News

On Wednesday 24 June we held the second Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association.

After the official business (see below for details) was concluded, we had several expert speakers present on the topic of local transport.

Councillor Cameron Brewer provided an introduction to the transport theme, with a macro view of projected population growth in the Auckland region. Main points:

• In addition to greenfield and infill housing, there are also significant apartment complexes planned for the CBD, all of which will put pressure on existing tranport options.
• In terms of Orakei Local Board area (within which Meadowbank and St Johns are included), we need more emphasis on feeder buses to get to rail transport links.
• Unfortunately, not a lot of ratepayers’ upcoming transport targeted rate will be spent within Orakei ward.

Orakei Local Board Chair Desley Simpson gave us the scoop on four important transport projects within Meadowbank and St Johns:

1. Hot off the press: Lights have been approved by Auckland Transport (AT) for the Grand Drive and Abbotts Way intersection. A roundabout was also considered. Full details available in the Memo Grand Drive Abbotts Way from Orakei Local Board.
2. The pedestrian entrance from Abbotts Way into Waiatarua Reserve will be tidied up.
3. Hot off the press: The government has approved funding for the Eastern Path (aka Tamaki Drive – Glen Innes shared walk/cycleway). Digging on the first section from Glen Innes to St Johns Rd will begin in July and is due to be completed next year.
4. T3 lanes (which are periodically up for review) will be kept along Remuera Rd.

Transport Planner from Auckland Transport, Lorraine Stone, presented about the Corridor Management Plan (CMP) for St Johns Rd and Remuera Rd (from Newmarket to College Rd roundabout). The CMP is a long-term (30 year) strategic document. Locals will be consulted on various projects as they arise.  See the full St Johns Rd/Remuera Rd Corridor Management Plan Presentation.

Local transport enthusiast Greg Nikoloff gave a fascinating presentation. He takes publicly available data about transport and turns it into graphics which speak volumes for current and future transport needs. To view his work, take a look at Greg Nikoloff’s “Past Present and ‘Back to the Future'” presentation.

Official business

Minutes from last year’s AGM were taken as read and accepted. The treasurer’s report was read and accepted. Committee members were approved including Ruth Mackintosh as Chair, Matthew Kelly as Treasurer and Lynda McCarthny as Secretary. A full list of new committee members can be found on our Committee page.

Thanks to our supporters

Countdown Meadowbank, Barfoot & Thompson Meadowbank, Orakei Local Board, Sealink and Meadowbank Corner Chemist.

Auckland Council is seeking submissions on its review of alcohol bans in public places. If you want to keep alcohol bans in place in your local parks and reserves, you need to prove to Auckland Council (through submissions and supporting evidence such as photos) that the ban should remain.

The reason for the review is that previously the Council could apply alcohol bans in similar types of public places (e.g. in all parks if there were problems in a few specific parks). However recent changes in the Local Government Act 2002 mean this approach is no longer possible. All alcohol bans must be assessed individually for evidence of high levels of alcohol-related crime or disorder occurring in the specific ban area.

How to have your say

The first step is to complete a written submission. We encourage the use of the submission form as it provides a prompt for the key information required. People may:

• complete an online submission form at shapeauckland.co.nz, OR
• complete a hard copy submission form (available from Orakei Local Board office in Meadowbank Mall) and either drop it in to us or return by freepost, OR
• provide their own written submission (this should cover off they key aspects outlined in the council submission form).

The written submission period is open now and closes on Friday 17 July 2015. Local board hearings and deliberations will occur August – September, with all final decisions to be made before 31 October 2015.

Orakei Local Board is revisiting dog access rules for Thomas Bloodworth Park, Shore Road Reserve, Wilson’s Beach, Ladies Bay, Churchill Park, Gentleman’s Bay, the foreshore between Glendowie Boating Club and Vista Crescent, and Orakei Basin West and East reserves.

Submissions open until Friday 17 July, 2015.

Visit the Dog Access Bylaw Review page on the Auckland Council website to review proposed changes to the rules and have your say.

Here is the footage from the ‘Good Sorts’ segment featuring Roy Clements that aired on TV1 news, Sunday 17 April.

Roy was responsible for regenerating several overgrown areas within Pourewa Valley with native bush, and also helped set up the refugee learning centre attached to Selwyn College.

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/goodsort-roy-clements-transforms-untamed-bush-into-beautiful-gardens-video-6314383

A reminder to all that our $10 per household fee is due for 2015.

Our financial year runs from April 1 – March 31, so fees are due again now.

For details on how to pay and to find out what your money is used for, see our Join page.

Thank you!

MBSJRA Transport Subcommittee Co-leader Carmel Claridge attended a guided walk in the Pourewa Valley. She learned of the fantastic work being done by local groups in restoring the native bush and the vision for walk/cycleways in the valley to connect Meadowbank/St Johns to the city and Kepa Rd. Below is her report.

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On Saturday 11th April, Roy Clements hosted a walk through the Selwyn Park/Bush area (also known as the Pourewa Valley) for the Orakei Local Board, Meadowbank & St Johns Residents Association (MBSJRA) and other interested parties.

Roy, and a number of individuals and volunteer groups (such as the Pourewa Restoration Group) have been working for over 14 years to maintain and develop this stunning piece of land – clearing rubbish and noxious weeds, restoring the native bush, planting, and creating pathways and natural corridors.

In attendance from the Orakei Local Board were Kit Parkinson and Mark Thomas. The Local Board are interested in connecting its existing walkway up the valley from the Orakei Basin and continuing the existing Council pathway that presently concludes at the Kepa Bush boundary.

The site is also of vital importance to provide access to Selwyn College & St Thomas’s Primary School from the Meadowbank / St Johns Area. If access points across the train lines are built to connect with the upcoming Eastern Path (Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes Shared Path) project, it would then be a reasonably straightforward exercise to improve on existing dirt tracks to enable pedestrian access through the Pourewa Valley up to those schools and Kohimarama Rd. The Local Board have funding to contribute to access points and it is important for the local community to continue to be involved in the decision as to where those access points are to be established.

A property of particular interest to Orakei Local Board (and the MBSJRA Transport Subcommittee) is on Gowing Drive. The property consists of 2 titles with one existing dwelling and runs down to the train tracks. It would be an ideal location for an access point.

Roy is keen to see the Pourewa Valley protected and a plan put into place to continue the invaluable work that has gone into this project. The problem of course is funding – or lack of it, to be more precise. But in the meantime it is vital the local community are made aware of this amenity and the benefits it can potentially deliver in the future.

Representatives from the Board will look at providing some signage to help raise awareness of this lovely piece of urban jungle which hopefully will lead to greater usage and appreciation by the local community.

Left – right: Carmel Claridge (MBSJRA), Roy Clements, Mark Thomas (OLB), Kit Parkinson (OLB) and Jane (Forest & Bird Society)