Media Releases

June 2004

30 June

Older adults housing to be upgraded

Waitakere City Council’s 335 Housing for Older Adults units are being reassessed prior to the launch of a programme of upgrading and renewal.

A start has been made at the Kaumatua Village at Te Atatu Peninsula and follows extensive work carried out at Wilsher Village earlier in the year.

Arrangements are being made to survey the balance of all the City’s 12 villages to clarify what improvements are needed. Once the reports are received, they will be compiled into an overall asset management system to upgrade the villages progressively.

“It has taken a long time to get some action on these villages. Once we are clear about the overall programme of works, then we can start looking at individual villages and then at each unit,” says Councillor Brenda Brady.

The Council is exploring the possibility of part-funding the cost of renewal, from a central government fund. This provides up to $30,000 per unit, on a case-by-case basis, provided certain conditions are fulfilled.

“It is expected that any renewal costs paid by the council will ultimately be met through depreciation. That way we can start planning improved retirement facilities for the future on a village by village basis, rather than on an ad hoc basis.”

Resident Louis Bollond with Councillor Brenda Brady

Resident Louis Bollond (76) has lived at the Kaumatua Village for 17 years, agrees. A former construction foreman, he says he is happy with the renovations. So, too, is resident of five years, David Taylor, a singer-conductor who lives in a concrete unit at Kaumatua. “It’s really handy. I have everything I need here.” Councillor Brady has been talking with residents to get a first hand view of the overall situation at the Council’s villages.

“We need to discuss options. For example, the people living at Kaumatua enjoy living within easy walking distance of Te Atatu shops, so the location is good but the units are more than a little tired,” says Councillor Brady.

30 June

New Settlers’ Guide provides pathways to new life

A guide for new migrants and refugees settling in Waitakere City will be launched on 16 July 2004 at the Wellbeing Summit.

Called New Settlers’ Guide – Waitakere 2004, the guide is being published by Waitakere Library and Information Services to meet the needs of newcomers to New Zealand by bringing together Waitakere-specific information into one easily accessible package.

Many aspects of everyday life are covered by the Guide, including a section on the top 10 things new settlers usually need to do first such as renting or buying a home, finding a school and a family doctor, applying for an IRD number, and obtaining a driver’s licence and accessing insurance.

Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey says the City’s mission is to provide pathways for newcomers to ease into a settled way of life.

“Moving to a new country is one of the biggest changes anyone can possibly make… we aim to be one of the most welcoming cities in New Zealand for people taking that massive step of shifting countries,” says Mayor Harvey.

The Guide was compiled with input from a range of service providers, as part of Waitakere City Council’s commitment to the Wellbeing Collaboration Strategy goal that every new migrant and refugee settles successfully in Waitakere City.

“The guide is designed to help migrants through the main three stages of transition, from the initial impact of arriving in a new country, through the in-between ‘letting go’ phase to new positive beginnings,” says Councillor Annette Fenton. “It is part of our New Out West strategy where Every New Migrant Settles Successfully in Waitakere.”

The New Settlers’ Guide can be used by ESOL teachers to supplement formal text books as new settlers can learn English using information that is relevant to their local situation.

29 June

Project Twin Streams storms ahead

 

Students get instructions on how to plant properly

Rutherford High School students helped plant 400 toetoe and carex plants on the Pixie Stream riverbank this week for Project Twin Streams, in association with the Waitakere City Council. The students achieved this in just over an hour along 20m of riverbank on the boundary of Rutherford High School and Jack Colvin Park. A Project Twin Streams initiative, the planting is one of three that has successfully planted over 1400 native plants since May this year. Planting riverbanks such as this one helps clean the water, reduce flooding and stabilise stream banks. Science teacher Vivienne McCracken says, “It is a good way to teach pupils that if each person does their own bit it makes a huge amount of difference.

It’s about a completely integrated storm water, stream bed and planting project that will help to improve the environment drastically and teach our students important lessons at the same time,” she says. Students tested water levels, measured the riverbank and learnt about streams before they started planting. Christine Henley, a project co-ordinator for Project Twin Streams, enjoys working with students who are so motivated. “The students will get a lot of personal satisfaction from the project, especially as many of them come through the area to go to school,” says Ms Henley.

29 June

"Sweetheart deals" are a smokescreen

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says critics alleging any “sweetheart deals” at any new commercial airport developed at Whenuapai are nonsense, and they should butt out and allow the Government’s processes to take their course.

"There are no ‘sweetheart deals’ between us and Pacific Blue, and no ‘sweetheart deals’ between us and the Government," said Mr Harvey.

"Certainly there is now widespread support for the concept of a commercial airport at Whenuapai, but critics are getting way ahead of themselves by alleging “sweetheart deals” might be done.

“We have consistently and publicly stated that any future airport operator, or any future Whenuapai airport land owner, should expect to pay a fair price. We have consistently and publicly said that the airport option is the one that will produce the greatest economic value both for Auckland and for the Government, and is the only option to mitigate the over $200 million loss to the economy of Waitakere City.

"Commercially interested parties want to sabotage Whenuapai as a good idea for New Zealand by pecking it to death, but there’s a point in every project like this where you stand up and say – ‘Butt out. The national and regional good should prevail’, there will be a fair process, and there will be fair value.”

“Now that the Auckland region has demonstrated that the commercial airport option is the one that fits the Crown’s own criteria best, central government can make a clear decision and then move to address its value along with all other issues. Government process can deliver an outcome which includes Government receiving a fair value for the airport land if they approve the airport option -- an option which would enable commercial flights to be developed at the same time as Air Force operations are winding down..

“Talk of sweetheart deals, in fact any deals at all, is premature.”

“What we are looking for is a prompt decision out of Government on the principle of the commercial airport, and then to move ahead to address the land value and all of the other issues which need to be resolved before commercial flights can begin.”

28 June

Waitakere helps to buy conservation island

Waitakere City Council will contribute $37,273 to the purchase of Kaikoura Island in the Hauraki Gulf, joining five other councils in the Auckland area to help bring the island into public ownership.

The figure was agreed during the Council’s Annual Plan deliberations.

Last month, the 564 ha island was bought by the Government for $10.5m, with help from the ASB Trusts, to save it from falling into foreign hands.

The Auckland Regional Council contributed $250,000 and a further $250,000 is being shared by the region’s city and district councils: Auckland, $82,817; Manukau $63,346, North Shore $41,027, Papakura $8,808, Rodney $16,729.

Each council’s share is worked out on a population basis.

Waitakere’s contribution to the island will come from savings made during this financial year: there will be no impact on rates from July 1.

Its future now assured as a wildlife sanctuary and educational facility, the island will be a home for endangered species struggling to survive on nearby Great Barrier Island.

Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Council’s City Development Committee Carolynne Stone says that the island is a magnificent asset for the people of Waitakere and the greater Auckland region.

“Waitakere is part of a national and regionally-funded initiative to provide an opportunity to create a sanctuary, and an educational facility for the City’s youth to experience the wilderness,” she says.

Kaikoura Island, the seventh largest in the Hauraki Gulf, will undergo similar pest eradication programmes to those used on the hugely successful conservation island Tiritiri Matangi.

23 June

Regional support means it's time for action on Whenuapai

It is now time for action to get commercial flights in and out of Whenuapai as soon as possible.

Bryan Mogridge, who heads Waitakere City’s Mayoral Taskforce on the future of the airbase, says that the regional report (released today), which concludes that it should be retained for airport use, is the only logical outcome.

He says the City, which has entered into an agreement with airport operator Infratil to develop the facility if it becomes available, is now ready to work with the government to make the project a reality.

“We have had two years of discussion, expert reports, public consultation and debate. At every turn the airport option is the only logical outcome and this latest report, again, comes to that conclusion. The aviation industry is notoriously fickle and the longer that this drags on the less viable it might become. So the time to move forward is now. ”

Mr Mogridge says that in the two years since the government announced it would shift RNZAF operations to Ohakea, discussion and research had demonstrated a number of key points

