood plains.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

30. Specialist staff from within the council, including Healthy Waters, Parks and Community Facilities Area Operations, Parks and Places, Service and Asset Planning and Premium Resource Consents, have considered the proposed land exchange; existing access provision to the Northboro Reserve, the recreation classification it is held for and the proposed enhancement benefits to the wider Northboro Reserve, and have worked collaboratively on this proposal.

31. Staff have considered and are supportive of the proposal based on the benefits to the council and the community.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

32. At the 11 February 2025 Devonport-Takapuna Local Board workshop, the local board provided views and support for the proposal to revoke the reservation of the Secondary Reserve subject to the completion of the statutory requirements under section 24 of the Reserves Act 1977.

33. On 15 April 2025, the local board at its business meeting resolved by resolution number DT/2025/55 (Attachment B) the following points in relation to the proposal to revoke the reservation of the Secondary Reserve. The full resolution is outlined in Attachment B:

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

Request to Governing Body to act as administering body for revocation of local reserve

b) tūtohu / recommend that the Governing Body, through the Policy and Planning Committee:

iv. progress the proposal to revoke the reservation of the land as a reserve of part of Northboro Reserve under section 24 Reserves Act 1977 being part of the land legally described as Lot 72 Deposited Plan 40536 in Record of Title 1121118 (Secondary Accessway) and publicly notify Auckland Council’s intention to revoke the reservation for the reason that the loss of the reserve could be justified in terms of the Reserves Act on the basis there is existing adequate provision of access to the Northboro Reserve.

v. subject to successful completion of all statutory processes that Auckland Council must complete, recommend to the Minister of Conservation that the reservation of the land as a reserve being part Lot 72 Deposited Plan 40536 in the Record of Title1121118 as a reserve status should be revoked for the reason that the loss of the reserve could be justified in terms of the Reserves Act on the basis there is existing adequate provision of access to the Northboro Reserve.

vi. tono / request that staff delay seeking approval from the Policy and Planning Committee on the revocation of the secondary access way until a workshop has been held with the local board on the Lowe Street proposal.

34. At the 27 May 2025 and 22 July 2025 local board workshops, the local board requested additional material from Summerset on the overall proposal for further workshop discussion with the local board.

35. At the 26 August 2025 workshop, the local board supported the proposal to the land exchange of reserve land being the Primary Accessway and Secondary Accessway for additional Lowe Street land owned by Summerset.

36. The proposal supports the local board’s aspirations for the area aligning with the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Plan 2023 outcomes.

· Our Community and Facilities: Our community has access to quality services in facilities that meet their needs.

37. Strategic assessment analysis against councils new July 2025 Open Space Sport and Recreation Strategy (OSSR) meets the following prioritisation criteria:

· (Medium priority)

Land to increase the accessibility to and / or capacity of the open space network in moderate growth brownfield areas.

· (High priority)

Creation and enhancement of open space network connections: land that will help establish a contiguous open space corridor or contributes to the blue-green network and will enhance recreation opportunities and / or ecological values.

· (Medium priority)

Improving the quality and functionality of our open spaces and helping ensure quality provision: Land that will improve the accessibility and / or functionality of existing parks and open spaces in urban areas where moderate growth is planned.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

38. Auckland Council is committed to meeting its responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its broader legal obligations to Māori. These commitments are articulated in the council’s key strategic planning documents, the Auckland Plan 2050, the Long-term Plan 2024-2034, the Unitary Plan operative part, Kia Ora Tāmaki Makaurau -Māori Responsiveness Framework and Kia Ora Tāmaki Makaurau - Māori Outcomes Performance Measurement Framework.

39. The provision of quality parks and open spaces has broad benefits for Māori and the wider community by:

a) improved accessway function, gradient, width, and safety by the new boardwalk at Eversleigh Road Accessway;

b) improved amenities at Lowe Street Accessway and an additional 674m² (approx.) of open space being added to the open space network; and

c) helping to make Auckland a green, resilient and healthy environment consistent with the Māori world view of the natural world and their role as kaitiaki of the natural environment.

40. Neither the Secondary Accessway nor the Eversleigh Road Accessway contain any identified cultural heritage or archaeological significance to mana whenua.

41. Searches on GeoMaps have identified that an archaeological site recorded as CHI=19852 NZAA= =R11/2474 at the northwestern end of the Primary Accessway although this particular area is not part of the land exchange (Attachment C). Nevertheless, Summerset will undertake further survey to establish the full extent of the recorded site within the land parcel, and to identify any currently unidentified subsurface archaeological remains that may be present prior to any further development occurring on the site.

42. Engagement with iwi groups identified as having an interest in the Hauraki geographical area by formal, written engagement, detailing information on the land parcel to be revoked and inviting feedback to the proposal, is underway.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

43. A valuation report obtained from a registered valuer confirmed the proposed land exchange for nil value on the basis that Summerset will undertake additional upgrades of council land as proposed at their cost. This will be included in delegated staff negotiations and terms and conditions of an agreement for the proposed land exchange between the parties.

44. Input and support for this section of the report has been sought from Asset Decision Support, Programme Manager (Full Facilities Contracts) in Parks and Community Facilities and the Financial and Business Performance team.

a) Current estimated consequential opex for Primary and Secondary Accessways is $3,400 per annum.

b) Future estimated consequential opex following the proposed land exchange including passive mowing, tracks and footpaths, lighting, signs, picnic tables and benches, boardwalk is $7,200 per annum.

c) Future consequential opex for Exeloo cannot be estimated until unit type, size, design and frequency of cleaning have been determined.

45. Summerset will pay all costs associated with the proposed land exchange, resource consent process including but not limited to survey costs, all the works to implement the landscaping and shared path within the exchange land, enhancement of the existing Eversleigh Road Accessway with the replacement of a new boardwalk, undergrounding of the High Voltage transmission line, Vector easement, provisions of an accessible public toilet (Exeloo), Park furniture, seating / benches, picnic tables, etc, negotiation, preparation and execution of an agreement, and any variations requested by Summerset.W

46. Auckland Transport have a statutory process for managing proceeds of road disposal. All sale proceeds from disposal of stopped road attribute to Auckland Transport as road controlling authority.

47. The local board can continue to advocate to Auckland Transport to explore ways that they can seek funding towards their key project in the local area of developing the Francis Esmonde Road link.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

48. There is a low legal risk to the council if it complies with legislative processes and requirements for the proposed land exchange under section 15 of the Reserves Act 1977.

49. Should the local board resolve not to support public notification of Auckland Council’s intention to the land exchange, or the acquisition of land for the exchange, this decision may:

a) adversely affect Summerset’s master planning for the retirement village development at Hillary Crescent site and

b) reduce opportunities to optimise safe and improved accessible public spaces at Northboro Reserve for the community.

50. The Minister of Conservation has the power to either refuse or consent to the application for the proposed land exchange under section 15 of the Reserves Act 1977.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

51. Subject to the local board resolution for public notification of the proposed land exchange, council staff will attend to the completion of all required statutory processes and approvals promptly following the date of the local board resolution for this agenda item.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Attachment A - 20250704 GeoMap Accessways	413
b ⇩	Attachment B - Minutes of Devonport-Takapuna Local Board - 15 April 2025	415
c ⇩	Attachment C - GeoMaps - Midden CHI=19852	417

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Frances Ting - Principal Property Advisor

Authorisers

Kim O’Neill - Head of Property & Commercial Business

Trina Thompson - Local Area Manager

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

Achilles Crescent Reserve - bowling green and track remediation

File No.: CP2025/20587

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To seek approval from the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board on the preferred option for remediation of the bowling green and walking track at Achilles Crescent Reserve.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Achilles Crescent Reserve – bowling green and track remediation project is included in the 2025/2026 Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Customer and Community Services Work Programme approved on 17 June 2025 (resolution number DT/2025/110). The local board has allocated $100,000 Local capex renewals funding for the project.

3. The former bowling green at 13 Achilles Crescent is in poor condition, with blocked drainage causing flooding and parts of the surface removed by the public, creating safety and site management concerns. The adjacent walking track conditions have also deteriorated due to waterlogging.

4. Soil testing shows the site is mostly safe, but some samples contain heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and pesticides above permitted levels. A Contaminated Site Management Plan (CSMP) and Controlled Activity consents are required. Soil can be reused onsite under controls, and offsite soil must go to approved managed fill facilities.

5. The stormwater system is no longer functioning and needs renewal to prevent ponding, protect new facilities, and improve year-round usability.

6. Options were considered for the site, including planting, picnic areas, pump tracks, basketball courts, or doing nothing. Further investigations and safety considerations have led to recommending option 1 – planting/native bush regeneration, with an optional picnic area and short track/boardwalk.

7. This option improves biodiversity, soil health, and flood mitigation. The community group Restoring Takarunga Hauraki (RTH) will provide plants and labour. This will reduce costs and encourage local group engagement.

8. The current $100,000 local capex renewals budget allocation is insufficient to cover the overall redevelopment of the former bowling green, estimated at $293,000 (including a $27,000 contingency). Higher costs are due to soil contamination, demolition of the former bowling green surface and surrounds, and site management requirements. Therefore, a staged delivery and funding approach over future financial years is recommended and provides flexibility for ground conditions whilst prioritising the bowling green remediation.

9. Option 1 (stage 1) would use the current budget allocation to deliver the essential groundwork – demolition. Option 1 (stage 2) would deliver contamination management, stormwater management, planting and native bush regeneration, plus optional features such as a picnic area or short track/boardwalk. This will require the allocation of an additional $193,000 local capex funding in future years.

10. Renewal of the adjacent walking track remains optional, but it is recommended to be prioritised in future financial years to improve access, address contamination issues, address drainage and erosion issues, repair surfaces and enhance connectivity within the reserve. The renewal cost is estimated at $120,000, covering the walking track from Seabreeze Road to Achilles Crescent Road.

11. Subject to the local board’s decision, staff will progress the project to detailed design for option 1 – planting/native bush regeneration. This will include confirming future budget allocations, obtaining the necessary consents, and staging the works to align with available funding. Stage 1 will focus on site clearance/demolition. Stage 2 will focus on contamination management, stormwater management, and planting planned for the next suitable planting season

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whakaae / approve the remediation of the Achilles Crescent Reserve bowling green and track, selecting option 1 – planting/native bush regeneration (stage 1), with all subsequent works subject to future budget availability.

b) tono / request staff to progress the project to detailed design and consenting so that option 1 (stage 1) works, consisting of site clearance/demolition can proceed in financial year 2025/2026.

c) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that the proposed project, Option 1, currently has a budget shortfall to achieve the full redevelopment scopes. An additional $193,000 of local capex funding will be required to be allocated in the future (at the earliest financial year 2026/2027) to deliver Option 1 (stage 2), consisting of contamination management, stormwater management and planting.

d) note that planting will be resourced and delivered by Restoring Takarunga Hauraki (RTH) at no cost to council.

e) kohuki / consider budget allocation for the remediation of the walking track from Seabreeze Road to Achilles Crescent Road as part of the local board’s work programme development in future financial years.

Horopaki

Context

12. The bowling green, located at 13 Achilles Crescent, Narrow Neck, has been unused for several years, and its condition has significantly deteriorated.

A map of a city

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Image 1: Achilles Crescent Reserve within the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area.

13. Blocked drainage has resulted in stormwater overflow, contributing to flooding along the track and private properties. Figure 2 illustrates the changes in contour levels from the bowling green to the lower area near the two affected private properties.

Aerial view of a neighborhood

Description automatically generated

Figure 2: The contour levels from the bowling green to the lower area by the private properties.

14. Parts of the bowling green surface have been informally removed by members of the public for planting purposes, which raises concerns regarding unauthorised works, site management, and health and safety. The figure below shows the current condition.

Figure 3: Achilles Crescent Reserve current condition

15. The existing walking track from Seabreeze Road to Achilles Crescent Road adjacent to the bowling green in Achilles Crescent Reserve has deteriorated and lacks adequate drainage infrastructure. This has resulted in water ponding and surface erosion during wet weather.

16. These drainage issues reduce the usability of the track, particularly in winter months, and create accessibility challenges for park users. Prolonged waterlogging may also contribute to track deterioration over time, leading to higher long-term maintenance costs and potential safety hazards. Addressing the drainage problem will be necessary to improve the overall functionality and resilience of the reserve’s walking network.

A aerial view of a neighborhood

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Figure 4: Walking track at Achilles Crescent Reserve.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

Contamination

17. The site was originally developed as a bowling green in the 1960s, and before that it was covered in native vegetation. The bowling green remained in use until the 1990s when it was sealed in bitumen. A total of 21 soil samples were taken from eight areas where the ground will be disturbed. The results show that, in general, the site is safe for recreational use, and the proposed works are unlikely to pose a risk to human health or the environment.

18. Three soil samples contained heavy metals above the permitted discharge limits under the Auckland Unitary Plan: Operative in Part (AUP: OP). Some samples also contained polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) above typical background levels. No asbestos was detected.

These findings are not unexpected. As the site was previously a bowling green, pesticides were commonly used to maintain the turf over many decades.

19. Because of these findings, the site is considered a ‘piece of land’ under the National Environmental Standard for Contaminated Soil (NESCS). A Controlled Activity consent will be required under both the NESCS and Clause E30.6.2.1 of the AUP: OP.

20. A Contaminated Site Management Plan (CSMP) will be prepared to guide how soils are handled and managed. Soil on site can be reused if the controls in the CSMP are followed. Any soil removed from the site will need to be disposed of as managed fill and accepted by an approved receiving facility.

21. This management requirement is similar to how asbestos-contaminated soil is treated, meaning that disposal options are limited and the process is more controlled, which will likely increase project costs.

Stormwater

22. The deterioration of the existing stormwater infrastructure within the former bowling green has resulted in the system no longer functioning as intended. Consequently, the site experiences frequent water ponding and prolonged soil saturation after rainfall.

23. To support redevelopment, the stormwater system will need to be renewed and designed to meet current standards. This will likely include clearing or replacing existing infrastructure, adding a swale, and ensuring proper connections to the wider network. Improving the stormwater system is essential to protect any new facilities, prevent future waterlogging, and allow the community to use the site safely and consistently throughout the year.

Options assessment

24. Three initial options were presented to the local board for the redevelopment of the former bowling green. These options were planting and grass reinstatement, creation of a picnic area with planting, or the development of a pump track or basketball half-court.

25. Since then, further investigations have been carried out, particularly around site contamination, drainage, and stormwater infrastructure. As a result of this extended investigation, the scope of options has been refined and more clearly defined to ensure that the selected option can be delivered effectively, is safe for the community, and aligns with the local board’s objectives.

Table 1: Bowling green redevelopment options

Options	Local CAPEX (preliminary estimate only)	Pros	Cons
Planting/Native Bush Regeneration	$293,000	· Improves biodiversity and environment. · Provide long-term green space. · Low maintenance once established.	· Offers little recreational use. · Limited use for different activities.
Recreational Facility: Basketball Half-Court	$431,000	· Support active recreation for many ages. · Durable and long-lasting surface. · Encourages community use.	· Can be noisy for neighbours. · Limited multi-use potential. · Poor passive surveillance, increasing risk of antisocial behaviour.
Recreational Facility: Pump Track	$527,000	· Engaging for youth and families. · Promote physical activity. · Can increase park visitation.	· Higher construction cost. · Require regular maintenance. · Poor passive surveillance, increasing risk of antisocial behaviour.
Recreational Facility: Outdoor Exercise Equipment	$537,000	· Encourages fitness for all ages. · Can fit into existing paths and open spaces. · Easy to install.	· Equipment can deteriorate quickly. · Poor passive surveillance, increasing risk of antisocial behaviour. · Use may decline over time.
Do Nothing		· No immediate costs. · Minimal environmental disturbance.	· Fail to address the existing flooding issue. · Missed opportunity to improve the site's recreational value · Potential liability if flooding causes damage to nearby properties. · Health and safety issues not addressed.

Option 1 – Planting/Native Bush Regeneration (recommended)

26. This option focuses on restoring the site to a more natural state by reintroducing native plants and regenerating bush areas. It enhances biodiversity, provides ecological benefits, and creates long-term green space for the reserve. Once established, this option requires minimal ongoing maintenance and can help improve the environmental quality of the site, including soil stability and water absorption.

27. An opportunity has arisen for the planting component to be undertaken by the community group Restoring Takarunga Hauraki (RTH), who will provide both the plants and the labour at no cost to council. This also helps to offset the disturbance caused when parts of the old hard surface were removed, leaving debris on the site. Involving the community not only reduces costs for the council but also promotes local stewardship and encourages ongoing engagement in the long-term care of the reserve.

28. As part of this option, a small picnic area could be incorporated at an estimated cost of $10,000, and a short track or boardwalk could be constructed through the middle of the site. The track/boardwalk could be integrated into the wider track upgrade project recommended along with this redevelopment option, ensuring cohesive connectivity and accessibility for visitors.

29. This option provides limited recreational opportunities and does not support active play or sports. While it contributes positively to environmental and ecological values, the site’s layout and existing topography mean that some areas may remain unused from a recreational perspective.

Option 2/3/4 – Recreational Facility (not recommended)

30. This option involves developing the former bowling green into an active recreation area, which could include a basketball half-court, a pump track, or outdoor exercise equipment, or a combination of these facilities. The goal is to provide structured, accessible recreational opportunities that promote physical activity for a range of age groups. Hard-surfaced facilities like a basketball half-court or pump track are durable and can attract community use, while outdoor exercise equipment supports fitness for all ages and can be integrated along existing paths.

31. Key considerations include site visibility, safety, and maintenance. The location’s topography, setbacks, and surrounding vegetation may limit natural surveillance, requiring design strategies to ensure safety and accessibility. Construction costs are higher than a purely green space option, and hard surfaces will require effective stormwater management. Additionally, ongoing maintenance is necessary to ensure the long-term functionality and safety of the facilities.

Option 5 – Do Nothing (not recommended)

32. This option involves leaving the former bowling green in its current state without any redevelopment or intervention. It avoids immediate construction costs and disruption to the site and preserves the open space as-is for passive use by the community.

33. This approach does not address existing stormwater issues, leaves health and safety concerns unresolved, and misses the opportunity to enhance recreational or ecological value. The site remains underutilised, and the current deterioration may continue to impact both the environment and user experience.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

34. The council’s climate goals as set out in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan are:

· to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

· to prepare the region for the adverse impacts of climate change.

35. The planting/native bush regeneration option will have positive climate benefits by increasing vegetation cover, which contributes to carbon sequestration and supports local biodiversity. Reintroducing native plants and trees can improve soil health, enhance water absorption, and reduce surface runoff, helping to mitigate the impacts of heavy rainfall and potential flooding in the reserve.

36. The involvement of the community group in planting and ongoing care reduces reliance on mechanised equipment, lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with maintenance. Over time, the established vegetation will also provide shade, reduce heat in the surrounding area, and support a more resilient local microclimate.

37. In addition, restoring native bush can improve the ecological connectivity of the reserve, supporting wildlife and pollinators that contribute to a healthier urban environment. By increasing green cover and stabilising the soil, this option also helps reduce erosion and sedimentation, which can otherwise affect stormwater quality and downstream ecosystems. Overall, this approach aligns with long-term climate adaptation goals by creating a more resilient and sustainable park environment.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

38. Council staff have been consulted as detailed below:

Directorate

Department

Teams

Feedback

Community

Parks and Community Facilities

- Area Operations

- Specialist Operations

Support the planting/native bush regeneration of the former bowling green at Achilles Crescent Reserve.

39. Overall, council staff support the planting/native bush regeneration of the former bowling green at Achilles Crescent Reserve.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

40. The local board have expressed a preference for the former bowling green to be redeveloped primarily through planting. It was also suggested minor additions, such as a short track or boardwalk across the middle of the area to act as a crossing and considered a small picnic area as an optional feature to enhance the space. This guidance helped shape the initial scope of potential redevelopment options.

41. Following the completion of the full site investigation, the project team had planned to undertake a brief public consultation to gauge community perception and support for the proposed options. The investigation included detailed assessments of soil contamination, stormwater infrastructure, and the condition of the site.

