AUGUST 2020

As if navigating our way out of a global pandemic wasn’t enough to contend with, Auckland is also experiencing the worst drought in its history.

Following an extremely dry summer, the levels of water stored in our reservoirs fell below 50 per cent for the first time in 25 years. As a consequence, Aucklanders were asked to reduce their water usage where they could.

Despite our best efforts to conserve water, and the relief of some much-needed rain, reservoir levels have remained between 45 and 55 per cent — a significant difference from the historic average of 70 to 80 per cent for this time of year. In a further effort to restore our water supply levels, council voted to put mandatory restrictions in place from May 16, which prohibit the use of outdoor hoses and water blasters as well as limiting commercial use to non-potable water.

These restrictions are enforced by Watercare, the organisation which is responsible for both providing the water that 1.4 million Aucklanders use, and managing what happens with it after we’ve used it. They are what’s known as a council-controlled organisation (CCO) in that that they are entirely owned by council, but we don’t fund them or receive dividends from them. Legislation dictates that we also do not set the salary of their CEO either, that is done   by the Watercare board. Watercare’s income comes from fees and charges they set, and all the money they receive goes into maintenance and expansion of their network of pipes and other infrastructure, such as pump stations and treatment plants — see the chart here on how Watercare funds projects.

Many of you will be asking how we found ourselves in this water crisis? I too have asked the same thing, in fact, I have been quoted in the media asking this directly to the board of Watercare. I feel it is important that I voice my disappointment with what feels like a lack of strategic planning from Watercare.

At the time of writing, I remain unclear as to the full impact of Watercare’s borrowing needs on our Emergency Budget. I find this unacceptable and will continue to advocate for more accountability from this organisation.

While across the years Watercare has remained dedicated to low water rates, I am not convinced they have fully considered the financial impact on council’s budget when faced with a situation like a one-in-200-years (or 300) drought. And while we will do all we can to respond appropriately to this crisis, investing in necessary infrastructure, we must scrutinise the steps that have led us here.

We currently take 150 million litres of water per day from the Waikato River – the maximum amount currently permitted. Back in 2013, we applied to Waikato Regional Council to take more, but unfortunately, we’ve been stuck behind 106 pre-existing applications (the WRC is bound by the Resource Management Act to review applications in the order received).

Council also requested Watercare’s Waikato River ‘water take consent’ be included as project number 12 on the government's Covid-19 Recovery Bill. Instead, the government announced a slightly longer process, sending our application to a board of inquiry for consideration. This still means we will be able to take more than the current amount, which will provide us serious relief.

In the meantime, we expect Watercare to explore every solution to increase Auckland’s supply and better conserve water to avoid us facing a severe water shortage next summer. A number of projects have been identified to assist, including a plant in Waikato with an additional 25 million litres to be completed in August, an Onehunga plant with an extra 4 million litres per   day ready in September, as well as a further 11 million litres per day from two existing bores by December 2020. Further options for consideration include de-salination of saltwater and treating wastewater.

To provide you with some balance, I do wish to acknowledge Watercare’s work in other areas, particularly progress on the central interceptor. The Ōkahu Bay separation project is another good example of the work Watercare and council conduct together to help improve the quality of our water/waterways. The $15.5 million venture due for completion at the end of 2021 is a collaboration between Auckland Council, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and Watercare which will greatly improve the quality of water discharging into the bay, which is currently very poor.

While I remain committed, as do my colleagues, to strong and robust relationships with our council-controlled organisations, I also remain committed to keeping them honest and ensuring they deliver for you, our communities. As we focus on responding to the immediate needs of Auckland and its water needs, I will ensure I continue to ask the right questions on your behalf.

JULY 2020

Like as it is for so many of you, Auckland Council’s finances have been adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Our revenue has taken a real hit and we now face the challenge of balancing our budget while maintaining essential services.

From the end of May to later June, the public consultation process for our first ever Emergency Budget asked you to get involved and tell us what you thought of a number of proposals to address the half billion dollar hole in our revenue. Large numbers of people from across the region took part by submitting feedback online, answering questions by telephone or taking part in the online webinars which took the place of our usual public meetings, due to the restrictions on gatherings in place at that time.

I’m so grateful to everyone who took the time to share their views with us – it’s imperative that we get this right and we can’t do that without you. Always at the heart of my decision making are the views of my community, so thank you sincerely for your input.

So what happens next? Your  feedback  will be collated and reported back to the mayor and councillors on July 8, before we make the final difficult decisions a week later. The Emergency Budget will be formally adopted on July 30, and published the next day. I will continue to keep you all updated throughout this process on Facebook and via my own site, desleysimpson.co.nz

We know that New Zealand’s approach to tackling Covid-19 has hit businesses hard. As we emerge from the public health aspect of our response and focus on our economic recovery, a local-led approach is key to ensuring our communities can thrive. I’ve been talking to a number of business owners and business association managers about how we can best continue to support the local businesses we love.

The Parnell Business Association’s Cheryl Adamson made a great suggestion that as well as purchasing from local stores and retailers, you can also help by being the blogger you’ve always wanted to be, using your voice online. Taking the time to follow businesses on social media and sharing reviews of positive experiences is a really good way to help those businesses gain traction online.

Robin Chemaly of the Remuera Business Association reminds us of the wide range of options Remuera offers to shoppers and diners — everything is available right on your doorstep. As well as quality restaurants and cafés serving great coffee, Remuera also has world-class hairdressers; antique jewellers; designer fashion labels and grocers selling healthy, organic produce.

We often think of our beachside villages such as Mission Bay as summer destinations, but it’s important to remember that they are open all year round. Beachside businesses tend to rely on support from locals during winter – this year more so than ever! Megan Burgess of Mission Bay Business Association explained that most of these beachside businesses are owned and operated  by  local families and asks that  we take this opportunity to have the venues “all to yourselves” while there’s a temporary absence of overseas tourists.

This pandemic has offered us a real opportunity to reset and reconsider how we live our lives. I’m encouraged by the way communities have rallied round to support each other in challenging times and hope that together we can continue to embrace this local-led approach.

April 2020

Annual Budget consultation closed last month, and I want to thank those of you that took the time to read through the proposed changes and have your say. I take my constituents views as vital to my decision making – your say really does make a difference for me. From here, feedback will be collated and analysed, with final adoption of local board funding agreements and the Annual Budget happening in June.

Having asked if you support the way council plans to spend your money, it’s important to give you some comfort; we are also working hard to find efficiencies and savings.

In my role as chair of the new Value for Money Committee, I oversee a work programme that is focused on finding savings and gaining efficiencies across all areas of council business. Essentially, the programme is council’s response to its statutory obligations which require us to assess the cost-effectiveness of our services through the lens of governance, funding and service delivery.

At my first meeting I stated very clearly to staff it was my intention to identify half a billion dollars of efficiencies from the current plan within this political term. After some ‘discussion’ I managed to get agreement. I will continue to bring you updates on this committee as we progress through the term, letting you know how and where those efficiencies will be realised.

Last month, a decision for the City Centre Masterplan refresh came to council’s Planning Committee. The report outlined the future of the central city and council’s approach to placemaking. While much of the plan has merit, one of its key changes is no east- west connection. As the mayor put it, central Auckland will now be a place to go to, not through. Vehicles wanting to go east-west would need to travel an ‘around’ route via The Strand (which is a state highway designation) to the motorway and back off on the western side. My concerns voiced at the meeting covered three key points:

1.   Before we adopted any new plan, we needed to know the practicalities of how this would work, along with the associated traffic modelling. Auckland Transport commented (quite rightly in my opinion) they would need at least a year to figure this out and I believed we should see that work first.

2.   No east-west connection. Many of you have contacted me voicing dismay at this change. Concern from me was further enhanced due to the re-routing option that would only work if the NZ Transport Agency (central government) prioritised infrastructure for this – which has yet to happen despite this plan dating back to 2012. Hasn’t the central city enough cones and disruption already? Why don’t we wait until the CRL and other key works are completed before embarking on even more disruption?

3.   The cost. Transport infrastructure is expensive, we have many competing demands from all parts of Auckland, and we have already spent considerable millions on the central city. We need to be mindful to spend equitably.

So, while I fully believe in some of the long-term outcomes, I remain nervous about the practical implications of pushing forward with this work right now. Therefore, I chose not to vote for the plans in the refresh but sadly lost that vote.

On a more positive note, I am very excited that funding has finally been approved to complete the final stages of the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path. The shared path is being delivered by NZTA and AT in four separate sections. Sections one and three are already open and the NZTA and AT boards have now approved funding to complete the last two sections.

This investment has been a long time coming and I applaud another regional funding success in our very wonderful corner of Auckland.

MARCH 2020

Happy 2020 to you and your family. I hope the new year begins well for you. The new decade corresponds with 10 years since the formation of the Super City. The first 10 years have certainly given the public, elected members and staff a chance to better understand the shared governance model between the mayor, councillors, local boards and council-controlled organisations (CCOs).

These have been tweaked year on year and relationships strengthened term by term. However, after 10 years, we are finally looking at our CCOs. They deliver 75 per cent of our business and spend 55 per cent of our operational budget, yet the most common ‘complaint’ I hear from you relates to at least one of them — Auckland Transport (AT), Regional Facilities Auckland, Panuku Development, Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED), and Watercare.

One of the last things we resolved at the end of 2019 was to approve an independent review of our CCOs which will cover three key areas: effectiveness of the CCO model, accountability mechanisms between them, and the ‘us and them’ culture that can sometimes exist. I’ll give you updates as this very important workstream develops.

Talking of milestones, the Auckland War Memorial Museum recently celebrated its 90th birthday. Standing majestically on the hill known by Māori as Pukekawa in the Auckland Domain, it was built by subscriptions raised by Aucklanders in remembrance of their war dead, and completed in 1929. It was an honour to share the celebrations with many Aucklanders including Ōrākei and Waitematā local board members, and people like Hilary Reid from Remuera, who was a child when the museum opened.

I hope you continue to enjoy our summer and the glorious weather, taking the opportunity to head outdoors to one of the many free events offered in our community and across the region.

Of specific note was the series of Nacra World Sailing Championships held in early December at our wonderful Royal Akarana Yacht Club. It was an immense pleasure to witness our very own America’s Cup stars, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, racing out on the harbour, proving why they are world champions!

For other summer events please go to: aucklandnz.com/visit/ events/annual-events.

Locally, Auckland Transport will start construction works later in January on the Tamaki Dr Cycleway. The plan is to create an improved walking and cycling route along Tamaki Dr and connect with cycle routes to Glen Innes, Parnell and the central city. As a result of feedback received during consultation, AT decided to change the design to consider our community’s views on what was proposed. The new design addresses many of the safety, convenience, and usability issues that were raised during consultation. I am glad that the voices of our residents were heard and acknowledged – the way it always should be.

On a personal note, these holidays have been extra special for me and my family with the new arrival of a baby grandson. As we look forward to the years ahead – kindergarten, school and beyond — I am reminded of the importance of safety and council’s role in helping to provide this to our families and children. Safe School Travel Plans are action plans for road safety and active transport, delivered in partnership with school communities, AT, council, NZ Police, NZTA and other organisations. If your school doesn’t have a safe school travel plan, please feel free to get in touch with me.

Finally, I’m always available to answer any queries you may have. Please contact me on desley.simpson@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or check out my website desley.co.nz for more council information.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020

2020 has started off as 2019 ended; busy, busy, busy! In February I attended the sod-turning ceremony to begin construction to upgrade the walking and cycling facilities on Tamaki Dr, on the seaward side between Quay St and the Ngapipi  Rd intersection. This is a shared NZTA/Auckland Council-funded project which will separate cyclists, who will now have a bi- directional off-road cycleway away  from pedestrians on the other side of the grass berm and pōhutukawa, all while keeping the existing traffic lanes and widths. To find out more about the project and its delivery timeframe, you can go to the AT website and find it in the ‘projects-roadworks’ section.

I was also very pleased to see the Clonbern Rd carpark in Remuera resealed and available for use before school went back. The project was meant to take eight weeks to complete but only took three. The real winner for me though is that the parking spaces are wider and longer than those previously. Over the next two to three years the site will now be prepared for sale, noting any future development must include 200 carparks for community use. Huge thanks to the Remuera Business Association chair and members for their advocacy and patience before and during works.

There are to be parking changes in Parnell too. After considering feedback from the Parnell community, AT has decided to implement several changes to improve parking availability by increasing turnover and discouraging commuter parking. Thank you to all who took the time to place feedback — the outcome reflected your response and hopefully will improve availability of parking. For more of a detailed overview of the changes, again you can look on the AT website in projects-roadworks.

Now is the time we ask for your feedback on council’s Annual Plan. This is your chance to voice your perspective on regional issues and the priorities for your local board area.

Rubbish and recycling continue to be a challenging area for council. Sadly, compared to other world-leading cities. we have low rates of recycling and reuse of waste (35 per cent). We need to continue to find ways to mitigate this and make good decisions around our waste services.

So, what is being proposed? In the Annual Plan, we are beginning to look for ways to reduce the amount of rubbish in our landfills. Preventing further cost to our environment will inevitably require some financial cost – like the proposed rise in your annual waste service charge. Unlike many other areas of Auckland who operate on a user-pays system, our area will still have a fixed annual charge. The charge is proposed to rise from $130 a year to $144, but still works out to be 25 per cent cheaper than areas who have a pay- per-lift system. I am sure you are all aware of the increasing global pressures around waste management, which obviously impacts the market costs for both collection and disposal. Despite this, council managed to negotiate a waste management contract that was best value for money and at a reduced cost to what we had anticipated.

The budget also has a proposed average increase in rates from 2.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent. While increases are never particularly welcome, this will remain one of the lowest rates increases of the major urban councils (Tauranga is proposing 11 per cent). On top of that, our area will, for the first time in a while, benefit hugely from some large infrastructure projects.

But nothing is confirmed! You can give your feedback for any part of the budget either online or in person, and will find dates and venues for relevant events on the council website, aucklandcouncil.govt.nz, under the ‘Have Your Say’ tab. The consultation period closes on March 22. As you all know, I do listen to and appreciate your views.

DECEMBER 2019

As the end of 2019 draws to a close, the beginning of the new council term gears up. Mayor Goff has met with all his councillors and has drawn up the new meeting structure for this, the fourth Auckland Council. We now have five main committees of the whole. Three of these were as before — the governing body (chaired by the mayor), the finance and performance committee, and the planning committee. Along with these, we now have two new ones, the environment and climate change committee looking at environmental and climate change activities, and a community committee looking at community, social and cultural activities. There are also a number of other committees feeding into the above. Of special mention are two new ones, the council-controlled organisation (CCO) oversight committee, and the value for money committee.

CCOs control approximately 75 per cent of our business, and legislation allows that. My understanding is that the thinking behind that was that independent professional directors would be better placed than politicians to run significant parts of council business. Whilst the theory has merit, the practice has seen much of the CCO delivery performed in such a way that Aucklanders and politicians have no ‘control’ at all. The new CCO oversight committee will set policy relating to CCO governance, have insight into their strategy and direction, and monitor their performance. The mayor has also appointed a councillor to sit on each CCO — in Auckland Transport’s case, two councillors — not as directors, as that would potentially compromise their focus, but as observers with speaking rights.

Value for money is the second new committee. Although this work stream started last term, the mayor was previously unable to get support for this to be an entity of its own (I think I was the only one who supported him on this). But with this works programme realising $270 million of efficiencies in just two years, he now has that support. This committee ensures the pro-active assessment of money saving opportunities, and considers the cost effectiveness of the governance, funding and delivery across the council group.

One of the few things the mayor  can do completely on his own  is set the structure and name the chairs of those committees. In my case he has asked me to chair finance and performance. Feeding  into this is the strategic procurement committee and the CCO oversight committee. He has also asked me to chair the value for money committee, which reports into the mayor’s own committee, the governing body.  On top of that, my  responsibilities include being chair of the Domain committee, which with the boundary changes now is within the Ōrākei ward, and taking the role of  deputy chair of the Ngāti Whātua Reserves Board, a member of the CCO oversight committee and a member of the Town Hall Organ Trust. It’s a big workload but I’m up for the challenge.

Working alongside councillors are, of course, our local boards. Unlike council committees, local boards choose their own chairs and deputies. I am pleased to announce that Scott Milne was unanimously voted in as chair of the Ōrākei Local Board, supported by Sarah Powrie and Troy Elliot sharing the deputy chair roles over the next three years.

For the Waitematā Local Board, Richard Northey was unanimously voted in as chairman, with Kerrin Leoni and Alexandra Bonham as deputy chairs respectively. You are well served with elected members committed to listen to you, your concerns and feedback and deliver improvements in many areas.

On a personal note, I will welcome my third grandchild in early 2020. It’s always a tangible reminder as to the importance of my decisions, not just for today but for our future generations to come.

NOVEMBER 2019

If you play sport, use the footpath, like hearing the birds sing, turn the tap on, flush the toilet, put rubbish in a bin, walk in the park, swim at the beach, drive a car, cycle or use public transport, chances are Auckland Council will have made a decision that affects your experience. Some of those decisions are made around the Town Hall table, some are made by council-controlled organisations (CCOs) such as Watercare or Auckland Transport, and some are made locally by local boards.

With the election signs now down and the final results in, you have contributed to the democratic process and have chosen a mayor, councillor and local board team to represent you for the next three years as the fourth term of Auckland Council. It’s a team tasked with making improvements at all levels of the council organisation, a team which needs to listen to you, and a team which needs to plan and deliver not just for today, but for the future.

THANK YOU to all those who have voted. It wasn’t easy (and I’m not talking about who to vote for). Being a postal ballot you had to first receive papers, with many people saying they were late or didn’t turn up at all. Then, because the post is so infrequent, you really had to post them back a week before they were due (in the last election just under 3000 voting papers arrived after the close- off). To top it all off, voting was scheduled to happen in the middle of the school holidays.

Many ask ‘Why wasn’t it all online?’ Officials repeatedly say security cannot be guaranteed, however my  message to government is that you have  to choose a better time and a better way.  NZ Post  are closing locations — the Remuera post office shut three days before the elections closed — and are reducing the number of red post boxes on the street. The system needs to be easy for people to participate in. At time of writing, just under 35 per cent of people actually voted in Auckland. In our area, the provisional figures were a bit higher, 41.5 per cent of those in the Ōrākei Local Board area voted, as did 36.1 per cent of those in the Waitematā area.

Mayor Goff has been re-elected and we have four new first-time councillors. I look forward to working positively with them all as we take this city forward. There are some obvious challenges. To name just a couple, more accountability and transparency from our council-controlled organisations — and a much stronger reinforcing of the ‘control’ too! There are financial challenges as we continue to deliver the biggest infrastructure spend this city has ever seen.

I’m also looking forward to working with my two new local board teams. You’ll remember that this election the Ōrākei ward changed its boundary to accommodate population changes in the central city. We now have parts of two local boards in the ward: the Waitematā Local Board looking after Parnell, Grafton and Newmarket, and Ōrākei Local Board looking after Remuera, Meadowbank, some of St Johns, Stonefields, Glendowie, St Heliers, Kohimarama, Mission Bay and Ōrākei.

The new local board teams are a mixture of new people and those who have served before. On the Waitematā board are five new members — Alexandra Bonham, Sarah Trotman, Julie Sandilands, Kerrin Leoni and Graeme Gunthorp, who join existing members Richard Northey and Adriana Christie. The Ōrākei board has four new members in Scott Milne, Sarah Powrie, Troy Elliot and Margaret Voyce, who join Troy Churton, David Wong and Colin Davis as returning members. These new teams will be vitally important to the local business and communities.

Finally to those who supported me for a second term, thank you. I am humbled and honoured. My commitment remains steadfast in delivering for you, the communities and residents of the Ōrākei ward, and for Auckland.

OCTOBER 2019

I write this as my first term as your Ōrākei ward councillor draws to a close. As I look back over the almost three years, it’s been both a privilege and a challenge to serve you around the Town Hall table.

I’ll start with the good news. This term we started a new value- for -money programme which has now realised $270 million of efficiencies (if you read my election flyer I’ve said $260m, but post-printing it’s increased). I know many of you think Auckland Council wastes money and I’m not denying that, but we have set up a programme that goes further than the legislative requirements set by the former government, and are tangibly delivering efficiencies.

On top of that, we have increased our savings targets from that of last term’s council. In fact, our Long-Term Plan funding has a savings increase of $41m more than the last council, for the same period. All against a background of record investment, catching up on historical under-investment in infrastructure, debt constraints and financial pressure from population growth.