• The joint officials group drawn from the region's councils had concluded that a second commercial airport at Waitakere is the only option in line with national, regional objectives and strategies, and could contribute a range of benefits to the region.
• Commercialisation of the base would go long way towards mitigating some $250 million a year lost from the Waitakere City economy as a result of the RNZAF leaving.
• An airport operation at Whenuapai compliments newly established ferry services from West Harbour to Auckland’s CBD which in turn maximizes both public and private investment in areas such as Westhaven and the Viaduct.
• There is substantial support for the concept of a commercial airport from various Auckland councils (including North Shore and Rodney), their business development agencies, business generally, Civil Defense and the public.
• A commercial airport at Whenuapai should be progressed swiftly, while airlines are keen to discuss their participation. There is potential for major wealth and job creation in the region’s north-west, providing a boost to local tourism, and greatly improved access to a commercial airport for more than half of the region's population.
• Regional transport benefits have been calculated at $341 million.
• There would be only a very minor impact on Auckland International Airport’s monopoly operation at Mangere.

Mr Mogridge acknowledged the concerns of local residents about potential noise, but says these would be addressed through resource consents applications which would be required before commercial flights could commence.

“We have had two years of talk. We need to engage now in the commercial discussions and negotiations needed to get this airport up and running as soon as possible.

The consequence of further delays could be that a valuable piece of infrastructure, with the potential to produce so many favourable outcomes, ends up simply rotting away over the next decade.”

“Everyone in the region will be a loser if that happens. The time for action is now.”

22 June

Annual Plan adopted

Waitakere City Council today adopted its annual budget and work programme for the 2004/2005 financial year.
 
After a month of submissions, hearings and debate, City Councillors cut a proposed 3.97% rates increase to 2.97% or 75 cents a week. The Annual Plan for 2004/2005 is based on Year 2 of the Council’s Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) which outlined the priorities for growth and development for 10 years ahead.

Waitakere received over 450 submissions on its Annual Plan and changes to the LTCCP. That number is generally in line with previous years. Many of the submissions resulted in substantial changes to the draft plan.

Features of the budget for next year include:

• An additional $380,000 for footpaths and kerbing and channelling in Glengarry Rd, Glen Eden.
• Major expenditure on new library books ($1.113 million).
• $16.5 million on new stormwater infrastructure.
• $70,000 for new parking area in Green Bay.
• $84,000 to trial extended council services at the Massey Library ( bill payments, information on other Council services etc).
• $170,000 has been allocated for initiatives aimed at attracting new businesses into the City.
• The Council will not allocate any funds towards a proposed marae for local iwi (note: there was no money in the draft Annual Plan, but this was highlighted as an issue for consultation)
• The Playhouse Theatre in Glen Eden and the Lopdell House art gallery in Titirangi each receive $25,000 extra to cover staff costs.
• $30.467 million on new roads, footpaths and repairs
• $7.85 million on parks (paths, drainage, toilets etc).
• $45,000 to Surf Life Saving New Zealand so that it can continue patrols on the west coast. That is a $5000 increase on the current year.
• The Uniform Annual General Charge (which all properties pay), remains the same at $460.

The Council will collect $92.6 million in rates for 2004/05.
Meanwhile, during the deliberations, the Council decided to contribute its regionally agreed sum towards the purchase of Kaikoura Island in the Hauraki Gulf. However Waitakere’s share ($37,273) will be paid for out of savings in the current financial year, and will therefore have no impact on rates.
Councillor Janet Clews is chair of the special committee which reviewed the budget.

She says the end result is a “good mix” of traditional infrastructure spending and support for community groups.

“The simple fact is that we can’t afford to do everything we would like or that the community asks for,” she says. “But once again we have delivered one of the lowest rates rises in the Auckland area, and the work programme will continue to see the City grow and flourish.”

Mrs Clews says that compared with single service providers such as electricity and telecommunications companies, Councils deliver a much broader range of services. “We provide everything from roads and footpaths to community events, parks, libraries, animal control, rubbish disposal and so on. And all at a much lower cost than those other utilities.”

“In fact, there aren’t too many large organisations in the country that can say they’ve kept their costs to around the rate of inflation in the past year.”

Waitakere’s 2.97% increase compares well with others in the Auckland region. North Shore City has confirmed an increase of 4.6% and in Rodney rates will rise 3.4%.

This translates to an increase of just 75 cents per week, or $39 a year (from $1,367 to $1,406), on a property worth the Waitakere City average of $90,000.
The Council also adopted the Policy on Remissions and Postponement of Rates; Revenue and Financing Policy and the Development Contributions Policy as amendments to the LTCCP.

18 June

City’s P-procedures praised by Institute

Waitakere City Council’s procedure for dealing with houses contaminated by P (or Clan) laboratories has been praised by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand as a model for others to follow.
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Institute Vice-President Howard Morley says that the methods used by Waitakere City Council should be adopted as a model by other councils around New Zealand.

The Council has an understanding with the Police that they will be informed when there are P busts, after which a cleansing order (under the Health Act) is placed on the property and a note attached to the property’s LIM report that the property is possibly contaminated.

Mr Morley says Waitakere’s system will help protect innocent house buyers and tenants.

“I would want to know if I was buying a house in Waitakere tomorrow that it wasn’t contaminated by P.  Cleansing a house from P isn’t a matter of just wiping down the benches. I think Waitakere is doing a great job of getting this into the open, their co-operation with the police and making sure the houses are cleaned up properly,” says Mr Morley.

Waitakere City has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the police to foster even better co-operation to beat crime and anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Penny Hulse says a by-product of the memorandum of understanding is an undertaking from the Police that they will inform the Council whenever a lab has been busted or detected.

“This ensures that we are notified about suspect premises,” she says.

The Council requires the owners of houses found to be contaminated to have the property cleaned by an approved contractor and then provide scientific analysis from an approved laboratory that there is no residual threat to public health.

40 Council field staff have undergone intense training in how to detect P labs.

18 June

Regional funding for major projects

Waitakere City’s planned transport hub has been offered a grant of $9.5m from Infrastructure Auckland (IA).

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey is delighted with the decision and says that it shows real commitment by IA to address the transport woes of Auckland.

Waitakere City and Auckland Regional Transport Network Limited (ARTNL) jointly applied for the funding. The total granted includes $4.6m for a new railway and bus station, and $4.9m for associated track work, signalling and bridging of Henderson Valley Road.

“Henderson is the hub of the Western Line and developing it into a first class transport centre will see the whole town centre take off.”

“This is the kick start that Henderson has been waiting years for,” says Mayor Harvey.

“Rail passenger numbers are already way up and this development will make travelling by train or bus so much easier and comfortable. That in turn means less cars on our already congested roads.”

Mr Harvey adds that Waitakere City Council and other organisations such as the Auckland Regional Council and ARTNL have spent many months planning the development and preparing the funding application and that the grant is the “starting gun” which means the project can now begin in earnest.

In addition to the grant for the railways project, IA has offered the City a further grant of $5.2m for 16 kilometres of two metre wide walkways/cycleways along the banks of the Oratia, Waikumete and Opanuku streams to Henderson City.

17 June

Property Council praises Waitakere’s economic efforts

Waitakere City Council’s focus on nurturing a strong economy has been endorsed by the Property Council of New Zealand.

The Property Council supports Waitakere’s comprehensive draft Economic Development Strategy which seeks to support the growth of existing and new businesses.

In its submission to the Draft Annual Plan 2004/2005, the Property Council singled out for praise objectives in the Economic Development Strategy, in particular, Waitakere City Council’s town centre revitalisation strategy and other initiatives and the recognition that regulatory processes can unnecessarily impede business.

The Property Council of New Zealand is a not for profit organisation representing all forms of commercial property and property investment.

The report noted that Waitakere’s performance measures are “generally robust” and that the Property Council is “pleased” that Waitakere’s rates are to be less than was forecast in the 2004/2005 LTCCP, “because of efficiencies, timing of capital expenditure projects and stringent costs control”.

The Draft Annual Plan submission hearings end tomorrow (Friday 18 June) and deliberations will continue until 29 June.

The 2004/2005 Annual Plan will be adopted by 30 June.

16 June

New park emerges at Te Atatu

The fences are coming down at the 80 hectare Harbourview-Orangihina development as work continues on the new park on the Te Atatu foreshore reserve.

In the next few weeks, the fences along Te Atatu Rd will be taken down and the area cleared and mown, as part of the opening up of a large area in the centre of the park in readiness for full public access.

A kilometre long walkway is the latest addition to the network of pathways and boardwalks traversing the Harbourview-Orangihina parkland. The two metre wide path will open up the entire length of Harbourview-Orangihina to the public and also allows wheelchairs access.

