Media Releases

April 2006

28 April

Alternate regional Civil Defence hub in Waitakere

A new $2.5 million Civil Defence Emergency Operations Centre in Waitakere will serve as an alternate headquarters for the Auckland Region.

Waitakere City Council approved a preliminary design and further funding at its April meeting.

A 472 square metre, two level headquarters will replace the existing building in Elcoat Ave, Glendene, housing a communications centre, emergency operations training room and five staff. The centre will predominantly serve Waitakere's needs but will also be available for regional activities.

Councillor Derek Battersby, Chair of the Emergency Services Special Committee, says the new purpose built centre will be able to take the place of Auckland, in the event of the regional hub being unusable.

"Waitakere's Civil Defence centre will become a regional centre for emergency management, should Auckland be unavailable," he says.

The centre will also be available to community groups, essential services and Council staff for trainings," says Councillor Battersby.

Civil Defence operations have expanded since the existing centre was built around 1960, so the Council resolved to investigate a preliminary concept in August last year.

Eco-friendly design means features such as a rain water storage tank, solar hot water and a range of ventilation options will be standard. Windows will be openable, but a full mechanical ventilation system will allow efficient ventilation in the event of a cyclone or volcanic eruption.

The centre is expected to be finished by June 2007.

27 April

Councillor Sworn In

New Councillor Carl Harding (left) reads his oath of office, watched by Mayor Bob Harvey

Carl Harding has returned to local body politics after winning a by-election for a seat on the Waitakere City Council. He was formally sworn in as a Councillor last night (26 April).

Mr Harding, 55, who campaigned under the slogan "For a Fresh Start", received 2,263 votes, around 1000 more than the second placed candidate (former councillor Denise Yates). June Kearney was third with 1,099 votes. Gary Stewart and Christine Shepherd received 645 and 633 votes respectively.

A former Auckland Regional and Waitemata City Councillor, Mr Harding, by a quirk of fate, helped launch Waitakere City and briefly served the city at the time of amalgamation.

"Normally, you cease to be a councillor immediately before each election but in 1989, Waitemata City and Glen Eden, New Lynn, and Henderson Boroughs ceased to exist and were rolled together into Waitakere City. So at that time we councillors were asked to stay on for a period of time to assist with the changeover," says Councillor Harding.

Cr Harding was a member of the "Tim's Team" ticket on the former Waitemata City Council and was chairman of its works committee.

The by-election in the Waitakere ward was forced by the resignation of Mr Pat Booth, due to ill health.

27 April

Waitakere City - Peace City

Waitakere plans to declare itself an official Peace City.

Following a recommendation in the Mayor Bob Harvey's April report, Council officers will now investigate how to progress the initiative which will enable Waitakere to celebrate its history of peace and effectively show its commitment to a more peaceful future.

The Peace City declaration also paves the way to create an atmosphere for the development of a Culture of Peace as promoted by UENSCO.

In preparing his report Mayor Harvey liaised with the Peace Foundation which is currently gearing up to invite local Councils to consider how they might best mark the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Nuclear Free New Zealand Act on June 4 next year.

"The anniversary needs to be part of our thinking and it can be a focus of our deliberations and deliveries," said Mayor Harvey.

"The first step is a report to Council and while I don't want to pre-empt that report it will include a number of initiatives that we will need to set up and undertake such as a Peace City homepage on our website, peace displays and signs and maybe a Peace Festival. Ideally I would also like to see a Peace Park established, featuring a Peace Bell."

Mayor Harvey said he had been thinking about the Peace City idea for some time however his thoughts had been focused by Anzac Day.

"Through the sadness and memory of Anzac Day, we can perceive hope and a better world."

24 April

Carl Harding wins Waitakere City Council by-election

Former Waitemata City and Auckland Regional Councillor, Carl Harding has won the Waitakere Ward by-election to replace former councillor Pat Booth, who resigned this year because of ill-health.

Mr Harding, 55, who campaigned under the slogan "For a Fresh Start", received 2,263 votes, slightly over 1000 votes ahead of the second placed candidate, former councillor Denise Yates, on 1,211. June Kearney was third with 1,099 votes. Gary Stewart and Christine Shepherd received 645 and 633 votes respectively.

