jon turner’s 2022-2025 report
Jon and Bobby at the Puketāpapa Manu Aute Kite Day.
The 2022-2025 term started off with record-breaking rainfall in January 2023 that took a serious toll on Puketāpapa residents and wider Tāmaki Makaurau. In our area we saw many houses flooded alongside Te Auaunga, Wairaki and Te Whau or at risk from cliff fall alongside the Manukau Harbour. Our coastal pathway was devastated, with huge slips wiping out massive sections of the path—sadly, including our recently completed new pathway by Wattle Bay and our much-loved boardwalk by Taumanu Bay. Since then, we have seen houses bought out, community groups formed, and a big investment just announced from the Governing Body in fixing up the track network. We have seen Plan Changes be announced and walked back, Light Rail disappeared, water quality rules changed, and much more—it has certainly been a time of change! The Local Board also found itself being subject to a Judicial Review in July this year, which is working its way through the process—something that hasn’t happened in the history of the Puketāpapa Local Board. I’m limited in what I can comment!
Before I crack into it, I want to say a big haera rā/goodbye to my friend Bobby Shen who is stepping down from Local Board life at the end of this term. He has done so much for the community and it’s been great working with him over the last 6 years.
A few of our highlights from the term for me are:
The completion of the Hendry Ave safe cycle route that was paid for out of the Transport Choices fund set up by Central Government. This was the missing link in the connection alongside State Highway 20 which often had conflict between vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.
Civil works were finished in Kāinga Ora’s Roskill South development, which has seen lots of new trees and plants in the ground, plenty of new infrastructure including power undergrounding, and best of all nice new footpaths to get around in. It has been a really tough time for existing residents there over the last five years. However, the new homes are great and new residents love living there. I was lucky enough to attend a great Neighbours Day barbeque in Freeland Reserve, which saw old and new come together for kai and conversation.
Attending the opening of the new parks within the Three Kings development. This is a huge project that will bring hundreds of new homes and it was a pleasure to accept the gifted Māori names for streets and parks from mana whenua. It was good to be able to speak to the importance of maintaining the heritage te reo names for the streets, which were gifted to us by mana whenua.
I was very chuffed to be re-elected as the Chair of the Manukau Harbour Forum for this council term. The work on the Forum is a highlight of being a Local Board member for me and we continue to advocate for restoration of the Harbour: a multi-generational piece of work but a vitally important one for Tāmaki Makaurau. You can read my Chair’s report here.
The official discovery of Copper and Ornate skinks in sections of the Manukau coastal forest as part of the Herpetofauna Survey we funded in 2022. This will lead to an increased investment in pest control in these areas. I was responsible for getting this project back on the work programme after it was identified as a priority back in 2013.
Having the old Roskill Tennis Club be made available as an official council venue for hire, alongside the removal of the old tennis courts in Arthur Faulkner and building of flood protection.
Seeing the new public toilet built in Molley Green, with one coming very soon to Turner’s Reserve. Both long advocated for projects!
Auckland Transport funded an upgrade to what was formerly the Roskill Bike Kitchen as they included it into their Bike Hub network. Now open three days a week and doing a roaring trade in refurbishing bikes and helping people with their bike issues.
We had some good success with tree protection this term, getting the trees surrounding Three Kings Plaza and Three Kings Reserve officially scheduled. We also successfully opposed an application to remove three trees on Pah Road from the schedule, thanks to the support of the Tree Council and hard work by Bobby in the notification process.
Bobby’s long advocacy for undergrounding the power lines on Parau Street has finally paid off, with this work beginning in 2023. This means that residents are able to actually use their footpath! The undergrounding projects are run and funded by Vector and Entrust but this is only Mt Roskill’s first one in 10 years so it is great to see us get our fair share.
Seeing the Puketāpapa bike train rolling! This was a piece of work I led alongside Richard Barter and Kat Teirney to get the funding from Auckland Transport for, and which many people have been involved in the development of. Wesley Primary now regularly has 20 students cycling to school and it is being rolled out to more schools in Term 4, getting set up for next year.
The Puketāpapa Bike Train gets rolling.
Getting the Pōhutukawa that line Mt Albert and Mt Eden Roads around the Three Kings precinct scheduled as notable trees – protecting them in perpetuity.
Seeing the track network in Waikōwhai slowly be repaired, restoring access to this beautiful part of the board area. It is good to see that the majority of them have retained their ‘natural’ track feeling – while there are more bridges and boardwalks, the vast majority of it has remained either dirt or gravel. Great for walking and running, and a real sense of being in nature.
Shade shelters being built at Keith Hay and Fearon Park.
We welcomed having the Football Ferns based at Keith Hay Park on the Number 1 pitch for the Women’s World Cup. We were stoked to be gifted a mural by Hannah Wilkinson of the moment she scored the now legendary goal!
Lots of new bus shelters being built, including the long-advocated for ones at Roskill South!
Jon very happy with the new bus stop on Richardson Road.
The new crossings at Glass Road and outside Waikōwhai Intermediate, which have had a huge impact on keeping this road safer for kids walking to school and to play at the park.
We saw the installation of solar panels on the Mount Roskill Library, largely funded by Central Government, which will lead to a decrease in running costs.
Securing a massive investment in environmental funding, including the Wairaki Catchment Plant implementation.
Recently, seeing a ‘Friends of Waikōwhai Park’ established. This group has the potential to do great work in the park, with lots of tracks to maintain!
Having the Frost Road greenway extended up to connect through to Mt Albert Road. Bobby and I actively pushed to get cycle safety built on Mt Albert Road at the intersection, including proper separation and cycle lights.
Working with the new Arts House Trust on moving forward the Pah Homestead relationship after the reset. They are seeing huge increases in visitor numbers, partly due to the new café but also due to the great events they are running and exhibitions. Well worth a visit.
All of our great events—Culture Fest, Matariki on the Maunga, Molley Green Day, Diwali, the Wesley Markets, the night bike ride and so much more. It’s always great seeing people from across Puketāpapa and beyond out and about enjoying themselves.
I haven’t captured everything we achieved over the term, and I’ve stayed away from any of the disappointments over the last three years. Thank you to the area for electing me to this position—I really do enjoy it and have learnt so much.
Ngā mihi
Jon Turner