42. The findings highlighted that the area has very limited passive surveillance due to its setback from the road, dense surrounding vegetation, and high fences. Given the increased risk of antisocial behaviour if active recreational facilities were installed, the project team does not recommend introducing additional recreational options.

43. Consequently, the preferred and recommended approach remains focused solely on planting/native bush regeneration, with the optional short track or boardwalk and picnic area incorporated where feasible.

44. Additionally, renewal of the existing walking track adjacent to the site is recommended to improve access, connectivity, and overall usability of the reserve.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

45. Auckland Council is committed to meeting its responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its statutory obligations and relationship commitments to Māori. These commitments are articulated in the council’s key strategic planning documents, the Auckland Plan, the Long-term Plan 2024-2034, the Unitary Plan (operative in part), Whiria Te Muka Tangata Māori Responsiveness Framework and local board plans.

46. The proposed planting and native bush regeneration aligns with Māori values by enhancing the natural environment and supporting biodiversity within Achilles Crescent Reserve. The project provides an opportunity to incorporate native plant species significant to local iwi, contributing to the cultural and ecological restoration of the site.

47. Engagement with mana whenua will continue to ensure that the redevelopment respects tikanga, supports kaitiakitanga, and reflects Māori perspectives in the long-term management and care of the reserve.

48. Early consultation with iwi is essential to ensure that cultural values, local knowledge, and traditional practices are appropriately considered in the planning and delivery of the project.

49. Engaging with mana whenua from the outset allows for guidance on plant selection, site design, and ongoing maintenance, helping to ensure that the redevelopment aligns with both environmental and cultural objectives. This proactive engagement supports partnership, fosters trust, and strengthens the long-term stewardship of the reserve.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

Bowling green

50. The current budget of $100,000 local capex renewals for the redevelopment of the former bowling green is insufficient to cover the full redevelopment scope of works for option 1 – planting/native bush regeneration that is estimated to be $293,000 (including a contingency of $27,000 for any unforeseen circumstances).

51. The high level of soil contamination identified during the full site investigation has significantly increased the costs associated with demolition, soil handling, and contamination management compared to the initial estimates presented in the previous workshop.

52. Additional funding in the future will be required to prepare and implement a Contaminated Site Management Plan, manage soil reuse on-site, dispose of any excess soil as managed fill through approved facilities, stormwater management, and planting. Optional works could include a picnic area, a short track/boardwalk, and renewal of the adjacent walking track.

53. The project team will need to review funding options and consider phasing works or seeking additional budget allocations in the future to complete the overall redevelopment safely and in line with regulatory requirements.

54. The current budget is sourced from the Local capex renewal fund. Selecting option 1 – planting and native bush regeneration – allows the available funds to be prioritised effectively under stage 1 works – demolition, while any additional costs required for contamination management, stormwater management, and planting may need to be addressed through the future budget allocations or phased delivery. This approach enables resources to be directed to other priority projects with greater certainty and sustainable outcomes.

55. Budget confirmation will be sought following the selection of the preferred option and is subject to local board approval based on the requirements of the chosen approach.

Table 2: Approved budget allocation for the project

Budget source	FY25/26	FY26/27	Total ($)
Local capex – renewals – total allocated budget	$100,000		$100,000
Estimated additional budget required		$193,000	$293,000

56. While $100,000 is currently available in this financial year, an additional $193,000 is required in the future financial years to meet the total estimated budget of $293,000. A phased funding approach through the risk adjusted programme (RAP) can be considered.

57. No physical works have been committed to date; this provides flexibility for the local board to prioritise other projects across the area if required before committing further funds to this redevelopment.

58. Staging the project delivery and funding over multiple years can provide flexibility, particularly given the uncertainty around ground conditions and other potential factors that could affect project delivery.

59. Option 1 (stage 1) will focus on the essential groundwork required to make the site safe and compliant. This includes the demolition of the former bowling green surface, The initial funding of $100,000 allocated in financial year 2025/2026 will be directed towards these works, ensuring the area is stabilised and ready for the next stage.

60. Option 1 (stage 2) will deliver preparation and implementation of a Contaminated Site Management Plan including all associated soil handling activities (soil reuse on-site and disposal of any excess at approved facilities), the stormwater management. Optional works can include a picnic area or a short track/boardwalk. An estimate of $193,000 will be required at the earliest in financial year 2026/2027.

Walking track

61. The walking track renewal is currently estimated at $120,000 and would cover the entire track from Seabreeze Road to Achilles Crescent Road (as indicated on Image 4). The works would focus on improving drainage, repairing or replacing the track surface, and addressing areas affected by soil instability or erosion. Including the adjacent walking track renewal as part of the broader redevelopment would strengthen recreational opportunities while complementing the environmental outcomes of the planting and native bush regeneration project.

62. Until budget has been confirmed, this portion of the walking track remains optional. Staging the project over multiple financial years may be necessary, to both manage funding pressures and to allow flexibility to address unforeseen ground conditions or other site-specific challenges.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

63. The following risks and mitigations have been considered:

Risks identified	Mitigation
Timeframe
Resource consent	Engage early with regulatory authorities to understand specific requirements and expedite the application process. Maintain regular communication with regulatory authorities through the Resource Consents Qualified Partner and Platinum Key Account monthly meeting.
Contamination	Phase works, secure additional funding early, and schedule tasks around regulatory approvals.
Health & safety
Contamination	Implement a Contaminated Site Management Plan (CSMP), provide PPE, and train staff in safe handling procedures.
Budget
Insufficient funds	Seek supplementary funding, monitor costs closely, and consider phasing works to manage expenditure.
Construction
Poor drainage or unstable soil	Conduct full site investigation, implement drainage improvements, and monitor soil stability during construction.
Communication
Stakeholder concerns	Maintain regular updates, brief the local board on progress, and provide clear communication to the public.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

64. The table below outlines the timeframes for the delivery of option 1 – planting/native bush regeneration.

65. Table 4: Project timeframes for option 1 – planting/native bush regeneration

Project phase	Planned completion timeframe
Final approval	September 2025
Detailed Plan (Option 1)	October - November 2025
Resource Consent Lodgement	January 2026
Works Over Approval	January 2026
Procurement for Physical Works	March 2026

66. Progress updates on the project will be provided to the local board as part of the quarterly reports.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Achilles Crescent Reserve, Narrow Neck - track and bowling green Presentation and Memo 0924	431
b ⇩	Achillies Reserve Bowling Green Upgrade Options Report R1	449

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Chris Noventius – Project Manager

Authorisers

Julie Pickering – Head of Area operations

Trina Thompson - Local Area Manager

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

Devonport-Takapuna Urban Ngahere Action Plan

File No.: CP2025/20723

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To adopt the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Urban Ngahere 10-Year Action Plan.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The regional Te Rautaki Ngahere ā-Tāone o Tāmaki Makaurau/ Auckland’s Urban Forest Strategy responds to changes in ngahere / tree canopy cover and potential climate change impacts. The strategy’s target is to increase tree canopy cover across all local board areas in Tāmaki Makaurau to 30 per cent by 2050.

3. In financial year 2022/2023, the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board funded an implementation plan to understand the current canopy cover and plan for increasing ngahere canopy cover in the local area. The three stages of the implementation plan are ‘knowing’, ‘growing’ and ‘protecting’.

4. The first part of the ‘knowing’ stage involved analysis to establish the canopy coverage for the local board area using the 2016/2018 Light Detecting and Ranging Technology (LiDAR) data and the use of Machine assisted learning (AI) to analyse aerial imagery for the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board tree canopy cover. A report identifying net tree canopy cover of 16 per cent was adopted by the local board in June 2025.

5. The report findings show there is good tree canopy coverage in parts of the local board area, however in some areas where there is low canopy cover (less than 15 per cent) there is a need to increase the number of trees planted along streets and in public reserves to provide for future tree canopy coverage, increase connectivity and enhance biodiversity.

6. The final part of the ‘knowing’ stage has been to develop a 10-year ngahere action plan that identifies target areas where trees can be planted to help increase canopy cover on public land in the local board area.

7. This report is seeking adoption of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Urban Ngahere 10-Year Action Plan (Attachment A).

8. The local board’s adoption of the Urban Ngahere Action Plan will guide the direction for tree planting efforts over the next 10 years and enable planning and preparation for the ‘growing’ phase to commence in Financial Year (FY) 2026.

9. It is recommended the Urban Ngahere Action Plan is reviewed every three years to align with local board plan development. This will update the local board on planting progress and enable planning for maintaining existing and highlighting next steps to further increase canopy cover.

10. Each year an annual planting plan, including site specific assessment, tree selection, environmental condition analysis, will be prepared to direct new tree planting. The annual planting plan will require local board funding.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whai / adopt the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Ngahere 10 Year Action Plan (Attachment A to this agenda report).

b) tono / request that Parks and Community Facilities staff review the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Ngahere 10-Year Action Plan every three years and provide a report updating the local board on progress of delivery of the action plan.

c) tono / request that Parks, Sport and Recreation staff review the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Action Plan implementation work programme annually and provide a report to the local board on the delivery of new tree plantings.

Horopaki

Context

11. In 2016/2018 staff studied the extent of urban forest canopy coverage across Tāmaki Makaurau using information captured from an aerial flight using LiDAR survey technology.

12. A detailed tree canopy analysis report was developed by staff from the Research Investigation Monitoring Unit (RIMU) and a regional strategy was developed, which the Governing Body approved in October 2018.

13. The regional strategy’s objective is to increase regional tree canopy cover to 30 per cent, with no local board area having less than 15 per cent canopy cover by 2050.

14. Local boards’ role in reaching this target is to develop local implementation plans to address the canopy loss in their local board area. The local implementation plan has three stages: ‘knowing’, ‘growing’ and ‘protecting’.

15. The ‘knowing’ stage of this planning included analysis of the tree canopy cover that currently exists across the local board area. This is the first time the tree canopy coverage of the Devonport-Takapuna area has been analysed using the LiDAR technology and Aerial Imagery Analysis using Machine Learning (AI). The LiDAR percentage canopy cover analysis measures all vegetation on public and private land that is over three metres in height.

16. The Devonport-Takapuna Canopy Analysis Report was approved by the local board on 15 April 2025 resolution DT/2025/56. It found that the average tree canopy cover across the local board area was 16 per cent based on the findings of the 2016/2018 LiDAR work.

