June 2009

HOBSONVILLE/WEST HARBOUR RESIDENTS & RATEPAYERS ASSOC.

MAY/JUNE UPDATE 2009

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.

HOBSONVILLE LANDING OPEN DAY 4 JUNE

The Landing is the proposed commercial development on the coastal tip

Of the Airbase which includes a Ferry Wharf, small Marina, Working berth and Travel Lift for super yachts,a marine centre and waterfront pavilion, cafe, apartments etc.

An Open Day will be held for the public on Thursday 4 June from 1.30 – 7 p.m. Presentations on the Concept will be made at 2 p.m. and 6.30 p.m.

Where: Hobsonville Land Company Ltd office, 5 Marlborough Crescent, Hobsonville Air Base. (entry on Buckley Ave).

Come along to see what is planned for the coastal edge and provide feedback.

The Landing covers an area of only 2 ha out of the 167 ha Airbase site. This is primarily to meet the conditions set by the ARC and WCC for a minimum of 3.000 households on the site. The actual figure is between 3,500 and 4, 400 households. We believe there should have been far more coastal area available for access by the public, yacht club and watersports. Parking is likely to be an issue.

WHAT ELSE ARE WE DOING?

My time spent on our Association issues is continually increasing. We seem to go from one Comprehensive Development Plan to the next without any space in between and there is a lot of work involved in preparing submissions.

Keeping up with the rate of change to our area is difficult.

John Carrodus our Chair and I attend a bi-monthly Forum on the NorSGA developments with Herald Island, Whenuapai and Massey Residents and Ratepayer Associations and Council. This keeps us ‘in the loop’ on progress.

I also attend the North West Networking Group, a committee of local landowners, businesses and developers involved in the NorSGA developments.

This also adds to the ‘knowledge pool.’

We have expressed our concern on a number of occasions, that there is no Council provided Newsletter to keep residents affected by the Westgate/Hobsonville NorSGA developments informed.

Our Updates are the only regular communication on local issues, and that is only available to our email database.

We will continue to press for a published newsletter to be provided to Hobsonville/West Harbour residents, as it is for the Massey community by the Council funded “Massey Matters” organisation.

John and I also attend meetings of the Landing Steering Group which meets monthly to monitor and have input on progress with the development. This group includes representatives of the Yacht Club, ARC, WCC, Hobsonville Land Company etc.

DON’T MISS THE OPEN DAY!

June Kearney

President