LOCAL NEWS
Christmas in the Park
RICHARD NORTHEY:
Waitemata- Local Board Chair It looks likely that provided the rate of Covid-19 infections do not spike we will be able to open up our businesses and visit our family and friends out of Auckland for Christmas. I had my two vaccinations in June and July. I did it to ensure that I won’t spread the virus to anyone in my family, friends or my work. All of the Waitematā Local Board members are fully vaccinated, and we appeal to all of you to get double vaccinated as soon as possible. As well as getting vaccinated we all need to follow fully the rules set out by the doctors and health specialists who have the knowledge to make sure we don’t inadvertently catch or spread the Covid-19 virus. Auckland Council and the Waitematā Local Board are starting to develop ideas for our work programme for the next financial year. We welcome hearing your views and will be consulting you on these in February. Both the mayor and the Waitematā Local Board want to take more effective action to combat climate change and would welcome your ideas and support for such initiatives. At our 16 November Waitematā Local Board meeting, held entirely by Skype, we swore in, and welcomed Glenda Fryer to her first board meeting. We chose her because she was the top polling unsuccessful election candidate last time, has a wealth of Auckland Council and governance experience as a councillor and local board member who lives in St Mary’s Bay. She has hit the ground running and we will value her help with all our work over the next year. At that November board meeting the board agreed to the building of an attractive public plaza and a commercial and residential development above the carpark at 2 Pompallier Terrace. This will greatly enhance the Three Lamps area as an attractive destination while retaining the public toilets and parking provision there. Our December meeting will be at 1pm on 14 December and, because of Covid-19 restrictions, will be held by Skype or Microsoft Teams. Please contact the Board if you want to make a presentation to that meeting: waitematalocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
24 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2021
At our October meeting, the board also decided to apply to Auckland Transport under its 'regional streets for people programme' to upgrade the Rose Road Plaza. In November we decided on a Greenway from Cox’s Bay through the reserve to Jervois Road. Work continues on the design for the restoration and redevelopment of the Leys Institute buildings for a public library, gymnasium and meeting rooms. A project advisory group of local community people has been appointed to guide the project and we will meet for the first time this month. I will keep you informed and involved as this exciting restoration develops. The board has decided to recognise some great volunteers who are making a positive difference within the community and are awarding them the Waitematā Local Board 'Good Citizens’ Award'. To recognise the time and contributions of these exceptional volunteers four categories of awards will be given out: individuals, children and young people, community groups, and for long service to the community. The board members held a community clinic virtually on 13 October for those individuals and organisations who wanted to discuss a proposal or concern of theirs with us. Please contact the Waitematā Local Board at waitematalocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz if you want
to book in a time to meet us at our next clinic, which will be from 7pm on 8 December. Covid-19 means that the Waitematā Local Board office won’t be reopening until the new year. However, I can always be contacted at richard.northey@ aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or on mobile, 021 534 546. The Waitematā Local Board members and staff wish you and all the community the very best for the holiday season, Hannukah, Christmas and the New Year. We very much hope that your health and economic and social wellbeing will be very much better and more secure in 2022. (RICHARD NORTHEY, CHAIR, Waitematā Local Board)
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