There were 15 special votes, 2 informal votes and 7 blank voting papers.

Waitakere City returning officer Darryl Griffin says that the 5,860 people who voted represented 27.28%, of eligible electors.

21 April

Turning the Corner on Transport

How people, goods and services get around is one of the most pressing issues facing the Auckland Region.

And residents of Waitakere are now being asked for their views on how the problems of a rapidly growing City, and how that impacts on transport, could be tackled.

One of the key issues for consultation in the City's Draft Long Term Council Community Plan (for 2006-2016) is its Transport Strategy.

The draft strategy has an emphasis on giving people more choices about how they can get around- from improving public transport, some roading improvements, and developing a network of cycleways and walkways.

The proposed package is costed at $380 million over the 10 year period. That is, effectively, double what is currently spent on transport.

"If we continue to hold our traditional levels of transport spending and focus on the old way of doing things, existing problems with congestion and the economic and environmental problems that brings will only get worse," says Deputy Mayor Carolynne Stone.

"This draft Strategy is looking at how the financial cake should be sliced. Because if we spread our spending across state highways, roads, passenger transport, walkways and cycleways in the right way, it means people will have more choices about how to get from A to B."

"The rising price of petrol will change the way we live. Every household will look for better ways to get around, how they can spend less time in traffic jams, and spend less money on travel," says Councillor Stone, who is also Waitakere's representative on the Regional Land Transport Committee.

"This City- along with others in the region- is asking the same questions about what is affordable and through this exercise we want public feedback on what level of funding they are prepared to see go into solving the transport problem."

Submissions on the draft strategy (and the Long term Council Community Plan) are open until the19th of May, 2006.

The draft strategy, budget and submission form is available online or can be posted on request by calling the Council's 24 hour Call Centre.

21 April

Preliminary election results

Preliminary results suggest that Carl Harding has won the Waitakere City Council by-election to replace former councillor Pat Booth, who resigned this year because of ill-health.

The seat is in Waitakere Ward.

Mr Harding, who campaigned under the slogan "For a Fresh Start", received 2,263 votes, slightly over 1000 votes ahead of the second placed candidate, former councillor Denise Yates, on 1,211. June Kearney was third with 1,099 votes. Gary Stewart and Christine Shepherd received 645 and 633 votes respectively.

Mr Harding is a former councillor for Waitemata City (which became part of Waitakere City in 1989) and for the Auckland Regional Council.

There were 15 special votes, 2 informal votes and 7 blank voting papers.

There are no special votes yet to be processed.

Waitakere City returning officer Darryl Griffin says that the 5,860 people who voted represented 27.28%, of eligible electors. He expects that the final election result will be known by Monday.
 

20 April

Artwork replaces graffiti

Doug Ford works on a traffic signal box at Waitakere Hospital.

Artwork is replacing posters and graffiti on Waitakere's drab grey traffic signal boxes.

As well as making these drab, dull, boxes a feature of local neighbourhoods, the artworks help address the graffiti problem.

The next six weeks, until the end of May, will see 12 artists painting 16 of the boxes, which control traffic lights, around the city.

Inspiration for what goes on the boxes is drawn from the location, its history and natural aspects.

Doug Ford, who has also painted traffic boxes in Auckland City, is currently finishing a box outside Waitakere Hospital. One of the first boxes completed, on the corner of Universal Drive and Lincoln Road features a fantail, godwit and yellow eyed penguin.

Doug realises the penguin isn't commonly seen in Waitakere. "The yellow eyed penguin, although not common in Waitakere, sometimes washes up on shores here so I felt I could include it. He's meant to be looking 'a bit concerned'," he says.

The creative public project was initiated by Waitakere City Council's Chief Executive Officer Harry O'Rourke, after seeing a similar project in Australia.

Similar projects have flourished in Wellington, Brisbane, Sydney, California and Florida.

20 April

Waitakere 'walks the talk' for Earth Day

Waitakere City Council is 'walking the talk' to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Carrington Road Bridge looking back towards Waitakere City during daily rush hour. Councillor Penny Hulse says the Council's emissions targets are "ambitious but achievable."

At its April meeting the council's City Development Committee agreed to a set of clear goals for the city's 180,000 residents.

The first target is to reduce emissions by 15% per capita and to stabilise the council's emissions at 2001 levels by 2010. But that's just the beginning! By 2021 the per capita emissions will have reduced by 40% and the council's emissions will take a 50% hit.

The targets are in line with International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) recommendations of reducing emissions to one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent per person per year to stabilise global climate in the long term.

Chair of the City Development Committee, Penny Hulse, says the council is in the process of preparing a local action plan to implement the "ambitious but achievable" reduction strategy. "With Earth Day coming up on April 22, it seems timely for us to make sure we are doing our bit for the planet."

She says the WCC is already involved in a number of reduction solutions, like retrofitting low-income homes with insulation, providing hot cylinder wraps to maximise energy efficiency and subsidising home energy auditing to help residents target their wastage.

"But given that transport emissions make up nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions, we need to focus more on reductions in that sector."

"That means encouraging the business and manufacturing sector to create more local employment and Waitakere residents to work close to home, and exploring transport alternatives. We're also actively investigating bio fuels for the longer term," says Cr Hulse, a member of the Councillor Working Group working with council officers on the reduction plan.

She says projects like the walking school bus are a great example of how the community can contribute to reducing both road congestion and pollution from vehicles, including gas emissions. "It really is a matter of 'thinking globally, acting locally'."

"Our biggest challenge now is to 'sell' the project to Waitakere City residents. It's a hard sell really, because a big percentage of residents work outside the city and we're known for loving our cars!"

Cr Hulse says as an eco city, Waitakere is committed to leading the charge for energy efficiency. "We believe these greenhouse gas reduction targets are a practical way to do that. It gives every resident a way to connect with the long term goal of living and working in a clean, green environment."

"We also believe the charge starts at home! For example, the council is developing a travel plan for its staff, so that fewer of them drive to work when they move to the new Civic Centre in August. That's something other organisations could undertake to reduce car travel."

If residents want to help do their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions there are three simple things they can do, says Cr Hulse:

• Consider catching public transport, walking or ridesharing one day a week.
• Replace standard light bulbs with energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Compost your organic waste and recycling paper.

20 April

10 Year Plan submissions open today

Residents of Waitakere can now have a say in their city's future. Public submissions on the draft Annual Plan and 2006-2016 Long Term Council Community Plan are open for submissions from today (April 20) until May 19.

The Annual Plan sets projects and budgets for the 2006/2007 financial year while the LTCCP, a new requirement under the Local Government Act, sets priorities for the next 10 years.

Copies of the plans - in four volumes - and submission forms are available at libraries, the Council's Civic Centre in Waipareira Avenue (Henderson) and from local marae and Pacific Island churches. Volume 1 contains an overview and summary material.

The draft budgets show a rates increase of 6.85% for the coming financial year with similar figures indicated for the next 10 years. The major financial drivers are depreciation and interest charges.

As part of the consultation, the Council is also asking the public for its views on a proposed change in rating methodology. The proposal is to change from a system based on land value to capital value (and a move to a Uniform Annual Charge for wastewater on residential properties, rather than having wastewater assessed against property values). Over the next few weeks, ratepayers will receive letters outlining the impact of the proposed change to capital value (and the other proposals) on their property.

Other issues highlighted for consultation:

• Targeted rates - whether specific areas that are being developed with significant Council funding, and which will benefit economically, should be rated separately. For example, levying businesses that are within an 800 metre radius of the site for the proposed New Lynn transport project - double tracking of the Western Railway Line - to improve transport in the city and to revitalise the town centre.
• Cycleways - The Council is planning to build approximately a third of its cycleway network over the next ten years.
• Transport Strategy - The Council is seeking the public's views on its draft strategy and associated programme of around $380m over the next 10 years

special eight page issue of the Council's newspaper, the Waitakere City News, summarises the plans and contains a submission form. That will be distributed to homes and businesses over the next week. Submissions can also be made online.

20 April

Road pricing, with provisos

Some form of road pricing for the Auckland region has won provisional support from Waitakere City Council.

Having considered a recently released Ministry of Transport's road pricing study that says road pricing can significantly reduce congestion, the Council adopted a report accepting the principle of road pricing with the following 'bottom lines':

If road pricing is introduced:

• fast, frequent and reliable passenger transport should be in place to give people an alternative to their cars.
• road pricing and any road tolls should be fairly applied across the region
• social impacts on Waitakere City residents need to be assessed
• any surplus revenue is to be reinvested in transport projects in the Auckland region
• road pricing should be offset by a reduction in petrol tax or road user charges.

The Council will now make a formal submission to the MoT.

With over half of Waitakere City's workforce commuting out of the city to work, these 'bottom lines' are necessary to safeguard residents' interests, says Deputy Mayor Carolynne Stone.

That is because parts of the City were deliberately developed as a dormitory suburb for Auckland during the 1950's, 60's and 70's. People came to Waitakere City to live but there was very little work.

Road pricing measures suggested by the MoT include a cordon (boundary) around parts of the region where congestion is at its worst. Vehicles crossing the boundary during morning rush hour (6am-10am) would be charged.

"Basically we accept that some charge is going to be necessary to reduce traffic and give us a balanced transport system," says Cr Stone, who is also Waitakere's representative on the Regional Land Transport Committee.

"We believe that road pricing is the most effective solution to reduce congestion but first alternatives to travel by car need to be available and attractive. If people are going to get out of their cars they must have inexpensive and convenient alternatives. There must be a job close to home or a bus or a train when they need it - or a car-pool or a cycleway."

"We are working very hard on building up the local economy but that won't happen overnight and that means many of our residents have no choice but to work elsewhere. Any form of road pricing will hit them in the pocket and that could have serious social consequences as family budgets take yet another hit," says Cr Stone. "Public transport can provide a cheaper alternative to running a car and the region will have to work hard on improving that system over the next eight years before it is in a position to introduce a road pricing scheme."

Cr Stone says the Council recognises the need to come up with regional solutions to Auckland's transport problems but those solutions cannot disadvantage Waitakere City residents. "Our mandate is to look at how any policies will impact on our part of the jigsaw," she says.

19 April

Chapel of Faith in the Oaks

Faith will pay off for believers in one of Waitakere City's heritage buildings when the Chapel of Faith in the Oaks gets a much-needed extreme makeover.

The chapel at Waikumete Cemetery was built in 1886 and used for church services until 1926, when it fell into disuse and eventually became a repository for ashes from the old crematorium.

Chair of the Finance and Operational Committee, Councillor Janet Clews, says Auckland City Council owned and operated the cemetery back then and intended demolishing the chapel.

"Thankfully, it was saved by a dedicated group of Waitakere locals, led by Judith Creegen (formerly Long) back in the late 1970s. It took years of hard work to restore the chapel to use before it was re-dedicated and re-opened in 1986, 100 years after it began its life as the mortuary chapel," says Cr Clews.

The cemetery transferred to Waitemata City in April 1989, just before amalgamation to form Waitakere City the following October.

Now the chapel, listed a Category 1 Heritage Building by Waitakere City and Category II by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, is in for a make over - from the bottom up.

"It has no firm foundations and is in need of some serious structural work to protect it from the cracking and powdery surface crusting that will cause deterioration if left unchecked," says Cr Clews.

The council has worked with the Waikumete Restoration Trust to secure funding for work that includes repairing and stabilising the building. Work is expected to start in September 2007 at an estimated cost of $270,000.

Cr Clews says the chapel is an important part of the historical and social fabric of both the cemetery and the Glen Eden area, and is closely linked with the Glen Eden Heritage Station which was moved and restored in 2001.

19 April

Picture yourself : in a kayak at Tui Glen Reserve

Tui Glen Reserve will soon become an urban haven for walkers, kayakers and boaties. An ambitious Waitakere City Council project to beautify the Henderson reserve is underway, including the creation of an internal circular road, new paths and lighting, a shared cycle/walkway and more car parking. The footbridge into Cranwell Park will also be upgraded and new signs put up.

