Category: Local Government

Source: Auckland Council

Wondering what to do with the kettle that doesn’t boil, the wonky chair no one will sit on or the laptop that freezes?

From this Saturday, Aucklanders close to Western Springs have a new convenient location where they can take their unwanted items to save them from landfill.

The Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre in Western Springs has its official opening ceremony this Friday 11 August, with members of the public then invited to tour the centre from 2.30pm to 5pm.

It brings the number of Auckland Council Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) open in Auckland to 11, which Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee Richard Hills says is a significant milestone.

“Our goal was 12 community recycling centres operational by 2024. We’re on track to reach that goal one year early due in part to $10 million from the Government’s Covid Recovery Fund which helped to fast track the development and supported council funding approved in the 2021 ten-year budget.”

“I know the community will celebrate the opening of the Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre and the Resource Recovery Network, they have worked tirelessly over many years with council’s waste team and supported by local board members with vision and passion for zero waste.”

Auckland Council’s goal is to expand to 21 CRCs and two large resource recovery parks by 2030, ensuring most urban Aucklanders live within a 20-minute drive of a convenient place to bring or buy items.

CRCs serve as a one-stop shop where Aucklanders can take items for recycling, reusing or repairing, or where they can buy pre-loved items. The aim of the centres is to keep waste out of landfill and support a circular economy. They also serve as educational hubs to encourage people to move from a take-make-dispose mindset to a reduce-reuse-recycle one.

In the past year, existing community recycling centres have diverted 77 per cent of the materials they have received from ending up in landfill. They have also created more paid jobs and volunteer opportunities as the number and diversity of materials brought in has increased.

Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre itself was developed with sustainable principles in mind. As well as repurposing an existing heritage building, the refurbishment incorporated recycled materials and a reusable covering instead of single-use plastic shrink-wrap as temporary protection during remedial work on the roof.

The development of the centre has involved contributions from a wide range of local community groups, including mana whenua Ngati Whātua, Albert-Eden, Waitematā and Puketāpapa local boards, and local kura / schools, such as Western Springs College. The MPHS Community Trust is responsible for operating the centre.

Community Recycling Centres are often run by social enterprises on Auckland Council land working in partnership with local communities.

Where:

Te Taupuni Hangarua ā-Hapori o Waiōrea / Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre

990 Great North Rd, Western Springs, Auckland

When:

Friday 11 August, official opening invitation-only

From 2.30pm until 5pm, open to the public.

Opening hours from Saturday 12 August are:

Thursday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm

Source: Auckland Council

Puketāpapa residents’ thoughts and comments are needed to help shape plans for the next three years.

The proposed plan prioritises upcoming neighbourhoods, and community facilities as two key areas of focus for Puketāpapa.  

With less than a week left, the draft Puketāpapa Local Board plan consultation is open until 14 August and needs feedback from the community to know if it’s on the right track.

Board Chair, Ella Kumar explains, “Our plan aims to concentrate on our three rapidly growing neighbourhoods, Wesley, Waikōwhai and Three Kings – to ensure they are included, supported and well connected.”

“We’re also committed to ensuring facilities are efficiently delivered in partnership with community, so they meet expectations and are well-used.”

“Our area is unique and super diverse. I love that I can walk down the road and see people from all around the world. It is the diversity of our people and their connection to this place that makes Puketāpapa so special. We need to preserve this as we respond to our developing neighbourhoods,” says Kumar.

While diversity and culture are huge benefits, intensification can put pressure on existing communities, networks and facilities. Additionally, the council’s budget challenges will increase difficulty with maintaining a large and ageing facilities portfolio.

The good news is current and future urban growth can provide opportunities to attract investment from other agencies, which deliver long-term plans for the future.

The plan is to investigate, in future, how community can access services and facilities, connect through shared spaces, and where there are gaps considering population growth. It also plans to have support programmes that meet community needs and support leadership within diverse communities of those neighbourhoods.

To ensure investment in parks, facilities and projects are prioritised where they are needed, the board proposes to work closely with housing developers and seek external funding to improve neighbourhoods. Planning ahead with agencies can ensure provision for facilities and open space, such as the Three Kings development, which will have affordable long-term operational costs.

