Waitakere City News
Long Term Council Community Plan Edition
Waitakere City continues to
grow at one of the fastest rates in New Zealand. So, if we want to keep going forward, the
City needs a new plan. That new plan is the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP). The Annual Plan 2003/2004 is part
of this document. The LTCCP builds on work the Council started last year in its 10-year
review. During that time we talked to a number of our communities about what was important to
them and how we could make the City we all want. That work was a part of writing the
draft LTCCP.
2003/04 Key financial information
Modest impact on rates
For 2003/04, the draft plan shows an increase in the Council costs of 1.18%, or
$990,000 which is well below
the rate of inflation.
Each year the Council puts aside funds to replace assets such as roads, buildings and pipes (this is known depreciation). Depreciation and interest charges have increased by $3.908 million (or 4.62%) to make up an increase 5.80% in Council controllable costs.
What you get for your rates
Every single day, perhaps without even thinking about it, you're using services or facilities
paid for out of your rates - whether it's flushing the toilet, driving to the shops on the roads, or watching the
kids play sport on a local sports field.
The average residential rate in Waitakere is $1293 a year (or $25 a week). That pays for:
 |
More than 540 sports grounds and parks |
|
Libraries in New Lynn, Glen Eden, Henderson, Massey, Ranui, Te Atatu South, Te Atatu Peninsula,
Titirangi, and the mobile library |
|
More than 1700km of roads and footpaths |
|
Inorganic rubbish collection and disposal (as well as litter clean-up and street cleaning) |
|
Animal and noise control |
|
Graffiti control |
|
Community events |
|
Community Centres |
|
School holiday programmes |
|
Arts and Cultural venues |
|
Recreation centres |
|
|
Cents in the dollar
| Wastewater (inner area only) |
25.0 |
| Roads & footpaths |
14.7 |
| Parks |
14.8 |
| Democracy |
8.5 |
| Stormwater |
6.8 |
| Libraries |
6.9 |
| Leisure |
5.5 |
| Rubbish (collection and disposal) |
4.6 |
| City development |
3.3 |
| Business (development and promotion) |
2.3 |
| Passenger Transport |
1.0 |
| All other services |
3.9 |
| External levies |
2.7 |
| Total |
$1.00 |
|
Major expenditure will include
What we're doing in the next 3 years
City wide
- Extend the green network
- Work for greater broadband coverage
- Develop a children's strategy
- Support energy efficiency and clean air programmes
- Support innovative housing initiatives
- Double track the rail system, have new stations and better access
- Build park-and-rides and cycleways
- Install bus lanes and bus priority systems
- Continue partnership and collaboration projects with communities
- Schools' civics education programmes
- Support growing industries like film, boat building, organics etc
- Extend green waste composting to include kitchen waste collection and processing
- Complete Harbourview development
- Complete Glen Eden library
- Support Lopdell Arts Precinct development
- Support small businesses and our business incubator
New Lynn
- Solve the rail/bus/road interchange at Totara/Clark St
- Build a new library complex
- Complete Manawa Wetland development
- Plan for the impact of State Highway 20
Henderson
- Move the Civic Centre back to the CBD as catalyst for future growth
- Support the Corban Estate cultural centre
- Support UNITEC expansion
- Build a library with UNITEC
- Release land for industrial and commercial development in Lincoln Rd
- Support Stadium completion (open mid 2004)
- Continue to support the Eco-Hospital initiatives (open November 2003)
Northern Growth Area (Westgate to Hobsonville)
- Plan for sustainable development
- Investigate local water, waste water and stormwater management systems
- Investigate local energy efficiency
- Work with Transit on State Highway design (expected completion 2007)
- Support ferry services operations
Waitakere Ranges and rural areas
- Enhance Ranges protection
- Support a pest free island in the Ranges
- Support an inclusive process to protect the Waitakere Wetland
- Enhance rural villages
The priorities and platforms
To achieve its long term goals the Council has grouped its activities onto nine “platforms”. Each
delivers a different part of the work that needs to be done - but they all work together to produce one city where
everything works with everything else to produce the best possible quality of life. There is a twenty year vision for
the City and so, while the LTCCP itself only plans 10 years ahead, it supports the vision the Council has for what the
City will be like in 2020.
