Urban regeneration still a pickle, I say no to Manurewa Local Board
From Auckland Council:
Committee votes to progress urban development – Decision Digest – Finance and Performance committee
Auckland Council’s Finance and Performance Committee today approved the reinvestment of property sales proceeds over the next one to three years into the ‘Transform and Unlock’ work programme, along with a broader suite of tools to fund urban development which will be included in the council’s 10-year Budget.
These tools include the reinvestment of the proceeds of property sales and some changes to existing funding tools, such as the Strategic Development Fund. Another potential funding tool – targeted rates for development areas – but this will require legislative change.
Revenues from disposals of approximately $200m will be reinvested across the Transform and Unlock programme to deliver amenity, activation and infrastructure projects. This will also involve the Council-approved acquisition of some strategic sites.
The Transform and Unlock programme involves the regeneration of many inner-city and ‘brownfield’ sites. These developments have the benefits of making use of existing infrastructure, such as water supply, stormwater and sewerage services, keeping development costs down. As well as making development more cost effective, this gives residents immediate access to already existing rail and bus routes and entertainment amenities.
Chair of the Finance and Performance Committee, Councillor Ross Clow says, “We need to be able to find ways to identify underutilised and tired areas in the central city. There are many areas that we will be able to optimise and reinvigorate through careful and sensitive development.
“To maintain the excellent quality of life that Aucklanders are used to and expect, we need to be creating more developments around existing hubs in the towns and villages throughout Auckland where there are already nearby transport options, schools, shops, community services and opportunities for recreation. By developing on existing brownfield sites, it is more likely that we can develop sustainable and affordable housing and an enhanced quality of life”, says Councillor Clow.
Potential areas for the ‘Transform and Unlock’ work programme are constantly under review by Panuku.
The following is a digest of decisions made. The agenda is available on Auckland Council’s website and minutes will be added once confirmed. This meeting was also webcast on the council’s website and items are available on demand.
Items 1-8 were administrative items except for Local Board Input (Item 6).
There were two items of Local Board input:
- Chair of the Manurewa Local Board, Angela Dalton, and Leigh Auton addressed the Committee on Item 11 with regard to the Manurewa town centre, with the request that the current Manukau boundary is extended as far as Te Mahia train station.
- Chair of the Upper Harbour Local Board, Lisa Whyte, made a submission on the disposal of reserve land required for the New Zealand Transport Authority Northern Corridor Improvements Project.
Item 9: Integrating the New Zealand National Maritime Museum into Regional Facilities Auckland
Council currently funds the Maritime Museum under the terms of the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Act (ARAFA) through the provision of operational funding to a private Trust which currently operates the facility. On request from the Maritime Museum Trust Board, the RFA has agreed to the operational integration of the Maritime Museum into the RFA by 1 July 2018.
There are many anticipated benefits, including economies of scale and the leveraging of RFA expertise in visitor attractions.
Current funding levels will remain unchanged, with the 2018/2019 proposed funding being $2,184,500, therefore there is no net financial impact on council.
Item 10: Presentations from the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board
Presentations were given by the following regarding the work their organisations have done with Amenities funding:
- New Zealand Opera (Stuart Maunder)
- Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra (Barbara Glaser)
- Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (Greg Barrow)
- Drowning Prevention Trust (Darin Bray)
The Committee thanked the representatives for their attendance and for the good work they do.
Item 11: Progressing urban development
The Finance and Performance Committee today approved the reinvestment of property sales proceeds over the next 1 to 3 years into the Transform and Unlock work programme, along with a broader suite of tools to fund urban development which will be included in the council’s 10-year Budget.
Item 12: Response to the independent assessment of expenditure incurred by Auckland Council to deliver Māori outcomes
The committee thanked the Independent Māori Statutory Board for the report, accepted the 13 findings and agreed that Te Toa Takitini Executive Leadership Group will report progress to address the findings in the report.
Item 13: Te Toa Takitini – Quarter two report for the 2017/2018 financial year
The Committee noted progress on key Te Toa Takitini portfolio projects included in this report for the second quarter of 2017/2018.
Item 14: Disposal of reserve land required for the New Zealand Transport Authority Northern Corridor Improvements Project
The Committee approved the divestment of a combined total of approximately 3.8 hectares of reserve land to the New Zealand Transport Agency for motorway improvements at Upper Harbour, by transfer pursuant to Sections 50 and 52 of the Public Works Act 1981, subject to conditions. The committee noted the loss of reserve land and will consider funding to improve existing parks in the local board area following a full business case.
Item 15: Finance and Performance Committee – Information Report – 20 March 2018
The Finance and Performance Committee received the information report, 20 March 2018.
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The Manurewa Local Board input request didn’t show up on the advance agenda so no way of knowing what they were going to say until you see the Digests come out post Committee. In any case I entirely and strongly disagree in moving the Transform Manukau southern boundary from Browns Road to Te Mahia Station allowing Manurewa Town Centre to be encompassed.
Political opportunism aside from the Manurewa Local Board (and most likely the Ward Councillor), wanting to extend the southern Transform Manukau boundary either shows the Local Board does not know how the Panuku Transform works or has not read the Auckland Plans 2012 and 2050 for which Manukau sits under. There is no denying Manurewa Town Centre and Clendon are in need for desperate urban regeneration however, trying to use Transform Manukau’s limited resources to cover two more Town Centres won’t advance what the Local Board wants while at the same time putting Manukau City Centre’s own regeneration at risk.
Source: Panuku Development Auckland
UPDATE: I have managed to see the Minutes to the Finance and Performance Committee where the extension of Transform Manukau southern boundary was debated:
| MOVED by Cr D Newman, seconded by Deputy Chairperson D Simpson,an amendment by way of addition which was subsequently withdrawn:
h) request that Panuku provide advice to the Planning Committee on the option of extending Transform Manukau to incorporate the Manurewa Town Centre and the Te Mahia train station. |
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Source: http://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2018/03/FIN_20180320_MIN_6805_WEB.htm
This is excellent in that Manurewa and Papakura get the attention they do deserve by having their own dedicated Transform and Unlocks rather than muddying the waters by extending the boundary of Transform Manukau.
I can support the resolution from Darby and Clow and will advocate for at least Papakura to be included.
Manurewa and Papakura are under an Area Plan that went live last year. That Plan clearly spells out what is needed for the area and the investment needs to have it done. The onus returns to the Councillors and the Local Boards to make a solid case to the Governing Body for the investment funds to be sent to the South in order to execute the Area Plan. If you need to reply on Panuku and Transform Manukau to do this then your argument is pretty much lost from get go.
I note that the Committee and Panuku are looking for future Transform and Unlock sites over the next three years. This is the perfect opportunity to rally the Community to get in behind a bid for an Unlock Manurewa and a Transform Papakura. If we can secure this not only does it give certainty to these two communities but that certainty also promotes investment at private, Local Government and Central Government levels.
And that is where the Local Boards and Councillor should be focusing: getting Manurewa and Papakura eligible in the next round of Unlock and Transform locations. NOT putting Transform Manukau at risk by gerrymandering its borders.
Source: Auckland Council
Talking Southern Auckland 
Hi Ben. Thanks for these updates. They are very good. It might be good for all concerned to get a copy of the 16 February 20188 McGredy Winder and Co. report “Town Hall Political Analysis and Intelligence” to upskill everyone on some of the existing performance levels of the Council. In particular, the AC Dashboard and Alarmingly Sub Par sections.
This information is given to this Finance and Performance Committee but in the closed meeting / confidential section to “fulfil NZX disclosure requirements”.
That is NZ Stock Exchange disclosure requirements.
It might be wise to ask the elected representatives the reasons why.
Also if that NZX reason is true, are the Council’s level of borrowing and interests rates, dependent on certain building consent, resource consent processing performance levels etc. being met for cash flow, bankers requirements, banking / lending covenants etc. reasons?
Just looking at the Town Hall report now and that dashboard
Ummm that is not good and Len managed to get things alot a heck of a lot better in his time