The board also proposes to investigate opportunities for facilities to deliver services better and reduce costs. Another initiative to address this is to look into community partnerships that can be delivered from community-owned facilities – enabling collaboration and increasing capacity across the neighbourhood.

What are your thoughts on this? The local board is fully open to suggestions from Puketāpapa residents.

Have your say here.

Source: Auckland Council

Completion of another 80m drillhole at Muriwai marked the seventh of the nine planned holes in the study completed. Drilling will continue Oaia Road on borehole BH-M02. Remaining drillhole BH-M04 on Domain Crescent is due to be completed week of 14 August (see below image).

Drilling locations (red dots)

Ground investigations have progressed well. The critical data so far has been included in the reports that will be released in draft at the end of August. The extracted drillcore has shown expected geology, such as Awhitu Sand Formation in BH-M03 (drillcore image below). Samples are due to be sent to a laboratory for testing and ground water monitoring will continue beyond the completion of the programme.

Drillcore – highly weathered Awhitu sand formation

Drilling set up on BH-M03

Source: Auckland Council

Time is running out to have a say on the future of your community.

Consultation on three-year plans developed by Auckland Council’s 21 local boards closes on Monday 14 August and Aucklanders are being asked not to miss the chance to give feedback on them.

The draft plans guide decisions on how your area is managed by the council and how each board shapes its local priorities.

This can have a significant influence on local community facilities and services.

It’s easy to have your say – just fill out the online form at akhaveyoursay.co.nz/localboardplans by 14 August.

Make sure you have your say

Auckland Council General Manager Local Board Services, Louise Mason, says that time is running out to make sure your feedback is counted.

“Everyone has a strong interest in what goes on in their own neighbourhood, and the decisions made that could impact the services and facilities there.”

“Local boards set their strategic direction through the local board plan process, and every decision made for the next three years will be guided by the principles and focus areas now being set.”

“The other factor is, of course, the budget. With a reduction in the amount of money available to each board to spend because of the wider budget challenges facing the council, each board has a real challenge to make the most of every dollar available to them.”

“So make sure you let your board know what is important in your neighbourhood is even more important now before consultation closes.”

About local board plans

Local board plans are strategic, three-year plans. Public feedback enables local boards to identify and prioritise the key outcomes, initiatives and projects that are of most value to their communities.

This information will be considered as each of the 21 local boards finalise their plans for the 2023-2026 period, for publication at the end of this year.

They will include focus areas or outcomes for the local boards to concentrate on, such the environment, diversity, working with mana whenua, climate issues and ensuring local community facilities, parks etc meet the needs of their communities.  

About local boards

Local boards provide governance at the local level within Auckland Council. They enable democratic decision-making by, and on behalf of communities within the local board area.

There are 21 local boards with between five and nine members elected to each board (149 local board members in total).

Local boards are charged with decision-making on local issues, activities and services, and provide input into regional strategies, policies, plans and decisions.

Source: Auckland Council

Toi tu te kupu, toi tu te mana, toi tu te whenua – Spoken by Tinirau of Wanganui as a plea to hold fast to culture, because without reo, mana and whenua, the essence of being Māori would be lost.

Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua has lost a great leader with the passing of George Flavell, QSM.

Franklin Local Board Waiuku subdivision representative Sharlene Druyen says she was in awe of his generosity of spirt.

“George was beyond generous with his time, was endlessly patient and always willing to share his genuine affection for not just his own Ngaati Te Ata tangata, but all people.”

“His love of the land was unrivalled and there is a wonderful whakataukii that sums him up beautifully. Kāore te kumara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka – the kumara does not say how sweet he is.”

“George’s humility was inspiring, and his passion for the land equally so.”

Awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for his commitment to the protection of Māori cultural sites and important locations within the of Ngaati Te Ata rohe (watch video here – 13.30secs in), he was also a master carver who willingly passed on his skills to a new generation.

Franklin Ward Councillor Andy Baker says his astonishing knowledge of history and paa sites underpinned his love for conservation.

“I don’t believe you could count the number of hours he committed to documenting sites of special significance, protecting their management from anything that might put them at risk.”

“He was the educational resource for the iwi, and we feel the pain and join in the mourning for the loss of a truly great yet humble leader.”

When he received the QSM, he told an interviewer the award stood with climbing Taranaki as a 76-year-old as highlights of his life, but quickly added, only alongside “applying tikanga to every mahi we engage in”.

Board chair Angela Fulljames says in honouring his passing, there needed to be recognition that his journey was not without obstacles, some put in place by councils and the like.

“The strength he exhibited in raising awareness around cultural values and land preservation appeared to know no bounds.”

“His gentle persuasion, humility and kindness hid a steely determination that was at the heart of his mahi over many years, years that educated board members, councillors, farmers and especially children at kura about sites special to iwi.”

George believed in creating relationships and I recall him saying: He waka eke noa – we are all in the waka together. The words would be delivered with a little smile that reached his eyes and filled you with hope.”

He leaves a legacy at the tip of the Aawhitu, where he was involved in the Mahanihani restoration project, complete with carved pou.

Born in 1936, George was the eldest son of Bill and Kahurimu Flavell – a name that derives from d’Flavelle, the ancestors who fled France for England during the French Revolution, going on to arrive in Aotearoa early in the 1800s.

George’s early interest in creating things continued throughout a life that despite his other commitments also saw him made a life member of the Waiuku Museum Society, and an expert on whaanau whakapapa, west Franklin geography and the environment.

As a recognised Ngaati te Ata historian, he also represented the iwi at indigenous leader hui, including in Hawaii in 2018.

During his QSM interview he was asked his hopes for the future, replying simply, “educating our next generation of rangatahi to keep the fires burning”.

 Kua hinga te totara i te wao nui a Tane – The totara has fallen in the forest of Tane.

Source: Auckland Council

From school composts to innovative products in construction, your idea could be worth up to $50,000 if it helps keep waste out of landfill.

During August, Auckland businesses and community organisations can apply for grants up to $50,000 for projects that help prevent or reduce waste.

Auckland Council’s annual Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund / Te pūtea Whakamōkito Para me te Auahatanga is open to applications until August 31, 2023.

The fund supports projects that help reduce waste and reuse or recover resources as part of the council’s goal of sending zero-waste to landfill by 2040.

Now in its tenth year, WMIF has so far approved more than $5 million for over 500 projects that support or achieve waste minimisation activities in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Auckland Council’s General Manager Waste Solutions Parul Sood says she is always impressed by the ingenuity of the projects and their wide range of benefits.

“In reducing waste, these initiatives protect the environment, and many provide economic and social benefits. Some have the potential to change the way industries operate.”

Two recent grant recipients worked on products to replace wasteful practices in the construction industry:

• Bracedon creates reusable temporary bracing which replaces the need for timber during house construction. Timber struts are often not used again and end up in landfill.
• CLEVA Pod system replaces polystyrene used as a space saver in house foundations. Polystyrene bonds with the concrete and other materials making it unusable at the end of the foundation’s life. CLEVA Pod has multiple environmental advantages over polystyrene.

This year for the first time, organisations applying for grants under $5000 can opt to provide part of their application in the form of a video.

“This gives applicants the flexibility to tell their story in creative ways. The application form is 23 pages long which can seem onerous if you are only applying for a small and simple project. The video portion effectively replaces half of the application form and can be created using your phone,” says Parul.

Community groups, schools and businesses within the Auckland region are eligible to apply for grants between $1,000 and $50,000. The funds must be spent in the 2024 calendar year.

For more information go to the Auckland Council website and search ‘WMIF’.

Source: Auckland Council

Regional parks, growth-related community assets, sports fields, cemeteries and public art are among a range of assets for Aucklanders that have had almost $50 million of funding confirmed through Auckland Council’s Capital Investment Work Programme. The funding for financial year 2023/2024 was approved by councillors in the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee on Thursday.

“The funding is a timely and significant capital investment for Tāmaki Makaurau and will help the region continue to regenerate following on from the extreme weather events earlier this year,” says Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee. 

“This funding will have a positive and tangible effect on our public facilities and is necessary to ensure our environmental, cultural and community taonga are protected and enjoyed now and into the future.”  

Close to $7 million has been invested in regional parks’ infrastructure. This includes upgrading community facilities, car parks, walking tracks and public toilets. 

