News | Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association - Part 7 - Meadowbank and St Johns Residents Association

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Recent News

Let’s Keep St Johns Together

Posted: 23 August 2018

Due to population growth in Auckland’s CBD the Council is reviewing ward boundaries to make sure each ward has roughly the same amount of people. This is a statutory requirement by the Local Electoral Act. Meadowbank and St Johns currently sit in Orakei Ward. Part of the proposal to reshuffle boundaries is for part of St Johns to be moved to the Maungakiekie Ward – see map below and click here for more information. While we understand the need to ensure that council wards contain about the same amount of people, we believe that there are better options than splitting a suburb, and spreading a residents association across two wards that (in our humble opinion) is working well. We believe that there are more suitable options for adjusting the ward boundaries and that either Stonefields or part of Glendowie moving into the Maungakiekie ward would be closer to the Communities of Interest that the council used for their initial proposal. There is also some concern that down the track this could mean that the local board boundaries change also.

The Association will be lodging a submission that reflects this view and we encourage all members and residents who feel strongly about the issue to lodge submissions reflecting their own views. Note that the submissions close on 11 September 2018 and can be lodged online by clicking here. We want to encourage all who have views on the proposed boundary changes to make a submission.

Summerset Retirement Village Resource Consent Declined

Posted: 31 July 2018

We have received news that the application for resource consent for the Summerset retirement village on Parsons Paddock has been declined. The application was refused by commissioners after the hearing in June. The overall conclusion summary is posted below and you can read the full decision here. Panel chairman Mark Farnsworth said in the decision there was a general agreement that the site would be suitable for a retirement village but the panel found the proposed development would result in adverse effects which did not sufficiently balance the benefits. We look forward to modifications Summerset may make to the proposal and welcome good quality, well considered and sympathetic developments in our area. Thanks goes to Summerset for presenting twice to our monthly meetings and front-footing engagement with our community.

Housing NZ Speaking at August Monthly Meeting

Posted: 25 July 2018

Housing NZ have accepted our invitation to speak to us at our next monthly meeting on Tuesday 14 August. The presentation will cover the developments currently underway or planned in Meadowbank and St Johns, background on how Housing NZ decide what type of development to put on each site, some specific updates on Purewa Rd and Puroto St, as well as opportunity for questions.

The next meeting is at St Chads Church at 38 St Johns Rd. Meeting start at 7:30pm

To provide some background: thanks to the persistence of Grant Dickson and his team at Purewa / Puroto, on Friday 20 July the Residents Association finally met with Housing NZ (HNZ) about the development on Purewa Road. It’s taken more than two years to get this meeting!

Grant chaired the meeting, which was attended by OLB Vice-Chair Carmel Claridge, (now past) MSJRA Chair Tim Duguid and Treasurer, Barry Stewart, and a team of six from HNZ.

We noted the two main issues that residents have with this development: design and process. Specifically, the open stairwells and other aspects of the building and grounds; and the lack of consultation, which has been perceived, rightly or wrongly, as disingenuous. We emphasised, as we have in our correspondence to HNZ that we’re not opposed to developments by HNZ in our suburbs, that such a view would be inconsistent with the purpose of our Association, and that we’re not arguing against density or intensification. On the contrary, Grant put the view very eloquently that by consulting meaningfully with residents, better outcomes could be achieved for the whole community, including the HNZ tenants. Indeed we look forward to new arrivals in our suburbs joining our Association.

We’re pleased to report that HNZ listened to our concerns, and that they committed to engaging further with the community. Without promising wholesale changes to the building or site form, HNZ will review design details, including the stairwells, with Grant’s team, which includes an architect. A team from HNZ will also present to MSJRA before the start of construction, most likely at our meeting on Tuesday 14 August*. HNZ will also meet with the OLB in a workshop session.

HNZ is a significant landowner in our suburb and we hope this marks the start of a better engagement with our community.

Meanwhile, here’s the first colour image of the development on Purewa Rd that we have seen (view from towards the Orakei Basin end of Purewa Road).