The LTCCP sets out what we have to do during the first 10 years of that journey. The nine platforms describe how we will
get there. They are summarised below and can be found in full, in the draft
LTCCP.
The five priorities
The Council has confirmed that its five, unchanging, key priorities in developing the City, are:
- A commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi
- Sustainable Development
- the First Call for Children programme
- Building a Safe City
- Lifelong Learning (access to and opportunity for education is available to all)
Everything Council does will take account of these five priorities and the draft LTCCP shows how Council's vision
will be delivered over the next ten years.
The nine platforms
Urban & Rural Villages
2020 Vision
Town Centres are thriving, providing exciting options for people to live, work
and play. Public facilities and places and the streets are alive and busy.
Summary
This platform is about ensuring people have choices in housing, transport, employment and recreation in
their neighbourhoods and town centres. Our objective is to make the City a vibrant and enjoyable place to live, work and
play by creating attractive urban places that encourage growth and economic development, with minimal environmental
impacts.
2003 / 2004 Priorities
- Plan northern growth areas (Whenuapai, Hobsonville, Westgate)
- Begin Waitakere City Central library in Henderson
- Complete Glen Eden library
- Further develop Corban Estate Art Centre
- Plan for shifting Civic Centre to Henderson
- New Lynn; Todd/Totara areas development underway
- Complete plan to manage growth of urban areas
- Help key housing providers to offer housing options
- Begin planning Rural Villages
Integrated Transport & Communication
2020 Vision
Public transport and communication systems provide fast, effective services to the whole City. Transport systems are integrated,
innovative and environmentally responsible.
Summary
This platform is about developing a workable passenger transport system to serve a growing population and
end traffic congestion. It will serve the existing network of roads, towns, and neighbourhood centres and make sure this
growing City is always easy to get around.
2003 / 2004 Priorities
- Double-tracking begins on railway to Auckland, with cycleways alongside
- Review Council car fleet policy (alternative fuels/vehicles)
- Munroe Bridge built linking Munroe Rd and Summerland Dr
- Telecommunications action plan with Waitakere On-Line
- Libraries extend Internet provision and agreements with telecommunications providers
finalised
- Build park and ride at Sturges Station
- Extend cycleways
- Give buses priority at intersections
Strong Innovative Economy
2020 vision
Waitakere is a place of innovative economic activities, providing local quality work
and development options for its people. Environmentally responsible businesses are supported and flourishing.
Summary
This platform is about promoting local enterprise, jobs and economic growth in high quality town centres
designed for the task. It includes promoting research and development; identification and development of business
clusters (organics, film, etc); working with businesses to improve the environment; increasing the City's profile as a
good place to do business; working with other Councils to develop the regional economy; maintaining our environmental
advantages; and providing the basis for sustainable economic growth.
2003 / 2004 Priorities
- Henderson Vineyard (Lincoln Rd land) on market.
- Creative Industries Strategy developed
- Progress Hobsonville and Whenuapai development.
- Implement Regional and local economic strategies.
- Assess alternative energy production (e.g. solar power)
- Improve client services with better Council processes.
- Support film, marine and arts activities
- Support local youth into work
- Support broadband provision into the City
Strong Communities
2020 Vision
People are active, healthy and content. They feel safe and there is a strong
sense of community. Our City is a great place for children. We enjoy our diversity of lifestyles and people.
Summary
This platform addresses how we support the health and wellbeing of the City's residents.
- Strong communities that "connect" with (mix and understand) each other
- A safe and supportive environment for children
- Community safety and accessible health & support services
- Leisure facilities and services that people enjoy
- Library, education and information services meet needs
- Access to appropriate housing
2003 / 2004 Priorities
- Children and youth action plan developed
- Local youth "event places" established
- Waitakere City events centre/stadium completed with Council support
- Planning forum to raise profile of local schools.
- Sale of liquor, alcohol and gaming policies in place
- Early Childhood Strategy underway
- Glen Eden Library completed
- Continue Ranui development project
Active Democracy
2020 Vision
People feel that they can make a difference. There are high levels of community participation and respect for each other's views.
Summary
This platform supports the involvement of citizens in the Council's decision-making
process, through education, removing barriers, developing partnerships, improving information flows and supporting
communities own ways of interacting with the Council.