“Aucklanders love our regional parks, their recreation opportunities and the biodiversity they protect, this investment will help improve the experience for our residents and enhance the experience of visitors at regional parks across Tāmaki Makaurau.” 

The Auckland Botanic Gardens has been allocated just over $2 million for extensive upgrades including to the irrigation systems and water features. 

“Many residents and visitors to the city really enjoy a day out at the Auckland Botanic Gardens and this investment will make visiting this iconic taonga even more enjoyable,” Councillor Angela Dalton, Deputy Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee says. 

“Many residents and visitors to the city really enjoy a day out at the Auckland Botanic Gardens and this investment will make visiting this iconic taonga even more enjoyable,” Councillor Angela Dalton, Deputy Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee says. 

The Botanic Gardens funding is part of close to $16.4 million of the total Capital Investment Work Programme budget allocated to the Regional Renewals and Development work programme and will also fund regional parks, farming, holiday parks, cemeteries and Pukekawa/Auckland Domain. 

Meanwhile, $950,000 will go to slips prevention and remediation which will help areas already affected and build resilience for the future.   

Investment highlights 

Auckland Botanic Gardens 

A number of small-scale assets will be renewed such as nursery irrigation, shade house facilities, CCTV, some paths, interpretation signage and car park lighting. Funding allocation: $2.2 million.  

Pukekawa / Auckland Domain 

The sports field drainage and wastewater pipe network will be upgraded, and the path network will be upgraded and extended.  Funding allocation: $1.4 million.  

Regional parks 

Some key projects that will benefit from $6.7 million funding include improving Long Bay water supply and rebuilding the workshop at Shakespear Regional Park. Work will also be done at other sites including Atiu Creek and the Hunua Ranges. Funding allocation: $6.5 million. 

Local parks and sports field development 

New growth-related parks including Te Kori Scott Point (Hobsonville), Ray Fausett Reserve (Franklin) and a new neighbourhood park in Ōrewa. There are also major upgrades to East View Reserve (Glen Innes), David Lange Reserve (Māngere), Colin Maiden Park (Stonefields) and Riverhead War Memorial Park. Funding allocation: $10.9 million. 

Slip prevention and remediation 

Significant work will be carried out to protect the Parnell Baths site and access from rock fall. Work will also be carried out to construct a retaining wall to protect the fence and boundary line at Crawford Reserve (Howick). Funding allocation: $950,000. 

Public art 

The archway of Waharoa in Aotea Square will undergo remedial work.  A 3D laser scan will mean a digital record can be kept. New collaborative work is planned with Circuit to create six new digital media art works in locations around Auckland. 

Source: Auckland Council

Space for a kura, issues around mangrove removal, the need for better playgrounds, road safety, speeding cars in suburban streets and dozens of other community issues were raised at Papakura Local Board’s Have Your Say event.

Held in the Sir Edmund Hillary Library, board chair Brent Catchpole says the in-person event provides members with a chance to interact with the public.

“It’s easy to take part online at Council’s Have Your Say site, but there’s no substitute for meeting with people who have something to say.”

“What happens is that you can have a discussion at a meaningful level because people can explain what they mean, hear responses and ask further questions.”

He says having foreshore adaptation experts on site and being able to provide information on other consultations, such as on speeds around schools, was an added bonus.

“The event became a bit of a one-stop shop, which is exactly what we wanted. And we even had Cook Islands Language Week events going on at the same time for the little ones.

“We can’t promise ukelele music at Te Paataka Koorero o Takaanini when we do it all again on Wednesday 9 August between 10.30am and noon but we’d love to see more people telling us what they want included in our plan.”

Manurewa got good feedback at its in-person event. While there are no more events, there is still time to submit online.

Neighbouring Manurewa Local Board has also held an in-person event, local board chair Glenn Murphy says it gave members access to residents making impassioned pleas for their communities.

“I won’t say there’s no substitute for talking directly because there is. While our in-person event might be over, there’s still time until consultation closes on 14 August for people to have a say online.

“Local Board Plans are really important because they set out the way forward in your local areas, and the more we hear from our people, the more we have to base our decision-making around.”

At Franklin, the city’s most southern board – and one of its biggest, stretching from coast to coast, consultation events continue at Awhitu, Kawakawa Bay and Beachlands over the weekend.

Turnout at other events has been down on previous years but board chair Angela Fulljames says the bulk of submissions usually don’t come until the final week. “We hope that pattern is repeated because the local board plan is probably the most significant document locally. It governs where we head in local communities for the next three years.

“There’s still time to get involved, and I’d encourage everyone to do so.”

Information and a link to Have Your say for Papakura is here, for Manurewa here, and for Franklin here.

Stay connected

To sign up for a board’s monthly e-newsletter go here for Papakura, here for Manurewa or here for Franklin.

Source: Auckland Council

The “roaming pig of SH16”, who had avoided capture for the last couple of weeks, has finally succumbed to the lure of food and walked into a specially laid trap. It is now being looked after at the Henderson Animal Shelter. 

“We’re delighted to have caught this animal. It’s eluded everyone for some time but it’s satisfying to know it is safely contained and no longer a danger to motorists on the busy State Highway 16,” says Auckland Council Animal Management Officer Clarke Trethowen.

This afternoon at 3.15pm the council’s Animal Management team received a priority call from police to say the pig had been caught. The camera set up by Waka Kotahi to monitor the area the pig had been seen frequenting, alerted officers it was trapped.

Two officers were immediately dispatched, with one officer heading directly to scene and the other to collect the stock trailer.

On arrival the AMO confirmed the pig was safely contained in the trap, and with help of Waka Kotahi and Police, was able to load it onto trailer without incident and it was safely transported to the Henderson Animal Shelter.

The pig will remain a guest at the shelter until it is claimed; if the owners does not claim it, Auckland Council will begin the rehoming/adoption process.

Source: Auckland Council

Understanding the flood risk for your property has become simpler thanks to a new online tool launched by Auckland Council. The Flood Viewer is a free application that breaks down complex, technical flood risk data into an easy-to-understand format and sits alongside practical advice on how to prepare for floods.

Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters Head of Planning, Nick Vigar says a key step in being ready for severe storms is improving people’s preparedness for floods and awareness of flood risks.

“If Aucklanders know they live in a flood hazard area, they can plan to manage stormwater on their property, and know what to do before, during, and after a flood.”

Flood Viewer is easily accessible on your smartphone, tablet or desktop from the Auckland Council website. Aucklanders will be able to explore a searchable map showing flood plains, flood prone areas, overland flow paths, and coastal inundation areas. Flood maps will be continually updated, and Aucklanders can check the viewer regularly to remain up to date with the information about their properties.

“We’re providing people with information, but also suggesting ways to make their properties and families more resilient in a flood, such as moving vehicles and animals out of low-lying areas and making improvements to their property to reduce flood risk. As wFloodviewe learn to live with more frequent extreme weather and flooding, we need to build resilience into our homes and communities.”

“We see people using this tool not only to understand the flood risk where they live now, but also as part of making informed decisions when looking at somewhere new to buy or rent. Previously, access to flood risk information was only available by purchasing a Land Information Memorandum (LIM report), or through the GeoMaps tool (available on desktop only).

“Tāmaki Makaurau experienced unprecedented flooding in 2023, and we can expect more frequent events like these in the future. Auckland Council has made increasing community resilience to floods a priority, and part of this is giving people the tools to make smart decisions to prepare themselves and their homes.”

Auckland Council is prioritising flood readiness, and from today is seeking Aucklanders’ views on Making Space for Water, a proposed series of stormwater improvements including increased maintenance, community, and site-specific solutions to manage flood risks. If approved, the programme would include a significant investment in stormwater infrastructure in our city. In the meantime, council is accelerating work areas like flood modelling, enabling the development of Flood Viewer.

As part of the consultation throughout August, the council also wants to hear feedback from Aucklanders to develop the Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Plan. This will provide an opportunity for Aucklanders to share their experiences of the extreme weather earlier this year and communicate their needs and aspirations for recovery in general.

The Have Your Say consultation period started today and will include community drop-in sessions and online information sessions. Aucklanders have until 31 August to share their views. Visit www.akhaveyoursay.nz/stormrecovery for more information.

Auckland Council is also currently consulting on the Auckland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan, visit https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/cdem-group-plan for details.