Category: Auckland Council

Source: Auckland Council

If you or your whānau need assistance and would like to find out about support services available for storm affected Aucklanders, come along to one of our upcoming drop-in sessions.

At these free drop-ins, you can speak to one of our Storm Recovery Navigators one-on-one about your situation. Our team can help connect you with support agencies, provide you with information about recovery, and help you access wellbeing, social and health services.

At these free drop-ins, you can speak to one of our Storm Recovery Navigators one-on-one about your situation. Our team can help connect you with support agencies, provide you with information about recovery, and help you access wellbeing, social and health services.

We know that recovery is challenging and we are here to help you get back on your feet.

Upcoming drop-ins

Storm Recovery Navigators will be available on Tuesdays at the following locations:

Location	Time
Wesley Markets	17 October 9am-12pm 7 November 9am-12pm
Muriwai (Portacom next to the Ranger Station)	17 October 3pm-7pm 31 October 3pm-7pm
Central Library (CBD)	24 October 2pm-6pm
Epsom Library	31 October 2pm-6pm 21 November 2pm-6pm
Wesley Community Centre	7 November 2pm-6pm

Stay up to date

We will continue to update this page with new drop-in sessions, so please continue to check in.

If you are unable to attend the drop-in sessions, you can contact Navigators directly by emailing navigators@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Source: Auckland Council

From mid-October, Manukau residents can start using Auckland Council’s rukenga kai (food scraps) collections service.

Over the past month, nearly 100,000 food scraps bins have been delivered to residents in South Auckland.

Many Papakura residents are familiar with separating their food scraps for kerbside collection having a service since 2018. Now the rest of South Auckland will have their chance to divert food scraps from landfill.

Manukau Ward Councillor Alf Filipaina says the food scraps collection service is an important step in providing a sustainable future for our communities.

“From an environmental perspective, I’m proud of the contribution our communities will be making by diverting food scraps from landfill and putting them into the food scraps bin. The food scraps will be used for renewable energy and liquid fertiliser ensuring a better and healthier future for our children.”

Food waste in landfill is recognised as a global contributor to climate change. In landfill, it produces methane which is a greenhouse gas much more potent than carbon dioxide. It is estimated that diverting food scraps from landfill will save more than 21,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent every year.

Each household will receive a kerbside bin, a kitchen caddy that stays indoors, compostable bin liners and an information booklet. Translations of the booklet into other languages are available on the Auckland Council website. Language translations include te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Chinese, Hindi and Korean.

The food scraps bins will be collected kerbside weekly along with residents’ weekly council rubbish collection.

Once collected, food scraps from all over Auckland are taken to a central facility in Papakura for initial inspection and consolidation. The food scraps are transported by truck to the Reporoa Organics Processing Facility in the central North Island where they are converted into renewable energy and liquid fertiliser.

For the journey to Reporoa, the food scraps are loaded into trucks that have hauled construction material from the Waikato to Auckland. These trucks would otherwise be going back to the Waikato empty, so the collection does not result in additional trips.

Using anaerobic digestion technology, the food scraps are broken down into renewable energy and liquid fertiliser. Renewable energy in Auckland’s case is used to grow tomatoes in glasshouses next to the Reporoa facility, while the fertiliser is spread on neighbouring dairy farms.

Kī ana te rukenga kai i ngā taiora, mā tātou e huri hei rauemi.

Food scraps are full of nutrients, let’s turn them into a resource.

For more information about the food scraps collection visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/foodscraps

Source: Auckland Council

A new accessible facilities changing room at Albany Stadium Pool has opened, providing the first public bathroom for Auckland pool users with any type of mobility requirement.

Specialised equipment and the bathroom’s spacious layout will allow children and adults with reduced mobility – due to disability or reliance on a wheelchair – to be safely showered, changed, and use the toilet [independently or with support, if needed] in a comfortable and private space – possibly for the first time.

Adam Wakeford, a wheelchair user of high-needs facilities, says Albany’s changing room will open the door to inclusion for many people in his community.

Prior to suffering a neck fracture in 2001, Adam frequently swam and surfed in his spare time – but hasn’t been in a pool now for 20 years.

“This facility will definitely increase my chances of getting in the water again and doing something I loved,” Mr Wakeford says.

“Other Auckland swimming pools do have accessible toilet facilities but they’re generally not suitable for visitors who need extra support. Albany’s new bathroom will demonstrate how organisations can start to provide equitable access.”

Adam Wakeford says the new changing room will open the door to inclusion for many people.

Adam has been involved in Albany Stadium Pool project from the beginning and is pleased to confirm the finished design meets Lifemark® standards, endorsed by CCS Disability Action.

The bathroom’s enclosed area can accommodate a carer and wheelchair comfortably, with an adjustable toilet seat, shower seat, flat change bed, a hoist and basin – all controlled using remotes. It also features an automatic door, slip-resistant floor, and a mirror positioned for those who are seated.

Paralympic gold medallist swimmer and Wheel Black Cameron Leslie says the bathroom also offers new opportunities for athletes recovering from serious injury and focused on recuperation.

“Hats off the to Auckland Council for taking the initiative here. Fully accessible facilities are a constant challenge to find. Albany pool will support a key group of people to get into a pool more readily and achieve their fitness goals,” Mr Leslie says.

Upper Harbour Local Board Chair Anna Atkinson says the accessible facilities bathroom has been a significant investment with $205,000 contributed by the board, but it’s one that will really benefit users.

“It’s the right thing to do to ensure that everyone can enjoy a public swimming pool. Often adults and children with high needs don’t get to participate with family members and friends. While accessible facilities were not provided when the pool was built, I’m pleased they are now. I’m sure the new facility will enhance the mental and physical wellbeing of those facing everyday mobility obstacles,” says Chair Atkinson.

Albany Stadium Pool first opened in 2017, with the accessible facilities project initiated not long afterwards. The bathroom’s actual build has faced numerous challenges over the years including legal copyright issues, design changes and supply delays for specialised imported equipment.

Auckland Council’s Active Communities General Manager Dave Stewart has commended the council’s Aquatics Facilities team for ensuring the project stayed on track so Albany Stadium Pool could officially open the door this month to visitors of all abilities, no matter what age or stage of life they’re in.

“Our staff have worked tirelessly to overcome many obstacles, with a focus on ensuring equitable access for everyone – no matter what their requirements may be. I am proud of this commitment, and we can now celebrate having a public swimming pool that caters for everyone.”

How will the facility be managed?

• Albany Stadium Pool’s accessible facilities changing room requires a swipe card to open the sliding doors, which will be available at the front desk.
• Bookings are not needed. The changing room can be used anytime during pool opening hours however there may a slight wait during busy times and group visits.
• Two wheelchairs are available for use in the pool.
• A ramp and hoist are available to assist wheelchair users into the pool.

Source: Auckland Council

With the days getting longer and warmer, now is a great time to download Watercare’s customer app and keep a closer eye on your water usage.

The app, which was first launched for smart meter customers, is now available to all Watercare customers. People can compare their water use, billing history, pay a bill for one or multiple properties, receive notifications or talk to Watercare’s customer services team over live chat. 

Watercare head of customer experience Jason Pascoe says customers appreciate the convenience and flexibility of accessing their account information from their mobile devices – anytime and anywhere.

“What I like most about the app is that it enables us to notify people of leaks straight away.

“I also like the app’s intuitive design which allows customers to navigate between the different screens seamlessly.

“What appeals to customers most about the app is that they can interact with us and set their own water consumption target, which they can work towards to become more water efficient and keep their bills as low as possible.

“Most residential customers will find huge benefits from installing the app, especially those who live in a home with a smart meter”.

“Those who have a smart meter will be able to get more specific information from the app like incremental half-hour water consumption updates, which makes it easier to identify a water leak or avoid a high bill.”

Pascoe says what’s next on the agenda for the Watercare app is to introduce a Faults and Outages push notification.

“Beyond that we’re exploring how we can best provide customers with flexible billing options to give them the power to stay on top of their bills more easily.”

Download the Watercare app for free from the App Store or Google Play store.

If you would like to go in the draw to win a $500 gift card, please see the link for more details. The prize draw closes at 5pm Thursday, November 30. 

Source: Auckland Council

What lies beneath?

It is surprising what underground infrastructure can reveal as Auckland Council contractors discovered when excavating the partially collapsed stormwater pipe on College Hill for upgrade work. The works were being undertaken following the January flooding.

As Auckland Council’s General Manager Healthy Waters, Craig Mcilroy explains, a piece of the city’s construction history was uncovered.

“When trenching in August close to the junction of College Hill and Beaumont Street we uncovered a 19^th century double brick lined drainage tunnel, constructed before the city’s foreshore began at what is now Victoria Park.

“After discussions with Heritage NZ it was agreed we could carefully remove the damaged section of the drain to enable the installation of line.”

The tunnel’s bluestone base with double-lined brick above has been largely preserved except for where it clashes with the new pipe being installed.

Pipes being installed are a significant advance in sustainable concrete production. The 2.5 metre pipes with a 600mm internal diameter are made of low carbon concrete that achieves a 22 per cent reduction in emissions compared with a traditional concrete pipe.

Hynd’s Group Sustainability Manager Dr Jackson MacFarlane says the development of these pipes is an important milestone in their sustainability journey.

“By using these pipes for the project, we were able to avoid over 4.4 tons of CO2eq emissions.

“Auckland Council have set an ambitious embodied carbon reduction target and we’re proud to support them.”

The is the first time Healthy Waters have used low carbon pipes, which are manufactured by using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash and blast-furnace slag as a substitute for traditional cement, the most carbon intensive element of concrete.  

Auckland Council has identified concrete used in its construction projects, along with diesel from machinery and vehicles, as one of the greatest contributors to its carbon footprint. 

Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan commits Auckland Council to reducing carbon emissions in line with national and international commitments and has set itself a target of a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2023 with a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

The installation of pipe running from the intersection of Beaumont Street and Victoria Street West to England Street started Monday October 9. The $2.86 million project is expected to be completed in late December. 

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council’s Governing Body has unanimously voted to accept the proposed cost sharing deal with the Crown to fund more than $2 billion of flood recovery and resilience works, including buying-out Category 3 properties.

The decision today followed consultation with Aucklanders, in which more than 80% of submitters expressed support for the deal. 

The deal includes:

• Making Space for Water initiatives: $820 million to fund projects that will help build resilience against future flood events, including the core aspects of the Council’s Making Space for Water initiatives. These initiatives include increased maintenance, stream rehabilitation, culvert and bridge upgrades, overland flow path management, and the roll out of “blue-green” networks in critical flood-risk areas (which are stormwater solutions that enhance parkland and open space).
• Transport Network Recovery: $390 million towards the recovery costs of the transport network directly impacted by the storms. Example projects include Mill Flat Road Bridge, access to Karekare and Piha and underslips on the Bethells Road.
• Category 3 buy-outs: $774 million to purchase an estimated 700 residential properties where there is an intolerable risk to life and it is not feasible to mitigate this risk.

The cost share agreement secures $1.076 billion of Government funding for these projects. This includes 62% of the estimated capital cost of the Making Space for Water projects ($380 million), 79% of the transport recovery costs ($110 million Crown funding and an expected $199 million from the National Land Transport Fund via Waka Kotahi), and 50% of the cost of Category 3 buy-outs ($387 million).

Decisions on buy-out scheme

Auckland Council’s Governing Body also made decisions today about how it was going to undertake the process of buying-out Category 3 properties.

Under the details of the agreed approach, insured Category 3 homeowners will be offered 95% of the pre-flood market value of their property. The remaining 5% of the property value will operate like an insurance excess.

Uninsured Category 3 property owners will be offered at least 80% of the pre-flood market value of their property, which may be increased up to a maximum of 95% subject to considering the special circumstances of those property owners.

Mayor Wayne Brown said that a fair balance had to be struck.

“Eight months on from the floods, many Aucklanders are still dealing with that devastation. We have agreed to the Government’s proposal to give them a helping hand out of it. That is the right thing to do.”

“On the other hand, we are asking all Auckland ratepayers to pay higher rates to make this happen. They will be paying off the debt associated with this decision for decades. I feel the weight of that responsibility. We are also on a fixed budget and had to be make decisions which gave us some confidence we could complete this process within the budget.”

“I particularly want to thank members of the affected residents’ groups who told their stories and have asked us to get on with this. I know it’s been really hard for you, and we listened.”

The Mayor emphasised that the approach must not been seen as a precedent for future buy-outs.

“As a Council we do not and cannot insure private properties against the hazards of coastal erosion and climate change. Rates are not insurance premiums. We have made it clear throughout this process that the government needs to come up with a national scheme, so we’re not just doing things piece by piece with future weather events.”

Making Space for Water and transport recovery

The deal also includes significant Crown support for Making Space for Water and transport recovery.

“As Mayor, I am particularly focused on the fix-up work required to make our region more resilient to future weather events. This deal will enable us to move faster on those plans, rolling out the Making Space for Water programme and reinstating a range of transport infrastructure to help our communities return to a sense of normal.”

The Auckland Council Recovery Office will be in touch with affected residents with more detailed timeframes.

Source: Auckland Council

Recent water testing by Auckland Council’s Research and Evaluation (RIMU) returned positive for leptospira (the bacteria that causes leptospirosis) at Lake Wainamu and we’re asking the public to avoid direct contact with the lake and the stream while further testing is carried out.

Our teams are working closely with Auckland Regional Public Health Service to monitor the contamination and determine the level of risk.

If you have been in or near the lake or the stream, that flows from the lake to Te Henga / Bethells Beach, and become unwell, we advise you to immediately see your GP and mention the possibility of leptospirosis.

As soon as the Safeswim team was made aware of the leptospira reading, ‘high-risk’ flags were issued for water quality concerns (swimming not advised) and safety warning (toxic bacteria leptospira) alerts against Lake Wainamu. 

We have also installed physical signs at the head of the public access track in the car park. The lake has been closed to the public since the storm events of early 2023 (and remains closed). Additionally, as part of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, dogs are not permitted in or near Lake Wainamu.

Additional testing is being considered for the lake, and particularly the stream which flows through the Te Henga / Bethells Beach settlement.

What is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is an acute illness caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria. Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, cough and red eye, and people affected often need hospital treatment.

It is not uncommon to see leptospira in rural waterways where feral animals are present and it can persist for a long time in freshwater bodies such as lakes and streams. (Source and for more: Auckland Regional Public Health Service website)

Where is Lake Wainamu?

Lake Wainamu is approximately two kilometres inland from Te Henga / Bethells Beach. The lake is within Lake Wainamu Scenic Reserve and administered by Auckland Council as part of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. A small portion of the lake edge and buffering vegetation is on private property.

How did Auckland Council become aware of this?

Auckland Council was recently contacted by a member of the local community and alerted to a case of leptospirosis. Subsequent testing of the water in the lake (conducted by Massey University) came back positive for leptospira.

Source: Auckland Council

This weekend and the coming days, we’re continuing to ask the public to heed advice to stay out of the Waitematā Harbour – no matter how great the water looks!

Watercare is hard at work building a bypass pipe and pump station to divert flows around the blockage, which will end or significantly reduce the overflows entering the harbour. Its role in the wastewater side of the business is about protecting the environment, and it’s one we know they take seriously.

Auckland Council’s Safeswim team is working closely with Watercare. This includes daily tests of the water quality across the Waitematā Harbour to assess the impact of the wastewater overflows at the beaches so everyone can get back in the water as soon as possible.

“Like all Aucklanders, we want everyone enjoying our waters once again. Thank you to the public for their patience and understanding as we work alongside Watercare to resolve this,” says Nicholas Vigar, Auckland Council Head of Planning (Healthy Waters).

“We encourage all Aucklanders to check safeswim.org.nz before heading out for a swim for the latest information. If one of your local beaches is not yet on Safeswim, please treat the same as all Safeswim sites in the Waitematā and do not swim.”

What are we doing?

As soon as the Safeswim team were made aware of the sewer blockage and wastewater discharges to the Waitematā Harbour, all the beaches within the Harbour were immediately issued with precautionary ‘black’ water quality alerts.

A black alert is used to indicate wastewater discharges to water and elevated health risk to beach users. Watercare and Auckland Council are working together to update Safeswim with black water quality alerts accordingly.

Auckland Council and Watercare also issued physical signs at approximately 20 popular beaches and wharves – including 4-5 signs at Mission Bay, where we are now.

This weekend

We are continuing to take a precautionary approach, working with independent public health experts to assess the impacts of the wastewater overflows.

If you need your fix of swimming this weekend, try one of the beaches on the North Shore, around Howick or Bucklands Beach or Maraetai Beach – or head to one of our beautiful regional parks and make a trip of it with a picnic.

Source: Auckland Council

Early this morning, Tūpuna Maunga Authority received news from the site maintenance team that the recently built auto-gate at the Manukau Road entrance at Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill had been significantly damaged.

On early inspection, this morning, gate specialist was on site and suspect the auto-gate has been hit from the front by someone trying to get on to the Maunga. The damage incurred meant the gate was inoperable and took some time to fix, affecting use of the roadway for early morning visitors to the Maunga leaseholders and residents. We believe the incident occurred between 2 am and 4 am.

The roadway and area at the Manukau Road entrance have now been made safe and is open again for vehicular use. However, the auto-gate arm will need to be replaced and this will take approximately two weeks to repair. 

Paul Majurey, Chair of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority says, “We are disappointed to hear about this incident. The Tūpuna Maunga are wāhi tapu to Mana Whenua and should be safe spaces for all our community to enjoy. These types of actions cause frustration to all of us that cherish these taonga.

If anyone is aware of what may have happened at the scene, please contact New Zealand Police on 105 or contact the Tūpuna Maunga Authority team through Auckland Council customer service on (09) 3010101 for a confidential discussion.”

The gate was put in to improve security and to protect our Maunga from vandalism, thefts, and anti-social behaviour after hours. Earlier this year in May the copper dome roof on Stardome Observatory was stolen causing $200,000 worth of damage – just one of the incidents that led to the installation of the gate. This current incident reinforces why the auto-gate has been important to install – improving the safety for our visitors, leaseholders, and residents.

The Authority has successfully installed automatic gates throughout Tāmaki Makaurau at Takarunga / Mount Victoria, Maungarei / Mount Wellington, and Ōwairaka / Mount Albert. Where they have been utilised to make the tihi (summit) of the Maunga vehicle free areas while allowing limited mobility users to still enjoy.

The Tūpuna Maunga Authority have reported the incident to police and will increase security while the gate is being repaired. We will share further information about the repair job and how Tūpuna Maunga users will be affected as this information comes to light.

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council has made a commitment to manage the impact from vehicles on significant ecosystems bordering Muriwai Regional Park with ongoing summer restrictions.

The council’s Planning, Environment and Parks Committee approved measures today to ban motorised vehicles from Te Oneone Rangatira / Muriwai Beach during high-risk and peak summer periods for the next three years.

These measures include closing the beach to vehicles during Guy Fawkes for the first time this year and at the height of summer holidays.

Planning, Environment and Parks Committee Deputy Chair Councillor Angela Dalton says the decision provides a consistent approach to address ongoing safety concerns at Muriwai Beach and continue our efforts to protect ecology in the regional park. 

“This reaffirms that we are serious about looking after Muriwai Beach. Many residents in the area have been through significant hardship this year and we acknowledge the community is still in recovery.

“Every summer, vehicles on Muriwai Beach create safety issues and concern around driver behaviour. We need to ensure a responsible pathway is chosen to manage this risk and address some of the long-term damage associated with driving on the beach.

“Closing the beach to vehicles for short periods is a great compromise, given that many people would like us to go much further with restrictions,” says Cr Dalton.

As a result of the committee decision, Muriwai Beach will be closed to vehicles during the following dates – reopening subject to a fire risk assessment by Fire and Emergency New Zealand:

• 29 December 2023 to 15 January 2024
• 31 December 2024 to 13 January 2025
• 31 December 2025 to 12 January 2026

Vehicle access to the beach will also be closed during Guy Fawkes for the next three years. This will cover the date fireworks go on sale until the Monday after Guy Fawkes Day (2-6 November 2023), to mitigate fire risk to the area.

Physical barriers will be installed to manage the closures and signage will go up prior to the restrictions.

Auckland Council’s Regional Parks Principal Specialist Stephen Bell says a high volume of vehicles have been reported on the beach after the Coast Road access point re-opened on 4 September.

“In the past seven months, the beach and its surrounding environment has started to recover, with dunes revegetating and protected seals, kororā / little penguin and other shorebirds returning to the area,” says Mr Bell.   

“Now that everyone has access again, we’re keen to see that the ecological gains made are not jeopardised by non-permitted activities in the area.”

“Under the current bylaw, moto-x /trail bikes, quad bikes and any other off-road vehicles without a current warrant of fitness or registration cannot be driven on  the beach. Unpermitted vehicle activity is having a major impact on some of our most threatened species and damaging the sand dunes. We’ve already had reports of serious harm caused to wildlife in the area.

“People need to understand how fragile this environment is and to be aware of how they impact on their surroundings, especially other visitors, shorebirds and animals on the beach.

“Camping in the dunes is not permitted and fires present a significant risk to the environment and adjacent forest,” Mr Bell added.

Fire and Emergency supports restrictions, given the heightened fire risk during summer to 12,500 hectares of pine forest that runs alongside isolated stretches of the beach.

Rodney Local Board Chair Brent Bailey says Muriwai Beach provides a unique opportunity for everyone to work together to ensure a better outcome.

“A wide range of recreational users are brought together on the beach every summer – from dog walkers to families picnicking, surfers, fishers and 4WD vehicle users.

“It’s important to ensure we are proactively managing risks so everyone knows what to expect and can plan ahead to make the most of their visit. I hope these new measures will raise awareness and make this beach being a safer, more protected environment we can all continue to enjoy.”

The committee’s three-year management approach follows a range of precautions the council has taken for the past three summers to limit vehicle activity on the beach during peak times, including seasonal closures for vehicles, signage, barriers, education and a permit system.

Further measures are being considered for the future, including additional vehicle restrictions and charging for permits. The council and Auckland Transport are also reviewing traffic-related bylaws and may consider fines for unpermitted vehicles on beaches.  

The council’s regional parks team has worked closely with iwi and a community advisory group to gather feedback on vehicle management and driver behaviour at Muriwai leading up to today’s decision.

Throughout summer, Auckland Council will monitor the impact of vehicles on Muriwai Beach, along with other agencies including Police, Auckland Transport, and Fire and Emergency.