The new pathway will bring to 2.3 km the pathways through the parkland.

Four bridges will intercept the new pathway, and the bridge railings are being specifically designed, in conjunction with park fences and picnic tables, to give the area a unique flavour.

“The aim is to create a park which retains natural open character for the enjoyment of the people of Waitakere,” says Chair of the City Development Committee Carolynne Stone.

“The Council has looked closely at a range of issues within the ecological, archaeological and cultural heritage boundaries to create a gateway entrance to Waitakere City that balances the needs of people while respecting the environment.”

Stage one of the development provided a road to the park from the Gloria Avenue roundabout, a small carpark area to access the existing path network and some planting.
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A long term planting and weed control programme is still being finalised for the development’s future stages. Around 5000 plants are being planted this month.

Work on stages three and four will include another roundabout, more boardwalks, new seating and planting. A series of initiatives will be progressed over the next financial year, which includes investigating options for a wetland project, community involvement and erosion control of the Auckland Brick and Tile Company site.

Draft Conservation Plans for the old Auckland Brick and Tile Company site and the Te Atatu Heavy Anti Aircraft Gun Emplacement plans are currently open for submission, until 30 July.

16 June

Power of nature in sculptures

 

Mayor Harvey, artist Peter Brierly-Millman and New Lynn Councillor Derek Battersby

Members of the City’s arts community gathered for the unveiling of five massive swamp kauri sculptures. As heavy rain turned the outdoor venue into a swamp, more than one guest, including Mayor Bob Harvey, said the rain was a good omen. “We have a terrific arts community who create all these creative things that happen out here. This is a really Westie day,” says Mayor Harvey. The 12 tonne sculptures (worth a total of $1m), in the shape of couches and chairs, were initially carved by chainsaws and later buffed to a dark gold and shipped to a buyer in Texas. Lead artist Peter Brierly-Millman described the sculptures as “ambassadors of peace which we are sending to Texas. They’re about the power of nature… how nature will look after you, if we look after her.”

15 June

Worst flood houses could be purchased within three months

Flood-prone Henderson Valley residents could have sold their homes to the Waitakere City Council and be resettled within three months.

That was the assurance given tonight, to a meeting between residents and the Council, to discuss flooding issues in the area.

“It is a flood plain and people bought there knowing that, but the Council buying the properties now will help us with our long-term city wide plans for managing storm-water. As a result there is a willing seller and willing buyer situation,” says Councillor Penny Hulse, who chaired the meeting.

“There is also no question and there never has been, but that property owners will get a fair price. We have stated that from the outset and indeed this council has bought a number of properties on that basis in the past, so our track record is very good,” she says.

Councillor Hulse said the Council had been speaking with residents since the floods of May 1 and would now spend the next several weeks meeting with them again. To prioritise the worst affected houses and begin the purchase process.

“We are concerned first and foremost, with those families who have health and safety issues. If there are no obstacles we could complete purchases within as little as three months,” she says.

Councillor Hulse said that the Council would deal with all affected properties owners individually to get the best outcome for each one.

“Some will want to sell, some will want to have their houses raised. And some will want neither of those things but they will want to see us do everything in our power to reduce the impacts in the event of even bigger floods than we have seen to date.”

Councillor Hulse says that there has been a change in the rainfall patterns in recent years. There was about same amount of rain as in the past, but at times it has been in more concentrated downpours.

“We’re getting tropical storm systems on a regular basis now and although they are still not very severe, we can expect the trend to increase with global warming,” she says.

The Council’s new sustainable engineering manager, Garry Peters, outlined the causes of the problems as being heavy rain falling high on the very steep slopes of the Waitakere Ranges. He said subdivision has no material affect.

He described a range of engineering options that the Council was exploring to help channel extreme floodwaters in the future.

“It was a very positive meeting. The residents were constructive and their knowledge is extremely helpful because it allows us to approach the issues together. I think that as a result most people probably went away pretty satisfied,” Councillor Hulse says.

15 June

Council car park charging trial in Henderson

Three Waitakere City Council car parks in Henderson are the subjects of a Pay and Display trial, starting soon.

The car parks will be upgraded and provided with extra security measures, patrols, lighting and landscaping to create safer places for people to park.

