LETTERS & EMAILS

WHO TO SERVE We are witnessing the end of the second Elizabethan Era with the passing of the Queen, who, for 70 years, put her service to her people before herself and her family. Just hours before her passing, Her Royal Highness left her sickbed to welcome in the new U.K. Prime Minister. When entering politics, the first decision is, “who do you serve?”

Mike Lee has made it clear in this statement: “Those politicians fail to understand that the primary role of an elected representative is to represent the public to the council not the other way round” - his years in the navy taught him service to the people. In contrast, some view this as merely a job interview for their next career move.

One example is Waitematā Local Board member, Graeme Gunthorp, He holds the ‘Transport Portfolio’ on the WLB and has been in the habit of moving motions without notice after Auckland Transport’s monthly report, which then promptly pass, giving the impression that they have been previously ‘caucused’ by the City Vision majority.

Several months ago, Gunthorp put forward a motion to restrict delivery vehicle access from Queen Street to only between 7am and 11am. I asked if shops and delivery companies had been consulted. They had not, nor had the business association, Heart of the City. I also asked about disabled parking, and only then did he concede and amend his motion to include disabled parking in side streets. Even though Wellesley and Victoria are too steep to allow car doors to stay open for wheelchair accessibility, he wouldn’t be swayed.

Since then, Wellesley to Mayoral Drive has been made car free, again without disabled access to the mobility impaired car parks across from the Town Hall and by Auckland Library.

It was with interest that I recently read Gunthorp’s tweet on Twitter, “Incredible week: finished my MBA and got a new job at Auckland Transport as programme director - City Centre Transport Integration (translation: Head of A4E).” i.e. ‘Access for Everyone’ as per the ‘Centre City Master Plan’ www.aucklandccmp.co.nz/access-for-everyone-a4e/

Gunthorp is not the only one of our supposed ‘representatives’ to appear to prioritising their career instead of constituents.

· Kerrin Leoni ran for Labour for the Wairarapa while on the board - now campaigning for councillor for the Whau Ward.

· Julie Sandilands relocated to Wellington over lockdown and even though she voted to ‘cull’ the forest, sighting her reason as ‘colonialism’, she has now moved to ‘The Mother

Country’ yet her resignation has not been announced.

· Adriana Christie ran for TOP in Remuera, was ‘head-hunted’ by Auckland Council Community Facilities (the applicant of the resource consent for the Western Springs Forest ‘cull’), It is heartening that none of these are running in the Waitematā Local Board again. Read between the lines of politician’s statements before casting your vote, the decide who best serves you, not themselves or their political career. GAEL BALDOCK, Community Advocate SPECIAL CHARACTER AREAS (SCAS) AND THE PROTECTION OF HERITAGE I am writing in response to Allan Matson’s incorrect statement about the local board and City Vision’s position on Special Character Areas (SCAs) and the protection of heritage.

In June the Waitematā Local Board resolved to support high quality SCAs (Res WTM/2022/114). We noted that the oldest suburbs are not only much loved but at densities that ensure they are already well-functioning with housing at different price points and that the Auckland Unitary Plan identifies areas in the inner suburbs close to transport where intensification is desirable (and happening).

We recommended a master-planned approach (rather than pepperpotting) to ensure developments around the city contribute to walkable neighbourhoods with safe streets, sufficient sunlight and greenspace. We are not convinced that loosening planning rules will in themselves deliver more affordable well-designed higher-density family housing in good locations. We urged the government to take steps.

We asked council planners to consider and respond to the feedback given by residents around SCAs and where the boundaries should lie. We heard that 1200 metres was too far to walk so we urged the council reconsider some of its “walkable” catchments distances to take into consideration safety, topography and a realistic assessment of human behaviour. With Councillor Pippa Coom’s support the catchment boundaries were reviewed ahead of the decision to notify Plan Change 78.

The SCAs proposed to be retained make up under 3% of Auckland's urban area. We believe that more master-planned density on frequent bus routes creating attractive streets and perimeter blocks with shared outdoor space will provide the housing Auckland needs and wants within the city limits without sprawling into farmland. It should be noted that the government reforms allow sprawl as well as intensification and this concerns us. Unlike C&R, City Vision has long had policies to support well-designed neighbourhoods that protect our character and heritage, both Maōri and Pakeha, while also embracing quality new developments. City Vision will continue to advocate for an attractive, liveable climate-resilient city. ALEX BONHAM, Deputy Chair, Waitematā Local Board

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Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.