17. The findings from the analysis report have been used to help inform development of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Ngahere 10-Year Action Plan, providing guidance on how to direct new tree planting efforts to increase overall tree canopy cover on public land.

18. The action plan will provide long-term direction on planting new trees across the local board area with a goal to increase overall tree canopy coverage.

19. Adoption and implementation of the action plan will lead to:

· planting of new specimen trees in streets and parks

· a focus on planting the right types of trees in places with the right amount of space

· undertaking enrichment planting in local parks to improve diversity

· providing guidance and direction for community groups undertaking or organizing community planting events.

20. Targets and areas to focus planting efforts are outlined in the action plan. Planting trees in these areas will increase canopy cover, establish, or enhance ecological corridors for wildlife and provide natural shade for key areas in streets, parks and reserves.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

21. The action plan has been informed by findings from the canopy analysis report. Findings in the analysis report were based on a LiDAR survey that was completed in 2016/2018 and the Aerial Imagery AI analysis work.

22. The Urban Ngahere Canopy Analysis Report 2024 showed in 2016/2018 the overall tree canopy coverage was 16 per cent for the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area. The report provides several key statistics for the local board area:

23. The net average tree canopy cover for Devonport-Takapuna is 16 per cent

· 13 per cent of the road corridor has tree canopy cover

· 27 per cent of the land area in public parks has tree canopy cover

· 63 per cent of the tree canopy is located on privately owned land.

24. The analysis report sets out key focus areas for increasing public awareness of the importance of tree canopy coverage across the local board area. These are intended to help provide long-term and lasting benefits for local communities. A short summary of some of these includes:

· Considering prioritisation of those reserves with little or no tree cover for assessment as part of the process that will inform the development the Ngahere Action plan.

· Prioritising new plantings in reserves with playgrounds and around seating areas to respond to the need for more summer shade. The playground study highlights a few reserves where tree cover is low, and this detail can help direct the development of the Ngahere Action Plan to guide and direct future tree planting efforts.

· Looking at the quality and maturity of trees in the reserves across the local board area and undertake planning work to help with the future management of some of the ageing stands of exotic trees within the local board area.

· Considering initiating a training and education program for native seed collection to work with the local nurseries to help build the supply of native plants in the local board area.

· Working with the wider stakeholder group and mana whenua to consider an assessment of the vegetation quality and management of exotic weeds on public park land.

25. Raising awareness of the biosecurity threats to amenity trees in the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area specifically Myrtle Rust and Kauri Die Back as diseases that are going to have an increasing impact on these species.

· Undertaking connectivity analysis of tree canopy cover to identify gaps between areas of forest, and how these could be improved with targeted planting.

26. Funding for a multi-year programme of tree planting on public land in parks, open space areas and within the road corridor is necessary to help increase overall tree numbers across the local board area. A commitment to fund the programme will enable new tree plantings, which will in the long-term help to increase overall tree canopy coverage.

27. The development of the ngahere action plan has included site assessment surveying to investigate locations where opportunities exist for planting new specimen trees. The primary areas of assessment were parks with playgrounds, assessing local streets that could provide green corridor connections between local parks and Significant Ecological Areas (SEA) and rural roads where sentinel trees could be planted.

28. The target for the local board is to maintain existing and to increase tree canopy cover by one per cent in the road corridor and on public reserve land over a 10-year period. This will require new specimen tree planting annually in parks. Supporting an annual planting programme will increase overall tree canopy coverages on publicly managed land by 2035.

29. Reporting on implementation of the plan every three years aligns with local board plan development. This will enable the local board to review the target and planting strategy, plan for the next areas of planting and consider the allocation of budgets required.

30. Staff have recommended a realistic target for the local board to work towards in the action plan. It is forecast that with small increases in new planting and decreases in tree removal year on year; the current 16 per cent cover is at least maintained with potentially an incremental increase of one per cent in tree canopy cover on public land as the new annual tree plantings mature over the next 10 years.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

31. Implementation of the strategy and the action plan is an example of an integrated approach to help mitigate emissions, build resilience longer term and enable adaptation to the impacts of climate change to meet Auckland Council’s climate goals.

32. The strategy is identified as a key action in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri - Auckland’s Climate Plan 2020.

33. Increasing stock of trees and vegetation in Tāmaki Makaurau will increase carbon sequestration and contribute towards reducing net greenhouse gas emissions.

34. Increasing trees and vegetation also provides various natural functions that assist with adaptation to the climate change impacts for humans and other species, such as:

· providing a shading and cooling effect to counter rising urban temperatures

· slowing and reducing stormwater runoff to assist in managing increased rainfall events

· improve air quality by trapping particulates and filtering vehicle pollutants

· providing additional habitat for indigenous species to occupy, enhancing their resilience to climate change impacts.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

35. Collaboration across Parks and Community Facilities, Infrastructure and Environmental Services has been key to the development of the action plan.

36. Specialist Operations arboricultural staff have helped inform where the current maintenance and renewal programme for trees can be strengthened to improve the overall diversity and increase the extent of the tree canopy cover.

37. Specialist Operations staff will guide the renewals programme to ensure an ongoing programme of tree renewal occurs to replace poor and ailing stock and to replant where dead, dying or diseased trees are removed.

38. Staff will continue to collaborate and develop a tree planting programme and implementation plan for the delivery of new tree plantings in the 2026 planting season and beyond.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

39. The early draft action plan was workshopped with the local board in May 2025. At the workshop board members were presented an outline of the process to develop a long-term planting plan and the opportunity to provide feedback on areas of focus.

40. The feedback received at the workshop has been incorporated into the 1^st draft presented to board members on 26 August 2025. Further feedback received from the board members has been incorporated into the final version of The Devonport-Takapuna Ngahere Action Plan 2025, included as attachment A to this report.

41. The board requested a detailed view of the process by which trees are selected and planted in parks and street. The Tree Planting Flowchart on Pages 28 and 29 of the action plan shows the process that will be followed for new tree planting in the local board area. The tree planting request process has been documented into a flow char on pages 50 and 51 of the action plan.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

42. The strategy was workshopped with mana whenua during its development in three workshops during 2017 and 2018. Feedback and views discussed at the hui helped to shape the final version of the strategy.

43. The use of native trees for all new tree planting is a strong view of mana whenua, and as such natives are the first choice for planting as outlined in the strategy. Native trees are also identified as the preference for planting in the action plan.

44. New tree plantings will benefit local Māori and the wider community by providing increased opportunities for access to nature and providing shade in the local park network.

45. Mana whenua engagement is ongoing on the local implementation programme and will be engaged to support tree planting advice and to provide a cultural narrative in the choice of species for local areas.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

46. The adoption of the action plan will conclude the ‘knowing’ stage of the local board’s implementation of the strategy, which is funded by the Locally Driven Initiative (LDI) OPEX budget.

47. In 2022/2023, the local board allocated $15,000 of operational Locally Driven Initiative (LDI) funding through the local board work programme for staff to start the ‘Knowing’ phase. The Canopy Analysis report was approved at the local board business meeting in April 2025 (Resolution Number DT/2025/56).

48. The local board allocated $15,000 of operational LDI funding in the 2024/2025 financial year for the development of the Devonport-Takapuna Ngahere 10-Year Action Plan. The plan will provide long term direction on future new tree planting efforts.

49. The local board has allocated $10,000 of Local OPEX funding in the 2025/2026 financial year to enable site evaluations and development of site-specific planting plans that will direct the planting of new large trees in winter 2026. The local board will be consulted each year on implementing the new tree planting work in local parks.

50. To ensure the target outlined in the action plan is met, it is recommended that a scaled approach to increasing the amount of Local capex through the local board’s Parks and Community Facilities annual work programme in financial year 2026/2027 to increase the numbers of new trees being planted. The amount of funding required will be quantified annually based on priorities to advance new tree plantings in areas of need.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

51. The trajectory of loss of tree canopy cover across the local board area is expected to continue on private land as the area develops. New tree planting on public land is necessary to help offset these changes over the longer term.

52. Sufficient time is required to plan and prepare for planting. Should the local board not adopt the plan there is a risk that the ‘growing’ stage of the strategy will not be able to start in the 2026 planting season.

53. The 10-year action plan outlines a detailed ‘Planting Opportunities List’ to ensure the right tree is planted in the right place. Should the local board not adopt the action plan there is a risk that trees planted will not be appropriate for their location.

54. There is a risk of poor maintenance of plants once they are in the ground. Adoption of the action plan will help mitigate this risk and enable staff to employ best practice tree planting and ongoing maintenance methods.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

55. Following adoption of the action plan, annual planting plans will be completed that identify areas for new planting in winter 2026.

56. Local board approval will be requested for Local Capex funding in the financial year 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 Local opex work programmes to continue development of the growing phase to plant new trees on public land with the community.

57. An annual report will be provided by departments that are leading the tree planting and collated by Parks, Community Facilities staff to enable high level reporting on total numbers of new trees planted.

58. In 2026, staff will review implementation progress of the action plan, report to the board on successes and challenges and recommend direction for planting and funding allocation for the following three years.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Ngahere 10-Year Action Plan	593

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Howell Davies – Urban Forest Advisor

Authorisers

Martin van Jaarsveld – Head of Specialist Operations, Parks and Community Facilities

Trina Thompson - Local Area Manager

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

Approve the scope for the development of the Devonport Takapuna Water Access Plan

File No.: CP2025/14542

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To approve the scope for development of the Devonport-Takapuna Open Water Access Plan.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. On 17 June 2025, the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board approved the 2025/2026 Community Work Programme, including line 5061, to develop the Devonport-Takapuna Water Access and Recreation Facilities Plan (resolution number DT/2025/110).

3. This item has $30,000 local opex budget allocated for the 2025/2026 financial year.

4. The Open Water Access Plan will offer guidance to inform decision-making regarding vessel and equipment storage for open water sport and active recreation on council land, investment in ancillary infrastructure (storage, carparks, signage, wash down facilities, changing rooms) and incidental infrastructure (clubrooms), advocacy, partnerships, and opportunities within the network for sport and recreation open water facilities.

5. The scope adopted by Devonport-Takapuna Local Board will guide the development of the Open Water Access Plan.

6. At a workshop on 9 September 2025, the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board gave direction on a scope to guide the development of the Devonport-Takapuna Open Water Access Plan.

7. The scope of the Devonport-Takapuna Open Water Access Plan (refer to Attachment A of the agenda report) is now presented to the local board for approval.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whakaae / approve the scope for development of the Devonport-Takapuna Open Water Access Plan as set out in Attachment A of the agenda report.

Horopaki

Context

8. On 17 June 2025, the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board approved the 2025/2026 Community Work Programme, including line 5061, to develop the Devonport-Takapuna Water Access and Recreation and Facilities Plan (resolution number DT/2025/110).

9. The approved activity description is:

“Develop the Devonport-Takapuna Water Access and Recreation Facilities Plan to provide strategic guidance to inform decision-making regarding investment, advocacy, partnerships, and opportunities within the sport and recreation facility network. The plan will focus on water access, vessel storage and facilities. Areas of specific consideration include but are not limited to Lake Pupuke, Bayswater, Milford Beach Reserve, Takapuna Beach and Narrow Neck (storage).

10. This item has $30,000 local opex budget allocated for the 2025/2026 financial year.

Devonport Takapuna Open Water Access Plan

11. The plan will outline the current network of open water sport and recreation facilities (including for access, incidental, ancillary and storage) across a specified geographic area with key focus areas being Lake Pupuke, Milford Beach Reserve, Bayswater, Takapuna and Narrow Neck beaches.

· “Ancillary infrastructure” refers to items such as storage, changing facilities, wash-down areas, car parking and water access points.

· “Incidental infrastructure” refers to items such as clubrooms.

12. The plan will identify existing and future provision challenges and offer strategic guidance to inform decision-making regarding investment, advocacy, partnerships, and opportunities within the open water sport and recreation facility network.

13. Key outputs include:

· options for resolution of storage conflict and property left on council land

· consolidated inventory of access, ancillary and storage facilities for open water sport and recreation facilities

· analysis of themes and trends of local facility needs and issues

· assessment of potential impacts of demographic and infrastructure changes

· identification of gaps in facility provision against current and future needs

· development of a framework for prioritising projects/potential opportunities for further analysis and assessment

· recommendations and a framework for prioritising how to respond to requests for storage, ancillary and incidental infrastructure, including potential projects.

· a prioritised list of projects/opportunities to provide clear direction to support advocacy, resource allocation and leasing decisions.

Scope to develop the plan

14. The scope adopted by the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board will guide the development of the Devonport-Takapuna Open Water Access Plan.

15. A defined scope will enable the plan to clearly capture key data and supporting analysis. This information can then inform decision-making across the council spectrum, including operational matters, capital investment and leasing decisions.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

16. The proposed scope is segmented into three key elements; geographic area, activity type, and facility model, which are detailed below.

Geographic area

17. The plan will consider community need and facility priorities within a specific, defined geographic area.

18. The local board boundaries provide an initial focus area which will capture a large percentage of facility users.

19. A degree of flexibility will allow the plan to consider geographic needs outside the rohe boundaries including but not limited to:

· adjacent communities

· nearby bespoke facilities

· nearby sub-regional or regional facilities

· specific sites of interest to mana whenua which may fall slightly outside of the local board boundary

20. The geographic scope will focus on provision within the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area with consideration for neighbouring communities, rohe boundaries specifically identified by mana whenua, sub-regional and/or bespoke facilities. Identified key areas are Lake Pupuke, Bayswater, Takapuna, Milford, and Narrow Neck beaches.

21. An alternative geographic scope could strictly limit the investigation to locations within the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board boundaries. This is not recommended because it is likely to miss the benefit to Devonport-Takapuna communities of facilities located just outside the local board area and may facilitate investment into unnecessary duplication of facilities.

Activity type

22. The focus of this plan is to identify current and future need, consequent supply and demand gaps, and opportunities within the Devonport-Takapuna open water sport and recreation infrastructure network.

23. The scope will help define and categorise how people keep active, before assessing what infrastructure requirements there are.

24. Manaaki Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland Open Space, Sport and Recreation Strategy provides the following definitions which can be applied to help focus an activity:

· Sport is organised physical activity. This includes community sport where young people and adults participate in organised sport and training at a local and regional level. Participation in sport is motivated by a range of things including health and wellbeing, learning and achievement, and a sense of connection and belonging.

· Active recreation is informal physical activity that can take place indoors or outdoors. This type of recreation is increasingly popular with Aucklanders as they lead busier lives.

25. The scope of activity type is water-based sport and active recreation as defined within the Manaaki Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland Open Space, Sport and Recreation Strategy. This plan will focus on activity requiring access to aquatic open space, club and changing facilities, meeting spaces, and storage including but not limited to boats, waka, canoe and kayak.

26. An alternative scope for activity type could limit investigation to facilities for formal organised sport. This is not recommended because the physical and mental health benefits that Aucklanders derive from physical activity are the same whether the context is organised sport or informal active recreation. Informal active recreation opportunities are of growing importance to Aucklanders as participation preferences evolve.

27. Activity of particular focus include but is not limited to Waka Ama, Rowing, Canoe and Boating and Surf Life Saving.

28. Note: Boating refers to non – motorised boating but not excluding support vessels such as coaches or official’s vessels.

Facility model

29. The demand for sport in Tāmaki Makaurau is growing and changing. Communities participate across a wide range of places and spaces of differing facility ownership and operating models.

30. The scope includes the investigation of facilities providing, or with potential to provide, community access for open water sport and active recreation, irrespective of ownership or operational model.

31. The scope includes, but is not limited to:

· council owned land; council owned and operated facilities

· council owned land; council owned facility; community operated facilities (leased)

· council owned land; community owned and operated facilities

· council owned community facilities with potential for sport and active recreation.

32. This scope allows for analysis of the open water facilities network. It provides a platform to inform internal council investment and offers insights to support community led projects, or leverage partnership opportunities.

33. The scope comprises of all facilities providing community access for open water sport and active recreation, irrespective of ownership or operating model.

34. Note: Swimming pools are out of scope, as is non-council owned land.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

35. There will be no impact on direct greenhouse gas emissions from the adoption of the scope to develop the plan.

36. Future implementation options in the plan will include a high-level assessment for impact on greenhouse gas emissions and overall climate change before recommendations are presented to the Devonport Takapuna Local Board.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

37. Throughout the plan development staff will seek input from mana whenua iwi partners. There will also be consultation with mataawaka, marae, kura, and internal Māori Outcomes staff within council.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

38. There are no financial implications specifically related to the approval of the scope to develop the plan.

39. Devonport-Takapuna Local Board have allocated $30,000 from the 2025/2026 local opex budget for the development of the plan (resolution number DT/2025/110.

40. The development of the plan will take place during the 2025/2026 financial year, and where necessary budgets committed for this project will be accrued or carried forward.

41. Future implementation of options identified in the Open Water Access Plan may require additional budget. This will be considered as part of future work programmes.

42. Cost options for implementation will be included in the plan.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

43. There are no significant risks identified in adopting the scope to develop the Devonport-Takapuna Open Water Access Plan.

44. If the approved scope of the Open Water Access Plan is not sufficiently comprehensive, there is a risk that gaps and needs are not identified, which could affect the delivery of sport and active recreation opportunities in the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

45. Procurement will be completed upon adoption of the scope.

46. A draft plan will be workshopped with the local board in quarter three before the final plan is presented for adoption in quarter four of the 2025/2026 financial year.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	23 September 2025 – Devonport Takapuna Local Board business meeting – Devonport Takapuna Open Water Access Plan Overview	633

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Mike Thompson - Sport & Recreation Lead

Authorisers

Pippa Sommerville - Manager Sport & Recreation

Trina Thompson - Local Area Manager

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

Auckland Transport Kōkiri / Local Board Transport Agreement Quarterly Update - September 2025

File No.: CP2025/19875

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To provide an update on projects in the local board’s Kōkiri / Local Board Transport Agreement 2025/2026 (Kōkiri Agreement).

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Kōkiri Agreement 2025/2026 is a local board’s engagement plan with Auckland Transport’s (AT) work programme.

3. Developing the agreement is an annual process. During this process AT provides advice on its work programme, seeks feedback from the local board, responds to this feedback, and establishes an endorsed plan for engaging on work in the local board area.

4. This report provides an update on projects in the local board’s Kōkiri Agreement which is included as Attachments A to this report. Attachment B reports on the Quarterly Maintenance and Renewals programme.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whiwhi / receive the September 2025 quarterly update on the Kōkiri / Local Board Transport Agreement 2025-2026.

Horopaki

Context

5. In mid-2023, development of the Kōkiri Agreement was initiated to build a more structured and supportive relationship between local boards and Auckland Transport. The Kōkiri Agreement is formed through an annual process that includes the following steps:

October/November	AT provides quality advice to local boards on the next financial year’s work programme.
March	Local boards provide their feedback, prioritise projects or programmes, and request levels of engagement for each project.
April/May	AT responds to that feedback, and a Kōkiri Agreement is written for each local board.
June/July	AT seeks formal endorsement of the Kōkiri Agreement from local boards.

6. AT reports quarterly on the prioritised projects and programmes listed in the local board’s Kōkiri Agreement.

7. This process provides a clear annual structure for engaging with AT. Local boards can influence Auckland Transport’s work programme through the annual Kōkiri Agreement process.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

8. Kōkiri Agreements prioritise the projects or programmes that are of most interest to the local board. Clear local board prioritisation provides Auckland Transport with expectations of transport related objectives, in addition to the objectives provided in the local board plan. This information helps AT to either inform its planning or to offer better explanations for why certain projects or programmes cannot be delivered.

9. However, plans evolve and change, so AT reports quarterly on progress of projects in the Kōkiri Agreement. This means that local boards are kept informed and have a regular opportunity to provide formal feedback to AT about their work programme.

