Three Kings Land Exchange decision Nov 2015 media coverage

Links covering the debate and decision of the Auckland Development Committee yesterday in relation to the Three Kings Land Exchange proposal.

• NZ Herald:  Controversial land swap approved in Auckland (immediately after land exchange vote)
• NZ Herald:  Controversial apartment development gets the go-ahead (broader article covering plan change and comment from Roskill Community Voice, Minister Smith, Penny Hulse)
• Roskill Community Voice media statement:  Local Board to fight...
• Auckland Live video clips of the Auckland Development Committee meeting - includes presentation from Three Kings Community Action (Public input), Michael Wood on behalf of Puketapapa Local Board (Item 13, part 1), officer presentations and questions, debate and voting from councillors (Item 13, part 2 onwards)

Media release: Local Board will fight Three Kings Land Exchange Decision

Local Board will fight Three Kings Land Exchange Decision

“Today’s decision by the Auckland Development Committee (ADC) to support the proposed Three Kings land exchange (for recommendation to the Minister) will be fought by the Puketapapa Local Board”, say Roskill Community Voice members of the Puketapapa Local Board; Harry Doig, Julie Fairey, David Holm, and Michael Wood. 

“On behalf of our community, we made a reasonable request today: that one other option for development of the site be seriously considered before a land exchange proceeds. We were disappointed that the ADC was unwilling to commit Council to a serious consideration of the alternative, a plan developed by leading landscape architect Richard Reid”

“We find it astonishing that a major land transaction involving public land worth many tens of millions of dollars may proceed with no thorough consideration of the options, and we note that the option that is proceeding is based solely on the proposal tabled by the developer (Fletcher Residential) at the beginning of the process”

“Many Aucklanders who care deeply about our volcanic landscape will also be alarmed to learn that the proposal approved by Council, which builds around the flanks of Te tatua a Riukiuta (Big King) has not had a landscape assessment completed. At a time when Auckland is preparing a World Heritage status bid for our Maunga it seems extraordinary that Council would approve a plan that involves large buildings up against Big King’s edge, while ignoring a development plan put forward by one of New Zealand’s leading experts in the rehabilitation of volcanic landscapes”

“We also lament the lost opportunity to build some unity around one of Auckland’s largest brownfield intensification projects. We support significant residential development on the site, and so would the community were there a proper process to address legitimate concerns such as the need to rehabilitate the volcanic landscape. If this is how Auckland Council manages large scale intensification with a pro-compact-city Local Board, how badly will things go in other areas? Alienating and cutting out Local Boards will lead to chaos and division at a time when Auckland desperately needs unity to build more houses” 

“Our Local Board has consistently advocated for a quality development at Three Kings that takes account of the volcanic landscape. We could build a large number of houses on the site, while respecting and enhancing our natural heritage and responding to community expectations. It is unfortunate that Auckland Council has turned its back on that opportunity. We reserve our options to fight this poor decision”, say the Board members.

ENDS

Contact:

Michael Wood – 022-659-6360

Big King & surrounds - photo essay

This has been put together by our candidate Harry Doig, who lives in Three Kings and took his camera up the mountain one day recently.

The maunga that we love.

But it could be better!

Spot the weeds.

How about some interpretive signage?

And then we must grasp the opportunity when the quarry is decommissioned to not only ensure high quality housing but also to enhance the reserve.

They and us deserve better.

To find out more about our Vision For Three Kings, have a look here.

A Vision For Three Kings - policy package

Introduction

The Roskill Community Voice team is proud to announce our Vision for Three Kings, an integrated policy platform that we present to the community ahead of the local government elections this year.

We believe that it is important that the local community can have confidence that their representatives have comprehensive and well-thought out policies on key local issues, and we hope that this document helps you to understand the approach we will take if elected to the Puketapapa Local Board.

We all know that change is on the horizon for Three Kings. The re-development of Three Kings Quarry is likely to commence within the next 5-10 years, and plans for what the end use will be are already under development. The Unitary Plan may also result in changes to the look and feel of the Three Kings community, with most parts of Auckland being zoned for some degree of intensification.

Change cannot be avoided, but it is our belief that the local community must have a strong voice to ensure that it is our community’s vision that shapes the future of Three Kings.

We have been listening to the community over the past three years and have developed a set of policies that respond to key local concerns.

Our Vision sets out policy in four key areas:

• A plan to restore Big King, our neglected maunga.

• Our vision for a quality development on the quarry site, with real public amenity

• Proposed Unitary Plan provisions and how we ensure quality development

• Protection and promotion of our local heritage and character

Most importantly, we believe that local community must have a strong voice in charting the future of Three Kings. We will always ensure that the residents and groups of Three Kings are informed and involved in decisions about Three Kings and we are open to good new ideas and perspectives.

We are excited about our Vision for Three Kings and with your support, hope to be able to implement this vision on the new Local Board. Please contact us with any questions or comments.

Restore Big King

We believe that it is time for real leadership in our community to restore our neglected maunga. Big King/Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta is a source of local identity and pride, but it has been treated poorly over many years. With focus, resources, and a partnership approach we believe that Big King can have its mana restored and public amenity improved.

Action we will take:

• We have led the public process to get public art back on the reservoir after ‘Grumpy Cat’ was removed. In the short-term we will work with the local community to identify the preferred concept, and we will then work with Watercare to get this actioned.

• Longer-term we believe that the reservoir must be removed from Big King. We acknowledge that this will involve working with Watercare on technical issues and that it will not be resolved quickly. However, it is time to make a start. Removing the reservoir is about respecting the maunga as a place that is important for iwi and community, and not just seeing it as a prop for infrastructure.

• With co-management of Auckland’s volcanic cones coming soon we believe it important that the Board builds a strong relationship between itself, local community, and the Tamaki Collective, so that a collaborative plan for restoring Big King can be developed.

• We will support the creation of a Friends of Big King group so that there is a clear channel for the community to be engaged around maunga issues.

• Within the first year of the new Board, we will establish a dedicated budget line for restoration of Roskill’s two volcanic cones.

• In the short-term, we will look to fund a range of measures to improve community access and amenity including a renewal of the crumbling path and improvements for dog users.

• We will establish a programme to better control rats and possums around Big King, including a scheme for neighbouring residents to receive free or low-cost possum traps.

We are running a postcard campaign to show the strength of the community support for restoring Big King and removing the reservoir.   Please contact us to get involved.  We also have signs that you can put on your fence to show your support!

A Quality Quarry Development

The re-development of Three Kings quarry is the major planning issue faced by the Three Kings community over the next decade. It is absolutely critical that there is a strong community voice in this process, and that the development is focussed on people and community. We believe that a high quality and appropriately scaled development, with strong open space connections and linkages to the town centre, could be of real community benefit.

Action we will take:

 

• To recognise the importance of quarry development issues for the Three Kings area, we will create a dedicated Board portfolio position for Three Kings development issues.

• We will work with Auckland Transport to develop an integrated transport interchange at an appropriate location so that public transport becomes easier for locals to use.

• Take a firm position with the developer (Fletchers) on behalf of the community to support a development that balances private and public space, enhancing community integration.

• Strong advocacy for the development to assist in the restoration of Big King/Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta, and to better connect Big King with other reserves in the area.

• We will strongly support completion of the current Precinct planning process and also the development of a community- led ‘precinct layer’ that will have effect in the Unitary Plan. 

We will put forward the following three principles to guide the formation of the ‘precinct layer’ and any subsequent development:

Principle 1.  Community and Iwi Involvement:  The future development of the quarry site is the major public concern of the Three Kings community and is of intense interest across the Puketapapa/Mt Roskill

area. For iwi the site is of immense historical and cultural interest. The site is being privately developed, but given its scale and impact on local people, there must be strong community and iwi involvement in the process. Community and iwi are more than just stakeholders' to be consulted. They are legitimate partners in a major undertaking that we will live with for generations to come. The quarry owner (Fletchers) must enter into a genuine partnership approach to reach the best possible outcomes for the site.

Principle 2.  Public Access and Open Space: Our community has been cut off from good quality access to Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta for too long. Future development of the site must substantially improve public access to and around the maunga, and ensure that important public viewshafts are not compromised. Any plans to create a large residential presence in the quarry area must be balanced against the need for a significant net increase in the amount of quality, well connected public space in the area. This will serve to increase the attractiveness of any residential development, to provide  community amenity, and to meet restoration objectives for the site. The site should not be developed simply to maximise private profit, but also to provide for the public good.

Principle 3.  Quality Development that Builds Community:  The scale of potential development on the quarry site means that it will have a substantial impact on the urban form and nature of community in the broader Three Kings area. It is essential that any residential development be comprehensively planned with the strong involvement of the community. Development must be sympathetic to the local community and environment, provide good transport connections, integrate with a re-vitalised town centre, and be in line with the Auckland Plan vision of creating a truly 'liveable city' - including provision for affordable and social housing. A 'hole in the ground gated community' is not acceptable. This must be a place that is inclusive, attractive, and contributes to overall community cohesion and wellbeing.