2003 / 2004 Priorities
- Active democracy programmes actioned.
- Extension of community access to internet in libraries.
- Civics education in schools.
- Better access to Council services through libraries and internet
- Build on existing partnerships
- Treaty framework project
Green Network
2020 Vision
The Waitakere Ranges will be permanently protected. There will be a network of bush and trees (the Green Network) from the
Ranges, through town centres and suburbs, to the coasts, bringing the natural world into people's everyday lives and
filling the streams and forests with life.
Summary
This platform is about caring for natural areas. The City's parks, bush and streams form a
Green Network that provides homes and highways for wildlife and recreational areas for people. It also assists with managing
and filtering stormwater. Protection and enhancement is sought on both public and private land, community
involvement is encouraged, as is the protection of landscapes, native plants, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing friendly
green areas throughout the City.
2003 / 2004 Priorities
- As part of the Waitakere Ranges protection strategy
- Start implementing Waitakere Ranges Protection project
- Establish a process to manage and protect the Waitakere Wetland
- Support establishment of a West Coast Marine Park
- Support a pest free mainland island in Waitakere City
- Start developing Harbourview Park on Te Atatu Peninsula
- Negotiate more conservation covenants giving permanent protection or environmental features on private land
- Establish Pacific Islands cultural garden
- Develop the Northern Growth Area as a world class example of a Green Network in an urban development
- Continue Twin Streams project in Oratia/Opanuku and Swanson streams
- Continue Green Network Economic Incentives
- Continue community involvement in park and Green Network development
Three Waters
2020 Vision
Waitakere takes an innovative approach in managing drinking water supply, wastewater and stormwater together, under the
heading of The Three Waters.
Summary
This platform is designed to ensure that services in all three areas are efficient, reliable and high quality and
minimise impacts on the environment over the long term. This will safeguard resources for future generations in line with the
principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
2003 / 2004 Priorities
- Start works to minimise the adverse effects of stormwater
- Continue Green Network Economic Incentives
- Continue community involvement in park and green network development
- Implement policy for drains on private land that contribute to infiltration (ongoing)
- Initiate an integrated, Three Waters, catchment programme in the Whau catchment (6 year programme)
- Implement an on-going household water conservation subsidy scheme
- Clean up stormwater on motorway interchanges
- Continue upgrading New Lynn services
- Research local water solutions for the northern growth area
Sustainable Energy and Clean Air
2020 Vision
Waitakere City will be an energy cell, not an energy sink. In other words, it will
produce energy rather than just using energy. Its air quality will be among the best in the world (with consequent health
benefits).
Summary
This strategic platform will support work on:
- Policy, planning and advocacy
- Education and incentives
- Energy conservation demonstration projects
- Emission testing
- Cleaner production by industry and schools
2003 / 2004 Priorities
- Corporate sustainability programme underway
- Air/energy policy including impact of carbon tax on Council operations, developed.
- Energy efficiency plan developed for Council's vehicle fleet
- Audit energy efficiency of Council's leisure sites
- Support Eco-house in New Lynn
- Initiate Sustainable Households programme (helping households be rubbish, water and energy
efficient)
- Promote public transport use
- Encourage vehicle emissions testing at the Council Vehicle Testing Station
- Develop Energy and Air forum for public and business
Zero Waste
2020 Vision
Waitakere's Zero Waste strategy will produce a clean and attractive City that turns
all its waste into resources.
Summary
Zero Waste does not mean that no rubbish will be produced. It means that we will deal with it in such a way that
to the greatest possible extent, it is turned back into useful resources - and not simply dumped in landfills. It works on the
principles of reduce, re-use, recycle and recover - including combating litter and illegal dumping.
The Council will continue to provide efficient, high quality, recyclables and waste
collection services, and to manage the environmental and safety impacts of waste disposal. The Council has a legal
obligation to produce a Waste Management Plan based on the hierarchy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycling, Recover and
Residual Disposal.
2003 / 2004 Priorities
- Open new bays at the Transfer Station to further improve recovery of usable materials (resource-recovery)
- Specify waste minimisation and separation of types of waste on Council building projects
- Increase education/promotion programme
- Plan for kerbside collection of kitchen waste for composting
- Continue to improve Trash to Fashion
- Continue green waste composting at Transfer Station
|
