Ōrākei Local Board Achievements Report · Address: Shop 25, Meadowbank Shopping Centre, 35 St Johns Road, Meadowbank ... fields - continuously closed due to poor condition - we

Ōrākei Local Board Achievements Report 20-month report: November 2014 to

June 2016

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Ōrākei Local Board Achievements Report: November 2014 to June 2016

Ōrākei Local Board members

Address: Shop 25, Meadowbank Shopping Centre, 35 St Johns Road, Meadowbank

Email: ōrā[email protected]

Phone: 09 521 7021

Desley Simpson JP Chairperson

Phone: 09 521 7021

Mobile: 021 971 786 or 021 286 7222

[email protected]

Portfolios: Finance and strategy, community development and walkways

Kit Parkinson Deputy Chair

Mobile: 027 274 9688

[email protected]

Portfolios: Parks

Ken Baguley

Phone: 09 520 1638

Mobile: 027 246 0615

[email protected]

Portfolios: Transport

Troy Churton Phone: 09 521 7021

Mobile: 021 042 1110 [email protected]

Portfolios: Regulatory and planning

Kate Cooke

Phone: 09 521 0357

Mobile: 021 287 2666

[email protected]

Portfolios: Arts, culture and recreation

Colin Davis JP

Phone: 09 575 5265

[email protected]

Portfolios: Environment and

sustainability

Mark Thomas

Phone: 09 521 7021

Mobile: 021 417 416 [email protected]

Portfolios: Economic

development and urban design

mailto:[email protected]







Contents

1 Chair’s Message ................................................................................................ 5

2 Ōrākei Local Board Plan ................................................................................... 7

3 Quality parks, reserves and places to be active ........................................ 8-16

Sports Fields ........................................................................................................ 8

Open Space ......................................................................................................... 9

Playgrounds ....................................................................................................... 10

Walkways .......................................................................................................... 11

Ōrākei Basin ...................................................................................................... 13

Waiatarua Reserve ............................................................................................ 14

Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve .......................................................................... 15

Pocket Parks...................................................................................................... 15

Maunga Authority ............................................................................................... 15

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Reserves Board ............................................................... 15

Community Planting Days ................................................................................. 15

Park Naming and Policy Guidelines ................................................................... 16

4 Balanced use of road space and public transport that is frequent and easy to

access .......................................................................................................... 17-20

Transport Capital Fund ...................................................................................... 17

Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive Shared Path .......................................................... 18

Stonefields Feeder Bus Service......................................................................... 19

Road Naming Policy and Guidelines ................................................................. 20

5 Well-built community centres, enhanced libraries and well-designed

neighbourhoods shaped by the community .............................................. 21-25

Support for Residents' Associations .................................................................. 21

Community Centres ........................................................................................... 21

Ōrākei Community Centre ................................................................................. 22

Libraries ............................................................................................................. 23

ASB Stadium ..................................................................................................... 23

Bastion Point Entranceway ................................................................................ 23

Events ................................................................................................................ 24

Community Patrols ............................................................................................ 25

Be Accesible ...................................................................................................... 25

Community Funding ........................................................................................... 25

Resource Consent Decision-Making .................................................................. 25

6 Distinctive town centres and a thriving local economy .......................... 26-29

Economic Development Strategy....................................................................... 26

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Ōrākei Visitor Strategy ....................................................................................... 26

Business Associations ....................................................................................... 26

Remuera Village Upgrade (RevUp) ................................................................... 27

Ellerslie Anzac Mural ......................................................................................... 27

Mission Bay Streetscape Upgrade ..................................................................... 28

Business Association Walking Trails ................................................................. 29

7 Pollution-free waterways, tree-lined suburbs, protected built and natural

heritage ........................................................................................................ 30-34

Stream Improvements ....................................................................................... 30

Salt Marsh Projects ............................................................................................ 30

Stormwater Projects .......................................................................................... 30

Biddicks Bay Signage ........................................................................................ 31

Walsh Brothers Memorial .................................................................................. 32

Tāmaki Drive Searchlight Emplacement Restoration Project ............................ 32

Heritage Plaques ............................................................................................... 33

Anzac Day ......................................................................................................... 33

First World War Roll of Honour .......................................................................... 34

Stonefields Heritage Trail .................................................................................. 34

Mt Hobson/Ōhinerau Daffodil and Native Tree Planting .................................... 35

Ellerslie History .................................................................................................. 35

8 Fair rates and improved council services for all of our ratepayers .......... 36-40

Keeping Costs Down ......................................................................................... 35

Review of Alcohol Bans ..................................................................................... 35

Dog Access Bylaw Review ................................................................................ 35

Local Board Feedback on Bylaws, Policies and Plans, and Central Government

Legislation .......................................................................................................... 36

Colin Maiden Master Plan .................................................................................. 37

The Tāmaki Drive Master Plan .......................................................................... 38

Ngahue Reserve ................................................................................................ 38

Sports Field User Charges ................................................................................ 39

Rates and Advocacy .......................................................................................... 39

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1 Chair’s Message

The Ōrākei Local Board has always promised transparency to

our ratepayers. With June being the end of Auckland

Council’s financial year, we believe it is important to advise

our community of the Local Board’s achievements since our

last update; this time for the period November 2014 to June

2016.

It is important to note that all the Local Board's key

achievements during the last 20 months come directly from

submissions given by residents and ratepayers.

With such a large number focused on requesting upgrades for our highly used sports

fields - continuously closed due to poor condition - we were able to successfully

advocate for additions to our renewals budget from a regional fund to deliver 17 new

and upgraded sports field surfaces.

