LOCAL NEWS
RICHARD NORTHEY: - LOCAL BOARD CHAIR WAITEMATA We in Auckland have much to be grateful for, remaining at Covid Level 1 for our summer holidays so we can participate in and enjoy public events. The Prada Cup and America’s Cup flying yacht races, provincial men’s and women’s cricket, the Buskers’ Festival and Anniversary Day as well as our own marine and outdoor activities with our friends and families have been rich experiences. Robyn and I were joined at our Coromandel Harbour bach for our Christmas day lunch by our children and grandsons and we stayed there for swimming, fishing, boating and fellowship. The future of the Leys Institute should be decided early this year by Council’s Governing Body as part of its decision making on Council’s 10-year Budget (Long-Term Plan). The restoration of the Leys Institute buildings for library and public use and the creation of a park at 254 Ponsonby Road were major points in the Board’s own advocacy to the Governing Body that I made in a presentation to them on 11 November, about what should be prioritised in Council’s next Long-Term Plan. We also called for higher priority and more resources to be given to cleaning up our beaches and waterways, transport and road safety projects and action on climate change. The impacts of Covid mean that most local Councils are needing to increase rates by a double figure percentage next year and the Waitemata- Local Board is recommending a one-off 8% increase in the general rate and in the water quality targeted rate if we are not to go backwards in meeting these vital needs. When the time for public submissions comes, from 22 February to 22 March, it would be helpful for you to make a submission about these and other issues and priorities for Council. Waitemata- Local Board members will be out and about to hear your views on the Long-Term Plan including at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market on the morning of 7 March and a formal hearing on 9 March from 4.30pm at the board office. You can have your say online from the 22 February at www.akhaveyoursay.nz
the forest regrowth that is already happening and will absorb carbon better long-term. The pines are likely to be removed after the end of the bird nesting season around April. My heart goes out to the residents of Sheehan Street who had to leave their homes because of asbestos contamination from the Ponsonby Intermediate School fire. The official responses to this were not as rapid and coordinated as they should have been and I thank my fellow elected representatives, MPs Chlöe Swarbrick and Simon Court, for their efforts to overcome these problems. It appears that the law and policies need a review to ensure a lead agency can act effectively in situations like this. The Waitemata- Local Board has found the same sort of problems in official responses to homelessness and has written to the Minister of Social Development seeking the identification of a lead agency and better coordinated responses to homelessness related issues. Ponsonby Road will be an area for the Innovating Streets Tactical Urbanism programme. We have asked Auckland Transport to work closely with the Ponsonby community and businesses on activities to make the Ponsonby Road corridor safer and more user friendly for fun, getting around and business growth. To find out more about the project, visit at.govt.nz/ponsonbyroad Because of the continuing drought we all still need to limit our water use. The board office has reopened. I can be contacted on 021 534 546 or richard.northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz PN (RICHARD NORTHEY) I can be contacted at 021 534 546 or E: richard.northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
At that 3 November meeting we also debated and decided on the future of the forest on the eastern slopes of the Western Springs Lakeside Te Wai Orea Park. The Board believed that just taking out a few trees at a time would carry too great safety risks with it, and it would have delayed the reopening of the park to the public and the commencement of a planned restoration programme building on
22 PONSONBY NEWS+ February 2021
Buskers Festival
Last year, we carried out an extensive public consultation with our local community about our proposed Waitemata- Local Board Plan and at a special 3 November meeting we adopted it. This Plan will guide our actions for the next three years, in particular which of our local community activities we will be prioritising. Read our Plan at our website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/waitemata
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