10. The levels of engagement in the Kōkiri Agreement are derived from the International Association for Public Participation’s (IAP2) doctrine and are as follows:

Collaboration	AT and the local board work together to deliver the project or programme. The local board leads the process of building community consensus. The local board’s input and advice are used to formulate solutions and develop plans. Local board feedback is incorporated into the plan to the maximum extent possible.
Consultation	AT leads the project or programme but works with the local board, providing opportunities to input into the plan. If possible, AT incorporates the local board’s feedback into the plan, and if it is not able to, provides clear reasons for that decision.
Informing	AT leads the project or programme informing the local board about progress. Local board members may be asked to provide their local knowledge and insight by AT, however there is no expectation that the project must be modified based on that input.

11. Attachment A provides updates about all projects and programmes currently listed in this local board’s Kōkiri Agreement 2025/2026. This report also includes the following attachment:

· Attachment B is a quarterly update on road maintenance activities.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

12. This report does not have a direct impact on climate, however the projects it refers to will.

13. AT engages closely with the council on developing strategy, actions and measures to support the outcomes sought by the Auckland Plan 2050, the Auckland Climate Action Plan and the council’s priorities.

14. AT reviews the potential climate impacts of all projects and works hard to minimise carbon emissions. AT’s work programme is influenced by council direction through Te-Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

15. The Kōkiri Agreement is a product of the Local Board Relationship Project. AT started the project in response to a 2022 ‘Letter of Expectation’ directive from the Mayor that stated in part that:

“The Statement of Intent 2023-2026 must set out how AT will achieve closer local board involvement in the design and planning stage of local transport projects that affect their communities.”

16. The Kōkiri Agreement gives effect to this intent. AT receives local board feedback via regular engagement. AT also surveys local board members quarterly about engagement, providing an indication of satisfaction.

17. The Kōkiri Agreement was developed working closely with Auckland Council’s Governance and Engagement Department.

18. The Kōkiri Agreement is reported to the Local Board Chair’s Forum on a regular basis.

19. This work relies on historical engagement with both Auckland Council and with other major council-controlled organisations (CCO) through the previous joint CCO engagement plans.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

20. The local board endorsed the Kōkiri Agreement 2025/2026 at their July 2025 business meeting. This report provides a quarterly update on projects in the agreement.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

21. Auckland Transport is committed to meeting its responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its broader legal obligations in being more responsible or effective to Māori.

22. AT’s Māori Responsiveness Plan outlines the commitment to 19 mana whenua in delivering effective and well-designed transport policy and solutions for Auckland. We also recognise mataawaka and their representative bodies and our desire to foster a relationship with them. This plan is available on the Auckland Transport website - https://at.govt.nz/about-us/transport-plans-strategies/maori-responsiveness-plan/#about

23. The Kōkiri Agreement is focused on AT’s interaction with local boards, as such Māori input was not sought at a programme level. However, when individual projects or operational activities have impact on water or land, Auckland Transport engages with iwi to seek their views. These views are shared in reports seeking decisions from the local board.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

24. Generally, this report has limited financial implications for the local board because Auckland Transport funds all projects and programmes. However, local boards do have a transport budget, called the Local Board Transport Capital Fund.

25. Updates about Local Board Transport Capital Fund projects are included in this report, but financial implications are reported separately, in project specific decision reports.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

26. If a local board provides any formal direction on changes to the Kōkiri Agreement, there are risks to consider. First, the local board needs to be able to commit to the time required for the level of engagement requested. If decisions are not able to be made or are slowed down by local board decision-making, there can be significant financial costs.

27. Auckland Transport suggests that this risk is mitigated by the local board providing sufficient workshop time to allow for timely discussion of activities listed in Kōkiri Agreement.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

28. After local boards receive this report, AT will respond to any additional resolutions.

29. The next quarterly report is planned for December 2025.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Devonport-Takapuna - 2509 Attachment A to Kōkiri Quarterly Update	643
b ⇩	Devonport-Takapuna - 2509 Attachment B to Kōkiri Quarterly Maintenance and Renewals	651

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Ben Stallworthy – Principal Advisor – Auckland Transport

Authorisers

John Gillespie, Head of Stakeholder and Community Engagement

Trina Thompson - Local Area Manager

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

Kōkiri Report: Hurstmere Road Kitchener Road Safety marking

File No.: CP2025/18930

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. This report follows on from a workshop on 22 July 2025 and a second workshop on 12 August 2025 with the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board about the Road Safety marking to be installed in Hurstmere and Kitchener Roads.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. This report requests the local board resolve to support the road safety marking to be installed along Hurstmere and Kitchener Roads to respond to the historic crash data.

3. It provides an update following the workshop on 12 August 2025 and an opportunity to provide feedback or make decisions related to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board’s Kōkiri Agreement. A local plan that outlines levels of engagement with local projects between Auckland Transport (AT) and the local board.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) supports the road safety marking in Hurstmere and Kitchener Roads as outlined in Attachment A.

Horopaki

Context

4. AT manages Auckland’s transport network on behalf of Auckland Council. AT’s Kōkiri Agreement provides a structured annual process for local boards to engage with and influence transport projects and programmes. Every year local boards and AT work together to set ‘levels of engagement’ for projects and programmes that AT is delivering. This process clearly defines the board’s expectations and AT’s responsibilities.

5. The levels of engagement noted in the Kōkiri Agreement are derived from the International Association for Public Participation’s (IAP2) doctrine, were agreed between Auckland Council and Council Controlled Organisations in 2020; and are as follows:

Collaborate - AT and the local board are working together to deliver the project or programme. The local board leads the process of building community consensus. The local board’s input and advice are used to formulate solutions and develop plans. Local board feedback is incorporated into the plan to the maximum extent possible.

Consult - AT leads the project or programme but works with the local board providing opportunities to input into the plan. If possible, AT incorporates the local board’s feedback into the plan; and if it is not able to provides clear reasons for that decision.

Inform – AT leads the project or programme but works with the local board providing opportunities to input into the plan. If possible, AT incorporates the local board’s feedback into the plan; and if it is not able to provides clear reasons for that decision.

6. Any ‘Collaborate’ or ‘Consult’ project involves local board decisions that need to be taken and recorded, this report is to provide the decisions relating to the delivery of the following project:

Hurstmere Road and Kitchener Road safety marking.

7. This project is an inform however AT is consulting with the local board to ensure the public through their elected members have a strong voice and influence on the solutions implemented.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

8. This project was workshopped with the local board on 22 July 2025. At that workshop local board members raised issues about the proposed design and requested further crash history data in the area.

9. A further workshop was held on 12 August 2025 which included amendments and further detail on the crash history of the area.

10. This road safety marking is necessary due to the evidence of crash data with parked cars. The edge line is to provide separation with parked cars and a median line to slow vehicle speeds.

11. AT is planning to start the physical works this financial year. Preferably over summer/autumn.

12. Public consultation is anticipated to commence end of September/early October.

13. The plan includes a new central flush median and clearly marked edge lines on both sides of the road. In areas with on-street parking, the edge lines will be positioned at least 2.1 m from the kerb to create a clear visual buffer between parked cars and moving traffic. In areas where parking is not permitted—most of which already has ‘no stopping at all times’ restrictions marked by broken yellow lines—edge lines will still be installed to maintain continuous road delineation.

14. The original proposal included diagonal bars within both the central flush median and the proposed marked shoulder in areas where parking is not permitted. However, the local board raised concerns about potential safety risks for cyclists, as well as the negative impact these markings could have on the overall aesthetics of Kitchener Road. As a result, the diagonal bars were removed in the design revision.

15. The latest design proposal was presented to the local board on 12 August 2025 (Attachment A) was supported to progress to implementation.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

16. AT engages closely with the council on developing strategy, actions and measures to support the outcomes sought by the Auckland Plan 2050, the Auckland Climate Action Plan and the council’s priorities.

17. AT reviews the potential climate impacts of all projects and works hard to minimise carbon emissions. AT’s work programme is influenced by council direction through Te-Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

18. The installation of road safety markings does not impact on council facilities.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

19. The installation of road safety markings has been workshopped with the local board.

20. At the 22 August workshop the local board members indicated their support for this project to make the road safer for the community.

21. At that workshop, local board members expressed support for the design to progress to the next stage of design and construction.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

22. Auckland Transport is committed to meeting its responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its broader legal obligations in being more responsible or effective to Māori.

23. AT’s Māori Responsiveness Plan outlines the commitment to 19 mana whenua tribes in delivering effective and well-designed transport policy and solutions for Auckland. We also recognise mataawaka and their representative bodies and our desire to foster a relationship with them. This plan is available on the Auckland Transport website - https://at.govt.nz/about-us/transport-plans-strategies/maori-responsiveness-plan/#about

24. In this case, the decision does not involve a significant decision in relation to land or a body of water so specific Māori input was not sought.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

25. The installation of road safety markings has no financial implications for the local board and will be delivered by AT within the budget allocation.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

26. The proposed decisions do have some risk, any construction project can be affected by a range of factors including weather, contract availability or discovery of previously un-identified factors like unmapped infrastructure. AT manages risk by retaining a 10 per cent contingency.

27. This is very low risk project to be delivered by AT.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

28. The project will progress to implementation as per AT works schedule.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Kitchener Corridor Delineation Improvements	657

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Marilyn Nicholls, Elected Member Relationship Partner

Authorisers

John Gillespie, Head of Stakeholder and Community Engagement

Trina Thompson - Local Area Manager

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

Devonport-Takapuna Local Active Modes Plan

File No.: CP2025/20202

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To seek endorsement from the local board for the Devonport-Takapuna Local Active Modes Plan and for the recommended prioritised projects to progress to Scheme Design and community engagement.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. Auckland Transport (AT) has developed, in collaboration with the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board (the ‘local board’), a Local Active Modes Plan (LAMP) that covers the following suburbs in the local board area: Devonport, Stanley Point, Bayswater, Belmont, Hauraki, Takapuna, and Milford. The LAMP identifies a programme of small scale but effective walking and cycling improvements that will remove barriers and improve walking and cycling options in the project area.

3. AT is seeking local board endorsement for the LAMP and for the recommended prioritised projects to progress to Scheme Design and community engagement.

4. The LAMP was developed based on a foundation of community insights and through engagement with the local board. This included developing a set of principles to help sift through community ideas, working through community feedback, and categorising and bundling interventions in a cohesive programme. The feasibility of ideas has been investigated, including site visits with transport planners and engineers.

