Auckland Council is replacing the playgrounds at Rutherford Reserve (main entrance from Archdall St in Meadowbank) and Ruka Reserve (entrances from Ruka Lane and Taitokerau St in St Johns).
Proposed designs and equipment are shown below. Feedback is welcome – send to by Friday March 6.
Rutherford Reserve
Construction expected to begin in spring with completion expected in December 2015. Note that the flying fox will remain; it is just out of scope for these plans.
Download a PDF version of the Rutherford Reserve Playground Design: Rutherford layout PDF
Ruka Reserve
Construction is expected to begin in August and be completed by mid-September, depending on the weather.
Download a PDF version of the Ruka Reserve playground design: Ruka layout PDF
Orakei Local Board (OLB) and Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association (MBSJRA) held an information evening on February 26 to help locals better understand Auckland Council’s Long-term Plan and 10 year budget (Household Summary and submission document pictured on right) in time for the submission deadline of 4pm, March 16. We heard from three groups:
Orakei Local Board Chair Desley Simpson and Councillor Cameron Brewer
Carmel Claridge and Paul Markham from the ‘RatesBusters’ action group
Aaron Hutching from Auckland Transport about the Eastern Path (aka the Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes shared walk/cycleway).
A summary of what we heard is below.
Presentation from Orakei Local Board
Desley Simpson walked us through what the Long-term Plan will mean for Orakei residents. In a nutshell, despite ratepayers in Orakei ward contributing the highest rates in Auckland (estimated to be $1 billion dollars over 10 years), and rates forecast to increase by at least 6.5% on average in Orakei ward , less than 10% of those rates will be spent on projects within the ward.
The only projects in Orakei to receive funding in this Long-term Plan (i.e. until FY2020/2021) are lights at Ngapipi/Kepa Rd intersection, three sets of traffic lights on Orakei Rd at the Orakei Point development, and a ‘Meadowbank Park and Ride’.
Among the projects in Orakei Local Board’s long term plan that are not receiving funding or have funding deferred are:
Tamaki Drive Master Plan projects. Despite residents from all over Auckland (and beyond) coming to use Tamaki Drive’s roads, cycleways, beaches and amenities, there is no plan to invest in the area to improve it e.g. with separated cycle/walkways.
Meadowbank Community Centre upgrade
Michael’s Ave Park Stage 3
Madill’s Farm/Glover Park/Crossfield Park upgrades
Hobson Bay walkway extension
St Heliers Library Extension
Hobson Bay Action Plan.
–> The developer of the Orakei Point development has confirmed the traffic lights are part of the development budget, and we understand from Auckland Transport that there is no such thing as a Meadowbank Park and Ride as it is within the 10km exclusion zone for park and rides! So effectively apart from the intersection at Ngapipi/Kepa Rds, there is no spending at all budgeted for Orakei in the next ten years.
–> Make sure you include some of the other projects above in your submission!
Misleading transport options in Household Summary
Desley then walked us through the Transport options in the Long-term Plan. In the pictured Household Summary and submission form, Aucklanders are being asked to submit on whether they prefer one of two options: a ‘Basic Transport Network’ requiring an average of 3.5% rates rise (i.e. 6.5% in Orakei ward) or the ‘Auckland Plan Transport Network’ (see Household Summary booklet for details).
-> Key points are that ratepayers do have the right to reject both options in their submissions if they disagree with the rates increases, projects and timings (e.g. City Rail Link) outlined under each plan.
CCOs (Council Controlled Organisations)
Cr Cameron Brewer talked briefly about replacing two CCOs with a new development agency. This is covered in Question 3 in the Household Summary booklet.
-> Key points to consider is whether you think the new agency, which would be run by private interests, would serve ratepayers well.
Uniform Annual General Charge (UAGC)
-> A higher UAGC would reduce the rates burden on Orakei ward ratepayers.
Desley Simpson presenting to Meadowbank and St Johns locals at a meeting about the Long-term Plan and 10 year budget
RatesBusters
Mark Topham from local action group ‘RatesBusters’ presented next. RatesBusters recently formed to advocate on behalf of those who are concerned about projected rates rises, the financial management of ratepayer money by Auckland Council, and reduced investment back into local communities. They have calculated that local rates are likely to double in the next 7 years, according to the below graph:
RatesBusters have prepared a Long-term Plan submission document that advocates Council returning to core services and that rates should increase no more than the rate of inflation. If you share these views, you can join the group by emailing Mark on or Carmel on . They can send you more information and a draft submission for the Long-term Plan.
Eastern Path
Latest updates on the Eastern Path from Auckland Transport rep Aaron Hutching:
Section 1 from Glen Innes – St Johns Rd will be the first to begin construction and is currently in consent application phase.
Section 2 (of most interest to our area) from St Johns Rd – Meadowbank is in ‘technical survey’ phase. The technical team is also looking at feasibility of connecting the walkway to Selwyn College
Desley Simpson pointed out that access points into the path from Gowing Drive will be looked at from local board level. The path is funded by central government so additional connections will cost money which will be funded locally (this is a good item to mentioned in the Long-term Plan submission document.)
We are pleased to announce that our association now has a Transport Subcommittee.
The subcommittee will be led by Tim Duguid and Carmel Claridge, and will advocate for sensible local transport and parking options for Meadowbank and St Johns residents.
Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association chair Ruth Mackintosh says the subcommittee will be a welcome addition to the association. “Transport is such a big topic in our area and one that people feel very passionately about. We need to manage high demands for parking, traffic and public transport in Meadowbank and St Johns, while ensuring it remains a pleasant place to live.”
Some of the big topics the new subcommittee will be involved in include:
Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes Shared Walkway/Cycleway
Auckland Transport’s Parking Discussion Document
Parking outside the shops on St Johns Rd, including Meadow Restaurant
St Johns corridor management plan
Advocating for better management of busy local intersections, e.g. Norman Lesser Drive / St Johns Rd.
Our committee has voted in favour of including a local action group as a subcommittee of our association.
The Puroto, Purewa and Manapau Residents Group (PPMRG) wants better consultation with locals on the development of a Special Housing Area (SHA) planned for adjoining sites on Puroto and Purewa streets.
Housing New Zealand is proposing to build 14 new homes on the 2590 square metre SHA site where there are currently four state houses.
Under SHA legislation Housing New Zealand is not required to notify nearby residents of SHA resource consent applications made to the Auckland Council.
Only owners of adjoining properties have been invited by letter by Housing New Zealand to discuss their concerns and view plans.
PPMRG group leader Grant Dickson did not receive a letter despite living within 10 metres of the development. He says that while the PPRMG does not oppose redevelopment of the sites, he is worried that the intensity of the development is out of character for the neighbourhood and that locals won’t get to have their say.
The Puroto/Purewa SHA is the first of three SHAs in Meadowbank to be developed. The map below shows all three SHA sites.
The group has been accepted as a subcommittee of MBSJRA because it satisfies requirements set out in our constitution. MBSJRA Chair Ruth Mackintosh says “Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association is keen to ensure locals are consulted and represented in all developments in our area, including SHAs, in line with our mission to create a thriving and vibrant community.”
Judging by the smiles on the faces of performers, audience and bouncy castle-going kids alike, a great time was had by all at Saturday’s Christmas celebration held at St Chads. Check out the pictures below, and there are more on Facebook.
Thanks to the Orakei Local Board for giving us the funding to sponsor things like bouncy castles. The kids loved it!
St Chads organised multiple choirs, dancers and musicians for the appreciative crowd.
Auckland Council is planning to revamp the playground at Rutherford Reserve, and they’re giving us a chance to let them know what we (and our kids) want!
Auckland Transport is seeking our feedback on the proposed Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes shared walk/cycle path which will pass through the Pourewa Valley in Meadowbank. Visit https://at.govt.nz/easternpath to see the designs and have your say.
We attended the Auckland Transport (AT) public meeting on Saturday 22 November about the shared path. They showed a video ‘flyover view’ of what the walkway will look like, and had large posters of each of the sections.
Of particular interest to Meadowbank and St Johns residents is ‘Section 2’ of the pathway, which passes through the Pourewa Valley (see image below).
From Meadowbank station towards Glen Innes, the path continues the existing walkway from Orakei Basin, i.e. along the southern side of the train tracks. There is a slight detour inland at Purewa Reserve. The path will then cross to the northern side of the train tracks at the eastern end of Purewa Reserve. It will remain on the northern side of the tracks and then cut across Meadowbank Pony Club land up to St Johns Rd. We note there is currently no provision for access to the pathway from Meadowbank between Purewa Reserve and St Johns Rd.
Here’s a picture of where the pathway will cross the railway tracks at the eastern end of Purewa Reserve:
What do you think about our section of the pathway? Do you think this pathway serves our community well? Be sure to give your feedback via https://at.govt.nz/easternpath – open until 19 December 2014.
Thanks
…to AT for organising the meeting, which was well attended with plenty of people filling in forms, milling about the posters, and having discussions with AT staff.
Public meeting held at St Chads Church on November 22 about the Tamaki Drive – Glen Innes shared pathway
Auckland Transport and the NZ Transport Agency are holding a public meeting on 22 November from 8.30am – 12pm about the shared walkway and cycleway that will run from Tamaki Drive to Glen Innes town centre.
All are welcome to come and meet the project team, learn about the walkway and provide feedback.
If you’ve got food to throw out from the fridge or freezer due to this week’s power outage, Auckland Council advises: “We are monitoring rubbish collection for all areas affected by the power outage. Normal collection days apply and any waste food should be wrapped in newspaper and placed in the bin as usual. Any excess waste should be placed in a plastic bag next to the bin on collection day and will be removed as part of the normal collection.”
Did you know that your local fire station provides a FREE home safety check and will install (pre-purchased) smoke alarms for you? With most fire fatalities due to people inhaling toxic gases and smoke from fires while asleep, there is no excuse for not having a working fire alarm in your home.
Jason and Linda from NZ Fire Service were first up at our ‘Safety at Home’ evening on Tuesday 12 August, and enthralled us with stories and statistics from their fire investigation work. They said despite advertising, education and common-sense, of the 4000 NZ Fire Service callouts last year, 80% didn’t have working smoke alarms.
Further sobering news followed: a video which showed it takes just one minute for a fire at home to reach 250 degrees, and another minute to reach over 700 degrees! If you’re ever in a fire, you need to get out as quickly as you can. Forget about your stuff: “possessions can be replaced. People can’t”.
Further advice from NZ Fire Service:
Modern photoelectric smoke alarms are preferable and last longer (10 years) than ionisation smoke detectors. At around $40 they are also more cost-effective than replacing the 9V batteries on older alarms.
Get your electric blankets tested every year to ensure they’re not a fire risk.
For more information and to contact your local fire station, see the New Zealand Fire Service website.
Next up was St John Ambulance. With just half an hour upskill our audience in all things first aid, they gave us some excellent advice:
Before going to help someone, ensure your own safety first.
If someone is unconscious, always call an ambulance. Perform CPR at ratio of 30:2 breaths to chest compressions – “30:2, no matter who”.
If there is bleeding: elevate the area and get the patient to apply pressure if they can.
If you’d like to book a first aid course, see the St John website.
After the presentations, residents enjoyed a chat over a cuppa and homemade baking. Ruth’s oaty cookies and Lynda’s Weet-bix slice proved especially popular.
Thanks to all who attended, particularly NZ Fire Service and St John Ambulance for sharing your wisdom with us!
