Since 2010, the City Vision-led Waitematā Local Board has achieved results for you by combining a progressive vision with responsible financial management. Here are the highlights of what we have achieved and the projects we have underway that we hope to take forward with the community into the next term of the Waitematā Local Board.
Parks, recreation, sports, and community facilities
2013- 2016
- Completed Stage One of the Myers Park upgrade including new playground, lighting and the installation of CCTV. Secured funding for stage two of the upgrade
- Upgraded playgrounds in Tole Reserve, Costley Reserve, and Salisbury Reserve
- Commenced the upgrade of the Western Park playground and the Grey Lynn Park playground
- Re-installed the flying fox at Western Park
- Confirmed funding for the development of multi-purpose clubrooms in Grey Lynn Park and a new home for the Richmond Rovers
- Provided additional funding to the Grey Lynn Community Centre to expand community outreach
- Opened the refurbished Studio One | Toi Tū with improved community art and exhibition spaces
- Secured funding for the development of the new Fukuoka Friendship garden in Western Springs
- Allocated funds to the West End Tennis Club rooms refurbishment (through the Central Facilities Partnership Committee)
- Supported the development of a Grey Lynn pump track with a $30,000 contribution from the Community-Led Small Build Programme
- Delivered local improvement projects such as new bbqs at Cox’s Bay and additional skate elements at Victoria Park
- Secured funding and delivery of a new Victoria Park entranceway as part of Auckland Transport’s bus stop improvements on Fanshawe Street
2010 – 2013
- Oversaw the completion of the Judges Bay upgrade and the historic Tepid Baths
- Won funding for and completed 2 all-weather sports fields at Seddon Fields with additional car and bike parking facilities
- Opened a new skatepark at Victoria Park
- Re-opened Newmarket Park following significant remedial work
- Secured funding and signed-off a development plan for a significant upgrade of Myers Park
- Re-opened Campbell Free Kindergarten on Victoria park as a community asset after refurbishment by NZTA (now leased to Circability Trust – Auckland Harbour News story here)
- Refurbished the Leys Institute Gym to provide for significantly greater community use (the gym is now operated by the Ponsonby Community Centre)
- Extended public library hours at Grey Lynn Library, Leys Institute Library and Parnell Library (now open until 5.30 p.m. Mon. – Fri.)
- Installed drinking fountains in parks and on our streets (ongoing)
- Commenced planning on a coastal walkway from Meola Reef to Pt Resolution
Quality urban design and heritage protection
2013 – 2016
- Continued the Symonds Street Cemetery restoration with planting, new signage and trails
- Started the upgrade of the Ellen Melville Centre as a community hub
- Completed the Domain Masterplan as part of the Auckland Domain Committee
- Developed the Earthquake Prone Buildings – guidance and approaches: a practical document for building owners, tenants and building managers with particular relevance to assuaging the concerns of owners of heritage buildings in the city who are concerned about the high costs and practical difficulties of bringing those buildings up to the new, more stringent, seismic code
- Completed the Weona-Westmere public reserve coastal walkway (opening end of September 2016)
- Completed the Newton and Eden Terrace Plan (in collaboration with the Albert-Eden Local Board)
- Completed the Newmarket Laneways Plan and finalished a design for a major Teed Street upgrade
- Completed an inner city through-links network guide to be published in October. This is a long-awaited project that documents, for the first time in one place, the various through-links and viewing platforms that have been granted throughout the inner city as resource consent conditions granted for the concession of bonus floors on high-rise buildings
- Completed planning and design for the Heritage Foreshore Walk which will illustrate and mark out Auckland’s dramatically different pre-1840 shoreline
- Completed the Karangahape Road Precinct Plan
- ‘Re-Imagining Great North Road’ community-led planning fund approved for Great North Road at Grey Lynn and Arch Hill
- Plans are also underway for the upgrade of Point Erin pools as a premier lido swimming pool
2010 – 2013
- Won the right for all RMA notified resource consents and demolitions to be referred to local boards
- Replaced Pt Resolution Bridge from Parnell Baths to Tamaki Drive with a beautifully designed bridge incorporating an innovative bike ramp
- Commenced work on the long overdue restoration of the Symonds Street Cemetery (ongoing)
- Established a working group with community representatives to successfully deliver a Ponsonby Road masterplan
- Re-established the iconic Three Lamps on Ponsonby Road (a legacy project from the Western Bays Community Board)
- Won the opening up of public spaces promised by developers in return for bonus floor space but long closed off due to lack of compliance under the previous Council
- Oversaw the removal of the (illegal) billboards from the historic St James Theatre
- Instrumental in winning heritage and character protections provided for in the draft Unitary Plan
- Led the way for the SkyCity overbuild on Federal Street to be cancelled providing for the development of the shared space that is now there
- Initiated the Newmarket Precinct Plan for the streetscape improvements of Teed, York and Kent Streets (ongoing)
- Initiated the development of a draft Domain Masterplan
- Progressing the development of the Weona Westmere public reserve coastal walkway
- Secured funding for a significant redevelopment of Ellen Melville and Pioneer Women’s Hall to create a vibrant inner city hub
Transport choice and solutions
2013 – 2016
- Advocated for construction and opening of Parnell Station and provided funding for a station connection to Nicholls Lane
- Backed the Harbour Bridge pathway SkyPath
- Championed a significant increase in funding for cycleways that has led to the completion of the Te Ara I Whiti | Lightpath, Nelson St cycleway, Quay St cycleway and a central programme of cycleways
- Worked with Auckland Transport on the Ponsonby Road pedestrian experience project
- Secured the upgrade of Franklin Road with undergrounding of power lines, stormwater separation, new footpaths, road surfacing, pedestrian crossing and cycle lanes
- Advocated for the implementation of the Freemans Bay and Ponsonby Residential Parking Zones (to go live in October) and parking zones in all central city suburbs
- Instrumental in securing the funding (from the City Centre Targeted Rate) for Beach Road Cycleway and Walkway Stage 2
- Successfully advocated for improved pedestrian safety such as walking improvements at the Grey Lynn shops and in the city centre.
- Ensured Auckland Transport leveraged maintenance budget to provide safety improvements for all road users such cycle feeder lanes and stop boxes on Ponsonby Road as part of a resurfacing project
- Successfully advocated for the removal of parking minimums from the Unitary Plan
- Advocated for new improved local bus services as part of the New Network to be rolled out in 2017
- Successfully advocated for the inclusion of a new outcome in the City Centre Masterplan: A walkable and pedestrian- friendly city centre, moving towards zero pedestrian deaths or serious injuries as a result of vehicle collisions.
- Initiated a street tree planting policy and identified locations for new street trees (including three new tree pits on Williamson Ave as part of the Countdown development)
- Installed three on street drinking stations
- Worked with the residents on Hakanoa Street, Grey Lynn to retain historic blue stone kerbing and fix up poor workmanship by Auckland Transport’s contractor
2010 – 2013
- Advocated successfully for the implementation of the St Marys Bay residential parking scheme trial and the City Centre parking zone
- Implemented the Richmond Road safety action plan resulting in slower speeds around Richmond School, a new signalised pedestrian crossing and a safer walk to school
- Supported Travelwise safety improvements at Bayfield, Parnell, St Josephs and Newmarket schools
- Pushed for the installation of traffic calming and new footpaths on Motions Road and slow speed strips on Ponsonby Road
- Contributed to the funding of upgrade footpaths at the Grey Lynn shops
- Significantly increased bike parking across the Waitematā area (on going)
- Supported the installation of car share car parking spaces on inner city streets
- Re-built the Coxes Bay boardwalk with provision for walking and cycling as the first priority route for the Board’s greenways plan
- Delivered a Greenways plan to connect our parks and open spaces with safe and pleasant cycling routes including a route through the old Parnell Tunnel
- Initiated the concept of a “Bike Corral” on Ponsonby Road
- Committed to a new Parnell Station, City Rail Link, the Harbour Bridge pathway SkyPath, Grafton Gully cycleway and increasing investment in walking and cycling
- Acknowledged as a Board with “Transport vision” as set out in our Local Board Agreement (drafted by the City Vision transport portfolio team)
Local economic development
2013 – 2016
- Active support for our 7 business associations:
- Supported and help fund the Parnell Inc BID expansion
- Supported the scoping study and implementation Plan for an Uptown Innovation project
- Supported city fringe economic development
- Completed the local Economic Development Plan
- Funded small business clinics and market research
- Funded events that benefit the local economy including the Festival Italiano in Newmarket
2010 – 2013
- Funded the roll-out of Newmarket free WiFi in partnership with the Newmarket business association
- Established the Eden Terrace business association
- Instrumental in Auckland becoming a Fairtrade City
- Ran a successful series of “Good for Business” seminars in partnership with AECOM for business association members
- Instrumental in Council support for social enterprise and the establishment of the Social Enterprise Launchpad forum
- Initiated a Local Economic Development Plan for the city fringe (currently under consultation with local business associations)
- Progressing the re-development of Station Square, Newmarket and ensured that the budget for establishing the access way to Broadway was restored to the Council budget
Thriving communities
2013- 2016
- Increased community funding to $125,000 per year for grants to community and sports groups
- Established an accommodation grant fund
- Funded the POP programme, a free, annual contemporary arts programme
- Funded the Inner City Network and Inner City Neighbours Day event
- In January 2015 registered the Waitematā Local Board with UNICEF as the first local board to be working toward “child friendly” accreditation.
- Funded Child Friendly Cities initiatives such as Think Big – the creation of a consultation website for children
- Supported a Community-led design process for the development 254 Ponsonby Road with open space
- Resourced and supported the work of the Waitemata Youth Collective
- Member of the local boards’ Community-led Placemaking Champions Place that published Communities shaping their communities – a good practice guide
2010 – 2013
- First Board to establish smoke free playgrounds and sports fields
- Strong support for the creative arts – gave grants for Art Week, made funding available for art programmes for young people and youth at Art Station, gave grants to community groups for local murals and provided strong advocacy to maintain Arts Alive funding
- Instrumental in ensuring the long term survival of Basement Theatre by putting in place a community lease
- Commenced a programme of painting murals on utility boxes
- Established a $100,000 per year local events fund that supports local events such as Art in the Dark, Grey Lynn Park Festival, Franklin Road Christmas lights and the Italian Festival (ongoing)
- Increased community funding to $100,000 per year for grants to community and sports groups
- First Board to become an “accessible board” with an Accessibility Plan. Made Parnell Festival of Roses Auckland’s first “accessible” event
- Won funding for the ATC waterfront theatre development
- Completed a youth needs assessment and committed to making young people and children a priority
- Undertaking the restructuring and remodelling of Art Station to ensure it succeeds and becomes sustainable as an exciting and high standard arts facility that meets the needs of its community and benefits all Aucklanders, in particular those in Waitematā.
- Played a crucial role in the decision of the governing body to give a grant to Holy Trinity Cathedral Selwyn’s vision project
- Secured the long-term future of Parnell Trust with a one-off grant
Environmental and sustainability initiatives
2013 – 2016
- Continued ecological restoration work across Waitematā including at Waipapa Stream, Lemington Reserve and Auckland Domain
- Supported Council work to reduce the use of sprays in streets and at parks
- Became the first board to develop a Low Carbon Action plan and community low carbon network
- Supported the community gardens with development, capacity building and skills workshops
- Provided a $20,000 grant to secure the on-going sustainability of Kelmarna gardens
- Stood with the community to save the six majestic Pōhutukawa trees on Great North Road (opposite MOTAT)
- led the way in having our Urban Forest assessed as at 2013, to be followed shortly by a 2016 comparison, which will then be rolled out for the whole metropolitan area. This data is of great interest to all those wishing to preserve and increase our trees on public and private land.
- In partnership with the Albert-Eden and Puketāpapa Local Boards secured a site for the areas first community–led resource recovery centre
2010 – 2013
- Won the scheduling of 80 trees for protection
- Actively working to establish a community–led resource recovery centre in partnership with the Albert-Eden and Puketāpapa Local Boards (ongoing)
- Working with the community on the restoration of Waipapa Stream (ongoing)
- The first Board to develop a Local carbon reduction emissions plan
- Ecological restoration programme that led to the planting of natives and weed removal at Arch Hill Reserve, Jaggers Bush, Alberon Reserve, Meola Reef Reserve, Cox’s Bay Reserve, Saint Stephens Church and cemetery and Motions Road Reserve
- Provided additional funding to the Sustainable catchment programme to improve water quality in Motions Creek and Meola Creek
- Native restoration of the Western Springs pine stand bush area funded
- Adopted a zero waste policy for local events
- With local residents planted fruit trees in Grey Lynn park and provided support to the Freemans Bay community garden
- Declared Waitematā a GMO free area and advocated for strong controls in the Unitary Plan
Prudent financial management and local decision making
2010 – 2016
- Met community priorities within budget
- Managed the Board’s finances and ratepayer funds prudently and carefully planned, monitored and spent within budget
- Established a fund for the renewal of assets to ensure all renewals are fit for purpose
- Committed to effective community engagement and local decision making
- Adopted an approach of extensive community engagement on the Local Board Plans 2012 and 2014
- Committed to genuine and meaningful partnership with mana whenua
- Acknowledged as strong advocates for residents to ensure local decisions are made locally
- Worked hard advocating for our communities to the governing body (the Mayor and Councillors), and Council Controlled Organisations
- Established a strong working relationship with the Mayor and governing body and worked closely with Waitematā and Gulf Ward Councillor Mike Lee
- Instrumental in the establishment in 2012 of Auckland Transport’s $10m local board capex fund for local transport projects. We took the issue to the Strategy and Finance Committee that led to a CEO review and favourable outcome for all local boards
- Instrumental in the re-establishment of the Central facilities partnership fund
In addition, over the last six years the City Vision team have led and delivered on the Board’s input into every significant regional strategy and policy including the Auckland Plan, Long Term Plan, Annual Plan, Unitary Plan, Regional Land Transport Plan, Waste Minimisation and Management Plan, Thriving Communities Action Plan, and Bylaws review.
Consistently, it is the City Vision team that puts the hard work in and provides a strong, local voice, and skilled and experienced advocacy on behalf of the community.
Waitematā Local Board annual Achievements reports on the Auckland Council website here