Grumpy Cat. On her way back?

We've been pushing for the reinstatement of some attractive and interesting art on the Big King

reservoir since Grumpy Cat was removed back in May.

In a Board resolution at the August meeting, Michael successfully proposed that the Local Board run a public consultation process to ask local people what should happen next. Would they like Grumpy Cat back? Some other piece of art? Any other ideas? When we get a clear view back from the community we will take this to Watercare for action.

The main way to have your say is through this online survey. It only takes a minute or two and means that your views will get heard.

As for us, we are definitely Grumpy Cat fans, but we will defer to whatever the community feedback says!

Big Heritage wins for Roskill

Roskill’s heritage is rich and interesting. However, for a long time it has been neglected. We have lost

many significant buildings over the years, we have fewer heritage protected buildings than any other part of Auckland, there is paucity of heritage signage in place, and a very senior Roskill councillor was once quoted as saying “Roskill has no heritage”.

Over the last three years we have worked with the local community to turn that around. The achievements are now really stacking up, with Michael Wood leading work in this area as the Local Board’s heritage portfolio holder:

•  Took steps to protect and preserve the historic block changing sheds at Waikowhai
•  Secured $150,000 to advance the first formal survey of Mt Roskill/Puketapapa’s heritage with many key sites identified and proposed for protection under the Unitary Plan
•  Established an annual Heritage Forum to bring together local people with an interest in Roskill’s history
•  Co-ordinated local events for the annual Heritage Festival in Roskill 
• Organised 2012’s Heritage Art competition for local school students 
•   Secured the restoration and return of the much loved ‘Mayor Dick Fickling’ portrait to the Fickling Centre
•  Established a Local Board collection of Heritage images, some of which are displayed in Fickling Centre rooms 
•   Led the upgrade of St Andrews Reserve, ‘the home of local government in Auckland’ including heritage interpretive signage.
•  Secured funding for the installation of heritage interpretive signage around Roskill and ran a public vote to determine the priority sites. Installation commencing in late 2013.
•  Initiated and delivered the Suffrage Memorial in the Rose Gardens (corner Mt Albert Rd & Warren Ave), to be formally unveiled on September 19.

And then there’s the work of the wonderful Mt Roskill (Puketapapa) Historical Society, led by Garth Houltam. The Society was only formed in 2011 but has done a power of work to get heritage on to the local agenda, and provide the Local Board with good information.

Finally, we are thrilled that the community campaign initiated by the Historical Society and supported by the Local Board to save the historic Mt Roskill Council Chambers has succeeded. A delegation of Board representatives including Julie and Michael spoke to the Strategy & Finance Committee of Council on Friday and received the thumbs up for a $3.6 million restoration plan that will see the original 1957 building restored. This came on the back of a 1000 strong petition from the Historical Society. A great win to cap off a great term for Heritage in Roskill!

We are taking a comprehensive policy on local heritage issues into the 2013 election which can be viewed here.

Grumpy Cat Update

Great news to report about Grumpy Cat! At last week's Board meeting, Michael's resolution to start
the process of getting some art back on the reservoir was successful.

Here's what will happen now:

1) The Board will go out to the community and key stakeholders to develop an agreed approach. This will be an open process to gather in ideas and come to a community consensus. The result could be that people just want Grumpy Cat back, or it could be something different.

2) The Board will then take that proposal to Watercare for consideration and implementation.

This is an issue that has really been driven along by the community and we have been very happy to support it. Let's keep working together to get a result we can all feel happy, rather than grumpy about.

Going in to bat for Grumpy Cat!

Three Kings locals and anyone who reads the Central Leader will be well aware of the saga of Grumpy Cat, the extremely popular mural that mysteriously appeared on the Big King reservoir, only to be painted out by Watercare contractors.

It was a case of Council rules not quite aligning with the local community perspective.

After Grumpy Cat was removed, there was an outcry from locals. The Central Leader was over-run with letters calling for the return of Grumpy Cat. People said that an attractive mural like GC was far better than a drab grey wall, which inevitably invites tagging.

The good news is that Watercare, who are responsible for the reservoir, responded to this community pressure by opening the door a little, saying that they would consider a proposal from the Local Board to have another mural on the reservoir.

In response to this, we have put together a Notice of Motion for tomorrow night's Board meeting that:

• Gives the Board's in-principle support for a new mural to go up
• Says that we will consult with the community and iwi about what that might look like
• Then, go to Watercare with the proposal.

We're really hopeful that with a bit more advocacy we can get a really good outcome, and maybe even see the return of Grumpy Cat! The Board meeting is tomorrow, Thursday 25 July, from 6pm at the Fickling Centre and members of the public are welcome to attend.

Youth photographic exhibition at Art Station

From the City Vision website:

Art Station held the opening of the youth arts project on 31 August. The photographic exhibition tells the story of the life in Wesley/Roskill through the lens of young people in the area.   The photographs provide an insight into what it means to be a member of the Wesley and Mt Roskill community.   The groups aim was to capture their own community as seen through their own eyes.

Mark William is a photographic artist and is pictured with next to his work, with Cr Glenda Fryer and Puketepapapa Local Board candidate for Roskill Community Voice Michael Wood.  ... The exhibition runs from 1 -11 September at Art Station, 1 Ponsonby Road.