News

Ahead of the 2016 Auckland Council elections (voting closes 8 October), more than 100 people attended an engaging and at times lively evening, organised jointly with our friends at the Mission Bay and Kohimarama Residents Association.

All four Ward Councillor candidates and 13 of the 14 Local Board candidates made their pitches for our votes and answered questions on a range of topics. Many of those present commented favourably on how impressed they were with the way candidates presented themselves and articulated clear, relevant and distinct views on a range of issues.

Questions tabled by the Residents Associations challenged the Councillor candidates to:

• Name the top three things they would try to achieve if elected
• Describe how they would work with others to achieve the best outcomes for Auckland and the Orakei Ward
• Describe how they would secure funding for projects in our area.

Then the Orakei Local Board candidates fielded questions on a range of local issues including:

• The GI-Tamaki Drive Shared Walk/Cycleway (aka the Eastern Path)
• Meadowbank Community Centre upgrade
• Protecting our green spaces
• How they would manage the 20 hours a week commitment that the role demands.

Questions from the floor covered off a wider range of topical subjects including traffic safety and intensification in the Orakei area. The evening ended with mixing and mingling over tea, coffee and home baking, the latter for which we have apparently now become famous! The conversations flowed until well past 10 pm.

Voting is open until 8 October. As we were reminded on the night: “if you don’t vote, you can’t complain!”

Kit Parkinson addresses the crowd at our ‘Meet the Local Candidates’ event. Photo: Desley Simpson

Meadowbank Road is bearing the brunt of increased busy-ness in our area. With two major crashes this month, we look at what’s being done to improve safety on this busy road.

Crashes

As anyone who reads our Facebook page will know, there has been a spate of car crashes on Meadowbank Road recently. We’ve reported on two of them, both involving high speeds; there has been one more in the last few days. And residents on Panapa Drive reported a car crashed into a tree a couple of weeks ago.

These may be coincidental; isolated incidents of dangerous driving. We’re not party to the individual police investigations that may follow. But they serve to highlight a general issue that was raised at our August meeting: namely how to improve road safety and at the same time address the wider transport challenges that come along with intensification of Meadowbank and St Johns and the surrounding suburbs.

Crash on September 1. Photo: Susan Honeybone

Crash on Friday 9 September. Photo: Tim Duguid

Improving road safety on Meadowbank Rd

Specifically in terms of Meadowbank Road, we’ve been advocating to Auckland Transport (AT) along with the Orakei Local Board for safety improvements for two or more years. Many residents have raised these issues in previous years. We understand AT are looking at radar speed signs, pedestrian crossing facilities and other treatments that may result in an improved environment for all users.

Increased traffic due to people driving to Meadowbank train station

Given the increasing numbers of people commuting to the CBD from Meadowbank Train Station, our advocacy for a bus service to connect with the train station is also relevant in this context: everyone heading there by bus would mean one less car. Looking back, there’s been a dramatic change over the years: from barely 50 people a day catching the train on a weekday in 2003 to more than 600 a day in 2016. That’s hundreds more daily peak time car journeys up and down Meadowbank Road, increasing by 15-20% a year. By the time the Central Rail Link opens in 2021, allowing through trips to Aotea Square, K Rd, Grafton and Newmarket, there could be well over 1,000 a day.

And of course traffic continues to grow and incidents happen on other streets around Meadowbank and St Johns too.

Auckland Transport response

AT have an engineer working on the issues. Some measures are being planned. We are working with AT to arrange for them to speak on this and related transport issues at an open meeting in November.

On September 8, Judith Everitt and Sarah Codling from Ray White held a well-attended free community seminar about the Unitary Plan for residents of Meadowbank, St Johns & St Johns Park.

Topics discussed were:

• The difference between zoning and rules
• Zoning for different areas
• Rules within the zones
• Some insight into our ideas of what the future could look like in each of the zones
• Allaying some fears about developer behaviour – particularly reiterating that development is an exercise of meeting the markets needs, and the market does not always want high density
• The Special Housing Area development on the corner of Meadowbank Road, and the Summerset development in Parsons Paddock, using slides approved by the developers.

Judith and Sarah are offering private & home appointments to those who came to the event, but are also happy to extend that to the members of MBSJRA – for anyone wanting to know about the unitary plan, anyone wanting to add value to their home without overspending, or even just to know how the unitary plan has impacted their value or neighbours.

Contact Judith Everitt on 021 2777 844, email , or visit www.juditheveritt.co.nz.

Locals attend the ‘Unitary Plan Unravelled’ event hosted by Judith Everitt – a local resident, geographer and real estate agent.

Great news for local walkers – Auckland Transport (AT) has approved a pedestrian refuge to be installed outside 181 St Johns Rd, outside the St Johns Theological College. The bus stop on the College side of the road will also be realigned as part of this project.

Thank you to all those residents who put in individual submissions to help support our push for a safer pedestrian environment along St Johns Rd. As a Residents Association we have been advocating to AT for improvements to the crossings outside St Johns College since the formation of our Transport subcommittee.

Although AT have not agreed to a zebra crossing, we think this is a step in the right direction, and we’re encouraged to see AT responding positively to residents’ concerns.

See the Feedback Summary for 181 St Johns Rd Pedestrian Refuge and Bus Stop Realignment from AT for full details of the project, FAQs, and next steps.

Five frontrunning Mayoral candidates attended our AGM on June 20: Phil Goff, John Palino, Vic Crone, David Hay and Mark Thomas. Unfortunately Penny Bright was a no-show despite earlier promises to attend.

Each candidate delivered a three minute elevator pitch, then we put four questions to them. Two questions about about tough issues facing all Aucklanders, and two about specific local concerns.

The questions:

1. How will you improve financial prudence, improve efficiency in Council and reduce debt?
2. How will you address Auckland’s housing supply and affordability challenges, while making sure our urban suburbs a) don’t decrease in value, b) retain green spaces and c) we urban ratepayers don’t have to fund millions of dollars in new urban sprawl?
3. How will you ensure our ageing population will be served by our public transport options, given our new proposed bus network will require more walking, more bus and train changes (people will be more exposed to weather), and the fact that there is limited park and ride at train stations?
4. How will you fund connections from Meadowbank & St Johns into the Eastern Pathway, given that the pathway itself (funded by NZTA and Auckland Council) currently includes very limited access for us and could potentially link us with our in-zone schools across the valley? Currently Orakei Local Board is expected to fund connections for us into the pathway.

The responses:

Phil Goff: With 825 people coming to Auckland per week, traffic and housing affordability are key issues. Central and local government need to work together. Super city good in theory due to economies of scale but is not working. Need to make Auckland “where talent wants to live” (quote from Paul Callaghan).

1. Need 20 billion of infrastructure and can’t borrow more or increase rates. Instead, need bonds or road user charges. Current loss to economy of Auckland’s transport issue is 3 billion per year.
2. Rental costs going up six times faster than inflation. Current level of growth means we need to go up and out, but also need to control immigration and speculation. Intensification should follow transport hubs, e.g. Panmure has so many used car yards around station – this could instead be used for housing.
3. Specifically addressed the question about our local buses – results of consultation will be released on Thursday 23 June (see our news article Auckland Transport Announces New Bus Routes from 2017). There were 3700 submissions. In general, Auckland’s transport issues need people getting out of cars and into public transport. Need airport links, light rail and safe cycle ways for schools.
4. Strongly supports the project, but fiscal responsibility means that can’t provide everything locals want. Not promising anything.

Mark Thomas: Wants a city that works better. Currently trying to be all things to all people. Has solutions for transport, growth and budget.

1. Believe rewriting Auckland Plan at heart of solving fiscal issues. Too much is being paid for by local boards instead of Council.
2. Need to focus on intensifying housing in specific areas owned by Council. Improve consents process, says there is a ’20 day lie’ whereby consents are meant to take 20 days but in reality take much longer.
3. Promised to communicate results of bus consultation when he is briefed on Thursday (which he duly did). Wants to restructure AT into 6 local boards, following Council & local board current model. This will help better address local transport issues.
4. Very grateful to Government for this but the lack of connections problem highlights that not enough local people were involved in the planning of this project.

David Hay: Stood for Greens in Epsom during 2007 general election. Wants Auckland to be carbon zero by 2060. Says he knows Council well, including legal framework.