The trial is part of a sustainable approach to traffic management to start getting people to contribute to the real cost of driving and parking in the town centre and to relieve traffic congestion.

The three car parks in the trial are Falls Park (148 spaces), Corban Hill (57 spaces) and the north end of the Alderman Drive/Edmonton Rd car park (71 parks). There will be a flat fee of $3 for all day parking from 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and to 9pm on Fridays. Sundays and all other times are free.

“The Council needs to find the best way to set the right market conditions and test how charging affects travel behaviour. We have to consider new ways of thinking about parking to encourage more development,” says Chair of the Finance and Operational Committee Councillor Janet Clews.

“Charge car parking by Councils is a strategy which can create an environment where the private sector can supply parking services. Charging for car parks on the town centre periphery (normally used by workers) leaves the inner core available for short term parking by shoppers,” says Mrs Clews.

The charge car parking trial will be managed by a private operator, Care Park New Zealand Ltd, for up to two years.

The car parking initiative is part of a Council strategy to create a more liveable city for the future, by managing demand for parking and creating opportunities for development. The greatest impact is likely to be on all day parkers who up till now have not paid for parking in Henderson. However the charge compares favourably with those in other city centres and offsetting the charges is the benefit of increased security and access to the car parks.

11 June

Waitakere Mayor and carver combine talent

“It’s the Maori creation myth mixed with contemporary global music told in a local Waitakere setting.”

That is how Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey describes Nga Tangi Tawhito, an event being performed at Lopdell House Gallery in Titirangi as part of the local Matariki or Maori New Year celebrations.

Mayor Harvey and renown local Maori Carver Rewi Spraggon have combined their talents to co-produce Nga Tangi Tawhito, a rhythmic sound journey of global harmonic convergence. With the performance at Titirangi’s Lopdell House, Nga Tangi Tawhito is part of a line-up of events being held to promote local Maori artists during Matariki celebrations.

Inspired by local history, Nga Tangi Tawhito charts the chronological development of Aotearoa to the multi-cultural environment that is New Zealand today. The event is supported by a range of local musicians performing instruments from around the world.

“We are telling the birth story of rhythm and sound to the world,” says Mayor Harvey who will be both Master of Ceremonies and drum player.”

“Matariki is a time for new beginnings and this event showcases local musicians working together with local Maori to tell the story of where we have come from and who we are as people today.”

From the parting of Ranginui – sky father and Papatuanuku – earth mother, the sounds of Aotearoa seize the listener in a magical audio-visual experience. Beginning with the Maori myth of creation, the haunting sound of the hue – gourd, and the iridescent mist of the Waitakere Ranges introduce the audience to an Aotearoa devoid of people. Te Ao Marama – the world of light is welcomed by the eerie sound of the Putorino – traditional Maori conch. As new people came to Aotearoa, so too did the range of sounds. This is reflected by an eclectic range of instruments within the programme line up.

“It’s about Waitakere artists working together to come up with an event like no other. From the Porotiti to Indian Sitar and Didgeridoo, this is a creative sound masterpiece which will knock your socks off,” enthuses Mayor Harvey.

11 June

Taste of fine art for Waitakere

 

Xiao Sun at the opening of his exhibition	Chinese tigers and New Zealand landscapes are part of the first personal exhibition of renowned artist Xiao Sun from Yingkou, China. The special opening held yesterday at the Waitakere City Council was attended by more than fifty members of the local Chinese community across the Auckland region. Xiao Sun has displayed his works before as part of a group, but this is his first personal exhibition. He is most renowned for his delicate paintings of tigers and use of calligraphy in his work and has studied painting since the age of six. The artworks are for sale but Mr Sun says that bringing the Chinese painting culture to New Zealand is more important than selling his work.   His favourite paintings of the exhibition are his New Zealand ocean landscapes. He is inspired by this feature and has done several paintings around it.
	In attendance were the Vice Presidents of both the New Zealand Jing Yuan Art Institute and the New Zealand Chinese Culture and Art Centre. Massey Community Board member Peter Chan helped organise the exhibition. “I am certain that he (Mr Sun) will draw inspiration from our beautiful Waitakere Ranges and beaches,” Mr Chan says. From here Mr Sun will head to China and Australia for further exhibitions.
		Example of the artwork Xiao Sun is renowned for

9 June

Street planting kicks off

Local residents will be out in force this month as part of Keep Waitakere Beautiful’s 2004 Community Street Tree Planting Programme.

Held in partnership with the City Council, community board meetings last week confirmed the dates as 26 June and 3, 10 and 17 July.

A local street co-ordinator will be appointed for each planting. As well as encouraging residents to plant the trees, they are also responsible for overseeing the long term care of the trees.

This is the eleventh year of the street tree planting programme. More than 3,600 trees have been planted throughout Waitakere and cared for by local residents.

June and July are chosen for the plantings as there is the most rainfall at this time, giving plants a higher survival rate.

The community planting days follow on from the hugely successful ‘Trees for Babies' days, which were held recently in local parks. That saw hundreds of people plant a tree in their local park, marking the birth of children born in the past 12 months.

8 June

Judo’s Harry O’Rourke adds MNZM to international awards from the sport

Waitakere City Council Chief Executive, Harry O’Rourke, has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Judo, of which he is New Zealand President and an internationally acknowledged administrator.

The Queen’s Birthday Honour comes just eight months after he received the International Judo Federation’s Silver Medal for services to the sport internationally.

Harry O’Rourke has been involved in Judo for most of his life. A black belt and a former instructor, he is current President of the New Zealand Judo Federation and architect of the successful bid to stage the 2004 Commonwealth Judo Championships in November, at Waitakere City’s soon-to-be-opened Trusts Stadium.

He helped found the Commonwealth Judo Association in 1984 and was integrally involved in developing and delivering the Judo programme for the XIVth Commonwealth Games in Auckland, in 1990.

Mr O’Rourke also served on the International Judo Federation’s Audit Committee for 15 years and last year retired from the executive of the Oceania Judo Union which he served for 26 years.

“Honoured as I am, awards like this are really a recognition of all the people who have worked on behalf of the sport. Without their support, my own contribution simply wouldn’t have been possible,” he says.

4 June

Community garden for Ranui

 

	Residents of a small neighbourhood in Ranui will be able to harvest their own fruits and vegetables with the creation of a community garden at Marinich Reserve.
	Massey Community Board approved the development at its latest meeting. At present the reserve is undeveloped grassland with a children’s playground near the road. A steering group from the local group Ranui Action Project, developed the idea of a garden, which would include vegetables, fruit, flowers and harvestable materials such as flax. A community garden group will be formed to manage the develop facilities such as a raised garden bed and a shed for tool storage. Board Chairman Bob Jessopp says, “This is another excellent idea from the Ranui Action Project and a great opportunity for local residents to work together. We wish the group every success with this “earth breaking” project and look forward to a network of community gardens across the city.”		Bob Jessopp, Jean Webster, Cr Nash, Gary Russell, Cr Hoskin and Peter Chan, consider the site for the proposed community garden site
	Other organisations supporting the project include the local Tongan Church and the Earthsong “eco village.” Aims include promoting vegetable and fruit growing and consumption as well empowering the community through training opportunities.

3 June

Come on: Be a Tidy Kiwi!

A campaign to combat the age-old problem of littering is being re-launched on June 8.

Running from June 8 to July 16, the “Be a Tidy Kiwi” campaign was originally created to stop littering in the 1970s.

The re-launch is part of a collaborative effort by six councils in the Auckland region. Illegal dumping and litter clean ups are expenses that are passed on to the ratepayer and in Waitakere it also affects the efforts to clean up our streams.

“With the huge amount of work we do cleaning up our waterways, it is a huge issue for us in Waitakere. The environmental impact on our waterways is much more than just looking untidy. Litter on the street can become litter in our waterways which has a flow-on effect,” Councillor Penny Hulse says.

Representatives will be on the streets and in commercial centres asking people about their littering habits, spreading the word about putting rubbish in the bin and handing out car litterbags.

3 June

Extension for Te Pai Skate Park

Massey Community Board last night approved the concept design for an extension of the Te Pai Skate Park.

The proposed extension will see the existing park almost double in size with up to 900 square metres added. This will make the facility one of the largest skate parks in the Auckland region.

The decision followed a 2003/2004 Annual Plan submission supported by over 100 signatures from Waitakere skaters.

Board Chairman Bob Jessopp says, “This facility is a response to a request by the youth of Waitakere City. We have the youngest population of any city in the country and providing facilities like this in a safe but exciting environment is important to the wellbeing of our youth.”

Further public consultation produced positive feedback on the existing facility as well as support for an extension. Comments included, “really enjoying the current facility and would appreciate an upgrade” and “this upgrade will keep skaters away from the streets and car parks in this area.”

Top New Zealand skater Chey Ataria was involved in the original design and this has been used as a starting point for further design development. The new park will include aspects of traditional skateboarding as well as new features such as a half pipe and low platforms, banks and rails.

Estimated cost for the extension is $210,000. The cost has been reduced be re-using some equipment from the existing Royal Reserve skate park.

Additional tree planting is planned to help the facility blend into the surrounding park and to provide shade. A wire mesh fence is also proposed to separate development from the neighbouring business operators as a result of consultation.

Also planned for the facility is 24 hour, 7 day flood lighting.

2 June

Waitakere plans to develop wealth of youth talent

The young people of Waitakere may soon be able to use their spare time to unleash their creative talents, using a range of facilities to be incorporated in the Youth Leisure Centre proposed for the city.

To be developed by a trust – possibly using the highly successful Trusts Stadium as a model – the centre will include spaces where young people can develop their talents in the arts including performing arts, especially music.

The Waitakere City Council Projects Special Committee, today set up a project advisory group, to take the proposal to its next stage. It is intended that the $10 million centre will be built in 2007 with a significant proportion of the cost to be met through fundraising and partnerships with the Council.

“This is something the Youth Council has been asking for, for 12 years and if we can make it happen, it will make the young people of Waitakere the envy of New Zealand. There will be nothing quite like it in the country,” says Councillor Ross Dallow, chairman of the Projects Special Committee and also of the Trusts Stadium development board.

Simon Bucknell, a member of the Youth Council and Head Boy at Waitakere College, agrees. “ This is a great idea and definitely the most exciting and hopefully rewarding proposals for the creative young people of the city, that we have ever seen.”

Councillor Dallow says that the centre will be about encouraging youngsters to grow and develop and to be mentored to achieve skills and lifestyles not presently available in Waitakere City.

“This is not intended to be drop-in centre for dead-beats and drop-outs. It is about giving the thousands of decent – and often very talented - youngsters in Waitakere, a place in which to develop their creative skills.

“We have a wealth of talent in this city and the Council has a clear role to ensure the city provides the means for our current youth and future generations to develop those skills,” he says.

“In principle, it’s not unlike the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts launched by Sir Paul McCartney. It is a place to nurture talent and we’d also like to see the film and recording industries in support, including by giving emerging talent an outlet. The aim would be to see the end products on our screens, in the record stores and on our stages, in future years,” says Councillor Dallow.

Councillors Dallow and Penny Hulse are on the project advisory group which will report back on a range of specifics including the financial commitments, the specifics of establishing the trust, fundraising strategy and any other issue that might arise.

2 June

Annual Plan hearings start on Friday

Hearings for the adoption of the Annual Plan 2004/2005 and amendments to the Long Term Community Plan start this Friday.

Since public submissions opened on 13 April, more than 420 people have written or emailed their opinions on a wide range of topics, such as public transport and traffic congestion, roads, walkways and footpaths, protection of the Waitakere Ranges and local streams, community facilities, and the development of the local economy.

The issue of land purchase for Te Kawerau a Maki accounts for the most submissions, with 57 and 46 for Rates and Financial Management. The biggest general issue is roading, with 43 submissions.

The number of submissions this year has dropped dramatically from last year’s total of 1940, which included 1500 on Water Funding and Privatisation of Services.

In conjunction with the Annual Plan process, submissions will be heard to proposed amendments of the Long Term Community Plan; a Statement of Proposal was followed by public consultation between 30 April to 1 June. The amendments seek to adopt the Development Contributions and Financial Contributions Policy, Rates Remission and Postponement policies and an amendment to the Revenue and Financing Policy.

The Annual Plan 2004/2005 is year two of the Long Term Council Community Plan adopted in 2003. The process involves two stages: the submission hearings and the decisions.

The meeting schedule is as follows: