Media
Releases
December 2006
20 December
Piha Liquor Ban
The Waitakere City Council would like to remind the
public that there is a complete
liquor ban, from December 22
through January 14, at Piha beach.
The liquor ban includes the beach and the surrounding areas
such as the public carpark and nearby streets.
20 December
Waitakere pays tribute to Government for world class decision at New Lynn
“The New Lynn decision is world class and a triumph of
co-operation between central and local government,” says
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey.
Mr Harvey was reacting to the Government’s support,
announced today, for a project to put the railway in a
trench where it passes through New Lynn. This will be the
corner stone for future development.
“I am absolutely delighted because the vision is world class
and it will guarantee an exceptional future for New Lynn.
Similar decisions overseas have opened up enormous
opportunities that previously weren’t possible,” he says.
Mayor Harvey says this is important for the Auckland region
as well as for Waitakere City.
“For Auckland region as a whole to have planned, sustainable
growth, a number of projects need to succeed to a very high
level. Growing New Lynn into a major regional centre for
population and business, is one of those projects,” he says.
“Putting the rail below street level will enable road and
rail transport to flow freely, which is a key success factor
for New Lynn. Without the trench that can’t happen; with the
trench it can,” he says.
“Overseas experience – in places like Subiaco in Perth -
shows that when a rail trench has been used, there is a new
perception that the community is no longer divided.
“This has led to confidence in the business sector and bold
new investment and developments that have transformed areas
that had previously been stagnating, into bustling,
exciting, town centres,” Mayor Harvey says.
“We look forward to seeing a similar transformation in New
Lynn,” he says.
The Mayor paid tribute to the co-operation which had led to
the Government’s decision to support the project.
“This has been a multi-agency project involving Waitakere
City Council whose vision it was originally, ON TRACK, ARTA
and the ARC who also had vital roles. We have worked
together to get the final proposal in front of Government,”
he says.
“The Government then subjected us to intense scrutiny to
ensure that the taxpayers’ money was going to yield an
acceptable return on the investment. That’s as it should be
and made us lift our game and deliver a first class
justification for the project,” he says.
“I pay tribute to Dr Cullen and his government for
supporting Waitakere with this initiative. And I also pay
tribute to David Cunliffe, the
local MP, who always supported the project and helped us
meet Dr Cullen's expectations. It just shows what can be
achieved when Government and local Government work together
at a very high level of professionalism,” he says.
18 December
South Piha – Dog Free Zone
The Waitakere City Council would like to remind dog
owners that there is a complete ban on dogs at South Piha
over the summer period.
From November through April 2007 dogs are banned at all
times from South Piha beach.
“But there are also alternatives to exercising dogs at South
Piha,” says Neil Wells, Waitakere’s animal welfare manager.
“There are clearly defined exercise areas at North Piha,
both off-leash and on-leash, where owners can exercise their
dogs,” he says.
The beach will be monitored by animal welfare officers over
this period and dog owners can be fined $300 for ignoring
the dog-exclusion zone.
There is more
information and a detailed map available.
18 December
Waitakere votes on regional governance
Waitakere City Council has endorsed a proposal to
strengthen governance in the Auckland region.
Last night the Council considered a report produced by the
Chief Executives of all the Territorial Local Authorities in
the region and voted to endorse, in principle, the general
thrust of the paper.
The paper will now be sent to the Minister of Local
Government along with the comments of various Councils with
a view to any changes in the structure of local government
at a regional level being introduced before next year’s
local body elections.
Waitakere City Council's submission to the Minister will
include a number of “bottom lines”, which are contained in
the following resolutions:
2515/2006
Moved by Cr Clow, seconded
Cr Battersby:
That the strengthening Auckland’s regional governance -
proposal report be received.
Carried
2516/2006
Moved by Cr Clow, seconded Cr Battersby:
That Waitakere City Council endorses, in principle, the
proposal to strengthen Auckland’s regional governance as a
submission from the Auckland region to the government but
has grave concerns at the short time provided to consider
these issues and the lack, to date, of any public
consultation.
Carried
2517/2006
Moved by Cr Clow, seconded Cr Battersby:
Further, the council wishes to state its strong views on the
following and that these views be taken into account in any
final reform(s):
- That no decision on detail relating to electoral
structure of the Greater Auckland Council be made at
this stage but be developed and discussed during the
community consultation phase;
Carried
- That there must be no change to the structure and/or
ownership of Watercare and that the notion of vertical
integration must not be given any further consideration;
Carried
- That this council wishes to see any regionally
funded facilities owned by a regional entity and
requisite funding to be raised on a formula other than a
straight population basis.
Carried
- That this council supports the concept of a regional
economic development agency but that local economic
development agencies such as Enterprise Waitakere,
continue to deliver services locally.
Carried
2518/2006
Moved by Cr Clow, seconded Cr Battersby:
That, if broad agreement is achieved amongst the councils in
the Auckland region, then joint co-ordinated public
consultation on the proposal be undertaken in February/March
2007 and that any consultation be carried out for a minimum
of 8 weeks.
Carried
2519/2006
Moved by Cr Clow, seconded Cr Battersby:
That the political reference group be empowered to conduct
ongoing discussions with government ministers as to the
refinement and implementation of any proposal and that his
worship the mayor and Councillor
Penny Hulse (with
Councillor Derek Battersby as alternate) continue to
represent Waitakere on this group.
Carried
2520/2006
Moved by Cr Hulse, seconded
Cr Dallow;
That mayor Bob Harvey, Cr Battersby, Cr Hulse and all
council staff who have been involved in the strengthening of
Auckland’s Regional Governance proposal be thanked for their
good work.
Carried
Mayor Bob Harvey says that the aim of the work is to improve
leadership in the region, provide a “common voice for
Auckland”, and also to address funding issues, particularly
in the area of transport.
“The Government placed tight timeline on us (Local
Authorities) to pull together something coherent and that
has general agreement. I’m pleased that we have about 80%
agreement on most of the issues and in some ways that tight
timeline was an advantage because it focussed everybody’s
attention. We now want to work with Government to form up
something which the public can have meaningful input into.
“We need to hear from the public before we go any further”.
14 December
Youth shape design of new Henderson facility
Submissions closed on Thursday 21 December 2006.
What do the youth of Henderson want in a planned new
youth facility? That question is being answered via an
online youth survey running
on this site
until Thursday 21 December.
The Waitakere Youth Council wants to hear what types of
programmes and activities youth think should take place in
the specialised youth facility that will be built in
Henderson during 2007.
“This is the opportunity for future participants of the
new facility to shape the design and operation of the
facility,” says Andrew Wadsworth, chair of the Youth Council
which advises Waitakere City Council on youth matters.
Youth can have their say using the
online survey or by calling
the call centre on 839 0400 for a hard copy. Everyone who
completes the survey goes into the draw to win a $50
Westfield voucher.
The new facility is being built in tandem with a major
refit of the adjoining Henderson Recreation Centre. The
$2.5million upgrade will commence in 2007 and is expected to
open for 2008. The improved centre will provide more
community space for meetings and activities, as well as an
updated décor.
Patrons of the current recreation centre will need to
find alternate venues at other centres from April 2007 as
the recreation centre will be closed for renovations for the
6 months from the end of April until the end of October.
13 December
Waitakere introduces E-tendering
The Waitakere City Council is adopting a new electronic
system to streamline the process for distributing documents
to businesses tendering for council contracts.
The Tenders Subcommittee has approved a trial in which
tender documents will be sent out electronically using the
Local Government Online Limited (LGOL) e-tendering internet
site
www.lgtenders.co.nz.
“Other councils which have already switched to it have
reported very positive outcomes,” says subcommittee chairman
Councillor Janet Clews.
“The instantaneous nature of online tendering hastens the
entire process, and as time is money for businesses, that
will be welcome news,” says
Councillor Clews.
“We will be contacting the companies and organisations
that apply or have applied to tender in the past, to inform
them of our move to the online system.”
The reduction in necessary newspaper advertising will
reduce costs for the council and therefore the ratepayer.
The council will begin E-tendering in January 2007.
An official review of the online tendering process will
be held in six months time.
13 December
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot… Waitakere Sounds is back!
Free Concerts for Summer…
Following a highly acclaimed first year,
Waitakere Sounds,
the series of free summer concerts in parks and reserves
organised by the Waitakere City Council has returned. The
concerts are for all ages and music genres range from rock
to jazz, blues to hip hop with artists ranging from the
legendary John Rowles and Herbs to Indira (NZ Idol finalist)
and rock ‘n’ roll icons Hello Sailor.
“With the success of Waitakere Sounds 2006 attracting
crowds at times as large as 3500 to enjoy the outdoor summer
concerts, the 2007 series has been eagerly anticipated,”
says Judy Lawley,
chairperson of the Council’s
Arts, Events and Culture
Committee. “We are thrilled to host the series for both our
Waitakere residents and visitors’ pleasure, the events
showcasing our local musical talent and the incredibly
beautiful parks and reserves found in Waitakere City.”
Waitangi Day (6 February) sees the official launch of
Waitakere Sounds
‘07, from 1pm to 6pm at Henderson Park (behind Corbans
Estate). The phenomenal showcase features The Yandall
Sisters, Lady 6, Herbs ‘unplugged’ and Waitakere’s legendary
performer John Rowles. Returning home for the one-off
concert Rowles will treat his home-crowd to classics ‘If I
only had time’ and ‘Cheryl Moana Marie’ which topped the New
Zealand charts in the 1970’s.
The Waitakere Sounds ‘07 summer programme will host four
main concerts plus an additional series called Solo Sundays,
a Sunday series of intimate performances by solo
singer-songwriters and musicians that will run every Sunday
in Falls Reserve band rotunda, supported by the Falls Café &
Restaurant (Henderson). “Waitakere Sounds is a great
opportunity for families and friends to spend quality time
together in a fun, entertaining and beautiful environment
and best of all it’s free,” says
Cr. Lawley.
12 December
West Wave Pool Closures
Leisure pools at the
West Wave Aquatic
Centre are likely to remain closed for the rest of this
week.
The council’s public affairs manager, Dai Bindoff, says that
the leisure pools were due to receive additional water
treatment as a precaution against cryptosporidium this week.
This had been delayed, however, until investigations are
complete, into what caused chlorine-related illnesses among
water polo players using the main competition pool.
“While we are pretty sure that a freak combination of
circumstances caused the chlorine-illnesses, we want to
completely peer-review our procedures and analyse all the
chemicals we use, just to be on the safe side,” Bindoff
says.
All things being equal the council hopes to have the leisure
pools open again by Monday 18 December .
All other pools which had the additional treatment last
week, are open as is the West Wave gym.
The council will issue a media statement when the leisure
pool reopens.
11 December
West Wave Re-opens
The national swimming championships will be held at
Waitakere’s West Wave Olympic pool
from tomorrow.
Waitakere City Council was this evening given the green
light to re-open the pool, by the Medical Officer of Health,
after she had reviewed air quality samples taken at the pool
today.
The pool has been closed since yesterday when a number of
water polo players were taken ill and 10 hospitalised, after
matches in the Olympic pool.
“Waitakere City Council believes that a freak combination of
circumstances caused the illness affecting water polo
players,” says Dai Bindoff, Public Affairs Manager for
Waitakere City Council.
“The main pool was being run at slightly higher chlorine
levels than usual – but still well within New Zealand pool
guidelines.”
“Nevertheless, there may have been elevated levels of
chlorine in the air immediately above the water, where the
players were taking their breaths,“ he says.
“Because they were playing hard, they may have been
breathing enough of this extra chlorine to make them sick.”
Bindoff says that no other explanation seems to address the
variables.
The council ordered air quality tests today and these have
come back within the acceptable range.
“This suggests that if there were high levels of chlorine –
which is the likely explanation – they have now reduced to
about one quarter the acceptable level. Those test results
were sent to the Medical Officer of Health,” Bindoff says.
He says that the pool has not encountered a similar problem
in the 17 years since it opened for the Commonwealth Games
in Auckland in 1990.
“It seems it may have been a freak occurrence but during the
day we have heard of one or two similar instances, over the
years, at other pools. We will continue to investigate and
if necessary, institute additional protocols to guard
against a recurrence,” Bindoff says.
Mr Bindoff says the council was deeply concerned about the
water polo players that had been affected and had been in
contact with them during the day, offering its apologies and
offering any help they might need.
11 December
Council Approves $25,000 Massey Matters Fund
Waitakere City Council has set up a $25,000 Massey
Matters Fund to assist community action and development in
Massey.
Applications will open soon to interested groups and
organisations who want to be part of new revitalisation
initiatives and who wish to apply for funding.
A community forum has been established to support the Massey
Matters project, with some key recommendations for action
including development of a stronger Massey identity,
increasing community connectedness and positive feelings and
having more Massey-owned events and activities. The forum
has also come up with a large number of projects that local
residents and community groups could involve themselves with
to improve Massey life.
“This is an exciting new phase of development for the area
whereby the community will determine its own shape and
future with the council acting as a facilitator for the
project” says Massey councillor Linda
Cooper.
11 December
Waitakere believes freak combination of events caused
pool illness
Waitakere City Council believes that a freak combination
of circumstances caused the illness affecting water polo
players using the
West Wave Aquatic Centre, over the weekend.
“The main pool was being run at slightly higher chlorine
levels than usual – but still well within New Zealand pool
guidelines,” says Dai Bindoff, Public Affairs Manager for
Waitakere City Council.
“Nevertheless, there may have been elevated levels of
chlorine in the air immediately above the water, where the
players were taking their breaths, “ he says.
“Because they were playing hard, they may have been
breathing enough of this extra chlorine to make them sick.
Bindoff says that no other explanation seems to address the
variables.
"For example, all the water tests have been well within the
acceptable levels, the players themselves say they felt the
problem came when they breathed – and yet casual users were
largely unaffected,” he says.
The council had air samples taken this morning and the
initial results show that the air immediately over the pool
is at normal levels.
“We have sent the tests to the Medical Officer of Health and
are hopeful that they will agree to the pool re-opening
again."
Bindoff says the Mayor and council representatives have
visited some of the sick children today.
“This may be a freak event but we are extremely sorry that
these youngsters were made sick. And the really important
thing is that they get well,” he says.
11 December
Waitakere investigates after water polo players taken to
hospital
Waitakere City Council is investigating why a number of
young water polo players were taken ill after playing in the
West Wave Aquatic
Centre yesterday.
The affected players were all affected by respiratory
conditions but the chlorine in the pools was at a level
requested by an Environmental Health Officer from the
Medical Officer of Health.
The main competition pool where the water polo was played is
closed today for further testing, but the council believes
it will re-open tomorrow.
“We are deeply concerned for the welfare of the youngsters
who were affected and we are taking the matter seriously –
our investigation will be thorough. We have had people
working on possible explanations since yesterday but so far
have not come to any definite conclusions,” says Dai Bindoff,
Public Affairs Manager for the council.
“All we can say at this time is that we know the water is at
a very high quality and the levels of treatment are normal
and well within national guidelines,” he says.
8 December
Movies Under the Stars at Massey
Moire Park is the venue for an innovative open air cinema
screening for three days in December.
Responding to a call for more community events in Massey,
Waitakere City Council has arranged for three nights of free
movies.
The outdoor movies event is part of “Massey Matters”, a new
Council-led collaborative project which focuses on improving
the quality of life in Massey over the next decade. “Massey
Matters” is about Council working alongside the local
community, schools, business and other partners to develop a
programme for long term change in Massey.
“The project isn’t just about better public transport, parks
and community facilities”, says Massey Community Board
Chairman Graeme Barnard “it’s also about providing more
things for local people to do in Massey”.
The free screenings are for all residents and visitors to
Massey who love a summer evening picnic while watching free
entertainment.
No need to pay or book, participants can just come along
with friends and family; bring the rugs, chairs and
refreshments and settle in to be amused with three
mainstream movies screening on consecutive evenings.
Where: Moire Park, Granville Drive, Massey
When:
- Thursday, 14 December Big Mommas House 2
- Friday, 15 December Siones Wedding
- Saturday, 16 December Elf
For additional information:
Frances Harrison
Public Affairs Advisor
Waitakere City Council
Phone: (09) 836 8000 ext 8461
Mobile: 021 574 150
8 December
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Dr. Carolyn Coggan, Director Safe
Communities Foundation NZ signs the document with
Mayor Bob Harvey. |
Waitakere Safe Community
Waitakere has been
formally redesignated as a World
Health Organisation ‘safe community’.
Mayor Harvey says
that while Waitakere, like every community, cannot call
itself completely safe, the council is striving to make the
city safer – “and then safer and safer again”.
“Being a Safe Community is a journey – a journey of
continuous improvement,” Mayor Harvey says.
“As in most new things, when we started on this journey
there was little to guide us other than our gut feelings of
what might work.”
But today, he says, we know a great deal more about what
works and what doesn’t work and so progress is becoming
surer and quicker as we increasingly build on success and
progress.
“We know we need to be smart, we need to design the city so
it’s light, bright and busy so it’s designed for safety,
growth and development.”
Among Waitakere’s proudest achievements are our 40km/ph
zones around schools, the reduction of alcohol related
injuries in young men, and the high rates of seat belt
wearing and child seats in our vehicles, says Mayor Harvey.
However, he urges that Waitakere should remain vigilant
against its biggest enemy – domestic violence.
“It is shameful that nearly 40% of family violence cases in
Waitakere are repeat offenders, the highest rate in the
country,” Mayor Harvey says.
“We must eradicate family violence, and laws and regulations
and enforcement alone cannot achieve that.”
The Mayor proposed the concept of Waitakere becoming a City
for Peace to aid law enforcement in battling the epidemic.
“The City for Peace concept is about peace on all levels,
peace from armed conflict certainly, but also about peace in
our communities; peace in our intentions towards each other
- and being at peace with ourselves.
"Domestic violence grows out of social issues and alcohol -
and under these stresses people become aggressive. When
people are at peace with themselves, they are at peace with
the people around them, ” he says.
"While Waitakere’s domestic violence statistics are
appalling, at least they show the problem is becoming
increasingly visible, and that Waitakere is confronting the
issue," says Mayor Harvey.
Waitakere was the first city in New Zealand to be accredited
with safe community status in 1999.
The WHO Safe Communities model creates an infrastructure in
local communities for addressing injury prevention
initiatives by building partnerships between organisations
as well as providing access to the experience of like
communities throughout the world.
It gives the city a benchmark to reflect on how it is
delivering the safe community principles; signalling
direction of developments and measuring progress.
7 December
Celebrating Crown Lynn
In its heyday Waitakere’s Crown Lynn produced 15 million
pieces of household china annually, employed 500 people and
most kiwi families were eating their dinners off its wares.
A new display has been commissioned for the
New
Lynn Library which celebrates the products and history
of the iconic New Zealand company and the other clay and
pottery industries in the area.
Councillor Judy
Lawley, chairman of the
Culture,
Arts and Events Special Committee, says the Crown Lynn
display is a must see for all people interested in their
history.
“This is a fabulous display which preserves the history of
Crown Lynn, and recognises the huge contribution Crown Lynn
played in the history of the New Lynn area too,” says
Councillor Lawley.
“The display’s permanent setting in New Lynn’s
art-orientated library is entirely appropriate – it really
is a perfect location,” she says.
Project manager Tanya Wilkinson says it was a privilege to
be involved with the display as the story of the New Lynn
clay and pottery industries is such an important one for
Waitakere, and is so close to many people hearts.
“It is a very large story that we had to tell in a
reasonably limited space,” she says.
“Many people have generously assisted with photography,
memories and other information and it has taken around eight
months to be able to get all information we needed and the
pottery sourced to bring the exhibition together.
While some of the pottery on display was donated the
majority had to be purchased, as most people are keen to
hang onto their collections.”
The exhibition, containing ceramics, clay artefacts, photos
and information on the history of these industries was
funded by the Portage Licensing Trust.
It runs along an internal wall of the New Lynn library,
chronologically detailing the development of the pottery
industries in New Lynn’s from the early brickworks through
to Crown Lynn.
The exhibition is divided into four sections, the first
representing the early industries that specialised in heavy
clay materials – predominantly bricks, tiles and sewer
pipes.
The next section highlights the work of a number of studio
potters who worked in New Lynn including Jovan Rancich and
Briar Gardner.
And the third section details Crown Lynn and the objects
many New Zealanders will be most familiar with, the
household ceramics: the cups, the plates, the vases and
other ornaments that truly were world famous in New Zealand.
The display covers Crown Lynn’s history – from its days as
the country’s main ceramics supplier, when heavily protected
by government protectionism, to the dark days of the 1980s
with increased competition from Asia, the stock market crash
and the company's end.
The fourth section profiles designers employed by Crown Lynn
who created many of the special pieces that are still highly
regarded today, and very collectable.
The exhibition is formally opened tonight at 6.30pm and
follows the launch of Crown Lynn – A New Zealand Icon by
Valerie R Monk, who was also the researcher and writer for
this project.
Through many interviews with former Crown Lynn staff and
bosses Monk’s book covers Crown Lynn history in all its
ceramic beauty.
1 December
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey Involved In Hold up
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey might be totally opposed to
Transit New Zealand’s proposal to toll the western ring road
but he has no problem with holding up cars in New Lynn for a
good cause.
The mayor is taking part in the New Lynn Rotary Club’s Great
Western Hold Up fundraising event this Saturday (December 2)
from 9am – 10am.
Mayor Harvey and members of the club will be ‘persuading’
motorists stopped at intersections to donate money for use
in local community projects.
“My council is totally opposed to tolling the western ring
road because it will condemn the city to ever worsening
traffic problems,” says Mayor Harvey.
“It works against the interests of our city, its business
sector and its residents and we are tired of being
marginalised.
“However I am more than happy to revert back to our Wild
West hold up mentality to ensure local community groups are
benefited. We look after our own here in the west.”
Over the past two years the New Lynn Rotary Club has donated
more than $15,000 to charities as a direct result of the
Great Western Hold Up.
Local Waitakere MPs are expected to join the mayor in his
fundraising efforts at the event tomorrow which runs from
9am – noon.
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