5. The resulting programme comprises projects of different scales across the study area, organised into five project categories; Key Connections, Lake Road Interim Improvements, Crossings, Neighbourhood Calming and Cut-Throughs.

6. Once the programme had been developed, a list of projects recommended to be prioritised within the budget available for the 2025/2026 financial year was identified. These projects will be progressed to Scheme Design and community engagement.

7. The LAMP is outlined in the presentation slides in Attachment 1, which covers AT’s process in developing the LAMP, community insights gathered, the list of projects that make up the LAMP, and the proposed projects to be prioritised.

8. Local board endorsement will give AT assurance that it should put further effort and resource towards investigating and delivering interventions identified. AT will continue to collaborate with the local board to progress the LAMP. Projects initiated from this plan will go through community engagement in line with normal AT processes. The final output of the LAMP will include a public facing document that can be ‘co-owned’ by AT and the local board.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) endorse the Devonport-Takapuna Local Active Modes Plan

b) note that a public facing summary of the LAMP will be developed and circulated to the local board for feedback before finalisation

c) endorse the following prioritised projects to progress to the Scheme Design and community engagement phases:

· Stanley Bay to Devonport

· Vauxhall Road Parallel Route

· Devonport - Takapuna Greenway – Section 2

· Devonport – Takapuna Greenway – Section 3

· Takapuna-Lake Road Stitch

· Lake Road Interim Improvements

d) note that Auckland Transport will seek two further local board endorsements for the listed projects, firstly to progress to Detailed Design and secondly to deliver the changes.

Horopaki

Context

9. The scope of the LAMP is to provide a pipeline of small but effective walking and cycling improvements in a defined study area (refer Figure 1). This programme helps AT, in collaboration with the local board, to leverage other programmes and be ready to exploit new funding opportunities. This approach allows faster, more efficient and cost-effective delivery of minor changes that can make a significant difference to walking and cycling in Devonport-Takapuna’s neighbourhoods and town centres.

A map of a city

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Figure 1: Devonport-Takapuna LAMP context

10. The study area was chosen as a pilot for a number of reasons:

· It is well suited to walking and cycling trips as it has reasonably well-connected street network with relatively small blocks given the peninsula’s geography.

· It already has a higher-than-average number of people walking and cycling to work and education.

· A large part of the area is within walking distance of town centres, including Devonport and Takapuna, as well as other key destinations such as large schools and public transport hubs.

· Upcoming investment in the cycling network can be leveraged, including the Takapuna Cycling Connections project.

· The local board have expressed interest in developing a pipeline of quick wins that improve the state of walking and cycling in their area.

11. Obtaining local community insights was important to help inform the plan. Active modes, and walking in particular, is a highly localised activity. Many of AT’s planning tools lack the granularity to understand local walking networks. Decisions to walk and which route to take are influenced by multiple interrelated considerations, many of which are location specific. Obtaining good community insights can help planners better understand the local conditions, barriers to, and opportunities for walking.

12. The Devonport-Takapuna LAMP is the second of its kind to be developed in Auckland, following a pilot underway in the Waitematā Local Board area. These two LAMPs will be used to assess the effectiveness of a very localised approach for identifying and delivering walking and cycling improvements in a defined area.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

13. Community input was sought to provide the foundation for the LAMP. This involved a household travel survey, targeted meetings with key stakeholders, community drop-in stands and online suggestions via a pin drop tool. This engagement established important destinations for walking and cycling trips and existing popular routes.

14. The LAMP was developed with inputs from the local board. This included developing a set of principles to help sift through community ideas, working through community feedback, and categorising and bundling interventions in a cohesive programme. The feasibility of ideas has been investigated, including site visits with transport planners and engineers.

15. The resulting programme comprises projects of different scales across the study area, organised into five project categories; Key Connections, Lake Road Interim Improvements, Crossings, Neighbourhood Calming and Cut-Throughs. The LAMP is summarised in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Overview of LAMP - project categories

16. Of the project categories, the Key Connections and Lake Road Interim Improvements are anticipated to have the highest impact, with interventions in other categories organised around these projects (refer Figure 3 and Table 1).

A map of a city

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Figure 3: Devonport-Takapuna LAMP Proposed Key Connections and Lake Road Interim Improvements

Table 1: Proposed Key Connections and Lake Road Interim Improvements
	Project
1	Devonport Coastal Connection
2	Stanley Bay to Devonport
3	Vauxhall Road Parallel Route
4	Abbotsford Terrace to Ngataringa Sports Field
5	Devonport - Takapuna Greenway - Section 1
6	Devonport - Takapuna Greenway – Section 2
7	Devonport – Takapuna Greenway – Section 3*
8	Belmont to Bayswater
9	Burns-Auburn Bypass
10	Takapuna-Lake Road Stitch
11	Killarney Parallel Route
	Lake Road Interim Improvements
*Integration with Takapuna Cycling Connection project - full extent of Greenway section may not require upgrading

17. During programme development, funding was secured through AT’s cycling programme to deliver on high priority LAMP projects. A list of prioritised projects was developed based on principles aligned with the overall LAMP principles, for delivery through the secured budget. Prioritisation principles are to select routes that:

· Have the highest existing demand

· Are easily implemented with appeal to a range of users

· Have community support

· Achieve value for money

· Deliver benefits distributed across the LAMP area and across different users

18. The Key Connections and Lake Road Interim Improvements projects to be prioritised are:

· Stanley Bay to Devonport

· Vauxhall Road Parallel Route

· Devonport - Takapuna Greenway – Section 2

· Devonport – Takapuna Greenway – Section 3 (integration with Takapuna Cycling Connection project - full extent of Greenway section may not require upgrading)

· Takapuna-Lake Road Stitch

· Lake Road Interim Improvements

This information is summarised in Figure 4 and Table 2. Selected Crossings and Cut-Throughs projects will also be delivered as part of this package of works.

Figure 4: Proposed Key Connections and Lake Road Interim Improvements projects to be prioritised

Table 2:Proposed Key Connections and Lake Road Interim Improvements projects to be prioritised

19. Local board endorsement will give AT assurance that it should put further effort and resource towards investigating and delivering interventions identified, noting that any projects initiated from this plan will need to go through community engagement in line with normal AT processes. The project team will continue to collaborate with the local board. Two further local board endorsements will be sought, firstly to progress each of the projects to Detailed Design and secondly to deliver the changes.

20. The LAMP is outlined in the workshop presentation slides in Attachment 1, which covers AT’s process in developing the LAMP, community insights gathered, the list of projects that make up the LAMP, and the proposed projects to be prioritised. If the LAMP is endorsed, AT will use the information in Attachment 1 to produce a more polished public facing document that can be ‘co-owned’ by AT and the local board. The public facing document will be circulated to the local board for feedback ahead of finalising.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

21. AT engages closely with council on developing strategy, actions and measures to support the outcomes sought by the Auckland Plan 2050, the Auckland Climate Action Plan and council’s priorities. This plan supports those outcomes.

22. Mode shift from private vehicle travel to active modes is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions. The initiatives contained in the LAMP will support a shift to active mode travel, especially for local trips, for those that are willing and able to do so.

23. The LAMP explicitly avoids major construction works. No detailed carbon calculations have been carried out on the programme. However, the low impact nature of interventions is likely to mean that embedded carbon construction costs and overall emissions are not high and will be more that off-set by emissions reductions from mode shift.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

24. This project is led by AT, but the project team will work closely with the Auckland Council Parks and Community Facilities team as there is a natural interface with active modes connections through reserves.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

25. Community input has helped inform the LAMP. The community will be engaged with on individual prioritised projects through the standard AT engagement process, so directly impacted members of the community who have not had input into the LAMP to date will still have an opportunity to have their say. The programme has focused on low-risk interventions which minimises the chances of significant adverse local impacts.

26. The local board project representatives were initially briefed on the LAMP in April 2025. The project team provided an update to the representatives in June 2025 as the programme was being developed.

27. Once community and stakeholder engagement was completed and the results compiled, a summary of the findings, the LAMP programme and proposed projects to be prioritised were presented at a local board workshop 26 August 2025. During this workshop, feedback was gathered, including:

· Strong support to give priority to Devonport-Takapuna Greenway Section 3 (northern section, Key Connection 7 in Figure 4 above) which connects to the Takapuna Cycling Connection (CATTR) project and offers an opportunity to upgrade a feeding walking and cycling route.

· Support for the Takapuna-Lake Road Stitch project Route 10 (Key Connection 10 in Figure 4 above).

· Support to integrate the LAMP initiatives with AT’s ‘Bikes in Buses’ trial by improving connections to the Northern Busway stations.

· Noting that Watercare work planned is planned for the northern end of Lake Road for new water main into Bayswater and Devonport. AT were requested to make contact with Watercare and explore opportunities to coordinate and implement LAMP changes while remedial works are being carried out. The water main construction is due in late 2026.

· Devonport-Takapuna Greenway already has high use so has strong potential with a few improvements.

· Highlighting that Northboro Road, Hauraki is an issue as it is spatially constrained fo buses and general traffic due to road layout and parked cars – adding broken yellow lines could benefit of active modes and bus operations.

· Noting that 17 crashes have occurred outside Takapuna Grammar School (time period not specified) - refer report to be supplied. Safety for students around this school is crucial.

· Request for improved legibility of maps presented, including making street names easier to read.

· Noting that the Devonport-Takapuna Walking and Cycling Guide is going to print and requesting that the project team refer to this for highlighted routes and consider these in planning for progressing the LAMP projects.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

28. The actions being considered do not have specific impacts on Māori. Both AT and council are committed to meeting their responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and its broader legal obligations in being more responsible or effective to Māori. AT’s Maori Responsiveness Plan outlines the commitment to 19 mana whenua tribes in delivering effective and well-designed transport policy and solutions for Auckland. We also recognise mataawaka and their representative bodies and our desire to foster a relationship with them. This plan is available on the AT website - https://at.govt.nz/about-us/transport-plans-strategies/maori-responsiveness-plan/#about.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

29. The design and delivery of the LAMP projects proposed to be prioritised is to be funded by AT’s Cycling Programme. In the future, the local board may choose to fund LAMP projects under its Transport Capital Fund.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

30. There are no risks identified with the local board endorsing this project.

31. Any future risks and mitigations in planning and delivery of the project will be notified to the local board through AT’s standard engagement process with the local board.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

32. Subject to local board endorsement of the LAMP and the projects identified for prioritisation, the AT project team will progress the first tranche of projects to Scheme Design and community engagement phases during the 2025-2026 financial year.

33. AT will seek two further endorsements of the prioritised projects, firstly to progress to Detailed Design and secondly to deliver the changes before construction commences. Delivery is currently planned for financial year 2027.

34. If the LAMP is endorsed, AT will use the information in Attachment 1 to produce a more polished public facing document that can be ‘co-owned’ by AT and the local board.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Devonport-Takapuna Local Active Modes Plan Local Board Workshop presentation slides	673

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Author

Lukas Adam -Senior Transport Planner, Auckland Transport

Authorisers

Tania Loveridge - Head of Active Modes, Auckland Transport

Trina Thompson - Local Area Manager

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Annual Report 2024/2025

File No.: CP2025/19824

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To seek local board adoption of the 2024/2025 Annual Report for the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, prior to it being adopted by the Governing Body on 25 September 2025.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Auckland Council Annual Report 2024/2025 is being prepared and needs to be adopted by the Governing Body by 25 September 2025. As part of the overall report package, individual reports for each local board are prepared.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whai / adopt the draft 2024/2025 Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Annual Report as set out in Attachment A to the agenda report.

b) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that any proposed changes to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Annual Report after the adoption will be clearly communicated and agreed with the chairperson before the report is submitted for adoption by the Governing Body on 25 September 2025.

Horopaki

Context

3. In accordance with the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 and the Local Government Act 2002, each local board is required to monitor and report on the implementation of its Local Board Agreement. This includes reporting on the performance measures for local activities and the overall funding impact statement for the local board.

4. In addition to the compliance purpose, local board annual reports are an opportunity to tell the wider performance story with a strong local flavour, including how the local board is working towards the outcomes of their local board plan.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

5. The annual report contains the following sections:

Section	Description
Mihi	The mihi is an introduction specific to each local board area and is presented in Te Reo Māori and English.
About this report	An overview of what is covered in this document.
Message from the chairperson	An overall message introducing the report, highlighting achievements and challenges, including both financial and non-financial performance.
Local board members	A group photo of the local board members.
Our area – projects and improvements	A visual layout of the local board area summarising key demographic information and showing key projects and facilities in the area.
Performance report	Provides performance measure results for each activity, providing explanations where targeted service levels have not been achieved. Includes the activity highlights and challenges.
Local flavour	A profile of either an outstanding resident, grant, project or facility that benefits the local community.
Funding impact statement	Financial performance results compared to long-term plan and annual plan budgets, together with explanations about variances.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

6. The council’s climate change disclosures are covered in volume four of the annual report and sections within the summary annual report.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

7. Council departments and council-controlled organisations comments and views have been considered and included in the annual report in relation to activities they are responsible for delivering on behalf of local boards.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

8. Local board feedback will be included where possible. Any changes to the content of the final annual report will be discussed with the chairperson.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

9. The annual report provides information on how Auckland Council has progressed its agreed priorities in the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 over the past 12 months. This includes engagement with Māori, as well as projects that benefit various population groups, including Māori.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

10. The annual report provides a retrospective view on both the financial and service performance in each local board area for the financial year 2024/2025.

11. There are no financial implications associated with this report.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

12. The annual report is a legislatively required document. It is audited by Audit New Zealand who assess if the report represents information fairly and consistently, and that the financial statements comply with accounting standard PBE FRS-43: Summary Financial Statements. Failure to demonstrate this could result in a qualified audit opinion.

13. The annual report is a key communication to residents. It is important to tell a clear and balanced performance story, in plain English and in a form that is accessible, to ensure that council meets its obligations to be open with the public it serves.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

14. The next steps for the draft 2024/2025 Annual Report for the local board are:

· Inclusion into the Auckland Council Group Annual Report to the Governing Body for adoption on 25 September 2025

· Physical copies provided to local board offices, council service centres and libraries by the end of October 2025.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Draft Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Annual Report 2024/2025	731

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Authors

Maureen Buchanan - Senior Advisor

Sugenthy Thomson - Lead Financial Advisor

Authorisers

Lou-Ann Ballantyne - General Manager Governance and Engagement

Brian Chan - General Manager, Financial Advisory

Trina Thompson - Local Area Manager

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

23 September 2025

2025 Local Government Elections - Meetings and Decision-making until new local board members make their declarations

File No.: CP2025/20178

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To provide for appropriate arrangements for decision-making between the final local board meeting of the current electoral term and the inaugural meeting of the new Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The final meeting of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board in this current term is scheduled for 23 September 2025. Between the final meeting and the first meeting of the local board in the new term, decisions may be needed from the local board. At the end of every term, temporary arrangements for making these decisions need to be confirmed.

3. The term of office of current local board members ends following the official declaration of the election results. The declaration will be publicly notified between 13 – 17 October 2025, with the term of office of current members ending and the term of office of new members commencing the day following notification.

4. For the period from the commencement of the term of office of newly elected members until the inaugural meeting when members are sworn in (interregnum), decisions may be made by the Auckland Council Chief Executive under current delegations.

5. The existing local board’s delegation to the Chief Executive requires, amongst other things, that staff consult with the allocated local board portfolio holder/lead on certain decisions. As a temporary measure, this report seeks to allow staff to make decisions without complying with the requirement for consultation during the interregnum.

6. This report also confirms that the urgent decision delegations and process that is already in place caters for making decisions at the local board level in the period between the final local board meeting and the official end of term.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:

a) whakaū / confirm that the local board’s existing urgent decisions delegations process will be utilised where decisions are required from the local board between the final local board business meeting (23 September 2025) and the end of term (18 October 2025).

b) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that from the commencement of the term of office of newly elected members until the inaugural meeting when members are sworn in (interregnum), all decision-making will be undertaken by the Chief Executive under current delegations.

c) tuhi ā-taipitopito / note that the Chief Executive will not be required to comply with consultation requirements in the local boards’ delegation protocols when making decisions during the interregnum.

d) tono / request that the Chief Executive exercise restraint when making decisions during the interregnum and to consider referring significant decisions to the first meeting of the incoming local board.

Horopaki

Context

7. Current elected members remain in office until the newly elected members’ term of office commences, which is the day after the declaration of election results (Sections 115 and 116, Local Electoral Act 2001). The declaration will be publicly notified on 17 October 2025, with the term of office of current members ending and the term of office of new members commencing on 18 October 2025.

8. The newly elected members cannot act as members of the local board until they have made their statutory declaration at their inaugural local board meeting (Clause 14, Schedule 7, Local Government Act 2002).

9. Between the final meeting and the first meeting of the local board in the new term, decisions may be needed on urgent matters or routine business as usual that cannot wait until the incoming local board’s first business meeting in the new electoral term.

10. As with each of the previous electoral terms, temporary arrangements need to be made and/or confirmed for:

· making urgent decisions before the end of term

· making decisions that require consultation with local board/local board members during the interregnum.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

Urgent decisions – arrangement for remainder of the term

11. Between the last business meeting and the declaration of results expected on Friday 17 October 2025, current local board members are still in office and can use their existing urgent decisions delegations to make decisions that are required from the local board during this time.

12. The urgent decisions process includes a delegation to the chairperson and deputy chairperson that enables them to make decisions on behalf of the local board where it is not practical to call the full board together.

13. All requests for an urgent decision will need to be supported by adequate staff advice and clear recommendations.

Decision-making during the interregnum

14. All local boards have made a general delegation to the Chief Executive. During the interregnum, any decisions that will be required from the local board, and which cannot wait until a local board meeting, will be undertaken by the Chief Executive under his existing delegations.

15. The delegation to the Chief Executive is subject to a requirement to comply with the delegation protocols, which require consulting with the local board on some decisions that are made by staff under delegated authority. Consultation is often done through a local board lead (referred to as a portfolio holder in the delegation protocols). The most common area requiring consultation is landowner consents relating to local parks. Parks staff receive a large number of landowner consent requests each month that relate to local parks across Auckland.

16. During the current term, while the elected members remain in office, staff will continue to consult with leads/portfolio holders as required by the delegation protocols (or chairperson where there is no portfolio holder). However, during the interregnum, staff will be unable to comply with this requirement due to the absence of appointed portfolio holders/lead/chairpersons to consult with.

17. As a temporary measure, it is recommended that staff continue to process business as usual decisions that cannot wait until the local board’s first business meeting without consultation. Following the election of chairpersons at the inaugural meetings, staff will consult with the chairperson when and if required and can resume consultation with appointed representatives once new arrangements for leads/portfolio holders are in place.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

18. This report relates to procedural matters and has no quantifiable climate impacts.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

19. The arrangements proposed in this report enable the council to proceed with necessary business during the election period. During the interregnum, staff will exercise restraint and ensure that any significant decisions are deferred to the incoming local board.

20. These arrangements apply only to local boards. The reduced political decision-making will be communicated to the wider council group.

21. The governing body has made its own arrangements to cover the election period, including delegating the power to make urgent decisions between the last governing body meeting of the term and the day the current term ends, to any two of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and a chairperson of a committee of the whole. From the commencement of the term of office of the new local board members until the governing body’s inaugural meeting, the Chief Executive will carry out decision-making under his current delegations.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

22. This is a report to all local boards that proposes arrangements to enable the council to process routine local matters during the election period. This will enable the council to meet timeframes and provide good customer service.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

23. A decision of this procedural nature is not considered to have specific implications for Māori, and the arrangements proposed in this report do not affect the Māori community differently to the rest of the community.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

24. This report and decision being sought relates to a procedural matter and does not have any financial implications.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

25. There is a risk that unforeseen decisions will arise during this period, such as a decision that is politically significant or a decision that exceeds the Chief Executive’s financial delegations.

26. This risk has been mitigated by scheduling meetings as late as possible in the current term and communicating to reporting staff that significant decisions should not be made during October 2025.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

27. The decision of the local board will be communicated to senior staff so that they are aware of the arrangements for the month of October 2025.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Authors

Rhiannon Foulstone-Guinness - Democracy Advisor

Shirley Coutts - Principal Advisor - Governance Strategy

Authorisers