Final Campaign Post

There are just 24 hours left to cast your votes in the 2013 Auckland Council elections.

We are urging all local people to make the effort to vote. At this late stage you will need to take your completed voting papers to the Mt Roskill (or any other library) and deposit them in the ballot box before 12noon on Saturday.

The Roskill Community Voice team has thoroughly enjoyed the campaign. We've done everything that we can to engage the local community, focussing on important local issues and running an energetic campaign on the streets of Puketapapa/Mt Roskill.

Our campaign has been focussed on a number of key issues:

1) Winning a Fair Share for Mt Roskill
We say that it is simply unfair that our community receives just 74c of funding from Auckland Council for every $1 spent elsewhere. This legacy of neglect must be turned around and we are the team who will fight for a fair deal.

2) Bury the Pylons
The Pylons that march across our communities and harbour are a blight on our neighbourhoods and Harbour. They would not be accepted in the eastern suburbs and the Waitemata Harbour. We have a responsible plan to underground the pylons and our campaign is building momentum.

3) Looking after our environment and restoring our cones
We are the team who has put real energy into looking after our Foreshore, streams, and maunga over the past term. If re-elected we will have a strong focus on restoring Puketapapa/Mt Roskill and Big King/Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta.

4) Reducing harms in our community
The Roskill Community Voice team has consistently stood up to reduce harms in our community and we will push to reduce the harm caused by pokies and corner liquor stores in our community.

Further to this we are the only team to produce comprehensive policy so that voters have transparency ahead of the election. We've also run high energy local campaigns to engage with local people and involve community in local issues, including Bury the Pylons, A Vision for Three Kings, and Fairness for Wesley.

We have been able to achieve a lot with two RCV members on the Board over the past term and we know that a full RCV Board will have the skills and vision to provide Puketapapa/Mt Roskill with real leadership in the next term if voters give us that mandate.

Stand up for a Fair Share for Mt Roskill: Vote Roskill Community Voice for Puketapapa Local Board and City Vision for Ward Councillors.

Championing the Manukau Foreshore

The Manukau Foreshore is an ecological and recreational gem. We love the native bush, the picnic spots, the track network, the hidden beaches, and the wonderful bird life.

On the Puketapapa Local Board we have been champions for the Foreshore, Michael has overseeen

work in this area as the Board's Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio-holder. He has also been a keen rat and possum trapper along the foreshore over the past eight years. 

We've been able to achieve a lot over the past three years, including:

• Overseeing extensions to the track network at Waikowhai, Hillsborough Cemetery, and Cape Horn.
•  Leading the project to develop a new coastal walkway linking Onehunga to Taylors Bay.
•  Developing a community-led vision for the Foreshore to guide our priorities in the years to come.
•  Securing a ten year funding programme to control weeds along the coastal reserves, now in action.
•  Pushing for the development of the new walkway through Lynfield Reserve (under construction).
•  Taking action to protect and preserve the historic Waikowhai changing sheds.
•  Launching the campaign to Bury the Pylons that blight our Foreshore and neighbourhoods.

In the next term we want to build on this work, and in particular we are keen to help support the newly formed Waikowhai Forest Restoration Network, and to make further progress on completing the track network, including the provision of useful, integrated signage, and appropriate facilities.

With your support we can further enhance this very special place in our community.

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.

Bury the Pylons campaign marches on

Following on from reaching our first 1000 signatures on the Bury the Pylons petition, the campaign is

pushing on to build  even greater momentum.

At last week's gathering at Taylor's Bay, the Roskill Community Voice team handed over the first 1000 petition signatures to Phil Goff MP. The petition will be formally tabled for consideration in Parliament - an important part of getting our case heard. At the gathering we announced the next steps in the campaign:

1) We are aiming for 5000 petition signatures by the end of 2013. We have a solid start and a lot of community interest. Achieving 5000+ signatures will make it much harder for the issue to be ignored.

2) Establishing a community working group to oversee out campaign and petition collecting. This will simply be a small group of local people who will work together to ensure we reach our goals and plan our activities. If you are interested please contact us.

3) Setting up a Facebook page as a source of promotion and contact for the campaign. Coming soon!

The Bury the Pylons campaign has generated huge community interest. The pylons need to go, but it will take a strong campaign that combines community pressure with political leadership to achieve our objective. We have made a great start - let's keep going!

RCV Policy on Reducing harms

Our families deserve an environment in which social harms are reduced. We have advocated fearlessly on behalf of our community and will continue to push for a safe and healthy community environment.

• We will launch a drive towards making Mt Roskill/Puketapapa Auckland’s first pokie-free community. 
• Building on the success of smokefree playgrounds we commit to delivering smokefree parks in Puketapapa/Mt Roskill over the next three year term.  
• We support a sinking-lid approach to the number of off-license liquor stores in our community and more effective controls to prevent abuse of the rules. 
• Work to build relationships with Pacific and Maori wardens to develop a presence in Roskill. 
• Tackling graffiti by ensuring that it is removed immediately, and prevented by the installation of high quality anti-graffiti murals. Work with local community on mural design.  
• Work to make Roskill a synthetic-cannabis free zone. 
• We know that poverty and inequality are the root cause of many issues in our community. We will work to ensure that all of our people receive a fair go through policies such as the Living Wage and provision of good quality affordable and social housing.

RCV Policy on Environment and Parks

We treasure our local environment. Our maunga, foreshore, streams, and network of parks give us space to roam, a sense of identity, and recreational opportunities. We will work to protect and enhance our environment and open space.

Specific local policy includes:

• A strong focus on environmental restoration including: 
• The Manukau foreshore 
• Our local streams particularly Oakley Creek and Wairaki Stream 
• Our maunga – Puketapapa/Pukewiwi/Mt Roskill and Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta/Big King. 
• Establishment of a dedicated Local Board budget line to undertake restoration initiatives on our maunga. We will work with iwi and community to ensure that the mana of our cones is restored. 
• Driving forward the vision for an Onehunga to Blockhouse Bay continuous walkway network and ongoing stewardship of foreshore, working with the newly formed ‘Friends of the Foreshore’ group. 
• Our campaign to Bury the Pylons. We will continue our advocacy to remove these unsightly lines that blight our neighbourhoods and harbour. 
• Development of a playground strategy that gives local communities the opportunity to help shape their local parks and provides a comprehensive approach to renewing our local playgrounds. 
• A strong focus on restoration of the Manukau Harbour including advocacy to keep Watercare honest, continuing to remove Pacific Oyster shells from our beaches, and resolving stormwater run-off issues. 
• Oppose further wasteful acquisitions around Monte Cecilia Park, and instead focus resources on quality development of the existing park. 
• Advancing stream naturalisation projects, and ensuring that naturalised areas have ongoing budgeted maintenance to ensure they are kept in good condition.

Submission on Volcanic cones Bill

Readers might be aware that Parliament is currently considering the 'Nga Mana Whenua o Tamkai Makaurau Collective Redress Bill'. The purpose of the Bill is to transfer the bulk of Auckland's volcanic cones to iwi and to set up a co-governance structure between iwi and Auckland Council. Full public access to the cones is retained.

We are basically supportive of the settlement. Our cones, particularly in Puketapapa/Mt Roskill have been terribly neglected under sole Council stewardship and we are hopeful that working together with iwi there will be impetus to undertake much needed restoration.

The main concern that we have is that local communities and Local Boards don't get much of a look in under the proposed structure and legislation. We have raised this repeatedly within Auckland Council, but have not received much of a hearing. To try and advance these points we have therefore submitted to the Parliamentary committee considering the Bill. Our main proposals are:

• Guarantee Local Board representation on the Maunga Authority that will govern the cones.
• Require the Maunga Authority to establish localised consultation structures
• Allow groups and people to submit views directly to the Maunga Authority

The full submission is below...

12 September 2013

Submission to the Maori Affairs Select Committee:

Nga Mana Whenua o Tamaki Makaurau Collective Redress Bill

Submitter                           Michael Wood, Puketapapa Local Board Member

Organisation                      Roskill Community Voice

Contact Details                 80 Albrecht Ave, Mt Roskill South, Auckland 1041

                                                09 620 9257 or 022 659 6360

                                                mwood1935@gmail.com

Submission:

1.       I wish to appear before the committee to present my submission, assuming that the committee will conduct hearings in Tamaki Makaurau.

2.       Roskill Community Voice is a community based organisation and political grouping based in the Mt Roskill area. We are supported by Labour, Greens, and community-based independents. We are currently represented on the Puketapapa Local Board by Julie Fairey and Michael Wood.

3.       The Bill is of major interest to the Mt Roskill community. Two maunga from the Mt Roskill area are included in the Bill; Puketapapa/Pukewiwi (Mt Roskill), and Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta (Big King). Both are extremely important in terms of local community identity and recreation, but they have also both been terribly abused over the years.

4.       We broadly support the Bill in its current form. It is appropriate that iwi’s cultural and historic connection to the maunga is recognised through co-governance. We also believe that co-governance could provide the impetus to undertake much need restoration work on our badly degraded maunga. 

5.       Both as a matter of good governance, and to ensure that there is widespread community support for co-governance we believe that there should be provisions in the Bill to ensure that community engagement and transparency are embedded in the operation of the Maunga Authority. This could be achieved through some fairly minor changes to the Bill.

6.       In the first instance we believe that it is important to ensure that there is representation from local communities on the Maunga Authority. If the Authority is perceived to be distant from local communities vis-à-vis its membership this is likely to create community concern. It would also result in important local considerations not being clearly heard in the decision making process. The Auckland Council’s structure includes Local Boards, which are broadly empowered to represent local community interests. We believe that a simple way of ensuring a local voice on the Manuga Authority would be for the legislation to require that at least half of Auckland Council’s membership of the Maunga Authority be made up of Local Board members from Local Board areas that include maunga overseen by the Maunga Authority. Proposed wording follows:

106 Membership

·         (1) The Maunga Authority comprises—

·         (a) 2 members appointed by the Marutūāhu rōpū entity; and

·         (b) 2 members appointed by the Ngāti Whātua rōpū entity; and

·         (c) 2 members appointed by the Waiohua Tāmaki rōpū entity; and

·         (d) 6 members appointed by the Auckland Council, no less than three of whom must be members of Local Boards from Local Board areas that include maunga under the jurisdiction of the Maunga Authority; and

7.       We believe that the role of the Maunga Authority will be large and complex. It will be dealing with policy issues at a high level, and will find it difficult to engage directly around site-specific issues. We also believe that the credibility of the Manuga Authority will be enhanced by strong mechanisms that enable it to connect with local communities. At this stage however, the Bill provides no such direction or framework.

8.       In response to the issues raised in (7) we propose the insertion of a new section in Schedule 4, after the current section 9. Proposed text follows:

10) Local Engagement and Consultation

(1) The Maunga Authority will ensure that local communities are consulted with prior to the development of plans or initiatives relating to specific maunga.

(2) The Maunga Authority will establish a process to enable groups and individuals with an interest in the business of the Authority and maunga-related issues, to make direct representations to the Authority of their own volition.

(3) The Maunga Authority will establish localised structures that enable it to engage with local communities about issues relating to specific maunga. These structures will be on the basis of Local Board boundaries and must include Local Board representation.

9.       In conclusion, we are supportive of the main objectives and structures of the Bill. Its main area of deficiency relates to a lack of provisions that will ensure engagement with local communities. It is important to include such measures in order that the legitimate interests of local communities receive a hearing in relation to local maunga, and also to ensure wide-spread community acceptance of co-governance.

Specifically, we propose that Local Board representation on the Maunga Authority be enshrined, and that it be a statutory requirement that the Maunga Authority engage with local communities. Specific and simple measures are proposed to achieve this.

10.   We thank the committee for the opportunity to submit and for considering the issues we have raised.

RCV Policy on Heritage

Roskill's heritage deserves protection and recognition. Our heritage reminds us of where we have come from, and provides our community with heart and character.

We have fought hard to bring focus on to Roskill's rich heritage, which has been neglected for many years.

Our 2013 election policy on heritage issues includes:

• Ongoing advocacy to ensure that important local heritage sites are protected and recognised, either through formal scheduling, or the provision of information about the heritage value of the site.
• Development of a network of heritage interpretive signage to inform the public about our natural, cultural, and built heritage.
• Continuing to build a strong relationship with the Mt Roskill (Puketapapa) Historical Society to support their role in researching and publicising Roskill's history.
• Ensuring the sympathetic restoration of the Roskill Borough Council Chambers, ensuring that the heritage value of the site is preserved and enhanced.
• Working to ensure that the Unitary Plan provides adequate protection of local heritage, including scheduling of important local sites, recognition of heritage character zones, and demolition protection of important areas of early settlement.
• Development of a 'Three Kings Heritage Walk' that takes in key sites in this important heritage area.

Aircraft Noise - locals speak up

Roskill Community Voice candidate Harry Doig went to a very revealing public meeting on

Thursday night called to discuss the new aircraft flight paths over Auckland. 

Auckland Airport, Airways NZ and Air NZ are trialing new routes (SMART Approaches) into the Auckland airport with the aim of reducing the miles flown by aircraft, reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions, and (supposedly) better managing noise for residential communities!   

300 residents were present at the meeting - very impressive. Not so impressive was the attitude of officials from Auckland Airport and Airways NZ who were there. "Very arrogant" and "patronising" were the words used to describe their stance. People reporting increased noise levels were accused of "imagining things" and being "led on" by articles in the Central Leader. Comment of the evening came from Judy Nichol (Auckland Airport) "We didn't tell anyone about the trial because we wanted to see whether anyone noticed any difference in noise levels." What! "But we do want to consult with the community now." A bit late Judy. The trial finishes in October this year.

Intriguingly what developed during the meeting were questions about what other changes are being trialed alongside the SMART Approaches?   The officials were quick to put down many noise complaints because they weren't part of the new approach routes.  If this is the case then something else is going on because thousands of residents are being affected by increased aircraft noise from aircraft evidently on the old routes as well as the new routes .

What we want is meaningful consultation including information that hasn't been massaged to suit the proposed changes.  And a cost benefit analysis that includes the impact on our communities. We could do without the green-washing as well. 

  

Thank you The Plane Truth Action Group for organising the meeting and all the work that you are putting in to try and get some real information out about what is going on. Sign their petition!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/328/998/681/stop-the-auckland-airport-implementing-a-new-flight-path/

 

and visit their face book page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Auckland-The-Plane-Truth-Action-Group/579257782136756?ref=profile

Supporting our campaign

There are now under three weeks until voting papers get issued for the 2013 Auckland Council

elections. Our team is campaigning hard and receiving a very positive response from the community.

We are campaigning for a fair share for Mt Roskill with a particular focus on:

• Winning a fair share of Council resources for Roskill. Our community currently receives 74c of investment for every $1 spent elsewhere. 
•  Burying the Pylons that blight our neighbourhoods and harbour.
•  Looking after our environment and restoring our neglected volcanic cones
•  Reducing social harms with a focus on reducing the number of pokies and halting the spread of bottle shops in our community.

To win a fair share for our community we need to encourage people to vote. You can help our campaign in one of the following ways:

• Donate. Campaigns cost a lot of money and every dollar you give helps us to get our message out.
• Deliver leaflets. Fun work and good exercise!
• Help to doorknock or phonebank. This is our most important campaign activity. Help out to make a big difference. We can provide training.
• Host a cottage meeting. Have friends or neighbours over to meet their local candidates.

Any help makes a big difference. To support our campaign please email on roskillcv@gmail.com or call on 09-620-9257.

Waikowhai Park, Auckland Anniversary Day 2012

Photos taken on one of the new Waikowhai Park bush tracks, January 30th 2012.  For the full album of 24 photos see our album from this walk on Facebook.

The old signage, not looking so great....

Flash new signage, providing information as well as other new signs that help you find your way.

The start of the short coastal walk from the eastern end of Wesley Bay around to Aldersgate.  Being well used by fishers and walkers alike, and just as a nice spot to look out at the Manukau.

Inspecting the flotsam and jetsam on the beach at Wesley Bay.  In the background you can see the packed carpark at the western end of Wesley Bay - hundreds of people there just enjoying the park, the sun and the BBQ.

And the view back along the busier part of Wesley Bay (during a calmer moment!)

The track we went on took us from near the playground right through to the eastern part of Wesley Bay (linking up with the Aldersgate access point when the tide is low enough).  We were there at about low tide.  This track is not quite complete - there was some machinery on the tracks and it is still unsuitable for those who have difficulty walking and/or are pushing a buggy.

Media statement: Community seek discussion with The Warehouse about Pah Rd development

Community seek discussion with The Warehouse about Pah Rd development

“Community members are calling on The Warehouse to meet with them to discuss their concerns about the new store being constructed on Pah Rd,” says Julie Fairey, Roskill Community Voice member on the Puketapapa Local Board.

As legal channels to stop or change the “big box” retail development on Pah Rd have been exhausted, the community is now writing to the CEO of The Warehouse.  “Locals want to know how The Warehouse intends to address their concerns around noise, traffic, parking, flooding, and construction, as well as the impact of the store on the Royal Oak Town Centre and nearby parks,” says Michael Wood, Roskill Community Voice member on the Puketapapa Local Board.

“As a company committed to New Zealand communities we are hoping that The Warehouse will be open to public dialogue on this issue, and that we can find some ways to mitigate the negatives of this development,” says Wood.

A community letter was sent yesterday by 12 community members, including two Members of Parliament, to The Warehouse’s CEO, Mark Powell.  The letter outlines the concerns and questions of the community, and seeks a response from The Warehouse by way of a community meeting to discuss the development.  Further groups and individuals are being approached to support the community letter, including the Maungakiekie-Tamaki and Puketapapa Local Boards.   A copy of the letter is appended below, after the background information on the issue. 

“We look forward to a positive response from The Warehouse, and are hopeful that there are some steps they can take to ease the concerns of the community.  Perhaps with some inventive thinking The Warehouse can make sure this development is a bargain for the local community too,” said Fairey.

ENDS

Background:

The proposal to build a “The Warehouse” retail store, with associated carparking and additional retail tenancies and road changes, has been undertaken by Eldamos Investments.  The sites the development would cover are 100 Pah Rd (formerly the site of the Holeproof factory), 677, 677A and 679 Mount Albert Rd.  The total retail floor area would be 7500m2, with carparking less than the minimum required under current regulations. 

The resource consent notification for this proposal was notified on November 5^th 2010.  It did not go in City Scene, as past notifications of this nature would have, because City Scene was no longer being published as a result of the Auckland Council amalgamation which took effect on November 1^st 2010.  Roskill Community Voice leafleted approximately 500 local households in early December 2010 to encourage public submissions, whether for, against or neutral. We were surprised to discover that many locals did not know about the resource consent at all, or The Warehouse’s plans.  This was only a matter of a few days before submissions closed on December 10th.  With the assistance of Councillor Cathy Casey, we sought an extension to the submission deadline, however this was declined by the CEO of Auckland Council.  Given the high level of contact we received from locals on this issue we organised a public meeting in the area to gain broader community feedback on the proposal. In mid December 2010 over 70 people attended this public meeting about the proposal and voted unanimously to oppose it.  In late January 2011  Roskill Community Voice began circulating a petition  amongst local residents, opposing the development.  

Of the 23 submissions made on the resource consent application, 21 opposed the application, while the remaining 2 were neutral.  Those submitting against included the James Wallace Arts Trust, the Onehunga Business Association, and the Parks, Sport and Recreation department of the Auckland Council.  All local residents who submitted on the proposal indicated they opposed it.  Carol Beaumont MP submitted against the proposal as well, presenting a 300-signature strong petition to the commissioners. 

The decision of the three independent commissioners was released on April 13^th.  A community meeting was held on 8^th May to discuss next steps, and from that efforts were undertaken by the community to pursue an Environment Court appeal, but this was unable to proceed.  Since then an informal organising group of locals has been established, and determined that the next step was to send a letter from the community to The Warehouse raising the key issues and seeking a response by way of a community meeting.  The letter was sent by email on 7^th October, and by post on 8^th October.