Widened Orakei Basin Boardwalk’s Awful Handrail

Posted: 3 July 2018

The railings on the widened Orakei Basin boardwalk have been a hot topic on our Facebook page. This boardwalk is Stage 3 of the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path and connects the Pourewa Valley to Orakei Station. Many in our community have voiced their concerns and sadness at the unexpected metal railing that has gone up on the Orakei Boardwalk section of the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path. While we are very happy to see construction on the Shared Path, we are disappointed that boardwalk user’s connection with the basin has been lost.

The new railings are 1.4m high and due to the narrow width between the upright posts and depth means that the gorgeous views previously enjoyed by boardwalk users have been obscured. The posts run straight up to 1.4m so are well above most children’s (and plenty of adult’s) sight line and boardwalk meaning they will have extremely limited views of this lovely spot.

The good people at The Hobson have written an excellent piece titled “Don’t Fence Me In” about this in their July/August issue and have kindly given us permission to share. Click here to read The Hobson’s article and get the background and different views on the widened boardwalk.

We are working with the Orakei Local Board to try and find a more satisfactory resolution to this eyesore and to ensure that it doesn’t happen in Stage 2 (through Pourewa Valley) or Stage 4 (across Hobson Bay).

AGM on Monday 23 July 2018

Posted: 3 July 2018

We are pleased to confirm our AGM will be held on Monday 23 July from 7pm at St Chads. Our guest speaker for the night will be representatives from Auckland Transport. They will talk about the new bus network rolling out Sunday 8 July.

The talk is pitched primarily as an information-giving session, and any questions that the AT representatives cannot immediately answer will be captured by our Transport Subcommittee and discussed with you further, prior to a more formalised presentation to AT. We are always interested in other broader transport related concerns in our area and this will be a great opportunity to ensure we have them properly identified.

If you have any questions you’d like raised about either the new bus routes, timetables, changes etc or other transport related concerns please email us at .

We will also be electing new committee members at the AGM. You need to be a paid up member to vote or stand for election. If you haven’t yet paid your bargain membership of $10 please join us and have a say on how your residents association is run and what things we focus on.

Please note that for July our AGM will replace the regular monthly meeting usually held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.

Resource Consent Application Hearing for Summerset Development on Parsons Paddock

Posted: 29 May 2018

The resource consent application hearing date for the Summerset Retirement Village at St Johns Road and Ripon Crescent will start at 9:30am on Thursday 14 June, at the Council Chamber, Auckland Town Hall. The hearing continues on Friday 15 and Monday 18 June, and may involve a site visit.

Summerset presented their plans to two very well attended MSJRA meetings, in 2016 and 2017. Many of you commented favourably about their meaningful and constructive engagement with the community. Summerset also, commendably, requested full notification of their resource consent application.

At those meetings, and subsequently, we found no consensus on which to base a collective submission on behalf of our association.

There was a range of views expressed: support generally for the prospect of additional accommodation of this type in our area (for which evidently there is growing demand) and the benefit it may have for our Town Centre and community, and positive commentary on the architecture and site design. There were concerns about the height and/or bulk of the main block along the eastern edge by St Johns bush, especially with it being on the ridge skyline, and there was concern about traffic management during construction. Understandably, direct neighbours had particular concerns. As we always do, we encouraged residents to have their say, and publicised how and when to make a submission. Quite a few of you did that.

You may have read about this story in the Herald last week. An article included a comment from the Orakei Local Board that the development “will have a significant adverse effect on the social, environmental, economic and amenity values of the local community.” Concerns about building height and bulk aside, we would have to say that view seems out of step with local opinion. Though the intent may be to encourage developers to stick to the Unitary Plan zone rules. We can definitely agree with that!

Anyway, the application documents have been published, and they include official advice that the application is declined. You can read all about it in Agenda Volume 1:

OK… here’s the important bit!

“The actual and potential effects in relation to the engineering issues (stormwater, overland flow, flooding, geotechnical issues, groundwater and contamination) will be acceptable. In relation to traffic and parking issues, any actual and potential effects can be mitigated by conditions. Construction traffic and noise generated issues can be mitigated through detailed management plans required by condition, and the actual and potential effects will be acceptable as a result. Any ecological effects on St Johns Bush or the SEA are likely to be less than minor.