Keeping our green space while intensification occurs is also important. This term we have bought/developed 67 new parks (one in our Ōrākei ward), invested strongly in improving water quality and delivered many environmental initiatives.

Keeping the control in the council-controlled organisations (CCOs) has been a challenge. I was the only councillor to put up 10 resolutions to keep Auckland Transport more accountable to the people they serve, including requiring them to report on congestion, which currently costs residents and business approximately $1 billion each year in lost productivity. I have moved a resolution to review how we can make CCOs work better with their political ‘masters’ – that will be a key piece of work and it’s developing now.

Locally, for the first time we have approved funding towards the Ōrākei Local Board’s priority project, local links to the shared path through the Pourewa Valley. We have had regional investment into our ward for pest plant and animal eradication — we are now pretty much possum free. We have new sportsfields at College Rifles, Shore Rd Reserve and Colin Maiden Park which gives us a huge overall increase in playable times.

As a councillor, I have also been able to approve increased local transport funding so the local board can deliver projects to make it safer and easier to get around, funded improvements to Tamaki Dr, increased the water quality of our beaches and waterways, and have approved building a new recycling centre for our central area, to name but a few examples.

But there is still a lot of ‘not so good news’ when it comes to Auckland Council, and a lot of it is core council business which needs to be done better. I’m sure like me, you are well aware of it.

Nothing can be done without the support of others and key to this is our mayor. There is much debate about our mayoral candidates — some say we don’t have much of a choice and the front-runners are as bad as each other.

I’ve obviously only experienced working with one of them. Mayor Goff has always listened to my point of view. He’s supported me on delivering the value-for-money programme, increasing savings targets, improving Auckland Transport’s behaviour (he seconded all my resolutions and called them out when they didn’t front at the huge St Heliers public meeting). He also helped me keep 200 public carparks at the Clonbern Rd carpark site — 10 per cent more than what’s there now — for any future development.

After allowing me to sit down with his staff to explain the negative impacts of the freedom camping process and report, he supported me and made the unusual move of writing his own paper against staff recommendations, backing our community and achieving the best outcome for our ward, and for Auckland.

After five ‘meet the candidates’ events for councillors and local board candidates, and two mayoral debates in our ward, it will be up to you to decide on one mayor, one ward councillor and seven grassroots local board members.

Please exercise your democratic right and vote. Auckland’s future is in your hands.

SEPTEMBER 2019

I know improving water quality and improving our natural environment is important to you. When we asked Aucklanders what they thought of an extra targeted rate to bring forward a 30-year work programme for greater investment in these two areas, a large majority from the Ōrākei ward said yes.

So one year on, what has been done? Work to improve water quality has happened in Hobson Bay, Judges Bay, the Newmarket Stream, Wilsons Beach, Pourewa Creek and around the Ōrākei Basin. A big focus has been on Okahu Bay where the water quality was graded black — council’s highest warning, indicating a very high risk of illness according to our Safeswim testing. All boats and their moorings have now been removed from Okahu Bay (to align with the Unitary Plan) with most being repositioned opposite the Outdoor Boating Club, on the seaward side of Tamaki Dr.

Significant investigation of the suburb of Ōrākei’s properties has found many still with storm water and waste water combined sewer systems. Come October, work will start on the separation of these which will reduce the frequency and quality of any overflows, which are now positioned further out where there are more currents. This will make swimming at Okahu Bay significantly safer in the summer.

Environmentally, we have done a lot of work around trapping of pests. Rats have been particularly bad this season but extra funding has gone towards this, benefitting Okahu Bay, St Heliers, Ōrākei, Mission Bay, Kohimarama and Remuera. Waiatarua Reserve and Waiata Reserve have received increased investment with plant pest eradication too. To all of you who have taken advantage of the free rat traps given out by the Eastern Bays Songbird Project, thank you. Over a thousand have been distributed and this is really helping pest reduction in our area. The Domain, one of Auckland’s true jewels, has been a focus with a higher level of pest plant and animal control than local parks. We have started a significant privet removal programme there — I can hear all those suffering from hayfever cheering now! The Domain will hopefully be privet- free in three to seven years.

One of the exciting new features in the Domain, is a home for council’s biosecurity dogs. Having the biosecurity dog depot here is helping the Domain become pest free, through identifying pest hot spots and direct pest control. Our wonderful dog handlers and dog teams are able to detect for rodents, mustelids, plague skinks and Argentine ants. I visited them recently and saw them in action — the work is fascinating and the dogs are adorably cute too. Thanks to the natural environment targeted rate, council has also been able to increase its pest protection in the Hauraki Gulf islands, and has invested in increased pest detector dogs and handlers, certified under the Conservation Dog Programme.

By the time you read this, the local government elections will be in full swing. You will be seeing hoardings, flyers in your letterbox and an increased awareness of who is standing for mayor, councillor and local board in your area. Please take the time to research those who are standing, and above all — VOTE. I am standing again as the Communities and Residents Councillor for Ōrākei and have published a list of my ‘achievements’ this term on my website: desley.co.nz. It’s been a humbling and challenging three years around the Town Hall table. I’d be deeply honoured to have your continued support, delivering what matters to you.

July / August 2019

With the winter weather upon us, it’s only natural to turn our attention to flooding mitigation. The good news

is that we have budget for Council staff to work with residents’ groups along Tamaki Dr to help select options to reduce the effects of both king tides and bad weather. This is particularly important in Kohimarama and the causeway outside the Outboard Boating Club.

The bad news is that the Portland Rd flooding work has been delayed, as staff still look at detailed designs for raising the bottom of Portland Rd beside Waitaramoa Reserve. What we can all do to help is check roadside gutters for leaf build-up, especially by catchpits. If you can’t clear this yourself, please call Council on (09) 301 0101 and register an urgent clear.

Talking about budget, council has signed off its last budget before the upcoming election. This has an average of 2.5 per cent rates rise for the year beginning July 1. To put this rates increase into perspective: this year Hamilton had a 9.7 per cent rise, Dunedin 7.8 per cent, Tauranga 5.8 per cent, Christchurch 5.72 per cent and Wellington 3.8 per cent.

As you will be aware, we asked Aucklanders what they thought of several new initiatives in the budget. Interestingly, the response from our Ōrākei ward matched the Auckland regional responses.

My election promise in 2016 was to vote as per the feedback from you, the residents and ratepayers of the ward. Democracy must work. In my opinion, if you’re not willing to follow the direction from that feedback, why ask in the first place? I have not veered from that position this whole electoral term. My vote around the budget decision was no different. Whilst this is not the view of all councillors, it’s certainly mine.

Ōrākei respondents voiced their support for money to go towards addressing homelessness and for a new rates remission for religious properties. They voiced their opposition to proposed increases to the waste management targeted rate, and an increase in consenting fees. Many of those who responded expressed their anger at how the consent process currently works (slowly and inefficiently was a common response) and were worried that increases to already expensive consenting costs would disincentivise building. On top of this was the concern that ever-climbing resource and building consent fees could further worsen home affordability across Auckland by driving up the cost of construction. It’s an area staff have been directed to improve with haste.

I also voted to keep a strong focus on being more efficient and meeting our savings targets. By leveraging the council group’s size to drive down procurement costs and consolidate suppliers, we have recently slashed our annual utilities bill by $5.3 million. That’s on top of another strong annual budget operational saving target of

$23m. In fact, the Super City, for all its new population growth and record levels of investment, is now staggeringly operating on $270m less per annum than it did prior to amalgamation. But trust me, we can still do better.

Coming up soon are some decisions that will be both controversial and important for us. The new freedom camping bylaw is one. I’m not on the regulatory committee and my only vote to date has been to take this out for consultation. However, the draft bylaw currently proposes that many of our parks and potentially every residential street in Auckland could be opened up for freedom camping.

This is a huge concern for me (and I’d think for you too). I am also told that the hearings panel have not always followed community feedback which rejected certain parks and areas within this ward for freedom camping. The vote by the mayor and all councillors on this will be crucial.

Finally, I have decided to put my hand up and stand again for the position of Auckland councillor representing the Ōrākei ward in the forthcoming October elections. With the boundary changes now bringing in Parnell, Newmarket, and Grafton into the ward, I officially made this public last month. I hope to have your support, and welcome any feedback you have on how Council can improve.