Newsletter - 21st December

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I hope you’ve been able to make the most of the freedoms at ‘red’ over the past few weeks, and that you’re looking forward to a bit of a break as much as I am.
There’s no denying that 2021 has been a really tough year. It wasn’t all bad though, so to wrap up for the year, I thought I’d give you a ’12 Days of Christmas’ summary of some of the things that made 2021 great.

TWELVE months of prudent financial management and delivering for Orakei
Our 10-year budget, signed off in June, saw some great wins for the Orakei ward. Some of the highlights include nearly $3 million for upgrades at Colin Maiden Park, funding for the north-south links of the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path (finally!), and a $3 million budget for the Orakei Local Board to fund local transport improvements.

Our 2020/21 financial year saw Watercare deliver $1 billion of new water infrastructure, and AT delivered $1.1 billion in new roads and public transport infrastructure. We had a record level of savings ($126 million in just one year), and we continue to seek efficiencies. We have locked in a further $90 million of ongoing savings each year for the next ten years. Raising in excess of $1 billion in green bonds was also a major milestone.

Then came our longest ever Alert Level 4 lockdown, followed by an even longer stretch at Level 3, and the financial impacts have certainly been deep, wide, and ongoing. This may well be our most difficult phase yet, with some tough decisions to be made in the new year, but I know that the prudent decisions we made for our Emergency Budget in 2020 meant that we’ve been able to weather the storm so far and will continue to do so. I hope you’ll make a submission and have your say when our 2022/23 budget goes out for consultation in the new year.

ELEVEN percent reduction in AT’s greenhouse gas emissions
Last month, we bought 152 electric buses to replace some of the older buses in our fleet. This is expected to reduce Auckland Transport’s greenhouse gas emissions by 11% each year. Transport emissions are a big part of our reduction targets, so this is a big win. 

TEN Auckland dams, full!
As of this week, our dams are sitting at 99%. It wasn’t all that long ago that we were at 43% after a long drought, so this is really wonderful news. Watercare has done lot of work to ensure Auckland’s water supply is resilient going forward, and all restrictions were lifted back in October. Water use has increased, but by less than expected for this time of year, which suggests that Aucklanders are maintaining some of the water saving habits we picked up during the drought.

The lifting of restrictions of course also meant our iconic Mission Bay Fountain could be switched back on, and it’s been great seeing it ‘playing’ again.

NINE speeches
The last few months in lockdown made for a quieter year on the events front, but I still managed to fit in nine speeches at various events ranging from a CAANZ (chartered accountants) event in Parnell, to various local AGMs and meetings of our local service clubs. Seeing what our wonderful local community groups have been up to is one of my favourite parts of my role as ward councillor. We have so many amazing people in Orakei who are committed to serving our community and making a difference, and despite all the challenges, this year has been no exception.

EIGHT months not in lockdown
There’s no denying that the past four months have been overshadowed by lockdown, but it’s also important to reflect on that blissful time we had at Alert Level 1! Who could forget the America’s Cup? Not to mention the historic Six60 concert at Eden Park back in April, Jersey Boys at the Civic and Lion King at Spark Arena.

It has been fantastic seeing our hospitality sector open back up these last few weeks, and here’s hoping that our arts and culture sector can thrive again in 2022. Be sure to register for Auckland Unlimited’s Explore Tamaki Makaurau voucher programme (central government funded) for the chance to receive a $50 (individual) or $100 (family) voucher to experience the best of what Auckland has to offer this summer.

SEVEN kilometers of shared path
The much-anticipated Glenn Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path has been progressing well, and we’re very much looking forward to opening Section 2 in the new year. This path is such an important link in our growing network of active transport connections throughout the city.

The rail bridge, gully bridge and boardwalks through Pourewa Valley and Tahapa Reserve are now largely completed, and when work starts up again in the new year, the team will be installing handrails, lighting on the bridge structures and boardwalks, and completing the concrete path from the gully bridge to Kohimarama Road. It will also be full steam ahead on the John Rymer Place connection. Waka Kotahi have put together a great progress video here. It’s definitely worth having a look – it’s been quite the transformation!  

SIX mussel beds in Okahu Bay
Last month, 60 tonnes of mussels were deposited into Okahu Bay, across 6 different beds (3 shell and 3 sediment) as part of the Okahu Bay Restoration Project, led in partnership with Ngati Whatua Orakei. They are working to build back biodiversity and improve the water quality in the bay. 

This follows the completion of the Okahu Bay stormwater network separation project back in September, which has significantly reduced wet weather wastewater overflows into the bay. It was a $16 million investment in partnership with Ngati Whatua Orakei, resulting in 200 private properties having their drainage systems separated to connect 3.4km of newly installed public stormwater pipeline. We have a long way to go with water quality in the Eastern Bays, but this was certainly a success worth celebrating.

FIFTH best Christmas display in the world 
Auckland’s very own Smith & Caughey’s Christmas window display in Queen Street was rated fifth best in the world this year, right up there with Macy’s in New York City and Selfridges in London. I’ve always loved the Smith & Caughey’s displays, but this year’s display is truly something special. Based on The Fairies Night Before Christmas, a Kiwi take on The Night Before Christmas, the displays depict a forest fairy community working together under the shade of Pohutukawa trees. Definitely worth stopping by if you haven’t had a chance yet.

FOUR City Rail Link stations
The City Rail Link is Auckland’s first underground rail line and the largest transport infrastructure project ever to be undertaken in New Zealand. The CRL team celebrated the connection of the new Aotea Station to tunnels running from Britomart just earlier this month, and at the southern end of the station, final preparations are underway to welcome the project’s Tunnel Boring Machine which started its journey at the Mt Eden site back in May.

As with everything else, Covid has had a significant impact on the project, but it is forecasted to be completed in late 2024.

The Western line will be closed from Boxing Day through to 23 January, allowing for accelerated work at the Mt Eden site with additional work hours including weekends, public holidays and nights.

THREE DHBs at 90%
We know that vaccinations play a very important role in our road out of lockdowns, and in our recovery from this pandemic. On 3 December, Auckland hit a very significant milestone when all three of our Auckland DBHs were at least 90% vaccinated. Ngati Whatua Orakei put in a huge effort with their vaccination buses, alongside many of our local pharmacies and GP clinics. High vaccination rates mean a bit more freedom this summer, and some much-needed support for our hospitality sector!

Many of us will be eligible for a booster dose soon (6 months after your second dose), so make sure to schedule that into your summer plans.

TWO top cops
I wanted to acknowledge two of our special community policemen, Tony and Alfred, who have worked tirelessly alongside our Maori and Pacific wardens for our community, in some particularly challenging times which have included dairy ramraids.  They are always willing to talk through community concerns and work with me and the Local Board to improve community safety. We are hugely grateful for the wonderful work all our police force does.

And a bellbird in a Waiatarua Reserve tree!
Finally, perhaps the highlight of a very challenging year, was the sighting of a bellbird in Remuera’s Waiatarua Reserve for the first time in over 100 years. Our community groups have been working so hard to restore our native bush and bring birdsong back to the Eastern Bays. An extra special yippee for no sale of the Melanesian Trust’s landownership of part of Kohimarama Forrest but more on that next year.

On the other side of Remuera, our contractors have been hard at work completing the environmental enhancements at Portland Road. The project is on track for completion by July 2022, and 15,000 native plants will be planted throughout April and May. I hope there are many more bellbirds on the way.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2022.

Have a wonderful summer break.

Desley 
_________________________

The Council offices are closed for the holidays from 24 December and will reopen on 10 January. Here’s a quick guide for who to call if anything comes up during that time:

• For any problems at our parks, community facilities, beaches, maunga, roadsides or public spaces, call the Auckland Council call centre on 09 301 0101 or log the issue online here

• For transport related issues where there is a safety risk, you can contact Auckland Transport on 09 355 3553. Maintenance issues can be logged here

• For urgent water and wastewater faults, call 09 442 2222 or log it on the Watercare website

The most common question over the holidays is always about rubbish collection days. You can check your dates on the Auckland Council website, here. 
 

Newsletter - 2nd December

It’s been a very, very long 107 days, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. Many of you have written to me saying the traffic light system is confusing, so I thought I’d give a quick summary of what ‘Red’ means. For Council, it means that this Friday our Council gyms, group fitness classes and recreation centres will be back up and running, open to those with COVID Vaccination Passes. Our pools need a few more days to be recommissioned and for the summer lifeguards to be inducted, so they won’t open until 6 December. Beyond Council services, hospitality will open up on Friday, with vaccine passes, 1m distancing and capacity limits in place. I’ve booked in for dinner at a local restaurant on Friday night and can’t wait! Faith-based gatherings, club functions and sports can also go ahead at Red, also. For many of these activities however, vaccinations play an essential role in keeping everyone safe. Without a vaccine pass, you are much more limited. Please check the Covid website if you are unsure about any specific ‘rule’. If it’s been 6 months or more since you’ve had your second jab, you can have a booster shot. These will be available at many locations, but I know there will be a vaccination bus operating up at the Ngāti Whātua Marae on Kupe St 8.30am and 3pm this Saturday, 4 December.  

In other major news, Auckland Council will be consulting with Aucklanders on Three Waters Reform from 3 to 19 December and asking for feedback on the governance, representative and accountability arrangements of the new entities. You’ll recall from previous newsletters that I made a commitment to ensure consultation was included in our approach when we finalized our feedback to central government back in September, and I am delivering on that. Not only do I want to hear your views on Three Waters, but understanding the views of Aucklanders will be critical in informing the Mayor’s input, on behalf of Auckland Council, into the working group that will be addressing some of the issues that have been raised by councils around the country. You can register for one of the webinars and read all the detail on the Have Your Say website.

In local news, the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path has been progressing well over the past couple of months and I’m looking forward to celebrating the opening of Section 2 in the new year. The largest boardwalk through the Pourewa Valley is 90% complete, and as are the two smaller ones at Tahapa Reserve East and West. The concrete path near the Meadowbank Train Station is also nearing completion. Coming up, the team will be doing the finishing touches on the rail and gully bridge and the boardwalks, and the section from the gully bridge to Kohimarama Road will be the main focus in the coming months. Waka Kotahi have made a great flyover video of the progress available to view here.

Meanwhile, AT are consulting on the links to the Glen Innes cycleways. They are seeking your feedback on proposed layout changes at Line Road, Stonefields Ave, Morrin Rd, Taniwha Street and Merton Road. It’s really important that they get this right, so be sure to have a look at what they are proposing and have your say before 30 January. All the details are available here.

Finally, there’s a free e-waste drop off in Penrose this Saturday, from 9am to 3pm. If you’ve been doing a bit of a clear out at home over lockdown, this is a great opportunity to get rid of your unwanted electronic products. To keep the team safe, they’ll be running it as a drive-through event. Remember to wear a mask and be sure to sign in with your COVID scanner app when you arrive.

I hope you’ll support our local Orakei businesses as much as possible when you’re out doing your Christmas shopping over the next few weeks, they’ve been doing it tough.

As always, stay cautious and keep safe.

Desley

Newsletter - 18th November

We are now rapidly approaching 100 days in lockdown. I know it has seemed endless, and the days are well and truly blurring into one now, but it appears there is finally light at the end of the tunnel! Most schools are back in some form from this week, so hopefully that will give some respite to the parents who have been doing their best to work from home while also keeping up the homeschooling.

The Orakei Ward suburbs of Newmarket, Grafton, Remuera and Meadowbank are all over 90% fully vaccinated. St Johns is just about there, and our other suburbs are not far behind. It was great to have confirmation yesterday that we can head out of Auckland for the holidays, but you will need your vaccination certificate to cross the border and for a lot of other activities you might be planning for your summer. The vaccination certificates are available for download at https://mycovidrecord.health.nz/ but the website has been completely overloaded since it went live, so you might have to wait a day or two to be able to get access. Please keep talking to your friends and family and making sure they’ve had both doses of the vaccine. It’s not just about the 90% target, but about keeping everyone in our community safe as things start to open back up.  If you are still awaiting your second ‘jab’ there will be a vaccination bus in Mission Bay on Saturday 9am-3pm, oppositie Movenpick.

Yesterday was a big milestone for our libraries. After 3 months of lockdown, our libraries are finally opening their doors again and resuming normal services. While our libraries staff have been preparing to re-open, the click and collect service has been hugely popular, with over 94,000 items borrowed throughout the region. St Heliers was amongst the most popular, with over 5000 items issued and 380 “Ready-to-Go Reads” packs requested. The click and collect service will continue to be available, but if you prefer to browse the shelves, please try to keep your visit to under 30 minutes to help our staff maintain safe limits on the number of people inside our facilities. Public computers, printing and wi-fi will also now be available for use.

We are also getting pretty close to changing to “red” in the new traffic light system, which will allow bars and restaurants to open with restrictions and safety measures in place. You’ll remember from previous newsletters that I have been working with businesses to make this reopening phase as easy as possible and have been pushing for Council to remove some of the red tape and regulatory barriers wherever possible, as well as advocating to central government. As it turns out, there’s quite a lot of red tape to be removed, but we’re making good progress. You can read more about it here.   

In local news, you would have seen in the media last month that the Environment Court ruled against the controversial development planned for the Mission Bay waterfront. This decision has been appealed to the High Court which has disappointed many locals. I will keep you updated when I know more.  

You may also have heard about a privately owned block of bush on Pamela Place in Kohimarama being up for sale. The site is precious to many in the community, and I’ve heard from many advocating for its protection. I was hugely annoyed to hear council had turned down purchasing this land without any input from councillors or our local board. However, I have pushed for an urgent assessment of this property and we are looking into any alternative options that may be available to maintain such a valuable asset for our bird corridor.

Lastly, some positive news. The new pathway at Vellenoweth Green is now open to the public. The finishing touches were completed by our contractors last weekend and it’s looking great. I hope you get a chance to go have a look.

Hang in there Auckland, it looks like we’re almost there….