We were then careful to ensure our open space investment was not just targeted to

sport by adding perimeter paths (many with additional seating) around eight large

parks to maximise that investment for others.

Our advocacy worked with central government too. The Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive

Shared Path is a joint council and government project that will deliver a 7km long,

4m wide path appealing to cyclists, runners and walkers who are commuting to and

from the city, as well as those using the path for fitness and recreation. With the

whole project planned to be completed in 2018, stage one (which finishes at St

Heliers/Kohimarama Rd intersection) will be completed before the end of 2016.

It’s just as well we have been strong advocates for funding elsewhere.

Over the last three years, Ōrākei Local Board ratepayers have contributed $320

million in rates income to the council. However, the Local Board has only been

allocated $6 million of discretionary funding over that time to invest locally.

This small return is carefully spent based on engagement with and feedback from

our community. Where we have not been able to fund projects, we have continued to

seek opportunities to advance our priorities through various channels and existing

departmental programme budgets.

Some of the key successes during the last 20 months using this small budget include

new playgrounds at Madills Farm, Patteson Ave, Kupe St North, Ruka Reserve and

Rutherford Reserve. These have been welcomed by many parents, grandparents

and children in and around the communities of Kohimarama, Meadowbank, St Johns

and Ōrakei.

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Keeping our history alive is also important with the Local Board initiating an upgrade

of the Walsh Brothers Memorial in Selwyn Reserve at no cost to ratepayers.

Historical signage at Biddicks Bay was installed, as were special historical plaques in

places of significance, including in the Remuera and St Heliers Town Centres.

Ōrākei Basin improvements and environmental and ecological projects were funded,

including tree planting in Churchill Park, and stream upgrades at Madills Farm and

Waiata Reserve.

It is important that I thank my current Deputy Chair Kit Parkinson, fellow Local Board

members Colin Davis, Ken Baguley, Kate Cooke, Troy Churton and Mark Thomas,

all of whom have contributed to the many achievements noted in this report.

While not all current Local Board members are standing for Local Board positions in

October 2016, we will keep working on your behalf right up to election day.

Yours Sincerely

Desley Simpson

Chair, Ōrākei Local Board

AUCKLAND COUNCIL

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2 Ōrākei Local Board Plan

This Achievements Report reflects the outcomes of work undertaken by the Ōrākei

Local Board from November 2014 to June 2016. This work aligns with the objectives

of the 2014 Ōrākei Local Board Plan, which you can view at

www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ōrākei.

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3 Quality parks, reserves and places to be active

Ōrākei has an active community and provides its residents with a wide range of

parks and facilities to play sport, keep healthy, and enjoy the outdoors.

• Quality sports fields and playing surfaces that allow for a wide range of

organised and informal sporting activities to meet the needs of our

changing and growing community.

• Great parks and scenic reserves which are well-connected, easy to get to

and allow for a wide range of recreational activities.

• High-quality, multi-use sporting venues that are well-run, easy to get to,

and complement nearby parks and reserves.

Sports Fields

The Ōrākei Local Board worked hard to gain regional funding to achieve a number of

sports field upgrades which were desperately needed. Over the course of the 2014-

2016 term, the Local Board has:

• Completed one new full-sized artificial field and one training field in 2013

at Michaels Avenue Reserve, sandcarpeted the five lower fields and

installed new cricket nets.

• Sandcarpeted four sports fields at Glover Park and upgraded the cricket

nets.

• Sandcarpeted two sports fields at Shore Road Reserve and installed new

cricket nets.

• Sandcarpeted three sports fields at Crossfield Reserve.

• Sandcarpeted a sports field at Okahu Bay Reserve, with lighting.

• Sandcarpeted two sports fields at Madills Farm Reserve.

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Open Space

Over the period covered by this report, the Local Board has:

• Renewed the toilets at Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park, Roberta

Reserve and Madills Farm Reserve.

• Undertaken tree planting in Madills Farm Reserve, Churchill Park and

Waiatarua Reserve.

• Renewed the footbridge between Roberta and Tahuna Torea Nature

reserves.

• Replaced the bollards around Selwyn Reserve.

• Upgraded the iconic heritage-listed fountain in Selwyn Reserve.

The restored fountain at Selwyn Reserve, Mission Bay

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Playgrounds

It is important to the Local Board to consult with our community so that we have

playgrounds that meet the needs of our community. Over the course of 2014-2016,

the Local Board has renewed and upgraded six playgrounds.

Kit Parkinson and Desley Simpson at the upgraded Madills Farm playground

The playgrounds have been extremely well received by our community and are

located at Madills Reserve, Patteson Reserve, Roberta Reserve, Kupe North

Reserve, Rutherford Reserve and Ruka Reserve. The Patteson Reserve playground

has a dragon called Hilderguard, named by local children through a Local Board-led

children’s naming competition.

Kit Parkinson, winner Annabel Jones and Desley Simpson next to Hilderguard the dragon

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Walkways

The Ōrākei Local Board is delighted to have completed a number of new upgraded

walkway projects which give people safer and more connected access to some of

the great parks in our local area.

With stunning views over the harbour at its northern end and a section of trees on

the western side, the Glover Park perimeter walkway is proving popular. This

upgraded path is a walking and running track for young and old. The area is a former

Māori pa site and this was taken into consideration when choosing the route and

installing the walkway.

Glover Park path with spectacular views

Not far from Glover Park is Madills Farm Reserve, which now has a new walking

path that is safer than the previous route. Both the Glover and Madills paths had

seating added to them, providing users with the opportunity to rest and take in the

view.

The Local Board has also upgraded the walking tracks and replaced aging bridge

assets within Kepa Bush and Churchill Park to improve safety for users. New

signage and the replacement of a bridge has been undertaken at Dingle Dell

Reserve, St Heliers.

The Ōrākei Local Board has also been working on a draft Ōrākei Greenways Plan. A

greenway is a street or path where cyclists and pedestrians are given priority. They

consist of residential streets with low speeds as well as paths through parks.

Greenways use a combination of design treatments to reduce car speeds and

enhance the environment for riding and walking.

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Upon adoption of the Greenways Plan, the Local Board will set out a series of priority

projects and look for opportunities to fund and create these connections. Over the

coming years, Auckland Council will also develop an Open Space Network Plan for

each of the Local Board areas, of which the Ōrākei Greenways Plan will be an

integral part.

Canon Park in Ellerslie has a new path connecting Kenneth Small Place and

Pohutukawa Place, providing a link to Waiatarua Reserve for residents in the

Ellerslie area. This path is an example of a greenways link and will form part of a

walking route being designed throughout our area for commuters and recreational

users.

At Martyn Wilson Reserve a two metre wide pathway now connects the existing

pathway along the stream edge through to Shore Road. This was completed in May

2016, and connects with a new pedestrian refuge enabling safer pedestrian access

to the Hobson Bay Walkway network on the other side of Shore Road.

Ngāti Whātua and Board members at the opening of the Hobson Bay Walkway

The recently completed Ōrākei Point to Shore Road walkway and boardwalk across

the Hobson Bay wetland provides a safe route for school children and locals

between Remuera and the Ōrākei Train Station.

The walkway is part the Hobson Bay Action Plan (completed last term) and another

link in the Ōrākei Local Board’s coastal walkway network around Hobson Bay and

the Ōrākei Basin. It also provides a safe, attractive option for pedestrians along

Ōrākei Road and safer access to the Ōrākei Train Station.

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The walkway features new public art with six panels that showcase the talents of

local school children. The history of the area is reflected along the walkway route,

which runs through the western face of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei pa site.

Two sites in the Ōrākei Local Board area are part of Auckland’s First World War

Heritage Trail, which was launched in September 2014 as part of the national

WW100 New Zealand commemorations.

The trail highlights 56 locations that are significant to Auckland’s involvement in the

First World War, including the site of the Walsh Brothers New Zealand Flying School

in Mission Bay’s Selwyn Domain, and the Brookfield Memorial drinking fountain at St

Heliers.

Ōrākei Basin

The opening of the Ōrākei Basin access road

The Ōrākei Basin Advisory Group (OBAG) assists the Local Board from a community

and user-group perspective in managing the Ōrākei Basin and surrounding public

open spaces by providing advice and advocacy in relation to these areas.

The Local Board has worked closely with OBAG to deliver priorities from the Ōrākei

Basin Management Plan, including the new pontoon and replacement jetty and the

Ōrākei Basin road access project. The new access road provides improved and

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safer vehicle and pedestrian access on the western side of the Basin. In addition, the

Basin was the venue for a successful international model boat regatta in May 2016.

Waiatarua Reserve

This is New Zealand's biggest urban wetland restoration project, with its principal

function being a huge stormwater treatment system that removes pollutants from the

waterways and includes a network of drains, weirs, bunds and sediment traps.

This fascinating reserve offers something for everyone - joggers, walkers, families,

and dogs. Reserve users can wander over wide open spaces, enjoy the beauty of

the wetland environ or explore pockets of bush.

Wide pathways have been established for walking and jogging in a landscape that

includes extensive native planting.

Waiatarua Reserve

Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve

The serene Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve is 25 hectares of unique wildlife habitat

sited on the Tāmaki Estuary. The Local Board, working with the local rangers group,

has carried out planting of the reserve over the term and will continue to ensure it

remains a refuge to a variety of endangered native birds.

The Ōrākei Local Board is currently working with iwi to preserve the historic fish

dams which are at risk of being covered in mangroves.

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Pocket Parks

The Ōrākei Local Board has developed eight of the ten proposed pocket parks in

Stonefields, in addition to the Maungarei Springs Wetland. The Heritage Trail is soon

to commence, leaving one more park to be developed in the Stonefields area.

In Mission Bay, the small park opposite the Mission House was enhanced by new

paths and art work (see page 24).

Maunga Authority

The Ōrākei Local Board secured one of the Local Board positions on the Tūpuna

Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority Board, which governs a number of maunga

across the region. There is one maunga within our Local Board area, Ōhinerau/Mt

Hobson. The Local Board successfully lobbied the Maunga Authority who agreed for

the renewal of daffodil planting on Ōhinerau/Mt Hobson (see page 35).

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Reserves Board

The Local Board continues to play a key role in supporting this important stakeholder

located in the suburb of Ōrākei, both in governance, with a Local Board

representative sitting on the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Reserves Board and in on-the-

ground projects. The Local Board will continue to work positively with Ngāti Whātua.

An example is the upgraded entrance to the path between the whenua and Bastion

Point from Mission Bay. Until a new site has been identified for the Riding for the

Disabled and the Pony Club on Pourewa Valley land, the Local Board will continue to

advocate for a lease extension.

Community planting days

The Local Board held a number of planting days to help restore the Kohimarama

Stream in Madills Farm Reserve and the Remuera Stream in Waiata Reserve.

Volunteers helped to get rid of invasive weeds and replanted the stream banks with

native plants.

Planting days were also held in Churchill Park and Waiatarua Reserve to assist with

regeneration of the parks’ native vegetation. The community planting days were a

chance for those of all ages to help improve the ecological environment within the

Ōrākei Local Board area.

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Park naming and policy guidelines

The Ōrākei Local Board was the first Local Board to develop and adopt its own

Ōrākei Local Board Parks and Reserves, Park Features and Park Facilities Naming

Policy and Guidelines. This will guide future decisions on naming of parks and

reserves.

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4 Balanced use of road space and public transport that

is frequent and easy to access

Ōrākei is a place that’s easy to get around and visit, with real transport choices.

• Frequent, reliable and easy to use public transport options for all areas.

• Safe and well-functioning roads to help get us to where we need to go.

• Well-connected walking and cycling paths that help us get to the places

we work, value and like to visit.

Transport capital fund

Auckland Transport has allocated $10 million per annum of its capital budget to

Local Board priorities across the Auckland region. The available funding is to ensure

that locally important transport projects are given appropriate priority and allows

Local Boards more direct ability to influence local transport projects.

The Ōrākei Local Board has been allocated just under $550,000 each year.

The Ōrākei Local Board has worked closely with key stakeholders and Auckland

Transport to develop the following transport projects to benefit our communities:

• The Benson Road upgrade improves the safety for pedestrians using this

Remuera intersection, as well as those using the footpath around the

Benson Road/Upland Road shops. The first part of the project (the

western side) was completed in December 2015, and the second stage

(eastern side) was completed in January 2016.

• A permanent speed warning sign was installed in Omahu Road resulting in

the lowering of the average speed by 10km. A temporary speed warning

sign is currently rotated between Maskell Street and Ōhinerau Street, with

an additional temporary sign to be installed at an appropriate location.

• A pedestrian bridge across a swale in a Stonefields Road has enabled the

community to move safely across the road.

• A new turning bay at the end of Waitara Road to enable users of Glover

Park to exit this road safely.

• A new footpath connecting the left hand side of Summerhill Place with St

Heliers Bay Road at the request of a resident from the Grace Joel

Retirement Village was completed in 2015.

• Secure cycle storage was installed at the Remuera, Meadowbank and

Ōrākei Train Stations.

• A retaining wall and fence separating the footpath from the road was

installed on Abbotts Way, Remuera, addressing Edmund Hillary

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Retirement Village resident concerns by providing a safer environment for

the residents travelling to nearby shops.

• The Liston Park walkway provides a safer connection through Liston Park

to Abbotts Way.

• The Churchill Park Eversham Road entrance was resealed, offering a safe

point of entry to Churchill Park for walking school buses.

• The installation of street lighting at the Churchill Park entrance has

improved safety for Churchill Park and local school users.

• The Martyn Wilson Reserve Path and Shore Road pedestrian refuge

provide safe links to Shore Road, Hobson Bay and Ōrākei Basin

walkways.

• The provision of a footpath around the outside of Glover Park linking

Riddell Road to the Glover Park playground.

The Benson Road intersection was enhanced to improve safety for pedestrians

Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path

The Ōrākei Local Board strongly advocated to central government for investment in

our Local Board area as part of the urban cycle network and is pleased that the

construction of the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive Shared Path (the Ōrākei Spine) has

started. The 7.3km path will allow you to walk, run or cycle from Auckland’s eastern

suburbs to the Waitematā Harbour.

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In October 2015 work began on the path. There are four sections to the project and

the first section between Merton Road and St Johns Road is on track to open in late

2016.

The Local Board supports this initiative and is already looking for opportunities to

create linkages from adjoining neighbourhoods to the shared path. We will continue

to work with the New Zealand Transport Agency and Auckland Transport on three

proposed connections from Tahapa Crescent, John Rymer Place and Kepa Bush.

From left, Councillor Cameron Brewer, member Mark Thomas, MP Simon Bridges, Mayor Len

Brown, Chair Desley Simpson, Deputy Chair Kit Parkinson and member Colin Davis

Stonefields feeder bus service

The Ōrākei Local Board successfully advocated for the introduction of a trial bus

service to connect Stonefields with Glen Innes Train Station. This Stonefields Loop,

route number 632, operates Monday to Friday from 6am to 7.15pm, running between

Glen Innes Train Station and a loop around Stonefields.

The service aligns with the new Eastern Line timetable which started from December

2014 when all services on the Eastern Line switched to electric trains. The new

trains provide a more reliable train service and increased passenger capacity.

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Local residents have consistently said that they want faster, more frequent and

better-connected public transport options, so the Local Board is pleased to see this

trial underway.

Road naming policy and guidelines

The Ōrākei Local Board was the first Local Board to adopt its own Ōrākei Local

Board Road Naming Policy and Guidelines.

This will guide the Local Board’s future decisions on naming roads in our area.

Roads that have recently been named include Te Arohanui Way and Kirihipina Lane

in the newly built Special Housing Area (SHA) on Kupe Street in Ōrākei.

The new affordable housing development on Kupe St, Ōrākei

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5 Well-built community centres, enhanced libraries and

well-designed neighbourhoods shaped by the

community

Ōrākei is a community that is safe and welcoming, with great community facilities

that meet the needs of our people.

• Redeveloped and reinvigorated community facilities where people can

meet safely and comfortably to organise and run community programmes.

• Well-designed and well-planned neighbourhoods that reflect the needs of

the people who live there.

• Active and engaged communities that get involved in local matters.

• Expanded and enhanced libraries that are spacious and provide quality

services.

Support for residents’ associations

The Ōrākei Local Board strongly believes in connecting and communicating with

residents and ratepayers within the Local Board area. Since 2010 we have worked

with our suburban communities to establish residents’ associations in Stonefields,

Ellerslie, Meadowbank and St Johns, Remuera, and most recently, in the suburb,

Ōrākei.

Our small funding contributions assists these associations in providing activities,

projects, programmes, initiatives and events that make a positive contribution within

the Local Board area.

This supports our communities to ensure they have an independent voice and retain

their unique character.

Examples of projects include public meetings on the Unitary Plan, community issues,

and local environmental and safety initiatives.

Community Centres

There are two community centres in the suburbs of Meadowbank and Ōrākei. The

Ōrākei Local Board also supports community centres operated by St Heliers and St

Lukes Churches, which provide support for our communities.

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Ōrākei Community Centre

The Ōrākei Community Centre received a welcomed colourful transformation created

by local children, families and residents in June 2016.

Created by local youth and families, the mural hangs in the main hall of the

community centre. It fosters a sense of pride and involvement amongst the youth.

Titled Kotahitanga, this project has linked the Marae to our wider community through

its local artist, Vicky Tamaariki.

The new mural created by young people at Ōrākei Community Centre

The Local Board provided the necessary funding for community garden planter

boxes, another shared project with Ōrākei Community Centre in conjunction with the

local Ōrākei community. The project aims to inspire the local Ōrākei community to

take on the challenge of helping to provide nutritious food for themselves and other

community members in need.

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Libraries

The Remuera and St Heliers libraries are key community assets and the Local Board

works hard to ensure they are more than just libraries; that they are community hubs

in their own right.

St Heliers Library

The Local Board has also ensured that the mobile library service continues to serve

our community and reaches areas that don’t have easy access to a library, such as

Ōrākei, Ellerslie and Stonefields, and rest homes and retirement villages.

ASB Stadium

The Local Board continues to play a key role in supporting the important community

recreation facility located beside Selwyn College in Kohimarama, both in governance

with a Local Board representative sitting on the stadium’s governing East City

Community Trust, and with on-going operational funding.

The Local Board looks forward to a continued working relationship with the Trust to

ensure that the facility supports wider community/recreation facility networks, both

locally and regionally.

Bastion Point entranceway

The new artwork at the entranceway to the steps on Tāmaki Drive, leading from

Mission Bay to Bastion Point, was finished March 2016.

Five mosaic medallions, created by artists Graham Tipene and John Botica, were

officially blessed by local iwi on 18 March 2016. The artwork reflects the five themes

of air, sea, land, place and people.

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New streetlights and seating were also installed. The Ōrākei Local Board hopes the

upgraded pocket park art will make the access way to Bastion Point more visible,

clear and attractive for locals and visitors.

The Ōrākei Local Board at the Bastion Point entranceway blessing

Events

Successful Ōrākei Local Board annual events include the Carols on the Green, held

annually in December on Vellenoweth Green in St Heliers, and, for the brave souls,

Winter Splash at Selwyn Reserve, Mission Bay.

The successful Movies in Parks event was held in Roberta Reserve, Glendowie in

March 2016. The Lion King was the most recent movie. For this event, the Local

Board ensured that local businesses maximised their benefit from the event held in

the neighbouring reserve.

The Ōrākei Local Board area also accommodated a number of successful regional

and local events. These included: the iconic Round the Bays fun run; the New

Zealand round of the ITU World Triathlon Series; the Stroke and Stride series,

Summer Swim events and the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon.

The Ōrākei Local Board supports the Matariki Kite Day held at the Ōrākei Marae

overlooking Tāmaki Drive. Participants are able to fly their own kite or watch the

massive Matariki kites, sample hāngi and enjoy the family entertainment.

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Community patrols

The Ōrākei Local Board area is a safe and welcoming place, but safety concerns still

arise from time to time. Following our successful initiative in setting up the Ellerslie

Community Patrol last term, we have worked with Police and the Ōrākei suburb in

setting up the Ōrākei Community Patrol. The volunteer patrols help residents feel

safe in their homes and in their neighbourhoods and act as extra ‘eyes and ears’ for

the Police.

Inspector Joe Tipene and a Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ) representative present a CPNZ affiliation certificate to Ōrākei Community Patrols

Be Accessible

Through adopting the ‘Ōrākei Be Accessible Plan’, the Local Board will ensure that

all events in our area will now use the Be Accessible template. This was piloted at

our Winter Splash 2015 event and was used to inform many concept plans, including

the cycle rack at the Ōrākei Train Station.

Community funding

The Ōrākei Local Board provides funding to assist community groups with projects,

programmes, initiatives and events that make a positive contribution to communities

within the Local Board boundaries. Successful applicants during 2014/2015 and

2015/2016 include Ellerslie Community Patrols, Ōrākei Community Patrols,

Kohimarama Forest Preservation Group and the Tamaki Drive Protection Society.

Resource Consent Decision-making

The Local Board has advocated for, and now achieved, an agreement from the

governing body (Mayor and Councillors) to undertake a review of the delegations for

Local Board member input into resource consent notification decisions and hearings.

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6 Distinctive, people-centred town centres and a

thriving local economy

Ōrākei is a strong local economy, with thriving businesses and distinct local centres

that serve our residents’ everyday needs and attract visitors.

• Well-designed and people friendly streets.

• Distinctive town centres.

• Strong, innovative local businesses.

Economic development strategy

The Ōrākei Local Board supports both residential and business ratepayers and was

the first Local Board to formally adopt a local economic development plan.

The plan improves economic outcomes for businesses, and provides the strategic

priorities of the local community including interventions aimed at stimulating

economic development in Ōrākei, as part of its contribution to the region.

Ōrākei visitor strategy

The Ōrākei Visitor Strategy is a jointly funded initiative between the Ōrākei Local

Board and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).

The strategy aims to attract more visitors to Ōrākei by finding ways to enhance the

visitor experience in order to increase visitor yield and stimulate local economic

development.

Business associations

Investing and supporting local economic development are key priorities in the Ōrākei

Local Board Plan.

The Local Board provides political representation and support to local Business

Improvement District (BID) programme executive boards in Ellerslie, Remuera and

St Heliers. The Board also supports the Mission Bay Business Association.

Our support enables the associations to stimulate economic activity in their area,

support strong, vibrant villages and town centres, retain the character of their

neighbourhoods and enhance the well-being of their local communities.

The Local Board’s contribution has helped fund a range of initiatives:

• Remuera – The Bastille Day and White Night events and the Remuera

Goes to Rio Carnival.

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• St Heliers – The St Heliers Day event and St Heliers Sandcastle

Competition.

• Mission Bay – The Mission Bay Norfolk pine lighting.

• Ellerslie – The Ellerslie Spring Fairy Festival, the Christmas parade and

ARTerslie.

ARTerslie 2016 event, ‘Chalk it up’

Remuera Village Upgrade (RevUp)

The Local Board funded the upgrade of the service lane off Clonbern Road by

painting and resealing the pedestrian access through to the Remuera village green.

Painted screens were installed along the car park side of the service lane to

encourage greater local use of this space.

The Village Green entrance was enhanced with new paving and a granite name

plate to give it a unique identity on Remuera Road.

Ellerslie Anzac mural

In April 2015 the Ōrākei Local Board opened the Anzac Verse and Poppy Mural on

the Ellerslie War Memorial Community Centre at 138 Main Highway, Ellerslie.

The village now has a tangible Anzac memorial as a focal point for remembrance.

You can place poppies in small holes at the bottom of the Anzac Verse plaque in

honour of our service men and women.

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Mission Bay streetscape upgrade

The streetscape upgrade involves widening and improving the paths in Mission

Bay’s dining precinct. A new footpath will run from the corner of Patteson Avenue to

Barfoot and Thompson’s office on Tāmaki Drive.

This project is the first local public-private partnership (PPP) with local businesses

and land owners working with the Local Board and Auckland Transport to improve

their local area.

Collaboration with the Mission Bay business community has led to enhancement of the

Mission Bay restaurant precinct

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The improved footpath, expected to be completed in October 2016, will make it much

more pleasant for restaurants patrons and the pedestrians. The Local Board’s

contribution comes from the Transport Capital Fund.

The Local Board has also worked with the Mission Bay Business Association and the

Mission Bay-Kohimarama Residents’ Association to trial a number of community

safety initiatives in Selwyn Reserve, including the installation of CCTV cameras.

From left, Sergeant Rhys Smith, Chair Desley Simpson, Constable Todd Martin and Deputy

Chair Kit Parkinson

Business Area Walking Trails

In support of the Ōrākei Visitor Strategy, the Local Board has produced a set of

walking trail brochures for Mission Bay/Ōrākei, Remuera and Ellerslie. The

brochures will be made available on the Local Board website and highlight

noteworthy characteristics in each location based on locally relevant themes.

The trails are designed as informal walks which highlight key heritage, economic and

cultural features of the three locations and encourage visitors and locals alike to

explore our unique business areas.

The Local Board is currently investigating options for signage to promote the walks,

potentially supported by a digital platform.

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7 Pollution-free waterways, tree-lined suburbs,

protected built and natural heritage

Ōrākei is a community that values, protects and makes the most of its natural

environment and built heritage.

• Well-defined and protected built, cultural heritage, and character areas

that tell our stories and connect us to the past.

• Pollution free, beautiful, and ecologically healthy natural areas and

waterways that people value, want to get up close to, and help protect.

• Inviting natural open spaces and places to visit, play, and enjoy the natural

surrounds.

Stream improvements

The Ōrākei Local Board has continued to implement the Hobson Bay Action Plan

priorities, including projects that aim to improve the ecological health of the bay and

surrounding catchments.

Examples of this are the planning work which was required to manage mangrove

vegetation and the establishment of community-led environmental restoration

programmes.

The Local Board has recently completed a riparian restoration project on the

Remuera Stream, focused on the headwaters of the stream in Waiata Reserve. This

project aims to improve water quality and biodiversity outcomes through carrying out

weed control and planting in the riparian zone.

The Board is also progressing a project that supports stream improvement, water

quality and biodiversity outcomes in the Madills Farm Reserve area by carrying out

stream restoration activities, including weed control.

Salt Marsh project

The Local Board has funded a pilot study which will investigate the viability of re-

establishing salt marshes in Hobson Bay.

It is hoped the scheme will be a critical part of the long-term environmental

improvements to Hobson Bay and may expand to a larger scale salt march project in

the future.

Stormwater projects

A basalt stormwater protection wall has recently been competed at Madills Farm.

This significant project is part of a series of works to provide stormwater protection

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for properties in Kohimarama. Stormwater upgrades have also been achieved in

Remuera.

Biddicks Bay signage

A family’s historic connection with a bay in the Ōrākei Local Board area was officially

recognised in 2015. Ōrākei resident Audrey Biddick married into the family

descended from Captain James Biddick, the man for whom Biddick’s Bay was

commonly known, and she approached the Mayor to ask that the name be given

official recognition.

The prominent local family settled in the Ōrākei area in the 1870s and owned a fleet

of scows essential to Auckland’s early development. As Tāmaki Drive was not built

until the early 1930s, the Biddicks would sail or row to the Devonport store for

supplies.

The site selected for the sign is almost opposite the former site of the houses and is

on the seaward side of Tāmaki Drive, on the beach side of the seawall.

Ōrākei Local Board Chair, Desley Simpson and member Colin Davis at the completed Biddicks

Bay interpretation sign

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Walsh Brothers Memorial

The Ōrākei Local Board, with support from Air New Zealand, commemorated the

centenary of the New Zealand Flying School by initiating restoration of the memorial

and reinstating the sundial at Selwyn Reserve at no cost to ratepayers.

The original sundial was installed by Tasman Empire Airlines Ltd (TEAL) in 1961 to

commemorate both the flying school’s achievements and the 21st anniversary of

TEAL’s scheduled air services.

Local Board member Kate Cooke with Air New Zealand Chief Pilot David Morgan at the

reinstated sundial on the Walsh Brothers memorial

Tāmaki Drive searchlight emplacement restoration project

To support the current WWII New Zealand commemorations, the Local Board

reinstated and restored the three historic Tāmaki Drive searchlight emplacements.

Vegetation that had overgrown the searchlight emplacements was removed in May

2016 and repairs were made to the structures to ensure their structural integrity and

to reduce the risk from vandalism.

The searchlight emplacements are now visible to visitors to Kelly Tarlton’s, Mission

Bay and those travelling along Tāmaki Drive. This project also implemented priorities

from the Tāmaki Drive Master Plan.

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Heritage Plaques

In recognition of a number of heritage features within our area, the Local Board has

funded heritage plaques on buildings of significance. The plaques are often referred

to in heritage walks and acknowledged in Heritage Festival events within the Local

Board area.

Desley Simpson and Colin Davis at a heritage plaque

Anzac Day

Three Anzac Day community commemoration services were held on 25 April 2016 in

our Local Board area at the St Heliers War Memorial, at the Ōrākei RSA premises

and at College Rifles, Remuera.

The Ōrākei Local Board has worked with community members and Auckland Council

events staff to deliver the St Heliers Anzac Day service. The Local Board also

provided funding for the College Rifles service.

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The St Heliers Anzac Day 2016 service

First World War roll of honour

To support WW100 New Zealand commemoration projects, we commissioned a

researcher to provide valuable research to honour the service men and women from

the Ōrākei Local Board area who died during the First World War.

The information is being used by the Local Board and external heritage groups as

additions to existing databases and as the basis for further projects planned in 2016.

The roll of honour is available on the Local Board website.

Stonefields heritage trail

The Stonefields Development Plan was adopted by the Local Board in December

2013. The plan provides for open space and includes the development of the old Mt

Wellington quarry haul out road into a heritage trail.

It will serve as part of our greenways plan by providing an important pedestrian link

to Lunn Avenue. The public walkway connection will have references to the

landscape’s Māori cultural heritage and the European history of local farming and

quarrying activity.

It will also increase public understanding and recognition of the significance of

Auckland’s volcanic primary landscape values (geological, archaeological and

cultural). Stage two of the heritage trail project (detailed design and implementation)

and stage three (funding proposals for future works) are set to be delivered in

2016/2017.

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Mt Hobson/Ōhinerau Daffodil and Native Tree Planting

Remuera Intermediate School students planted 1800 daffodil bulbs near the

Remuera Road side of Mt Hobson/Ōhinerau in June 2016 to replenish an earlier

daffodil planting by members of the local community and Remuera RSA. The

planting commemorated the members of the armed forces who didn’t return from

World Wars I and II.

Remuera Intermediate students plant daffodil bulbs on Mt Hobson/Ōhinerau in June 2016

Ellerslie History

The Ōrākei Local Board engaged an historian/author to edit and publish a limited run

of an illustrated history of Ellerslie. A manuscript had been written some years ago

but was never completed or printed. Copies are available in the central and local

libraries.

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8 Fair rates and improved council services for all

of our ratepayers

Ōrākei continues to be an important contributor to the region, while receiving a fair

share of its investment back into our community.

• Increased Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC), to reduce the overall

rates burden and share it more fairly across the region.

• Focus spending on core council services.

• More local investment, fairer services, and greater control over budgets

that recognises our significant financial contribution to the region.

• Better council-controlled organisation community engagement.

Keeping costs down

The Ōrākei Local Board has continued to advocate for organisational savings while

delivering new assets and improved services.

Since Auckland Council was established, it has succeeded in achieving savings of

$180 million per year over the last five years by working smarter and better to

achieve efficiency gains, where the council delivers the same, or better, levels of

service for a lower cost than originally budgeted.

Regulatory

Review of Alcohol Bans

In response to a legislative requirement, all alcohol bans in the Local Board area

were reviewed. In order to uphold alcohol bans for each location, evidence of

alcohol-related crime and disorder was gathered and assessed according to national

criteria.

Following public notification and consultation during June and July 2015, evidence

and feedback was provided by 61 submitters. A hearing panel considered the

evidence in each submission and retained 147 alcohol bans, with only two bans

lapsing.

Dog Access bylaw review

Over 2015 we worked hard to balance the needs of dog owners and their pets with

those of non-dog owners and wildlife in deciding on dog access rules.

Many of the existing off-leash areas have been maintained and the Local Board

aimed to improve some of those areas, including formally enabling off-leash exercise

around the perimeters of Thomas Bloodworth Park and Shore Road Reserve.

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While much of the off-leash access has been upheld at Churchill Park, the Local

Board has worked hard to raise awareness of ecology at the park and adjacent to

the Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve in particular.

The Ōrākei Local Board area has a large number of off-leash exercise areas

compared to other Local Board areas, while only 20 per cent of the Local Board area

is dog-owning households.

Local Board member Troy Churton with members of the community at Shore Road Reserve

Local Board feedback on bylaws, policies and plans and central

government legislation

Over the term the Local Board has engaged with the community and provided

feedback to the governing body or central government on the following:

• Proposed Variation to the Development Contributions Policy 2015

• Draft Auckland Domain Master Plan

• Draft Business Improvement District Policy (2016)

• Draft Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group Plan

• Draft Regional Pest Management Plan review

• Productivity Commission’s Using Land for Housing report

• Draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2015-2025

• Draft Local Approved Product Policy.

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Advocacy of benefit to ratepayers

Colin Maiden Park Master Plan

In one of the most significant urban park acquisitions in Auckland, the Ōrākei Local

Board played a key role during late 2013 in advocating for the council purchase of

Colin Maiden Park from the University of Auckland.

Together with the neighbouring Ngahue Reserve, the purchase creates a 44 hectare

multi-discipline sport, open space centre and ensures that the valuable area of open

space is retained in public ownership.

Colin Maiden Park

The Ōrākei Local Board thanks everyone who made a submission on the Colin

Maiden Park Master Plan. The consultation, which provided three potential scenarios

for the park, attracted a large amount of interest from the community with the final

version planned for sign off in August 2016.

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The Tāmaki Drive Master Plan

With the active support of the Mayor, Auckland Transport (AT), Auckland Tourism,

Events and Economic Development (ATEED), Waterfront Auckland and Ngāti

Whātua Ōrākei, the Ōrākei Local Board developed the first truly collaborative council

master plan - The Tāmaki Drive Master Plan - in consultation with its community.

Tāmaki Drive Master Plan

The master plan aims to establish a bold vision for Tāmaki Drive, “the place”,

incorporating the road corridor and is intended to address ad-hoc decision-making

which has hampered projects in the past.

The Local Board has been working hard to deliver on the implementation of the

master plan and a number of the initiatives which have been developed or which are

underway have been outlined in this report.

Ngahue Reserve

The Ōrākei Local Board has worked closely with the Oceania Football Federation

(OFC) to develop Ngahue Reserve in the suburb of St Johns. Redevelopment of this

former rubbish dump was not programmed in any Local Board Plan due to the huge

cost of eliminating contamination associated with the site.

OFC gained a lease from the Local Board and has developed a multi-million dollar

asset at no cost to ratepayers, including two artificial turf pitches, a training field and

other world class facilities which are available for community use.

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Sports field user charges

The Ōrākei Local Board was delighted to have led and achieved a victory for central

Auckland sports clubs by getting sports field fees waived.

The Local Board led a delegation from the central Auckland and Waiheke Local

Boards, which presented a case for having sports field charges removed to the

Auckland Council’s Finance and Performance Committee on 20 August 2015.

The Committee voted unanimously to waive fees and charges for sports fields in the

central Local Board areas until a region-wide policy is adopted in the 2017/2018

financial year.

Rates and Advocacy as part of the 2015-2025 Long-term Plan and

2016/2017 Annual Plan

Ōrākei Local Board remains the highest residential ratepaying Local Board area in

the city. A clear message from our community is that the rates burden is a significant

issue for residents throughout our area, especially when the investment back into our

community has been low.

The Local Board advocated strongly to the governing body (Mayor and Councillors)

to keep rates down and obtain fairer investment in our area as part of the 2015-2025

Long-term Plan and 2016/2017 Annual Plan.

Based on your feedback we advocated to the governing body on the following

issues:

1. Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC)

During the Annual Plan consultation, feedback received sought change to the

level of the UAGC, with 24 per cent indicating the UAGC should change to

$650.

2. Interim Transport Levy (ITL)

The Ōrākei Local Board was clear that it did not support the ITL unless the

benefits to its area could be demonstrated by way of the Board’s local transport

advocacy projects being supported by the governing body.

The feedback received by the Ōrākei Local Board on the Annual Plan indicated

that if the ITL were to remain, there was preference for increasing the portion

paid by business ratepayers and that this should be based on property value.

The Local Board considers that consultation on the 2016/2017 Annual Plan’s

regional topics was lacking as Aucklanders were not asked whether or not the

ITL should be retained.

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The Ōrākei Local Board is continuing through to October 2016 with a number of

further projects due for completion post this achievements report but before the

election. These projects will be noted in the next achievements report published by

the new Local Board and acknowledged accordingly.

Ōrākei Local Board

2010-2016

Find out more:

Phone 09 521 7021

Visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ōrākei

Documents

Ōrākei Local Board Achievements Report · Address: Shop 25, Meadowbank Shopping Centre, 35 St Johns Road, Meadowbank ... fields - continuously closed due to poor condition - we