The new car park and section of road will make for easy access to the new jetty for the launching of kayaks and dinghies and now that the Tui Glen Heritage Jetty is finished, plans are afoot to make kayak hire be available at the jetty by next summer.

Councillor Assid Corban, former mayor of Waitakere City and Henderson Borough Council, says the project is a great step forward. "It's bringing history to the future really because when I was a boy you used to be able to hire canoes and rowboats down there. You could even hire small yachts! I think it's fantastic that people will be able to use the waterways again."

Stage one of the upgrade includes construction of a new car park (near the toilet block) that will service the jetty and a new section of road to link the existing road between the Conductive Education car park and the toilet block. This work completes a circular one-way system through the park. A rain garden and storm water collection system to service the new road and car park is also under construction. Work is expected to be completed by mid-July.

Nasey Contractors Ltd, who built the Tui Glen Heritage jetty last year, are doing the upgrade, based on the Concept Plan for the reserve that was part of the Henderson Creek Corridor Reserves Management Plan, adopted by the council in 2004. The next stages of the upgrade are expected to be funded through future Annual Plan budgets.

Some work in the Concept Plan has already been completed. The section of cycleway through the reserve is finished and the old council depot in the south-west corner of the reserve has been cleaned up and a lease for this area has been granted to the Motor Caravan Association for the short-term stays of members. The camp kitchen has been demolished, the toilet block upgraded and the toilets are now open to the public.

19 April

Portal pumping

Visitors to Waitakere City Council's Waitakere Online portal are growing at a rate of over 1000 a month.

The portal provides a technological window into hundreds of local businesses, community organisations and services in Waitakere City. Waitakere Online was established in 2004 as part of Waitakere's Digital City strategy to provide timely content to its community. A key part of the strategy is the ability for all residents, businesses and communities in Waitakere City, to have access to a broadband connection.

March statistics show that 5752 people visited the site - up from 4410 the previous month.

"We're thrilled with the response," says Waitakere City Councillor Linda Cooper, a member of the Waitakere Online editorial board. "Our goal is to become a fully digitised city and these statistics show we are on the right track. Waitakere City residents are saying a resounding 'Yes!' to that direction."

10 Aprill

ANZAC dawn service at Waikumete

One headstone in New Zealand's largest war cemetery - Waikumete Cemetery - tells a particularly heartbreaking story of war. Four young men, probably brothers, share a common grave:

• Pte A. G. Browne - Died March 13, 1919, aged 20
• Pte H. M. Browne Died of wounds (France) September 14, 1918, aged 24
• Trpr J. Browne - Killed in action (Gaza) April 19, 1917, aged 255
• Pte W. H. Browne - Killed in action (Flanders) December 5, 1917, aged 27

How the Browne family coped with losing so many of their young men over a two year period during World War I is unimaginable.

Family tragedies like the Browne's are at the heart of what draws increasing numbers of people to Waikumete Cemetery cenotaph on Anzac Day each year. It's their way of saying, "We remember".

The service has seen a surge in attendance over the last few years as more and more young people choose to honour the hundreds of thousands of men and women who lost their lives in war.

Wet or fine, the Waitakere City Council and local Returned Service Associations will hold a candlelit dawn service at the Waikumete Cemetery cenotaph in Glen Eden on Anzac Day.

People should assemble at the cenotaph, on the corner of Glenview and Great North Roads, at 5.45am for a 6am service.

There will be other services around the city.

7 April

Dog destroyed after attack in Te Atatu

Waitakere Animal Welfare has destroyed a pit bull terrier that attacked a young child and her mother when they were walking near Rutherford Primary School in Te Atatu Peninsula yesterday.

The child suffered a bite that required a number of stitches at hospital. The mother was also bitten but did not require hospital treatment.

The owner surrendered the dog after the attack.

7 April

Dog attack in Te Atatu

Waitakere Animal Welfare staff are investigating a dog attack on a woman and her child that occurred yesterday around 4.30pm.

Animal Welfare and Police were at the scene within 10 minutes.

The woman was walking with her young child near Rutherford Primary School on Toru Street.

The child was apparently bitten on the arm and was taken to hospital. She received an unknown number of stitches. The mother of the child was also bitten but did not require hospital treatment.

The Council's Animal Welfare staff believe the dog lives nearby and if it can be positively identified it is likely it will be seized and the owner prosecuted. A destruction order is a consequence of a prosecution.
 

7 April

Waitakere By-Election

Several hundred votes are being received every day in a by-election being held to fill a vacancy on the Waitakere City Council.

The by-election in the Waitakere ward was forced by the resignation of Mr Pat Booth due to ill health. Electoral officer Darryl Griffin says that interest amongst voters is relatively high, with more than 15% of votes returned within the first few days.

Almost 3500 votes had been received as of today (7 April 2006). There are 21,725 eligible voters in the Waitakere ward. Return statistics are available on a daily basis on: www.electionz.com/elections/waitakere/returns.htm

Candidates for election are:

• Carl Harding
• June Kearney
• Christine Shepherd
• Gary Stewart
• Denise Yates

A brief profile of each candidate is included with voting papers, which were posted to eligible voters last week.

Completed papers must be posted back, and received by the returning officer, by no later than noon on Friday, 21 April. Completed voting forms can also be hand-delivered to the Civic Centre at 6 Waipareira Ave, Henderson.

Eligible voters who are not on the electoral roll can also place a special vote at the Civic Centre during normal office hours.
 

5 April

New dog registration charges set

Waitakere City Council has approved new dog registration fees for the upcoming year.

The yearly registration fee for a de-sexed dog will now be $74 if paid before 1 August 2006, an increase of $6. The increase is due to elevated running costs of dog control.

However residents are making savings of up to $75 by paying early and having their dog de-sexed.

Owners who hold a Dog Owner Licence pay even less, just $61 for a neutered dog.

The recent introduction of micro chipping has not affected the registration fees as it is a separate charge based on costs. However, the Animal Welfare Centre on the Concourse in Henderson is offering micro-chipping for $20 per dog. The same process done at a vet costs over $80.

Over a third of dog control costs are recovered from the Council's dog control operation it runs for North Shore City Council. The remainder is funded from rates.

3 April

Industry challenges to bylaw partially successful

Local Councils have failed in a bid to get the waste industry to contribute towards the costs of waste planning and minimisation initiatives.

Waitakere City, North Shore City, Rodney District, and Christchurch City had each passed bylaws which would have seen waste collectors and contractors levied for every tonne of rubbish destined for landfill. The bylaw was designed to provide economic incentives for different methods of dealing with waste.

Proceeds from the levy would have been used by the Councils to fund waste planning and minimisation initiatives, with corresponding environmental benefits, as intended by the Local Government Act. Unfortunately the High Court determined the Act was not sufficiently prescriptive to allow a levy of this type.

Waitakere City Council spokesperson Jon Roscoe says the decision is disappointing, particularly because some confidence had been expressed by government officials (from Ministry for the Environment and Department of Internal Affairs) that the legislation permitted this sort of levy through a bylaw. He says that it is also disappointing to note that amendments to the Local Government Act 1974 to remove any uncertainty which existed, and which were first promoted by Waitakere City in 2004, are not likely to be considered in the recently announced Local Government Reform Bill.

Discussions however have been continuing with key waste industry stakeholders, Councils and several ministries, including the Ministry for the Environment, to resolve a nationally based waste levy scheme to allow for waste reduction initiatives.

In a separate set of proceedings heard at the same time a challenge was also mounted against the ability of the Waitakere City, North Shore City and Rodney District bylaws to introduce a licensing regime for contractors carting waste within those districts. This was unsuccessful and the licensing provisions of the bylaw were upheld.

Mr Roscoe says that the Court's decision in relation to both matters seems relatively straight forward but he is not prepared to comment further until the Council has had time to consider the decision in detail.

He is unsure at this stage whether the Councils will be prepared to appeal the decision.