My friend John Elliott died recently. He was very principled, energetic and committed to what he believed in, including his beloved Ponsonby and the Ponsonby News that he began.I will miss him and his sage advice a great deal.
This financial year will, as a result of prudent Waitematā Local Board and governing body decisions, see us retain our range and quality of council services, progress the Ponsonby Park project and the restoration and upgrade of the Leys Institute.
The governing body also agreed with the three to one majority of our residents, as demonstrated both through an independent randomised survey and also by the content of their submissions on the budget, who supported a targeted rate to enable council to fulfil its climate emergency commitments and take more action to combat climate change. This targeted rate will reinforce our board’s own extensive and diverse work supporting and promoting low carbon lifestyles.
Covid and its after effects has, both directly and indirectly, been the major cause of increased stress, alienation, crime, unwanted night-time noise, intimidation, and anti-social behaviour throughout Auckland, but particularly occurring in our inner-city town centres and business districts. Both the reality and the perceptions of public safety have clearly been harmed significantly.
In Ponsonby, Victoria Street, Fort Street, Karangahape Road, Parnell, Newmarket and in the Wynyard Quarter, people are regularly staying or coming in the middle of nights to commit crimes and create intolerable noise and other anti-social behaviour. Police had been over-stretched from their other responsibilities but are now able to and are taking more consistent action on these issues. It is great that they are re-establishing an inner-city hub, but the board still believes an actual police station or kiosk that the public can access
is needed.
I have been pleased that the council staff, Eke Panuku, Business Association members, residents and local MPs and councillors have joined local board members in working together to find ways to restore safety, address homelessness and reduce anti-social behaviour in these trying times, and to encourage and welcome students, visitors, artists, workers, and other people back to these areas.
We are working regularly with these bodies to enhance the resurgence of the central city which is now well underway. Matariki, Elemental, Restaurant Month, the International Film Festival, the Writers’ Festival and other activities and events are also helping the inner city and city fringe businesses recover and attract people back.
The council has just concluded the first stage of its consultation on potential changes to the council’s unitary plan, particularly the strengthening of its housing intensification provisions, which are now required of all metropolitan councils by legislation passed jointly by the National and Labour parties.
I agree that it is a high priority to act effectively to respond to the housing crisis and climate change by providing more affordable housing close to community facilities and infrastructure, particularly in our city centre and inner suburbs. However, we need also to protect the buildings and homes that make up our proud heritage and constitute the best of our special urban character, history, identity, inspiration and quality of family life in the city and our inner suburbs.
We carefully considered the views of the over one thousand local Waitematā residents who expressed their views in their submissions on these issues and we made a detailed and balanced submission in support.
Councillors, particularly local Councillor Pippa Coom, carefully considered the passionate and well-informed submissions of our local residents and made valuable changes in response. These changes proposals are now out for formal public responses and we encourage our community members to do so before an independent panel makes final decisions.
Work is continuing on an impressive artwork and entrance way under Mayoral Drive that will improve the experience of people entering Myers Park from Aotea Square. The restoration of the heritage cottage in the park is nearing completion and will be opened soon. The heritage toilets in Symonds Street by Grafton Bridge have finally been renovated and reopened but we are urging the provision of better-quality public toilets in central Karangahape Road.
The Grey Lynn library and the community centre will operate as they do now for at least the next ten years and in future the board will talk with the community about a possible new combined library and community centre, updating and maintaining the existing ones, or providing a new library and new community centre.
The daylighting of the Bayfield stream and the creation of a better path and bridge linking Cox’s Bay Reserve to Jervois Road was very well celebrated on 30 June. We will shortly reopen an exciting flying fox in Grey Lynn Park. Work is progressing well on designs for much improved facilities in Basque Park and Heard Park which have been discussed at board workshops and will be formally supported by the board this September. (Richard Northey)
I can always be contacted on 021 534 546, E: richard.northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz