Message from the President:

 

SUPER  AUCKLAND

 

There has so far been a lot of heat and not too much light on the restructuring of governance for Auckland.   

 

Some things are worth remembering.  As a Councillor on the first Waitakere Council after amalgamation, I well remember the Boroughs of New Lynn, Glen Eden, Henderson and  Waitemata County, making the same complaints.   I also remember the amalgamation as an exciting and challenging time with new staff and elected members working closely to bring together four different rating systems, district plans, and financial structures.  Waitakere City was ‘built’  in 1989.

 

If the proposed 20 or 30 Local Boards eventuate, the  challenge is to make those Boards effective and representative of what communities value most.  There needs to be a layer at the local level that empowers community participation and has strong interaction with the Auckland Council.    Equal allocation of funds would ensure equity among all Local Boards.     There is an opportunity for local knowledge, experience and influence to be strengthened at Board  level and to be a part of a greater, more cohesive and ‘grown up’  Auckland.

The possibility that wards may align with parliamentary boundaries could provide a direct link between local, regional and central government representation.

 

The challenge is to focus on the opportunities and direct energy to where it can be most productive and effective.  

 

We would value your feedback on this issue as we will be making submissions to the Select Committee in due course.

 

HOBSONVILLE  AIRBASE

We still have little further to report on what is actually to take place so far as affordable housing  on the Base is concerned, or the likely rate of progress.

 

A Treasury report gave the development a lower priority than other areas for  Housing NZ capital expenditure and of course market forces are now a major factor.

 

The wisdom of delaying an intensive housing development the size of Morrinsville (population 8,000)  is difficult to argue.

 

We hope that when the project is examined in more detail, a comparison might be made.   Morrinsville for example has 8 Early childhood Centres and Kohanga Reo, 4 Primary Schools, 2 Intermediate Schools and 1 Secondary School.  It  has  22ha Recreation grounds providing for Polo, Cricket, Tennis and Soccer and a heated Olympic Pool.  Golf Clubs, Library, Museum,   Art Galleries, and a Trotting track.  There is a Westpac Trust Events Centre, Country Market and Little Theatre.  There are some 780 businesses listed.

 

We have always maintained that the emphasis on as much housing as can be squeezed onto the site, with insufficient amenities and employment  for up to 8,000 people, is lacking in vision and sustainability.

 

The ARC and WCC will hopefully have more on their minds at the moment than progressing the signalled  Plan Change to decimate  beautiful Scott Peninsula in the same manner.   There is no economic or social need to do so. 

 

A priority for  a Local Board if  established, should be  the care and protection of what is left of our local environment .  It is high time.

 

SUBMISSION :  LONG TERM COUNCIL COMMUNITY PLAN (LTCCP)

 

I presented our submission that Council retain the Triangle land in Clark/Scott Roads for a Heritage Precinct, rather than exploit this small green oasis by selling it to Hobsonville Land Company for construction of 22 apartments as planned by  WCC .  We submitted that Hobsonville Airbase development levies of some $13m should not be spent elsewhere but solely in providing the services and amenities which will be essential for the high density development of the site.

 

We  also submitted that the planned increase of 102% in Rates over the ten year life of the Long Term Council Plan is not sustainable by ratepayers.  We are awaiting advice from Council on how much of  the $261m costs of the development in the Westgate/Hobsonville area will be funded by loans, and what impact that is having on the rates increase.  These developments are after all commercial enterprises – not core services for ratepayers.

 

HOBSONVILLE VILLAGE CENTRE

 

NZ Retail Property Group have lodged Comprehensive Development Plans with Council for the Village Centre development on Hobsonville Road, opposite the Clark Road intersection.   A Supermarket is planned to anchor up to 20 retail shops.

The Plan Change allowing this development was produced in conjunction with the plans for an increase in population of up to 8,000 on Hobsonville Airbase, to provide retail outlets and employment to support that increase.

 

Until Government’s time line and plans for development of the Airbase are well understood,  it is difficult to assess when construction of the Village development will proceed.

We understand the CDP application to Council is currently on hold pending further information,  but we have requested that it should be publicly notified

in due course.

We thank you all for your tremendous support to date and assure you of our continued efforts on your behalf.

Sincerely,

June Kearney

Association President.

Email: junek@ihug.co.nz

We are facing challenges which will have serious impact on the amenity and environmental values our

community values highly.