Month: May 2015

As Auckland breaks so does my heart…

· 4 Comments ·

Found this earlier

Ties in with my post tomorrow on the Transport Accord and why Council should say “NO!”

sinisterdisco's avatarsinisterdisco

John keyDear Mr Key,

I will aim to keep this short and not take up too much of your time.  I will also try to keep my emotions from tainting my words but it may be rather difficult so please do forgive me if that is what happens during the course of this email.  The reason I have contacted you is mostly to give you a personal account of how the housing crisis is affecting young couples in Auckland (and in other areas of NZ) and to let you know that the struggle is real.  The struggle is also isolating because young renters only have each other as allies, so I have written to you on behalf of them, on behalf of all of us who just can’t take the insanity anymore.

My story

My partner and I don’t want anything flash nor do we care about living in the city…

View original post 502 more words

Devonport Library Smashes – Records

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New Library does very well

From Auckland Council:

Devonport Library smashes records in first three months

 Three months in and Devonport’s new library is smashing records for visitor numbers, WiFi use and new memberships.

Te Pātaka Kōrero o Te Hau Kapua, the new Devonport Library, has drawn a record number of visitors, with 93,369 visits between February and April this year. There were 27,289[1] visitors during the same months in 2014, and 45,514 during that period in 2013.

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Chair Joseph Bergin says the community has embraced its new library and the positive feedback has been overwhelming.

“The number of people signing up for library cards has surged, with 532 people registering in the last three months,” he says.

In 2014, there were only 64 new memberships during this period, and 153 in the same period during 2013.

WiFi sessions have increased by 1004 percent, from 1,338 in February to April 2014 to 14,773 since the new library opened.

Auckland Libraries and Information General Manager Allison Dobbie says “We are thrilled that Devonport’s fantastic new library is being enjoyed by so many people.

“The building responds to changes in customer expectations of self service, digital and e-book delivery, and space to meet, relax and think.”

The brand new building on 2 Victoria Road was opened on 2 February with a dawn blessing lead by mana whenua. A civic opening celebration was held on 26 February.

With high ceilings and a mezzanine floor area, the library has 950m2 of floor space, but sits within the same footprint as the former library on Windsor Reserve.

—ends—

Job well done there 😀

Central Local Boards Want Equity With Central Sports Fields

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They pay and we don’t, is that fair?

From the Central Local Boards:

Local boards unite in call to remove charges for central sports fields

Sports clubs in the former Auckland City Council area shouldn’t have to pay to use sports fields when clubs elsewhere in Auckland don’t, say the chairs of Orākei, Albert-Eden and Waitematā local boards.

The three board chairs asked Auckland Council’s Parks, Sports and Recreation Committee on Tuesday to remove charges for booking sports fields in central Auckland. The committee agreed to take a case to council’s Finance and Performance Committee.

“We are asking council to correct this inequity as soon as possible as this disparity has been in place for too long,” says Orākei Local Board Chair Desley Simpson, who led the delegation.

“It’s not fair that nearly five years on from the formation of Auckland Council, sports clubs in one area should pay to use sports fields, where clubs in other areas enjoy free use. We look forward to a positive resolution for our clubs and their members.”

“Sport and recreation should be as accessible as possible for all Aucklanders, no matter where they live. One of council’s priorities is promoting individual and community well-being through recreation and sport. The current charging policy disadvantages sports clubs in the areas we represent,” says Waitematā Local Board Chair Shale Chambers.

“Sports clubs generally don’t have large budgets. Clubs can better spend their limited funds on equipment and attracting new members,” says Albert-Eden Local Board Chair Peter Haynes.

—ends—

So should they pay while the rest of us don’t? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Council Wanting To Improve Consenting Processes

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Adequate in Belief but Room for Improvement (as always)

From Auckland Council:

Auckland Council agrees consents appropriate but wants improvements to process

 Auckland Development Committee today received a report which confirmed the council’s Paturoa Rd consents were appropriate, the correct rules and been followed and that the independent commissioners were right not to publicly notify the applications.

The Auckland Council will now build on existing measures to improve resource consent practices after the review of the process which rightfully allowed a property owner to fell a kauri tree so he could build on his Titirangi section.

The report said there were lessons to be learned about how local boards are involved in such decisions, consultation with iwi and the application of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act. Similar improvements to internal processes are expected.

Chief Operation Officer Dean Kimpton told the committee there was room for improvement.

“Let’s be honest – the process for these particular consents was ‘clunky’, they could be improved upon. They took longer than necessary – in some cases issues were slow to be sorted, and communications at times were inconsistent,” he said.  “We could and should have done better. We have previously advised council of our programme to streamline and improve development approvals, this application reinforces that need and our commitment to making it happen.”

Mr Kimpton also told the committee that council buying the land was not an option and that an independent process was being carried out with the local community and the land’s owners to try and find a solution for the site.

The report made several recommendations that were approved by the committee including:

  • Review process on how consent applications are provided to local boards and iwi and how feedback on applications is received. Similarly how to keep the applicant across key issues and progress.
  • Using clearer language that better describes the nature of applications as well as providing aerial photography and relevant information such as ecologist and arborist reports
  • Regular training and refreshers for resource consents staff on the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area, its Act and how activities in that particular area are managed
  • Training for local board members on the resource consent process and the associated legal issues
  • Ensure the right triggers are identified in matters local boards have had a specific interest in.

The report noted staff considering the application thought the removal of the tree was regrettable but the best option because putting the house in any other place on the site would involve cutting down even more mature trees.

Committee chair and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse said the report upheld the council’s actions in regards to the kauri tree and that while changes would be made to improve internal processes that particular consent could not be revoked by council.

On Ms Hulse’s recommendation, council will write to the Ministers for the Environment and Conservation outlining the complexities associated with balancing the protection of trees with the rights of property owners and suggesting staff from the ministries and council meet to discuss these issues further.

The committee also decided on a variety of measures to increase the effectiveness of its kauri dieback disease management programme.

The review conducted did not raise any specific recommendations for submissions to central government on its review of the Resource Management Act 1991.

—ends—

New Alcohol Restrictions Set to Come into Force

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Tougher Restrictions to get that wine at Pak N Save or Countdown

From Auckland Council:

Alcohol policy for Auckland takes next step 

A policy to manage the sale and supply of alcohol in Auckland took another step today with Auckland Council adopting its provisional local alcohol policy (LAP).

The Regional Strategy and Policy Committee today endorsed the recommendations of a hearings panel that took in to consideration more than 2600 submissions received on the draft policy last year.
The provisional policy can now be notified and those who submitted on the draft have a right of appeal.

Hearings panel chair, Cr Bill Cashmore believes the provisional policy has achieved a good balance.

“At the forefront of our decision making was ensuring we have a policy that helped towards reducing alcohol related harm in our communities. But we also recognised the importance of the hospitality industry in terms of employment and its contribution to the economy.

“There are many strong views and I can assure the community and business that we took all of those on board and made some changes to the policy as a result.”

Among the main policy options included in the council’s provisional LAP are:

  • Maximum trading hours for on-licences of  8am to 4am in Auckland’s CBD and 8am up to 3am for the rest of Auckland
  • No option of extension of hours for on-licences
  • Maximum trading hours for all off-licences, including supermarkets of between 9am and 9pm
  • Creation of 23 priority areas where a variety of policy tools will be used to manage density and location
  • One of these is a  two year freeze on the issuing of new off-licences in priority areas from when the policy comes in to effect
  • A range of discretionary licensing conditions
  • The panel also recommended that the proposal included in the draft regarding single sale be amended as a result of submissions.

Once the provisional policy is notified, submitters have 30 days to make an appeal.

The appeals are then considered by the Alcohol Regulatory Licensing Authority (ARLA) which will determined whether the appeals are reasonable in light of the act.

It is unsure how long that process will take so until then, current licensing regulations apply.

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Further Information: