Tag: Community

Manurewa Local Board Agenda – October 2015. Something on Berm Plantings for you!

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Improvements to local roads on the cards, and berm planting policy being deliberated

 

The October agenda for the Manurewa Local Board is out and you can read the web version of it HERE.

Of note is the Auckland Transport Berm Planting Guidelines, and the latest updates on local transport projects (which are better advancing than a certain Interchange further north).

 

This on transport updates in the Manurewa Local Board area:

Manurewa Local Board – 08 October 2015  

Auckland Transport Update – October 2015

File No.: CP2015/20369

 

Purpose

  1. This report provides an update on local transport matters over the last month for the Manurewa Local Board (MLB).

Executive Summary

  1. This report contains a general monthly update on transport matters both locally and from across Auckland and a list of issues currently being addressed by Auckland Transport for Manurewa Local Board.
Recommendation/s

That the Manurewa Local Board:

a)      receive the report entitled “Auckland Transport Update – October 2015”.

 

Responding to Resolutions

  1. Auckland Transport’s response to resolutions that require a specific answer, made by the MLB at previous meetings.

Resolution number MR/2015/138

That the Manurewa Local Board thank Rua Taniwha for his presentation regarding:

  1. a)    the petition requesting traffic calming measures in Sykes Road and supporting the Auckland Transport initiatives in relation to traffic in Sykes Road.
  2. b)    request the petition with the following prayer be forwarded to Auckland Transport for action, noting that Auckland Transport is currently consulting with the public for feedback on a proposal to install traffic calming measures in Sykes Road, Manurewa:
  3. c)    Petition prayer:

“We, the undersigned, petition Council to consider the need to install speed bumps (or similar) to help control the speed of traffic along the southern end of Sykes Road Manurewa.”

  1. d)    request a timeframe date for the completion of the kerb and channelling on Sykes Road near the Aquatic Centre
  2. e)    request Auckland Transport investigate the possibility of a roundabout be installed at the Sykes Road / Mahia Road intersection.
  3. Last month Auckland Transport was able to provide answers for sub-paras a, b, c and e of this resolution.
  4. Sub-para d) was not responded too so a response is provided this month. At this time there are no plans to install kerb and channel on Sykes Road near the Aquatic Centre.

Resolution number MR/2015/138

  • b)      That the Manurewa Local Board request Auckland Transport investigate the installation of pedestrian crossings outside Reremoana School on Scotsmoor Drive and Hadley Wood Drive, Wattle Downs.

 

  1. This resolution has been forwarded to the Road Corridor Operations Team who will investigate the request and provide a report.  The aim is to be able to report formally next month.

Discussion

Berm Planting Policy

  1. Auckland Transport has written a draft document setting out how planting in the road berm might be managed. This draft has been circulated to the Local Board looking for feedback.
  1. It was circulated to the members of the Manurewa Local Board on 27 August 2015.
  1. Auckland Transport officers attended a workshop with the Manurewa Local Board on 17 September 2015 and discussed the policy.
  1. Manurewa Local Board members raised a number of points and have made a ‘Board’ submission.

 

Public Transport Update – Manukau Bus/Rail Interchange

  1. The recently completed Regional Land Transport Programme included funding for an expansion of the public transport services provided at Manukau. Auckland Transport now has confirmed budget to build the planned bus interchange in this location.
  1. The new bus interchange will be located between the existing train station which is under the Manukau Institute of Technology building (shown in Fig 1) and the Auckland Council Civic Centre (as shown in Fig 2).

 

……

You can see more on the Manukau Interchange latest HERE.

 

  1. The new bus interchange will provide:
  • A covered area for bus passengers to alight and dismount buses;
  • A covered ‘pathway’ for passengers moving to the civic centre and the mall; and
  • An essential cross over point for people in the South to transfer from buses to trains.
  1. Manukau Station has approx. 1200 passenger movements per day and trains currently run from Manukau to Britonmart and ‘vice versa’ at intervals of approx. 20 minutes.
  1. When the ‘New Southern Network’ is operational in 2016 this station will be a significant ‘hub’ easily accessible to people throughout the Manurewa Local Board area. Thanks to effective advocacy by the Manurewa Local Board this interchange has been included within a ‘transition zone’ meaning that people travelling from Manurewa will only pay for one fare ‘stage’ to get to this station when the new ‘Simplified Fares’ for public transport start.

 

Public Transport Update – First Part of the ‘New Network’ Starts Operation

  1. The first part of the ‘New Network’ starts operating on 18 October 2015. The first routes are on the Hibiscus Coast.
  1. In South Auckland the tender process is currently underway and the ‘New Network’ is planned to be operating in South Auckland by mid-2016. This corresponds with the planned completion dates of the Manukau and Otahuhu Bus/Rail interchanges.
  1. The ‘New Network’s objective is to use frequent local bus services to get passengers to rail stations from which large numbers of people can be moved north or south.  By using bus and rail services in an integrated manner efficiency is maximised.
  1. Within Manurewa the ‘New Network’ will mean more frequent and reliable bus services east/west and around the Local Board area that should make it easier for people to get them to key local rail hubs Manurewa and Manukau.

 

Great South Road Corridor Management Plans (CMPs)

  1. A CMP is a conceptual plan that outlines the types of planning that may be needed to manage transport along a corridor, so that agencies can start planning budgets and work programmes in a coordinated way as early as possible.
  1. CMPs are not detailed but are strategic documents designed to provide a 30 year framework for all agencies working to maintain and improve transport along broad ‘corridors’.
  1. Auckland Transport has been undertaking a refresh of the CMP for Great South Road in the Takanini area to take account of the works at the Takanini Interchange undertaken by NZTA and the planned rate of growth in South Auckland.  On 17 September 2015 Auckland Transport staff met with the Manurewa Local Board and discussed the CMP.

 

Local Board Transport Capital Fund (LBTCF):

  1. MLB has a total pool of $2,392,297 available in this electoral term that can be spent on transport projects.
  2. In this electoral term the MLB has identified six projects that are being investigated. Details of the projects and their status are included in Attachment A.
  3. Significant progress has been made in the last month. Most importantly initial timelines are starting to be developed and are included in ‘Table 1’ below.

Table 1 – Major Project Estimated Timelines

Project Arts and Plants Great South Road Covered Walkway Kirton / Williams Traffic Calming 
October 2015   Finalise detailed design Finalise detailed design Finalise detailed design
November 2015 Finalise detailed design Mid-November – public consultation Procure contractor and start work

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planned to be completed by June 2016

 Public consultation
December 2015 Public consultation Finalise changes from public consultation Finalise changes from public consultation
January 2016 Finalise changes from public consultation Prepare information about changes to road layout for Traffic Control Committee Prepare information about changes to road layout for Traffic Control Committee
February 2016 Prepare information about changes to road layout for Traffic Control Committee Submit to Traffic Control Committee Submit to Traffic Control Committee
March 2016 Submit to Traffic Control Committee Procure contractor  and start work Procure contractor and start work
April 2016
May 2016 Procure contractor  and start work
June 2016
Note: The timeframes indicated are’projected’ as the projects advance there will be changes to them.

 

  1. Table 1 clearly demonstrates the tight timeframes required to be met by projects aiming to be delivered by June 2016. It also highlights the difference in time required when a project needs to undertake a public consultation. The ‘Covered Walkway’ project for instance should advance quickly because there is not a requirement for widespread public discussion.
  2. Progress has also been made in the following areas:
  • The project to upgrade Wiri Station Road is working through procurement;
  • An initial plan is available for the Williams Ave/Kirton Cres Traffic Calming project and is included as Attachment C.
  • An initial plan is available for the ‘Arts and Plants’ project and is included as Attachment D.
  • The plan for the ‘Great South Road Pedestrianisation’ project was not available for attachment to this report but should be able to be circulated by email to all members before the October 2015 meeting.

Attachments

No. Title Page
AView Summary of Manurewa Local Board Transport Capital Fund Projects 2013-2016 Electoral Term 23
BView Summary of Consultation Information Sent to the Manurewa Local Board in August and September 2015 29
CView William Avenue – Kirton Crescent draft design 33
DView Hill Road scheme design 41

 

Signatories

………….

Source: Manurewa Local Board – October, 2015 Agenda

 

(Keep it simple) Bus Station. While this one is quiet with only a single route serving it, the stations can serve up to 8-10 routes allowing transfers between each one at the station.
(Keep it simple)
Bus Station. While this one is quiet with only a single route serving it, the stations can serve up to 8-10 routes allowing transfers between each one at the station.

 

On Berm Planting:

Manurewa Local Board Feedback on the draft Auckland Transport Berm Planting Guidelines

File No.: CP2015/20612

Purpose

  1. Attaching the Manurewa Local Board feedback on the draft Auckland Transport Berm Planting Guidelines.

Executive Summary

  1. Auckland Transport has developed guidelines for berm planting.  Feedback is being sought from local boards.
  2. The Manurewa Local Board received a briefing on the berm planting guidelines at a workshop held on 17 September 2015.  At the workshop the board requested that Members Bailey and Hawkins further develop the board’s feedback at the Transport portfolio.
  3. The attached document was circulated to members for comment.
Recommendation/s

That the Manurewa Local Board:

a)      note the feedback on the draft Auckland Transport Berm Planting Guidelines.

 

Attachments

No. Title Page
AView Manurewa Local Board feedback on the draft Auckland Transport Berm Planting Guidelines 109

Signatories

………….

Source: Manurewa Local Board – October, 2015 Agenda

 

 

Explanation: Council Gearing Up For Growth. Regional Parks Not to Be Split Up

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Regional Parks are not to be split up despite earlier concerns today

 

After  the PLEASE EXPLAIN: Council Chief Operating Officer Confronted Over Attempt to Break Up Regional Park Network which picked up on the Herald’s piece about Auckland Council Chief Operating Officer being apparently confronted about the Auckland Regional Parks network being split up, Council (more specifically the COO) has replied to the earlier story.

 

From Auckland Council:

Council gears up for Auckland’s growth

Published: 2 October 2015Share
Dean Kimpton.
Dean Kimpton.
Dean Kimpton Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council is making changes to its Operations division as it gears up to respond to the challenge of Auckland’s rapid growth.

“Auckland is expected to grow by roughly the population of Hamilton every five years, so we need to maintain our focus on responding to that growth,” says Chief Operating Officer Dean Kimpton.

The Operations division makes up the largest group within Auckland Council, with more than 5000 staff delivering critical frontline services to Aucklanders, such as libraries, infrastructure and environmental services, parks and reserves networks, licencing and compliance services, and more.

Changes to the Operations division focus on providing better service delivery for Aucklanders, faster and more cost effectively. We will achieve this by bringing activities together so that communities experience services in a more streamlined way. This can already be seen in Te Atatu and Mangere-Otahuhu, where community centres and libraries have now been integrated. We will also provide improved processes for customers such as integrated online booking and consenting services.

A number of changes are underway including a new Development Programme Office will launch early next year. It will bring together the Housing Project Office and City Transformation Projects units to coordinate the council’s response to major development and infrastructure programmes, including large housing developments.

Another change is the reshape of the council’s Community Services, which includes the regional parks network, and Community Facilities.

Changes won’t affect regional park services

“Auckland Council values the regional park network and has no intention of breaking it up,” says Dean Kimpton. “Our focus remains on enhancing how we look after these assets in the context of increased visitation and Auckland’s continuing growth, and we will continue to work with the Friends of Regional Parks and volunteer networks.”

“Top of mind is the 50-year history of regional parks in the Auckland region and that all of our parks and open spaces are well loved and are used by thousands of Aucklanders and visitors every year. We know that there is 98 per cent visitor satisfaction across our network of regional parks. We certainly want to maintain this. We also know that visitation across our regional park network has increased by 20 per cent over the past seven years and will continue to rise.”

“Regional park asset and management decisions will continue to be considered in a whole-of-network way, and there will be a continued focus on ensuring that all regional parks are effectively resourced.”

About Auckland Council regional parks:

  • 26 regional parks in the Auckland region, covering over 40,560 hectares and representing approximately 40 per cent of public open space
  • 85 park rangers on the regional parks network
  • over 65,000 person-hours of volunteer work are undertaken on the regional parks every year
  • over 5 million people visit our regional parks network every year
  • 20 per cent increase in visitation over the past seven years
  • 98 per cent visitor satisfaction across our network of regional parks.

Read more:

Plans, policies and projects

………

Source: http://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2015/10/council-gears-up-for-auckland-s-growth/

 

Your thoughts?

 

Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board Meeting – September 2015

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NRL 9’s Opening Ceremony in South Auckland

 

Today (and what is it with Agenda’s coming out at very short notice) Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board will conduct its montly meeting where I see a Notice of Motion has come up. You can read the web version of the agenda HERE.

 

That Notice of Motion:

Notices of Motion

11.1     Notice of Motion: Request for the NRL 9’s opening to be hosted in South Auckland
In accordance with Standing Order 3.11.1, the following Notice of Motion has been received from Nick Bakulich for inclusion on the agenda for the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board meeting being held on day, Wednesday, 16 September 2015.

Purpose

1.       The purpose of this Notice of Motion is to seek the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board’s support for the 2016 National Rugby League (NRL) Nines opening to be held at a venue in South Auckland and to request that the Southern Local Board Chairs consider recommending this to ATEED. 
Recommendation/s

That the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board:

a)      Receives the notice of motion

b)      Supports the opening of the 2016 National Rugby League (NRL) Nines at a venue in South Auckland.

c)      Asks the Local Board Chair, Lemauga Lydia Sosene, to raise this matter with the Southern Local Board Chairs Forum to seek their joint support for a request to ATEED to arrange the hosting of the opening of the 2016 NRL Nines at a venue in one of the southern local board areas.

…….

 

Okay given the size of Eden Park (60,000) and the amount of people the 9’s pull I am wondering if we have anything available of size in South Auckland to hold such an opening.

That said I am wary of this given the opening probably should be at Eden Park given this is where the 9’s will be held.

Will see what comes about from this.

 

Transport

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board – 16 September 2015

Auckland Transport Update – September 2015

File No.: CP2015/19141

Purpose

  1. This report provides an update on local transport matters over the last month for the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board (MOLB).

 

Executive Summary

  1. This report contains a general monthly update on transport matters both locally and from across Auckland and a list of issues currently being addressed by Auckland Transport for the MOLB.

 

Recommendation/s

That the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board:

a)      Receives the Auckland Transport Update – September 2015

b)      Supports the removal of all on-street car parking on both Mascot and Friesian Avenues required to deliver the ‘Future Streets’ project

c)      Supports any removal and replacement of street trees as part of the ‘Future Streets’ project.

d)      Supports ‘blocking’ Windrush Close in order to stop its use as a circuit by street racers and to create a gateway into the new walkway linking this street with Waddon Place.

 

Responding to Resolutions

  1. No ‘Resolutions’ require responses this month.

 

Discussion

Security at Mangere Town Centre

  1. Security around the Mangere Town Centre Bus Station has been an issue since May 2015.
  1. Initially, Auckland Transport worked closely with Auckland Council’s Parks Team to cut back shrubs and flax and install better lights on the road.  It has taken time to get the lights inside the bus shelter working but they have now been fixed.

 

Regional Land Transport Programme

  1. Development of the Regional Land Transport Programme is now complete and on 2 September 2015 Auckland Transport briefed the MOLB on the work scheduled to be delivered in the local board area.
  1. Attachment A is a copy of the presentation.

 

Berm Planting Policy

  1. Auckland Transport has written a draft document setting out how planting in the road berm might be managed. This draft has been approved to go out for consultation with Local Boards and was circulated to members of the MOLB on 27 August 2015.
  1. Auckland Transport is seeking feedback from Local Boards. The closing date for feedback is 30 September 2015 and all Local Boards are encouraged to make a submission.

 

Rail Update – City Rail Link Appeals Process Completed

  1. The City Rail Link (CRL) has reached a major milestone with all appeals to its land designation now resolved by agreement or dismissed. The confirmed designation identifies land in the district plan for rail purposes and protects the route for the future.
  1. There were six appeals and five of them were settled and the appeal that went to the Environment Court has been dismissed. The designation is now confirmed subject to finalisation of conditions by the Environment Court.

Fig 1 – Artist’s Impression of the Proposed New Aotea Station – Deep under the Aotea Centre

 

  1. Early works will start in and around Britomart in November 2015. While there are still some other planning processes to work through in relation to consents, Auckland Transport anticipates being able to start on the ‘cut and cover’ tunnel under  Albert Street in May 2016.
  1. Rail patronage in Auckland grew 21.7% in the year to the end of June, two and a half million more passengers than the previous year.
  1. When Britomart Transport Centre opened in 2003, annual rail patronage was less than three million. Future development in Auckland needs a reliable, efficient public transport system and the CRL will remove the current ‘bottleneck’ at Britomart allowing trains to circulate around the isthmus through Britomart rather than having to back out of the station before starting their journey.
  1. Auckland Transport’s replacement of the diesel fleet is complete and there are now six clean, modern, reliable electric trains per hour on the Eastern and Southern Lines and four trains per hour on the Western Line at peak hours. Completion of the CRL will allow even more rail services to be delivered.

 

Future Streets

  1. The ‘Future Streets’ project continues to progress. Currently the project’s designs are moving into detailed construction plans and consent processes are being undertaken both within Council and with Auckland Transport’s Traffic Control Committee.
  1. This process has identified a number of areas of ‘risk’ that require a clear statement of support from the MOLB to makes sure that they do not slow down these processes.  The project team has requested resolutions supporting the following points:
  • Removal of parking on Mascot and Friesian Avenues – The ‘Future Streets’ project includes removal of parking on Mascot and Friesian Avenues. Figure 1 is pictures of the proposed layout.  This layout has been discussed with the MOLB and with the community, with generally positive feedback. Current on-street parking use has also been studied and is limited because most houses have good off-street parking.

Even after considerable work with the community and MOLB, the proposal is very ‘progressive’, in that, it gives priority to pedestrians and cyclists over cars. The project team has therefore requested a strong signal of the MOLB’s support, preferably by resolution. A draft resolution has been included above for consideration by the MOLB.

The resolution will be used to demonstrate the MOLB’s support for the project when it is reviewed by Auckland Council and by Auckland Transport’s Traffic Control Committee.

Figure 1 – Pictures of the Proposed Road Layout on Mascot Ave.

  • Removal and replacement of trees – The ‘Future Streets’ project includes removal of approx. 40 trees on Mascot and Friesian Avenues and around the Waddon/Windrush Walkway.  The trees that will be removed will be replaced by approx. 80-90 new trees.

The reasons for removing the trees include ensuring the new road layouts have good visibility, replacing trees that are not growing well and making sure that criminals do not have places to hide near walkways.

The MOLB has requested that any trees removed that are usable are made available for re-use and the project team has agreed to this request in principle.

A draft resolution has been included above for consideration by the MOLB.

  • Blocking Windrush Close – The ‘Future Streets’ project heard from residents and local Police that Windrush Close is often used as a ‘race way’ by ‘boy racers’.  A proposal to block the road to prevent this behaviour and to create a ‘gateway’ for the walkway to Waddon Place has been included in the final plan.

 

This is another ‘progressive’ proposal that the project team would feel more comfortable about pursuing through the consenting and Traffic Control Committee process if the MOLB has clearly expressed strong support for it by resolution.
A draft resolution has been included above for consideration by the MOLB.

Figure 2 – Picture of the Type of Closure Proposed on Windrush Close

Figure 3 – Location of the Proposed Closure on Windrush Close

 

  1. The project is currently very active as the plan reaches the point that consents are being finalized and delivery planned in detail.  At this time there is the possibility that delivery dates may slip and at the time this report was submitted there was concern that delivery may start a little later than expected, unfortunately details will not able to be confirmed until the project team meets on 9 September 2015 and full verbal update will need to be provided at the meeting.

 

Local Board Transport Capital Fund (LBTCF):

  1. MOLB has a total pool of approx. $1,971,770 available in this electoral term to spend on transport projects.
  2. In its first electoral term the MOLB requested a number of projects and the progress of these projects is summarised in Attachment C.
  3. So far in this electoral term the Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board has identified six projects and these are discussed in detail in Attachment C.

Attachments

No. Title Page
AView RTPL presentation 35
BView Summary of Engagement 45
CView Capital Fund Projects 51
DView Issues Report 59
EView Summary of Consultation 61

Signatories

…………

Pictures and full agenda HERE.

 

Just waiting on the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board’s agenda now given they have outstanding Resolutions concerning Manukau City Centre.

 

Have Your Say on City Centre Community Hub #BetterAuckland

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Council wants your input on Freyberg Square

From Auckland Council:

Chance to shape new city centre community hub

Major upgrades are planned for the city centre’s only community centre and the square in front of it, and Aucklanders are being asked for their thoughts on the draft concept design.

The redesign of Freyberg Square and refurbishment of Pioneer Women’s and Ellen Melville Hall are being funded by the Waitematā Local Board and by city centre businesses and residents through the targeted rate.

The proposals will provide a better pedestrian connection from High Street to Courthouse Lane and the recently upgraded O’Connell Street, building on the success of that popular improvement. It also proposes closing off the roadway to the front of the Pioneer Women’s and Ellen Melville Hall to improve safety and create an improved public square that better integrates with the community facility.

Waitematā Local Board Chair Shale Chambers says, “City centre resident numbers have tripled to 30,000 in the last 12 years and we need our community facilities to catch up. The hall and the square are both already popular and well used; but with these enhancements, they will be able to become a real draw card, meeting the needs of people living and working in this part of the city, while creating more foot traffic for local retailers and landowners.”

Auckland design champion Ludo Campbell-Reid says, “This is an opportunity to create a world-class, vibrant community hub in the city centre and is another step in delivering the City Centre Masterplan. Improving the square and the hall as one project will create a better, more integrated result and save money.”

Concept designs have been drafted for the square and building with input from local groups and key stakeholders. Children were also actively engaged in the design process as part of the Waitemata Local Board’s Child Friendly City UNICEF initiative.

The consultation will give the public, other users and visitors the opportunity to fine tune those designs and ensure that what is delivered meets the wider community needs.

Construction is expected to take 9-12 months, starting in winter 2016. The council is committed to minimising disruption during construction, so is also asking for input on how to retain activity and available public space during the construction period.

Feedback on the draft designs closes on 27 September, 2015. There are a number of on-site drop-in sessions and an open day on Saturday 12 September.

For information and to complete an online feedback form visit: www.shapeauckland.co.nz

—ends—