6 minute read
RICHARD NORTHEY, WAITEMATĀ LOCAL BOARD CHAIR
The Wairangi Wharf
We have been consulting on our council and Waitematā Local Board budget.
Our board successfully advocated to council to retain our range and quality of council services, to progress the Ponsonby Park project and the restoration and upgrade of the Leys Institute, and to agree with the three-quarters of our residents who supported a targeted rate to enable council effectively action to combat climate change. This targeted rate would reinforce our board’s own extensive and diverse work promoting low carbon lifestyles.
The daylighting of the Bayfield Stream and the creation of a better path and bridge linking Coxs Bay Reserve to Wharf Road was celebrated and blessed on Thursday 30 June. The Waitematā Local Board made a total of $30,000 in grants to the Western Springs Football Club to contribute to providing better fields and women player facilities, largely in response to being allocated hosting rights for an international team to train there during next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Wairangi Wharf (above) and the paths through Point Erin Park have been restored and we have decided to enhance the play equipment in that park, choosing the option preferred in public consultation. Wellpark Reserve has a new bridge, and in Myers Park, the restoration of the historic cottage and installing a notable artwork as part of improvements to the lower entrance to the park are proceeding now.
The Waitematā Local Board consulted on providing a new loop track in the Western Springs Forest and, when the great majority of submitters supported it, resolved to proceed with the project. At our May and June meetings we made grants to a wide range of valuable community organisations and projects. One of our grant recipients, the Holding Spaces Aotearoa Collective of Composers, promoting climate change action, played an example of their inspiring music at our May Board meeting.
Covid-19 has, both directly and indirectly, been the major cause of increased stress, crime, unwanted night-time noise, drunkenness, intimidation, and anti-social behaviour throughout Auckland, but particularly in our inner-city town centres and business districts. I have been pleased that the council staff, Eke Panuku, business association members, residents, local MPs and councillors have joined local board members in working together to find ways to restore safety, address homelessness, reduce anti-social behaviour in these trying times, and to welcome students, visitors, artists and other people back to these areas. We are working regularly with these bodies to enhance the resurgence of the central city which is now well underway. The celebration of Matariki, with exciting events throughout the city, also enhanced this resurgence.
The council has just concluded the first stage of its consultation on potential changes to the council’s unitary plan, particularly the strengthening of its housing intensification provisions, which are now required of metropolitan councils by legislation passed jointly by the National and Labour Parties. I agree that it is a high priority to act effectively to respond to the housing crisis by providing more affordable housing close to community facilities and infrastructure, particularly in our inner suburbs.
However, we ought also to protect our heritage and the best of our urban character and quality of family life in the city and our inner suburbs. We will carefully consider the views local residents have expressed on these issues now the time has come for us to give our feedback as a board on them.
Our next Waitematā Local Board meeting is on Tuesday 12 July from 1pm. People who want to speak in public forum are welcome to apply to speak and to join the meeting at the board office in Swanson Street. For others, it is being held on Microsoft Teams. If you want a less public dialogue with us, you can arrange to meet board members at our community clinic on 13 July from 7pm. (RICHARD NORTHEY) PN
Songwriters 4 Climate Action
BIG SHOES TO FILL I am really missing the support and chats with my dear friend John Elliott who has become a father figure in my life. Most months, I’d check in to hear what subjects he planned to cover for his features and to share our opinions. Then at other times, we’d have long calls just to ‘chew the fat’.
I knew when not to ring, during the News or the cooking shows, not that he was a cook, he left that to his lovely wife, Cait. I also knew not to call him after 7.30pm when he was ready for bath and bed. Having made that mistake once when he became a ‘cantankerous old bugger’, I say this with deep love for this man having a tired and grumpy moment. Only us Kiwis will realise how much of a compliment that is to my dear friend. He followed it with an apology, and as true friends do, we forgot about it and moved on.
Over recent months when John has been unwell, I have taken it upon myself to extend my letters to the editor into some features, knowing that I am not filling John’s slippers, let alone his shoes.
It’s been weeks since our last brief call when he complained about hospital food - and no wonder, in comparison to Cait’s cooking. He has been too ill to chat with since. Hopefully, he’ll soon get back to telling stories of his days in parliament with an office next to Winston and when Muldoon was Prime Minister, or of the current woes that affect us in the community that he loves.
Gael Baldock, Community Advocate
LOCAL NEWS JOHN WILLS RETURNS TO HIS OLD STOMPING GROUND
After a short stint away from the residential real estate coalface to spend time with the family and re-charge the batteries, John Wills is back in our local area and doing the job he loves so much.
Well known to many in the area, John has been a high-profile fixture on the local real estate scene for almost two decades. He started selling real estate in Ponsonby in late 2003 and then founded his own boutique agency in Grey Lynn during the 2008 recession.
During the month of June, John signed up with the busy and productive team at Bayleys in Ponsonby and is now running full steam ahead with a number of local listings already on the market.
Over the course of such a lengthy career, John has had success in all market environments and is looking forward to ‘rolling the sleeves up’ as we all move into the busy and rapidly approaching seasons of spring and summer.
We have a feeling you will be seeing a lot more of John around the local scene and of course at open homes and auctions. He is certainly known for being real, approachable and a very safe pair of hands.
Please feel free to give him a call at your convenience. PN
PROVEN
IN ALL MARKETS
John Wills: Proven In All Markets.
The team at Bayleys in Ponsonby would like to take the opportunity to welcome John Wills back to the local area he knows so well. John brings two decades worth of experience and an absolutely proven track record of success on the Western City Fringe. Experience, work ethic and communication skills are what is required out in the marketplace at present, and John brings all of these to the table for his clients. John is back, and ready to serve.
Please feel free to get in touch in confidence.
John Wills 021 333 053 john.wills@bayleys.co.nz