Desley

Newsletter - 10th November

It has been a very long 85 days, but we’re now one step closer to freedom and that proper Kiwi summer we’re all dreaming of. Last night, Auckland moved to Alert Level 3, Step 2. That means retail is now able to open (with distancing and masks), and outdoor gatherings and exercise classes can now include up to 25 people. I hope you get a chance to go shopping this week and support local who have been really challenged over lockdown. Christmas is fast approaching and I’m sure our local retail businesses will be very happy to see you.  

The easing of restrictions also allows for the reopening of some of our council facilities and services, while taking care to keep both the public and our staff safe. As a quick summary:

·         All 56 libraries across the region will be offering a click and collect service, 10am – 4pm from Monday to Saturday. This means that in addition to St Heliers library, Parnell and Remuera Libraries will now have this service too.

·         MOTAT is reopening on Wednesday 10 November, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum will be open from Monday 15 November

·         The Auckland Art Gallery, the Zoo and the Maritime Museum are working through a phased reopening – check their websites for details

·         All community recycling centres and recovery shops will open

·         Our Council service centres will open, with the exception of those integrated centres at libraries, which will remain closed

·         All public toilets will be open

At this stage, our pools, gyms, leisure centres, venues for hire, holiday parks and campgrounds remain closed. Further detail is available here.

In the meantime, we are doing all we can to support our hospitality industry when we move to Alert Level 3, Step 3. The government has indicated that this next level will allow dining for up to 50 people, and the subsequent ‘red’ phase of the soon to be introduced Traffic Light System, for up to 100 people. You might recall from a previous newsletter that  I have pushed for Council to make a number of regulatory changes to allow for outdoor dining and have waived application fees and street trading rents for new applications or extensions while in Alert Level 2 or above. The other part of the solution sits with central government. The Mayor and I have written to Ministers Robertson and Hipkins requesting changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to allow bars and restaurants to expand their licensed footprint for outdoor dining, and they have signaled that this is something they are investigating. Our Mission Bay Business Association also highlighted a couple of other ‘red tape concerns’ which once explained, I was keen to try and advocate for some changes. Another letter went to the ministers requesting changes around license requirements for toilet facilities, which in their current form require separate facilities for those dining inside to those dining outside. This will be extremely impractical and will be ‘the straw that breaks the camel’s back’ for many small cafes and restaurants. This rule seems particularly contrary to all Council toilets being allowed to be open with no restrictions as to their use. I’m sure all our restaurants and cafes eagerly await a response from central government to these concerns.

On the vaccine front, all three Auckland DHBs have now reached the 90% milestone for first vaccine dose and at least 80% for second dose. In Orakei Ward, we are doing really well with Meadowbank, Remuera (Waiata), Remuera East, Glendowie North and Newmarket now over 90% fully vaccinated. If you or anyone you know is yet to get vaccinated, there is still plenty of opportunity in our local area. The Shot Bro bus will be in Mission Bay next weekend, 19-20 November, many of our local pharmacies are also offering the vaccine, and our local vaccination centres are open every day, no appointment needed. Check the Healthpoint website to see which one is nearest to you. A reminder that those who got their first dose on Super Saturday can now get their second.

Lastly, some wonderful non-COVID news. A bellbird was spotted in Remuera, near Waiatarua Reserve, for the first time in over 100 years. Our community groups have been working so hard to restore our native bush and bring birdsong back to Orakei. What a wonderful testament to their commitment to this great cause! You can read the full story here.

Stay safe,

Desley

Newsletter - 29th October

We end this week (day 73 of lockdown) with some good news on vaccination rates for the Orakei Ward area. As of Tuesday 26 October, 93% have had their first dose, 85% are fully vaccinated and only 7% have not yet been vaccinated. If we break that down further, only two suburbs have not yet reached 90% for first dose: Mission Bay (89.7%) and the eastern part of Orakei (87.9%). If you know anyone in those areas, please give them a call and encourage them to get vaccinated. If they have any questions or concerns, I suggest they talk to a medical professional. Having said that, as a ward area we are doing very well. So to those that have, thank you for getting your vaccination (s) and in doing so helping to keep yourself, your friends, family, and our community safe.

Now the not so good news… This week the government announced that the proposed Three Waters reform will be mandated. This came as a surprise to many councils and elected members throughout the country. You will recall from my newsletter to you on 24 September that I did fear this would happen. Some of you may have seen my thoughts on the Minister’s decision in the media. I’m pretty annoyed (to put it mildly) and could rant and rave for hours about how the government has failed to recognise Auckland’s differences, both in terms of governance arrangements and the fact that we are already the most efficient and effective water supplier in New Zealand. There are in my opinion massive issues around the proposed governance and accountability. The ownership model proposed does not reflect the investment in water assets that have been made by Aucklanders and should. As for our investment , we have already resolved to invest $11 billion into our water infrastructure over the next ten years. Much of it in our Ward, and the sad point around that, is I cannot now guarantee the delivery of that investment( especially in latter years) with the new mandated model.

The big question on my mind, is what can we do about it? This morning I discussed with the mayor our options to deliver on our commitment to consult with Aucklanders, noting the government have no longer given us the option to opt out. I will update as soon as this has been confirmed. I am absolutely committed to making sure we hear from our communities, so that when Council presents to select committee, we can do so with evidence of the views of Aucklanders. The Minister has also indicated that a working group will be established to work through some of the common themes that have come up in the feedback from councils. We are yet to see any detail about this group or how it will operate, but I would absolutely be keen for Auckland Council to go into those discussions well-informed about the views of Aucklanders on this issue.

However, to end the week on a positive, Auckland Council has now raised in excess of $1 BILLION in green bonds. Green bonds can only be used to fund projects that will benefit the environment. We were the first organization in New Zealand to raise money this way and have proven ourselves to be not just an Auckland leader but a national leader in this space. In essence, it’s $1 billion that doesn’t come from ratepayers that has funded projects such as upgraded electric trains, LED street lighting, sustainable water management projects and public cycleways.

Stay safe and enjoy your weekend.

NEWSLETTER - 27th OCTOBER

Recent announcements have further emphasized the huge importance of vaccinations as part of our road out of lockdowns, and our recovery from this pandemic. The target is 90% and in the Orakei Ward, we’re doing pretty well. As of last week, parts of Stonefields, Mission Bay and Orakei were the only suburbs in our ward area slightly under 90% for first dose. It’s so important to me that our communities are well protected, so I will be monitoring our vaccination numbers closely and keeping you updated on Facebook and via newsletter as we approach that 90% fully vaccinated target. I know there is a lot of uncertainty about what the traffic light system will mean for us all, but we do know for sure that getting 90% of Aucklanders fully vaccinated is one of the fastest ways out of lockdown.

I know, like me, many of you are doing all you can to shop local and support businesses during this tough time. Assisting business recovery is important to me as currently, based on figures from last year we are looking at between 4-5Billion in lost GDP as a result of this lockdown. At Finance and Peformance Committee last week, I moved a number of recommendations to help businesses from across the council family including a commitment to do a number of regulatory changes needed to allow outdoor dining. We have had many requests for outdoor dining in our town centre streets over summer, to allow businesses a chance to start recovering from lockdown loss of trade, and to help ease the affects of any ongoing restrictions.-you may have spotted this Newshub story about St Heliers last week.In addition to regulatory measures, we have also waived application fees and street trading rents for new applications or extensions while in Alert Level 2 or higher, and all applications and extensions will be fast tracked. If you are worried about paying rates on your business property, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Council on 09 301 0101. Ask to speak to our credit control team about the options available to you to make life a bit easier during this very stressful time. It is of course important to note that central government’s toolkit is significantly larger than ours. The $60 million business support package announced last week is a start, but my plea is for the government to keep looking at ways to enhance ongoing support for Auckland businesses, with urgency. If Auckland succeeds, New Zealand succeeds.

Our Finance and Performance Committee also looked at a draft submission on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2021-22, GST, and Remedial Matters) Bill 2021. It’s not exactly an attention-grabbing piece of legislation, but their proposed changes would mean at least an additional $33 million in taxes for Auckland Council, a significant and unfair burden on Auckland ratepayers. This is yet another example of central government not understanding the Auckland context or at the very least talking to us first to understand the financial impacts for the biggest Council in NZ.

Lastly, on a more positive note, I wanted to highlight our decision to lift the last of the remaining water restrictions for the region, effective from 23 October 2021. It has been a long journey to get to this point, and Watercare has done significant work to reduce water consumption and increase supply since May 2020. Among many other steps taken to ensure Auckland’s water supply is resilient going forward, supply will have increased by 104 million litres per day by the first quarter of 2022, we have maximized use of river and aquifer sources during the winter, we continue to work to find and fix leaks in the metropolitan system and a smart meter programme has been introduced for commercial customers. Of course, Aucklanders and their willingness to save water over the past 18 months have played a really important role. Together, we saved over 20 billion litres of water. Thank you. Locally I know you will join with me to soon celebrate the removal of the fence around the Mission Bay Fountain and to see our iconic waterfront fountain ‘play’ again.

Stay safe,
Desley
PS JUST HEARD ABOUT THE MANDATE DECISION BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ON 3WATERS. I’ll update on that separately

Newsletter 20th October

Today marks 64 days in lockdown for Auckland, and on Monday the Prime Minister told us we had at least another two weeks at Level 3 to go. I know this is getting increasingly tough for everyone, so please continue to check in with friends and family to make sure everyone is doing okay. If you or someone you know is struggling, remember you can call or text 1737 at any time for support from a trained counsellor. On a positive note, I am immensely proud of the positive ways in which our Orakei Ward community have been working together to create joke stations, fairy cities (no housing crisis for fairies!), chalk messages, flower frames, spoon and fork villages and window displays bringing a smile to many. Thank you.

Last weekend’s Super Saturday was a great success, with 40,946 Aucklanders getting either their first or second dose. That means 89% of Aucklanders have now had their first dose, and 71% are fully vaccinated. I put up the weekly Orakei Ward suburb statistics on my Facebook page and will update these tomorrow. So far, we have among the highest vaccination rates in Auckland. This is a great effort, but we need to keep going. Please talk to people about why you got the vaccine and share reliable information. No bookings are needed at vaccination centres, and many of our local GPs and pharmacies are also doing vaccinations. The more people we get fully vaccinated, the safer we’ll all be and the sooner we can get out of lockdown. I am proud to say I have been fully vaccinated for some time and all your Orakei Local Board members are fully vaccinated too.

These lockdowns affect people and businesses, socially, emotionally, and financially in many different ways. They affect Council and our finances too. Yesterday I wrote an opinion piece for the Herald, Auckland Council balancing books in an unpredictable pandemic. In case you are not a premium subscriber, you can read it on my website. Happy to answer any questions around this if you would like.

As you’re probably aware, our playgrounds, skateparks and basketball courts have all reopened across the region, and it’s been great to see people make the most of our great facilities. Just a reminder however to keep your distance and wear a mask to keep everyone safe. Some playgrounds (fortunately none locally) have been listed as locations of interest this past week, so it pays to stay cautious.

With ‘picnicking’ being very popular especially with the weather as good as it has been, more public toilets have also opened. The full list is available here. If you were in Mission Bay over the weekend, you may have noticed that there were some issues with the public toilets in Selwyn Domain and they had to be closed. Nappies, disposable facemasks, sticks and sand are not to be flushed as they cause blockages. With Selwyn Reserve being so popular to ‘picnic on’, having to close toilets due to blockages is a serious issue and results in causing a whole new set of problems when people cannot access toilets when they need them. We understand the important need for toilet access and will be providing port-a-loos if these new toilets need to close again if they are blocked.

I’ve also had some queries regarding the community tennis courts at Selwyn College. The school is taking a cautious approach and the courts are not officially open for use. They will reopen when school returns (let’s hope that’s very soon!).

In non-COVID news, I’m still hearing from a lot of people about their concerns regarding the proposed Three Waters reform. Having submitted our feedback on the proposal last month, we are currently waiting for feedback to be collated and for Cabinet to make decisions later this month as to next steps. I will keep you updated as more detail becomes available, but again you are welcome to read my take on the proposed reforms here.

Lastly, something fun to do. The Songbird Project Bird Monitoring Campaign is taking place from 16 to 31 October. They are asking people to do a 5-minute bird count on any day in this period, as close as possible to 9am. This will help them to know if they are succeeding in their mission to bring back the birds and will help with planning and funding going forward. Visit the Songbird Project website for more information, and to download your bird ID guide, instruction sheet and recording form. Enjoy getting outside with your bubble, make the most of the sunshine, and contribute to a great cause.

Finally, it’s more important than ever that we stay cautious, support our local businesses, and if you haven’t already, please get vaccinated!

As always, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Desley

Auckland Council planning for an unknown future

For many organisations, looking back at the books from the past financial year has them bracing for impact. Auckland Council was no different. Council should be able to demonstrate to ratepayers we are always striving for greater efficiencies and prove tangible improvements to our service delivery every year. In light of a once in a generation drought and a global pandemic, one may have expected our recent Annual Report to be full of bad news, but it wasn’t.

In our Annual Report 2020/2021, the council delivered more for Aucklanders and saved the most money we ever have. The council reported a $2.5 billion infrastructure investment, just $110 million short of its biggest spend ever. We delivered $1.1 billion in developing Auckland’s roads and public transport assets and $195 million on new water sources - delivering an extra 90 million litres per day to support our regions recovery from the drought. Home to around 1.7 million people, investments like this are necessary to support Auckland’s growing population. Infrastructure is the most crucial asset to support this growth, but also, the most expensive.

Sitting alongside this near-record capital investment, was delivery on an absolute record level of savings.  Council has never set a savings target anywhere near $120 million yet achieved and exceeded that, delivering over $126m in just one year. To put this in context, this is greater than the rates collected last year from any one of 17 out of our 21 local board areas. These savings were made possible through a variety of means including hard won efficiencies in professional services and outsourcing work where possible.  The council, and all but two of our CCOs, reduced staff numbers and kept core operating costs $50 million below the previous year. In essence we delivered more for less.

However, council’s finances do not exist in a vacuum. In some ways our books can be seen as a reflection of the health of the regional economy. In the early stages of recovery, Auckland’s economy fared better than many predicted. Increased demand for property gave us revenue from property development activities. Infrastructure growth charges, development contributions and consenting revenue exceeded the emergency budget by a total of $270 million.

As we move into our next recovery phase, many of the challenges we were preparing for with our Emergency Budget sadly remain. Border closures and COVID-19 lockdowns continue to see fee revenue from events, shows and festivals severely impacted and revenue from our cultural venues and community facilities such as the zoo, art gallery, pools and libraries have all been closed for extended periods. Public transport patronage remains extremely low, well below pre-COVID-19 levels and time can only tell how quickly Aucklanders will jump back on buses, ferries and trains once we start opening back up.

One could be forgiven for originally thinking 2020 was an isolated, tough battle. In reality 2021, for many organisations, has rivalled 2020 for its challenges and major uncertainty beyond this point remains. The emergence of new virus variants, the longest ever COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown, continued border restrictions, skill shortages and challenges with importing infrastructure materials mean we must stay vigilant to future risks and maintain our ability to adapt.

Looking forward, the council and government must work together to support the city through the mounting economic and social costs of lockdowns as we work towards higher vaccination rates. The gradual lifting of level 3 restrictions will do wonders for the mental health of some but we know that for many Aucklanders, feelings of hopelessness are driven by the rapidly reducing viability of their businesses in these conditions. It’s our job to support businesses in surviving this season so they can thrive in the next. For as they grow, so does Auckland’s economy. We must provide the services that Aucklanders need in the most efficient way, to provide a solid platform for recovery.

The council has achieved savings in the ‘easy’ areas, and in some of the more challenging areas too. We continue to seek efficiencies and have locked in a further $90 million of ongoing savings each year for the next ten years. I want Aucklanders to have assurance that the resilience the council achieved with the Emergency Budget has paid off. Our COVID-19 impacts are deep, wide and ongoing so this may well be our most difficult phase yet.

Newsletter - 7th October

I hope the slight easing of restrictions has given your bubble a bit of a respite this week. It’s been a long seven weeks, and the small things can make a big difference at this stage, especially during the school holidays! I’ve had many queries over the past few days regarding the new rules, so wanted to provide a brief outline of the changes and the impact on council facilities.

Libraries and pools remain closed, but staff will be opening additional public toilets in places where people are most likely to gather over the coming days. The full updated list is available here. Picnic tables in our parks and open spaces are available for use, and playgrounds are definitely all open. Whilst guidelines now allow for this, there are some concerns about the ability to maintain the ten-person bubble rule, so please keep a close eye on your little ones and try and make sure they are keeping a safe distance from others. Pump tracks, basketball courts, and skate parks are also open, which should help further with school holiday recreation. Boat ramps are also open, and outdoor recreation activities like sailing, fishing and jetskiing are all now permitted. We still encourage you to walk your dog on a leash and the coned off areas for cyclists on Tamaki Drive will remain in place until Level 2, giving pedestrians more room on the footpath to assist with social distancing. It’s likely to be busy out there this weekend, so please do what you can to make sure you keep safe.

The school holidays are a great opportunity to make sure that everyone in your bubble (12 or over) is vaccinated. As of 5 October, 54% of Aucklanders are fully vaccinated, and a further 31% have had their first dose. This is great progress, but we need to keep going. 15% of Aucklanders are yet to receive their first dose. The Ministry of Health have advised that you can get your second dose three weeks after your first. If you have been waiting for your second dose, please have a look at moving your second appointment forward or visit one of our amazing local pharmacies doing walk-ins.

I also want to provide a brief update following the protest at Auckland Domain last Sunday. The Domain is in the Orakei Ward, and I want to clarify the following:

-          As the landowner of the Auckland Domain grounds, Auckland Council did not permit, endorse or support the gathering organized by the Freedom and Rights Coalition on Saturday 2 October

-          We wrote to the organisers and made our position on this clear

-          While the council legally must respect people’s right to peaceful protest, we had serious concerns that the gathering may result in the spread of COVID-19 and risk the health of Aucklanders

-          Outlined in the letter was our expectations around the Cenotaph and the Court of Honour in front of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. As consecrated ground this area was not to be used. It appears from reports that those requests were ignored.

-          We also made it clear that any damage to the entire Domain site as a result of the event would not be tolerated. Thankfully, none has been reported.

-          The Council was in touch with the Police prior to the event and will continue to support them with any enforcement action taken as a result of the event. You will have seen in the news that two people will appear in the Auckland District Court on charges which relate to breaching the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 and Alert Level 3 Order.  

In other local non-COVID news, you may have spotted our contractors hard at work at Dingle Dell Reserve in St Heliers. A Dingle Road public stormwater upgrade is being delivered in coordination with the McArthur Stream stabilization project, which will reduce prolonged disruption to residents and the community, reduce the environmental impacts, and will be more cost efficient. The McArthur Stream project will stabilize steep stream banks along the watercourse and retaining walls to provide erosion protection for fences, walls and driveways that have potential to fall into the channel. This will reduce the risk of flooding to neighboring properties. The stormwater project at Dingle Road involves the installation of new stormwater pipes to improve the current flooding issues between 25-27 Woodside Crescent and 32-26 Dingle Road. The projects will temporarily occupy the site compound at the edge of Dingle Dell Reserve for no more than five months. 

Finally, please keep checking in with friends and family to make sure everyone is doing okay, support our local businesses whenever you can, and stay safe.

As always, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Desley

Newsletter - 30th September

After 44 days in lockdown, I hope this finds you still coping in your bubbles. No doubt like you, I’m waiting with bated breath to see what will be decided on Monday regarding Auckland Covid levels. While we all wish to keep safe, I do feel for business during this time as so many have been significantly impacted in different ways. I’m hoping for a shift to Alert Level 2 if it’s possible to do so safely.

If there has been one silver lining from these very challenging past 18 months, it has been our recent end of year results. On Tuesday this week, Auckland Council released its Annual Report to the New Zealand stock exchange. It showed an unprecedented level of savings ($126.4 million against our savings target of $120 million), a huge level of capital investment in infrastructure ($2.5 billion which is just $110 million short of our highest ever spend), and an operating budget some $50 million down on the past year. It also showed a reduction of staff across the board in all but two of our CCOs, Watercare and Auckland Transport. The Watercare increase was associated with delivering $1 billion of new water infrastructure, and AT in delivering $1.1 billion in new roads and public transport.

This was all wrapped up with us achieving debt at 17% of the value of our assets – a decrease of 1% compared to the prior year (even though we had a moderate increase in net borrowings) and a credit rating of AA and Aa2 with S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investor Services respectively. It is worth noting that the Council has one of the highest credit ratings in New Zealand.

In summary, we have done what we said we would do, became more efficient and delivered more for less. If you want to read all this in more detail the full report is available on the Auckland Council website

In other news, I know that the government’s proposed Three Waters Reform is receiving a lot of media coverage and continues to be front of mind for a lot of people. I have had countless emails expressing serious concern around the government’s direction on this. I absolutely share those concerns and to be clear, I DO NOT support the government’s direction on Three Waters.

It’s important to note that we haven’t been asked to make an opt-in or opt-out decision at this stage. Councils are currently only being asked for initial feedback on the government’s proposal, to identify areas of concern and suggest ways to improve what has been proposed. Unfortunately, we have not been given a ‘status quo’ option, as a water regulator has already been established.

As part of Auckland Council’s formal INITIAL feedback, on Thursday September 23 we agreed in principle with the outcomes being sought nationally in terms of economies of scale, alternative funding arrangements, and the introduction of an economic regulator. We did not agree with the governance structure.

I am very concerned that the Minister may mandate this, so was keen to keep our discussion going with central government on important issues such as representation from and on behalf of mana whenua.

It is important for you to know that I am absolutely committed to asking Aucklanders for their views on the final Three Waters Reform proposal. To that end, I asked the mayor to amend the draft recommendations at our Governing Body meeting last week to reflect that, and he did. Consultation has come through as a major theme in a lot of the feedback I have received. I really feel very strongly that, given the implications of this reform, we must give our communities an opportunity to have their say. You can read more about my views on this, and decisions made to date here. I’ll keep you posted as to next steps.

Finally, I’m excited to share that our next major regionally funded environmental project has started in Portland Reserve in Remuera. This project was delayed due to COVID, but works have now commenced. The flood-prone stream is being desilted, a new stormwater pipe will be added to the end of Standen Ave, and 15,000 native plants will significantly improve the ecology of the area. In addition, we are planting 26 feature trees to replace the willows which are nearing their end of life and are now regularly taking down power lines when storms come through. Instead of removing the stream silt to landfill as usual, we will be using it to create a land feature in Waitaramoa Reserve, complete with a path and some educational material about the area and local climate matters 💚

As we enter our seventh week in lockdown, I know people are really feeling the impact. Be sure to look out for your bubble’s wellbeing, get out for some fresh air when you can, and please continue to support our local businesses during what is hopefully our last week at Level 3.

Be safe, stay cautious, and let’s support local.

Desley