In relation to effects on the visual amenity from the wider viewpoints, given the height and design of buildings E and F, significant adverse visual amenity effects are likely to occur on the wider environment. Significant concern is also raised in relation to the visual dominance on the neighbouring properties to the west of the application site as a result of the height of the buildings proposed.

The actual and potential effects on the environment are not acceptable, not able to be mitigated, and are contrary to objectives and policies as relevant to visual amenity and residential amenity in the Mixed Housing Urban Zone.

Under sections 104, 104B, and 108, I recommend that consent is refused to undertake a comprehensive development of the site to construct and operate a retirement village.”

It will be interesting to hear how the hearing goes, so to speak…

Roadworks at intersection of St Johns Rd and Meadowbank Rd

Posted: 28 May 2018

Road works are starting on Monday 28 May at the St Johns Road / Meadowbank Road intersection. The work is being done ahead of the roll out of the New Bus Network on 8 July, to enable the new #782 bus route to turn left from Meadowbank Road into St Johns Road.

Unusually, there was very little consultation by AT about these changes, which we think are pretty significant.

As part of the works, AT have said that the unsignalised free left turn by the BP petrol station will be closed. We welcome that: finally there will be a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing all the way across the road, in a location that’s very heavily used by school students of all ages.

There will also be changes to the kerbs and channels on the opposite side of road, outside the bakery. We’re not so keen on that, or some of the other details. We understand the bus has to be able to turn, but in our view, what’s proposed goes against the objectives of the Corridor Management Plan for Remuera / St Johns Road, that we were consulted on back in 2015.

Needless to say, we’ve written to AT to encourage them to engage with us on this issue. We asked them to limit any increase in the road width of St Johns Rd; instead using this as an opportunity to create a ‘gateway’ to the Town Centre, in a way that contributes to a slower speed environment, and to avoid, if possible, any loss of car parking, which we consider vital to the businesses located on St Johns Road.

In our letter, we noted that from our surveys, residents want our Town Centre to be a better place, as well as a functioning transport corridor, and we offered to work with AT to review opportunities in this area. If you’ve been following what’s been going on in Grey Lynn, you’ll know how ugly it can get when consultation is done badly; but also how with a bit of creative thinking and genuine community engagement, great outcomes are possible.

We’re planning to workshop some of this at our next meeting. Watch this space!

Meanwhile, watch out for all the cones and construction work (and workers!) and maybe allow yourself a couple more minutes if you commute through this way!

Update on Purewa Rd Housing NZ Development

Posted: 23 May 2018

News on the application by Housing New Zealand for resource consent to construct 11 dwellings, comprised of nine apartments within three three-storey buildings, and two units as a double storey duplex complex at 9-11 Purewa Road, opposite Meadowbank Train Station.

The decision by Auckland Council is to grant consent without public notification, on the basis that “the activity will not have and is not likely to have adverse effects on the environment that are more than minor.”

The statement notes that the proposal “will provide housing of an intensity, scale, location, form and appearance that will be compatible with that anticipated in the Residential Mixed Housing Urban (MHU) Zone, while accepting it will result in a change to the existing neighbourhood character”. The general site layout is considered to be “an appropriate design response with the buildings providing a strong street presence and enhanced passive surveillance towards the train station”. The architecture and materiality of the proposal are assessed as being of “appropriate quality and will reflect the residential nature of the site and surrounding sites.” Landscaping treatment is also considered to be appropriate in softening and mitigating the buildings and any effects on privacy to surrounding residents”. In other comments, it is noted that parking can be accommodated on site without compromising the function, capacity or safety of the road network, ensuring traffic and pedestrian safety is maintained.

In summary, the decision finds no special circumstances that warrant the application being publicly notified as there is nothing exceptional or unusual about the application to require public notification.

We are grateful to Grant Dickson in obtaining this clarification from Auckland Council after a prolonged correspondence.

The images show the street view of the original pair of state houses, the initial proposal from HNZ, and the proposal which has been approved.

At every possible opportunity, we have objected not to the scale of the development per se, but to certain aspects of the building and site design. We’re disappointed with the outcome and the process that HNZ has followed, which on the face of it contrasts with the approaches taken by other developers in our suburbs.

Naturally, we may well consider this sets a precedent for HNZ developments in the MHU zones in our suburbs. You can read more background on the progress of this development here.

New Bus Network Live on 8 July 2018

Posted: 21 May 2018

Auckland Transport is bringing in a New Bus Network in July 2018. Many bus routes, numbers and timetables will change. More detailed information is available here including a detailed overall bus map and individual route maps.

Key points about local services are summarised below (best read in conjunction with the route map):

Our 655, 685 and 635 routes are being removed.
There will be a new service (782) travelling through Meadowbank which will start at Sylvia Park and run via Ellerslie train station, Grand Drive, Meadowbank Mall, Meadowbank Rd, Meadowbank Train Station, Gowing Drive, Kohimarama Rd (including St Thomas’ and Selwyn College) and Patterson Ave to Mission Bay. We are not clear on the frequency yet for this service.
There is also a new half hourly 747 route along Lunn Ave, the first ever bus service through there, and through Stonefields.
The 650 (formerly 007 route) has a change at the western end to go along St Luke’s Rd. It now heads west along Great North Rd before heading up to Pt Chevalier – very handy for Unitec students living over this side of town.
The 75 (formerly 625 route) has changed it’s route in the CBD and now doesn’t run near the ferry terminal and instead terminates in the Wynyard Quarter.

Many thanks to the two petitions masterminded by association member Richard Roxburgh with support from Orakei Local Board, which means there will now be a public bus service to connect Meadowbank & St Johns residents with Selwyn College and St Thomas’s schools, as well as right down to Meadowbank Train Station. See our news article Bus petition win! for more information.

Here are the individual route maps that pass through our area:

Route 75 (Glen Innes to Wynyard Quarter via Remuera Rd)
Route 650 (Glen Innes to Pt Chevalier shops and Selwyn Village)
Route 782 (Sylvia Park to Mission Bay via Ellerslie and Meadowbank)
Centre City Bus Map

Bus Stop Proposal for Meadowbank Train Station

Posted: 19 May 2018

Another quick transport consultation! Most of you will know that over 1,000 residents signed the petition last year to get a bus service to connect with Meadowbank Train Station.

The petition noted that up to 22 car park spaces may have to make way for the bus stop and turn around. But also that just one bus per hour could deliver many more people, resulting in a net saving of car parks. The wider context of course is that on weekdays 100s of cars are parked along every street all the way to Bonnie Brae and Harapaki Street. More people are using the train each year, and whole lot more are likely to in five years’ time when the CRL opens, bringing Midtown, K Rd and Grafton closer to Meadowbank by train that they are by bus from the Meadowbank Town Centre.

Hence our support for the bus service. And for that matter, our support for better cycling / walking links to the station, not least from Gowing Drive! Besides parking hassles, one of the reasons we think the bus service will be popular for locals is because using the bus to the train station will be free from Meadowbank and St Johns if you also use the train.

Below is AT’s detailed design proposal for the bus stop and turn around. As you can see, the plan is for a bus stop and shelter right at the train station entrance, which we think is great. This makes for the shortest, flattest connection between the bus and train which is important for less able bodies, and allows the bus driver to see the trains on the platform. So buses shouldn’t inadvertently leave the stop just as a train pulls in!

The plans remove 21 car parks. They provide a number of time-restricted spaces for drop-offs and pick-ups, which is not always easy today without using nearby residents’ driveways (hardly ideal). The three car parks on the left hand side of Manapau Road have to go to allow the bus to swing around to the stop. These have been replaced with three new time restricted car parks opposite, at the island with the trees. Thanks to Orakei Local Board rep Carmel Claridge for that particular improvement 

But are there any other improvements that you could suggest? Can we squeeze another car park or two back in? Is there the right amount of parks in the pick up zone? Are you concerned about the possible loss of the trees, due to the new footpaths on the island? We think if the tree has to go, then it should be replaced with a new one. Or maybe the whole island could be replanted, saving on mowing costs?

*Closing date is this Monday 21 May 2018*

We haven’t been advised of a specific web page for this consultation, so please use the AT online feedback form: https://at.govt.nz/about-us/contact-us/feedback-form/ Select > “Making a suggestion” About > “Something else” and put “Meadowbank train station bus stop, Purewa Road” at the top of your comments. Or simply add comments on our and we’ll work with the OLB make sure these get to AT.