The Unitary Plan

We want to see the future development of Three Kings done in a careful and sensitive way.   Gentle intensification as envisaged by the Unitary Plan can be done well, but we must ensure that development is appropriate to local conditions. Local input into the ongoing development of the community is essential.

Action we will take:

• We will support high quality intensification in appropriate places. The preservation of character and amenity must be prioritised.

• Advocacy for a reduction in the 8 story maximum height limit proposed for Three Kings Town Centre and the development of a fine grained approach to heights so that we get a local solution that works for this area rather than a cookie-cutter approach imposed from above.

• We will place major emphasis on the quality of new developments and sympathy with neighbouring properties, including the use of graduated buffer zones so that there are more gentle changes in height, rather than the scenario of a large block next to a small villa.

• Working to ensure that Three Kings remains a place that people can afford to live in, with access to affordable and social housing. We will work with HNZ to ensure good quality redevelopment of existing public housing stock, preserving or increasing number of properties, and ensuring integration of housing types to avoid ghettoisation.

• In line with our position over the past term, we will advocate for much stronger notification requirements before significant developments go to consent so that local community can provide meaningful input.

• Strongly advocate for local flooding issues to be dealt with. Advocacy for improved stormwater infrastructure before there is large-scale development, and better planning rules to prevent inappropriate development.

• We will argue for strong protection of our local heritage, including support for the pre-1944 demolition controls, and the identification and protection of important heritage sites and character zones.

Protection of Local Heritage and Character

Three Kings was in many ways the birthplace of modern Mt Roskill. We have a rich local history, including significant patterns of Maori and colonial settlement. This heritage gives our community real heart and soul. It must be protected and celebrated. We have led the way in elevating Roskill’s heritage over the past three years and will ensure that it is there for future generations to treasure.

Action we will take:

• We will continue to push for the sympathetic restoration of the iconic Mt Roskill Municipal Chambers for civic and community use.
  

• Continue the development and roll-out of heritage interpretive signs to complement existing signs and the new suffrage memorial (due to open 19 September at the Rose Gardens)

• The development of 3 Kings Heritage trail taking in key local buildings, features, and sites, so that local heritage can be better understood.

• Continued strong advocacy for planning rules and zoning that protects key heritage sites and character zones in Three Kings.

We have produced this in booklet format as well - please contact us if you would like a copy.

Media release: Vision for Three Kings to be launched next week

Roskill Community Voice Media Release

8 August 2013

Vision for Three Kings to be launched next week 

“Three Kings was the birthplace of local government in Mt Roskill. One hundred years later it is time for local government to step up and deliver a clear vision for the future of Three Kings, as the community faces unprecedented change”, says Roskill Community Voice candidate for the Puketapapa Local Board Julie Fairey.

“The redevelopment of Three Kings quarry into a major residential sub-division, and proposed Unitary Plan changes mean that the Three Kings of the future will be different. We say that this change needs to be guided by a strong local vision to ensure that the needs and aspirations of the Three Kings community are met”, says Roskill Community Voice candidate for the Puketapapa Local Board Harry Doig.

“We have been listening to the Three Kings community and next week will launch our Vision for Three Kings as part of an integrated policy package about Three Kings issues. Our vision will cover key issues including: ·

• A plan to restore Big King, our neglected maunga. 
• Our vision for a quality quarry development with real public amenity 
• The Unitary Plan and how we ensure good community outcomes 
• Protection and promotion of Three Kings’ local heritage and character 

“A key part of our vision will be an exciting new campaign to ‘Restore Big King’. An announcement about this campaign will be made at the launch event”, says Julie Fairey.

“Our ‘Vision for Three Kings’ and ‘Restore Big King’ campaign will be launched on Saturday 17 August in Three Kings. Local residents can find out about the Vision by checking www.roskillcv.org.nz, contacting us to request a copy of our ‘Vision for Three Kings’ policy booklet, or attending the launch from 3pm on Saturday 17 August. Places are limited so people need to contact us ASAP on roskillcv@gmail.com or on 620-9257 to reserve a place at the launch. We are excited about our Vision for Three Kings and hope that the local community will be too”, says Harry Doig.

ENDS

Media welcome to attend launch event on Saturday 17 August from 3pm.   Please contact Julie or Harry for details.

Contact: Julie Fairey - 09 620-9257 and 027 285 7734 or
Harry Doig – 09 623 4920 and 027 241 2209