Media statement: Roskill Community Voice backs Three Kings Alternative Plan in Environment Court, despite Auckland Council gagging

“The Roskill Community Voice team on the Puketapapa Local Board have formally voted to back the local Three Kings community and the alternative development scheme for Three Kings, developed by leading landscape architect Richard Reid”, say Local Board members Harry Doig and Michael Wood

“At a Local Board meeting last week, we formally expressed our support for the alternative plan developed by Mr Reid and gave it our political endorsement, even though Auckland Council is formally gagging the Local Board from being heard in the Environment Court case about the Three Kings development” says Mr Doig.

“Mr Reid’s alternative development scheme (available here) has our support because:

• It delivers a strong residential yield, allowing for high-quality medium density development in the quarry, and supporting further residential development opportunities for surrounding land-owners.
• It provides adequate open space and communal space for apartment dwellers and the local community.
• It respects and rehabilitates our remaining maunga Te Tatua-a- Riukiuta/Big King by providing a sufficient buffer between development and the cone.
• It is a high quality, modern design that creates connections across the community, and enables local residents to walk, cycle, or easily connect to public transport.

On every count, Mr Reid’s alternative plan is superior to the Fletcher Residential Plan, which raids and effectively privatises public reserve land, compromises Big King, and creates housing in a large depression up to nineteen metres deep, disconnected from the surrounding community”, says Mr Wood.

“Auckland Council has now formally blocked the Local Board from being heard in the Environment Court process on behalf of the local community. However the Board has given its political endorsement to Board members Harry Doig and Michael Wood giving evidence in their personal capacities in support of the alternative plan. Disappointingly, the C&R minority on the Board have called for the Board to be “passive by-standers” and continue to support the Fletchers position, rather than the local community”, says Mr Doig.

“The re-development of Three Kings is a major issue in our community and a huge opportunity if done well. We and the community support high quality medium density housing, developed in sympathy with the sensitive volcanic landscape, and connected to the surrounding community”, says Mr Wood.

ENDS

Contact:

Harry Doig: 027 241 2209

Michael Wood: 022 659 6360

Puketāpapa Local Board resolutions on Liston Village

This will record resolutions and similar position statements made by the Puketapapa Local Board in relation to Liston Village, in chronological order from oldest to newest.

From the Puketāpapa Local Board Plan 2014
Under Key Initiatives for Healthy, Safe People and Places, p44:

Investigate options for increasing supply of affordable community and social housing, including advocating to retain existing social housing at Liston Village.   

From the Minutes of the 28th August 2015 Puketāpapa Local Board business meeting, pp10, 11

Item 16 Puketāpapa Local Board Small Local Improvement Projects (SLIPs) Programme 2014- 2015 
Resolution number PKTPP/2014/163
MOVED by Deputy Chairperson HAJ Doig, seconded by Member MP Wood:

That the Puketāpapa Local Board:
a) acknowledges receipt of the Puketāpapa Local Board 2014/2015 SLIPs funding summary programme
b) delegates authority to the spokesperson to provide guidance and advice to the SLIPs team regarding their allocated proposals and delegates authority to the spokesperson and chair of the board, to be exercised together, to make additional funding decisions where a variation to a project scope is needed due to unforeseen circumstances
...
q) allocates $10,000 SLIPs Operational budget towards a study to establish the feasibility of retaining community social housing for the elderly at the Liston Village site in Hillsborough (when it transfers to Council ownership) and to provide advice about the ownership and governance options for preserving the village as community social housing for the elderly through a partnership arrangement between Auckland Council and a third sector housing provider.

r) request that expert advice on the community social housing sector is sought as part of the report.

s) delegates Member MP Wood to act as spokesperson for this project and to consult with affected stakeholders about the Board’s approach.

t) agrees to advocate to the Governing Body for additional social housing in Puketāpapa
...

CARRIED



From the Minutes of the 27th August 2015 Puketāpapa Local Board business meeting, p8-9

Item 14.2  Board Member report - Michael Wood 
Resolution number PKTPP/2015/170
MOVED by Member MP Wood, seconded by Deputy Chairperson HAJ Doig:

That the Puketāpapa Local Board:
a) receive the report for August 2015.
...
c) receive the “Liston Village Housing for the Elderly Scoping Report” dated 26 August 2015 and:

i) note the findings of the report including information concerning the high level of unmet need for social housing in Hillsborough, and a general growth in demand for social housing for the elderly.

ii) authorise further detailed work to be carried out in line with the recommendations on page 20 of the report, utilising LDI funding for “Affordable and social housing options”.

iii) authorise release of the report to the public and authorise Member Wood to present the report to the Seniors Panel, the Community Development and Safety Committee and any other relevant Council bodies.

CARRIED

A copy of the Liston Village Housing for the Elderly – Stage One: Scoping report will be placed on the official minutes and is available on the Auckland Council website as a minute attachment.


Article "Monte Cecilia Park: Puketāpapa advocates to retain Liston Village" on Auckland Council news website Our Auckland - October 7th 2015

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.

Michael's Feb Board report

In the interests of transparency and accountability, we've started putting our monthly reports to the Board up on this website. As time allows I'll go back and put the past ones up too. These reports are required for each ordinary business meeting (monthly) and should detail what we've been working on since our last report. If there's anything in a report that you are interested in finding out more about please contact us. We usually speak briefly to our reports at the relevant business meeting. Board members' reports are normally last on the agenda, so often we don't get to them until after 8pm at the earliest.

Portfolio: Parks, Open Spaces, and Heritage

Significant points from monthly Board workshops and briefings
Participated in Board workshops (8 February, 15 February, 22 February)
Board business meetings (24 January)
Portfolio Plan meeting - 17 February
Attended Local Boards joint workshop on Procurement policy, the Regional Land Transport Plan Process, and the establishment of regional transport bylaws. There is a strong need for the Board to press for its priorities in the RLTP process – 2 February
Participated in meeting with Richard Barter, Board Advisors, and Albert-Eden Board members about possible cycling corridors to east and west of Dominion Rd from SH20 to Ian McKinnon Drive – 3 February
Monthly meeting with Board Chair – 22 February

Portfolio activities for the period
Parks & Open Spaces:
Attended Keith Hay Park Users Group meeting on 7 February.
Discussed Concept Plan process and encouraged Group members to participate. A range of items to follow up with Parks officers including:
• State of waterways on all sides of the park. Issues with litter, weeds, and rats.
• Exposed watepipes by cricket club
• Working with the group to formalize its interactions with the Board, including the establishment of a quarterly reporting process.
Attended meeting with Katrina Morgan and Ella Kumar about cross generational and fitness equipment at May Rd playground upgrade – 15 February.

Julie's Board report for 12th Nov 2011 to 18 Jan 2012

In the interests of transparency and accountability, we've started putting our monthly reports to the Board up on this website. As time allows I'll go back and put the past ones up too. These reports are required for each ordinary business meeting (monthly) and should detail what we've been working on since our last report. If there's anything in a report that you are interested in finding out more about please contact us. We usually speak briefly to our reports at the relevant business meeting. Board members' reports are normally last on the agenda, so often we don't get to them until after 8pm at the earliest.

Portfolio: Community Development

Significant points from monthly Board workshops and briefings
Participated in Board workshops (16th Nov, 23rd Nov, 7th Dec, 14th Dec, 21st Dec)
Board business meetings (Ordinary 24th Nov, Extraordinary 12th Dec)
Participated in preparatory discussion and workshop with Governing Body regarding the Long Term Plan (25th Nov).

Portfolio activities for the month –12th November 2011 to 18th January 2012
Portfolio areas:
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:
Monthly catch-up with Kerri Foote regarding outstanding issues (16th Nov).

Portfolio planning – initial meeting with Local Board services staff (18th Jan). Next steps: Identify specific actions that result from the relevant priorities in the Local Board Plan, and other relevant strategy documents. Meet again.

Roskill Community Network –Attended monthly meeting at RYZ and assisted with facilitation at the convenor’s request (8th Dec). Met with convenor to prepare and catch-up (7th Dec). The meeting itself focused on identifying ideas and connections for the three top issues identified in an exercise run by the Network earlier in the year; employment, crime and safety, health and wellbeing. Next steps: Schedule catch-up with convenor for February. Continue regular catch-ups with Zena and attend future meetings.

Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Auckland Central Community Response Forum (ACCRF) – myself and Nandita Mathur were to meet again with Deb Greenstreet and Toni Millar on December 8th to receive and discuss the final report and recommendations from this initiative. However as the report and recommendations had not been finalized in time, and the Three Kings building was unavailable to meet in, the meeting has been postponed. Next steps: Set new time and date for meeting, circulate final report and recommendations to the Board once they are available.

Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) community-led development project (Roskill Community Development Group) - Attended meetings of the Roskill Community Development Group (6th Dec, 20th Dec, 17th Jan). Apologies given for 22nd Nov meeting, as I was out of town for my other employment. The group has taken significant steps forward over this period, including approving a contractor to undertake a stocktake analysis of existing research of the area (final report due late February), confirming the structure, vision and name of the group, and establishing a number of sub-groups and assigned roles to support the work. They have also confirmed their relationship with DIA and how financial matters will operate, as well as agreeing a monthly meeting cycle for 2012. I remain involved in a supporter capacity and as a link with the Local Board, including providing secretarial support around keeping minutes at the meetings. Next steps: Continue to keep the Board informed of developments. Continue with minutes’ secretary role and other supportive tasks as they arise.

Michael's Board report for 15th Sept to 13th Oct

In the interests of transparency and accountability, we've started putting our monthly reports to the Board up on this website. As time allows I'll go back and put the past ones up too. These reports are required for each ordinary business meeting (monthly) and should detail what we've been working on since our last report. If there's anything in a report that you are interested in finding out more about please contact us. We usually speak briefly to our reports at the relevant business meeting. Board members' reports are usually last on the agenda, so often we don't get to them until after 9pm. Portfolio:  Parks, Open Spaces, and Heritage

Significant points from monthly Board workshops and briefings

Participated in Board workshops (20^th Sept [Activity workshop], 21^st Sept, 28^th Sept, 5 Oct [Auckland Plan engagement workshop], 12^th Oct)

Attended joint Local Board Funding Policy Workshop on 30 September

Board business meeting (29^th September)

Portfolio activities for the month –15^th September to 13^th October

Portfolio areas:

Parks & Open Spaces:

Met with key Parks Officers and Kerri Foote to discuss Manukau Foreshore spending proposals for the 2011-12 financial year, and our approach to foreshore initiatives more generally – 30 September

Met with Board Chair and officers to discuss Greenways Concept Plan – 5 October

Met with Wendy Johns (Friends of Oakley Creek) onsite to discuss Molley Green wetland project and opportunities for ongoing community involvement – 7 October

Met with David Barker for initial monthly meeting to discuss Puketapapa Parks issues. Issues covered included Manukau Foreshore track progress, scoping of various SLIPs projects, measures to protect rare native mistletoe at Manukau Domain, and how the Molley Green path renewal will align with our aspirations for a Greenway. Future meetings will include a general discussion about parks issues in our area, and an overview of all upcoming activity – 14 October

Liaised with Roskill South Kindergarten about proposed Bob Bodt Reserve upgrade and discussed with officers the need to include the kindergarten in discussions about works.

Worked with Board member Kumar to assist Three Kings United with issues about vendor permits for an age group tournament at Keith Hay Park.

Ongoing liaison with Winstone Park Tennis club about Board and Parks funding for new clubrooms at Harold Long Reserve.

 

Ongoing work with Parks officers, Events team, and Comms team about Manukau Foreshore track opening event on 3 December.

Heritage:

Retrieved heritage images from Pah Homestead and discussed formation of a Puketapapa Heritage Festival working group for the 2012 event – 3 October

Assisted with setup and promotion of Historical Society establishment meeting on 9 October. The meeting was a great success with 15 people attending, a committee established, and a number of activities planned.

Discussion with various members of the public who have made contact with queries about the Heritage Images exhibition.

Julie's Board report for 15th Sept to 13th Oct 2011

In the interests of transparency and accountability, we're going to start putting our reports to the Board up on this website.  As time allows I'll go back and put the past ones up too.  These reports are required for each ordinary business meeting (monthly) and should detail what we've been working on since our last report.  If there's anything in a report that you are interested in finding out more about please contact us.

 

I'll be speaking briefly to this report at the next business meeting - October 27th, 6pm at the Wesley Community Centre, all welcome.  Board member's reports are usually last on the agenda, so often we don't get to them until after 9pm.

 

Portfolio:  Community Development

Significant points from monthly Board workshops and briefings

Participated in Board workshops (20^th Sept [Activity workshop], 21^st Sept, 28^th Sept, 12^th Oct)

Board business meeting (29^th September)

Portfolio activities for the month –15^th September to 13^th October

Portfolio areas:

Community development:

Roskill Community Network – met with network’s coordinator (Zena Wrigley) to discuss development of network and other community development matters (5^th Oct), particularly in relation to the role of different groups that are developing (Residents’ Association, Business Association, DIA intiative).  Apologies given for the monthly meeting, due to another council commitment.  Work with CDAP staff to ensure funding support for food for the Network until the end of 2011 (as per my recommendation at the August business meeting, clause B of PKTPP/2011/21).  Next steps:  Meet regularly with Zena to share information and ideas about local community development, and support each other in our different roles. 

Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Auckland Central Community Response Forum (ACCRF) – Contact with MSD to clarify where project is at.  They confirmed funding mechanism has changed and we are hoping to arrange a meeting between relevant people in near future to discuss further.  Initial draft response to ACCRF draft report on recommendations for the Roskill/Wesley area completed.  Sent to CDAP for further work before bringing back to the Board for endorsement.  Further contact with MSD to schedule meeting between MSD, Toni Millar, Nandita Mathur, Board member Turnbull and myself.  Next steps:  Follow-up MSD regarding setting meeting.  Circulate refined draft response to Board once it has come back from CDAP and seek feedback on further amendments before finalizing and submitting to MSD.

Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) community-led development project - Attended meeting of the interim leadership group  (27^th Sep).  Main points of discussion:  possible structure of the group.  Subsequent discussions about the project with community members and community development workers in the area, some indicating concern that they are unsure as to the direction or intention of the project.  Raised these with the key contact at the DIA.  It appears at this stage that DIA are intending for local government to be at arm’s length from the project, although we will see how that develops.    Next steps:  Continue to keep the Board informed of developments.  Attend next meeting of interim leadership group in October, and a training workshop for that group in early November. 

Community Development & Partnerships (CDAP) – monthly catch-ups with Nandita Mathur, Board Member Turnbull and Kerri Foote are now scheduled.  Contact through-out this month with Nandita and staff over the food for the Roskill Community Network, the DIA project, the ACCRF report, RPRA support, community grants (at both Isthmus and Local Board level),

Community Events – Prepared brief on Fickling Centre re-opening event and sent to Board members Kumar, Barter and Events contact Chantelle Whaiapu for further discussion and action.  October events meeting was cancelled.  Next steps (for me):  follow up Fickling Centre re-opening event brief.

Auckland Community Development Alliance (ACDA) – contacted to RSVP for workshop they are holding on future direction of the ACDA in October.  Preparation for workshop.  Next steps:  Attend workshop on 14^th October.

Albert-Eden-Roskill ward community development issues – organized meeting with Margi Watson, community development portfolio holder for Albert-Eden Local Board.  Next steps:  Attend meeting on 25^th October.

Media statement: Locals want meaningful say in resource consents process

“Many are making it clear they want meaningful local input to the resource consent process, following on from local concerns around the demolition of art deco buildings in St Heliers, and the seeking of a resource consent for “big box” retail on Pah Rd,” says Julie Fairey, a Roskill Community Voice member on the Puketapapa Local Board.

Ms Fairey has put a motion on the agenda of tonight’s Puketapapa Local Board business meeting seeking further information on whether Local Boards have the power to establish their own resource consent notification policies.

“The common concern I’ve heard from constituents is that they feel uninformed about what is happening in their community, and that they have little power to change things. Having Local Board area policies around how resource consents are notified in their communities, would hopefully incorporate public feedback on how to do this better,” said Fairey.

“It would make the process more meaningful and give people a real voice. A Local Board resource consent notification policy would probably have shown the deep community concerns about Turua St, and the Pah Rd Warehouse proposal, much earlier in the process,” said Fairey.

“Residents around the site of a proposed “The Warehouse” on Pah Road (Royal Oak) have felt marginalised by the way in which both the Council and the developer have taken steps to avoid listening to them to date. Only a small number of locals were notified, and The Warehouse has used new powers in the RMA to stop elected representatives from sitting on the hearings panel,” said Fairey.

Those concerned about the Pah Rd Warehouse proposal are now collecting signatures for a petition objecting to the development, citing concerns about traffic, parking, planning, and the impact on the town centres of Royal Oak, Three Kings and Onehunga.

The wording of the petition is as follows:

We, the undersigned express our objection to the proposal to build a “The Warehouse” store at 100 Pah Rd for the following reasons:

• A large format retail store at this location will add significant traffic congestion and parking problems to a major arterial route and intersection that is already approaching “gridlock”.
• The site is earmarked as a key site for future development and comprehensive master-planning in planning documents due to its strategic location. The Warehouse proposal is entirely out of line with identified usage for the site.
• The site is isolated from other local shopping centres and will have a detrimental effect on many small retailers in these centres, and the character of the broader community.

We urge all relevant decision makers to reject the current proposal and direct the Warehouse to seek a more suitable location more in line with current planning guidelines and community wishes.”

Those wanting to assist with collecting signatures for the petition should contact Julie Fairey via julie.fairey@aucklandcity.govt.nz or calling 09 620 9257.

Puketapapa Local Board inauguration

Michael and I were sworn in as Local Board Members on Wednesday November 3rd at the Fickling Centre, in front of a crowd of around one hundred locals.  Many thanks to our families, friends and supporters who came along to celebrate with us.

Richard Barter (previous Chair of the Mt Roskill Community Board, C&R) was elected chair unanimously, and there was an election for Deputy Chair, between Nigel Turnbull of Citizens and Ratepayers and Michael.  Nigel was successful with four votes to our two, after speeches from both candidates.

There was also some controversy at the end of the meeting, around the removal from the agenda of an item to call at Extraordinary Meeting of the Board on November 9th to discuss Monte Cecilia School.  Michael and I moved and seconded a motion to hold the meeting as previously agreed but it was voted down four votes to two.  The discussion will now take place at the next Business Meeting on December 16th. 

Here are some pics of the event, many thanks to Arna for taking them.  Oh dear, can't currently upload the shots to the website, so here's a link to them on Facebook instead.

You can also read thecoverage of the inauguration meeting in the Herald and Central Leader (in print edition today,will put up here once online).

Herald coverage of Puketapapa Local Board inauguration

Part of an article covering a number of Local Board inaugurations, published in the print edition of the NZ Herald on Thursday 4th November 2010.

The inaugural Puketapapa Local Board meeting got off to a rocky start in Three Kings.

The swearing-in of its six members and the election of Richard Barter as chairman went smoothly in front of a crowd of more than 50 people.

Peter Muys even sang a modified Fred Dagg song before he read his declaration. He said he was inspired after seeing the city's new councillors sing at their inaugural meeting on Monday.

The tension began when both Nigel Turnbull and Michael Wood were nominated for the role of deputy chairman.

Both gave impassioned speeches about their commitment to the local community, with Mr Woods saying it "has been targeted by liquor and pokie merchants ... and yes, the eviction of Monte Cecilia School continues to cause division."

Mr Turnbull won the vote 4-2 - a division among the members which was a trend for the rest of the evening.

After the meeting was formally closed, Mr Wood was allowed to bring up an "extraordinary meeting" about Monte Cecilia School which was meant to take place next week.

However, the board ruled - once again 4-2 - that discussion of the matter be held over until next month.

This decision was met with outrage from some of the audience, with one man yelling "corruption" and having a heated argument with another man, who yelled, "Democracy works! Get over it!"

Click through for the full original article, with the reports on other inaugurations.

Media Statement: Monte Cecilia School first on agenda

"The election of two Roskill Community Voice Members on to the Puketapapa Local Board has brought the fate of Monte Cecilia School to the top of the local political agenda," says Roskill Community Voice member of the Puketapapa Local Board Michael Wood.

"We campaigned hard on this issue and now we have made it our first order of business. We have called for an extraordinary meeting of the Board on Tuesday 9 November, at which a motion will be put urging the Council to review the current proposal to uproot Monte Cecilia School, and to consider other more cost effective options to re-locate the school within the park," says Wood.

"The local community remains furious about the way they have been treated, with consultation throughout the process being farcical. More broadly, Aucklanders are concerned about the massive unfunded cost of this pet project. Cost estimates of between $50 - $100 million mean that ratepayers from around the region will be stung, and there will also be less money available for other open space projects across Auckland."

"It is our hope that a new Council and a new Board can look at the whole project with fresh eyes, and arrive at a win-win solution that meets the needs of all parties, and saves Auckland ratepayers tens of millions of dollars. We are discussing the issue with elected members across party lines and believe that a reasonable compromise can be agreed upon," continues Wood.

"Our motion at the first business meeting of the Puketapapa Board is a moderate one that simply seeks to open the books on the current proposal and to look at the options. We strongly hope that the Board supports this reasonable approach and that it can be the start of a process that heals the rifts created by the Monte Cecilia project," concludes Wood.


ENDS