1. Need a new plan for Council to work with central Government.
2. Believes we can’t build good quality, affordable housing and supply can be increased with prefab, modular housing. Supply need to exceed demand to quell speculation. Need to build quickly as well as in lots of areas. Need to collaborate with building industry, e.g. housing inspectors.
3. Agree with John Palino about polycentric (satellite) cities. Favours rapid transport networks (i.e. light rail) and frequent feeder networks into frequent routes for inner suburbs like Meadowbank & St Johns.
4. This project should not be funded by Council. Orakei Local Board should pay, as money is needed in other parts of Auckland too.

Vic Crone: Council spending is out of control, e.g. 50% more spend in Council staff. Council needs a shakeup – need to control this currently out-of-control organisation. Wants a world class city. We must all be able to put roots down in Auckland, and solve complex housing supply issue.

1. Has experience to unite Council into efficiency: senior infrastructure (telco and utilities) industry experience. Has backing of 9 councillors. Wants a culture transformation at Council in a fiscally responsible way.
2. Housing is supply issue, need more land, infrastructure and to improve consenting process. Need to get CCOs (i.e. Watercare and Auckland Transport) on board. Density needs to be reasonable. Need a leader to pull these facets together with central govt.
3. With transport, doesn’t want to ask for more money, instead look to public private partnerships, e.g. perhaps with Uber. Technology will help with current challenges, e.g. driverless feeder vehicles. Auckland Transport not using data to create suitable routes; they are dictating instead. Current challenges with older people and female population after hours – do not feel safe.
4. Wants rates spend put in context: money being sucked from this ward yet we are not getting investment back. Council needs to listen harder to local boards [which would have highlighted need for local connections]. Push Auckland Transport to access funding.

John Palino: Look to overseas cities that work well; all have satellite cities to handle intensification. Satellite cities (e.g. ‘nodes’ at Albany, Henderson and a new city built from ground up in South Auckland) that have transport and job options are at core of his plan. Current Council growth plan is weak.

1. Promised to reduce rates by 10% next term through staff cost savings. Need to make Council more efficient and focus on core Council business. Current overcrowding and congestion is unacceptable.
2. Intensify CBD areas that have public transport, instead of urban areas that don’t. Open urban limit. Need to maintain our beautiful suburbs.
3. Need parking around transport hubs. 12% of people are commuting to CBD
4. Believes that cycling is core business of Council, especially given Tamaki Drive asset in our ward.

More information

More information about each candidate:

• Mark Thomas (1.16 mins, Facebook video, ‘How will you manage Council debt?’)
• David Hay
• Vic Crone
• John Palino (‘A Vision for Auckland’ PDF, 1.2MB)
• Phil Goff

Media coverage

To Meadowbank, where would-be mayors are upstaged by the Queen of the East by Tim Murphy, The Spinoff, June 21, 2016

Huge thanks to our sponsors

• Barfoot & Thompson Meadowbank (wine)
• Countdown Meadowbank (platters of cheese & nibbles)
• Meadowbank Corner Chemist (door prize)
• SeaLink (door prize)
• Judith Everitt from Ray White Remuera (door prize).

Photos

Credit: Kevin Kevany

Newly elected treasurer, Barry Stuart, and Linda Jones of Meadowbank Corner Chemist signing up new members

MP for Tamaki Simon O’Connor, Orakei Local Board Chair Desley Simpson, and Desley’s Mum

Flowers to thank our outgoing chair Ruth Mackintosh, with committee member Carmel Claridge (left) and secretary, Lynda McCarthny

Phil Goff, MP for Mt Roskill and Auckland mayoral candidate speaks at our AGM

David Hay, Auckland mayoral candidate speaks at our AGM

Mayoral panel, from left to right: David Hay, Mark Thomas, Vic Crone, Phil Goff and John Palino at our AGM

Full house at our AGM

Mark Thomas, current Orakei Local Board member and mayoral candidate speaks at our AGM

Vic Crone, Auckland mayoral candidate speaks at our AGM

Packed house at our AGM to hear Auckland’s Mayoral candidates

AGM attendee Ms Jackie Hui, newly elected committee member Carmel Claridge, Orakei Local Board Chair Desley Simpson and Orakei Local Board member Colin Davis

Refreshments thanks to Barfoot & Thompson Meadowbank and Countdown Meadowbank