Danielle Grant Deputy Chairs Report for 16 May to 6 July 2018
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Deputy Chairs report for the period
16 May to 6 July 2018
Significant Issues,
Northcote Wharf
Northcote Wharf was closed by Auckland Transport on 20 June, following a routine maintenance check. A detailed assessment and analysis is being undertaken, with results and outcomes expecting in the coming week. Northcote Wharf is the most exposed asset is Auckland Transport’s wharf portfolio, according to Karin Turnage, Senior Asset Metro Specialist. Auckland Transport are very aware of the high frequency of cancellations for this service.
Northcote Wharf
Currently a bus service is being provided from the Birkenhead ferry terminal to the Northcote Wharf. Because of the low usage (reported as two passengers per route), Auckland Transport will assess the need for these services on a weekly basis.
I am concerned that our local residents have been unable to rely on the ferry service at Northcote Wharf, because of its frequent cancellations, and are now being faced with a potential cancellation of the bus service from Birkenhead Wharf. With the significant congestion in our local board area, it is essential that all public transport options are promoted and maintained.
Should the Northcote Wharf be closed for a longer period, I would like to request that Auckland Transport commit to an awareness and promotional campaign targeted at the local Northcote residents to promote a reliable bus service to and from Birkenhead Wharf.
The significant investment in the Northcote Safe Cycle Way, and the future investment in SkyPath and SeaPath will all rely on the Northcote Wharf ferry service as an important connection for these roading infrastructure projects.
Following our local board briefing with Auckland Transport on 4 July 2018, I believe that once we have received the maintenance assessment and Auckland Transport recommendations, it will be important for the local board to show our strong commitment to an ongoing ferry service at Northcote Wharf.
I encourage my fellow Kaipatiki Local Board members to join me in the consideration of funding up to $2M from our Local Board Transport Capital Fund as an in-principle contribution to the development of the Northcote Wharf, that will provide a better all-weather service.
Kauri Dieback
With the recent negative results for kauri dieback disease (Phytophthora agathacidida) in Chelsea Heritage Park, we are not in the clear yet. There is the confirmed detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi, which is a less lethal form of Phytophthora.
There are long incubation periods for kauri dieback disease and we have continued use of our Kaipatiki bush tracks. The closing of tracks in the Waitakere Ranges is bringing an increase in tour groups to the North Shore, and our tracks are also well used by our residents.
I am encouraged by the proactive response from Pest Free Kaipatiki and their advocacy for more to be done about the protection of our diverse bush.
At our local board workshop on 4 July with our Infrastructure and Environmental Service and Community Facilities staff, they spoke of identifying 36 parks in our local board area with Kauri and 12 of these with high value Kauri ecosystems. These parks are being surveyed now, with 1934 Kauri within the local board area being identified. The survey includes a visual inspection, aerial surveillance and soil sampling.
There is an urgent need for clarity around any planned timeframes and process for the potential closures of tracks in Kaipatiki. Officer recommendations are needed to identify which tracks could be closed, and how this will impact on the community.
Currently I am seeking more information from Auckland Council on best practice for track management, so that our restoration volunteers can also comply with and assist in the protection of Kauri roots along our tracks, in the short term. We also need assurances that the capacity to build and upgrade our tracks is seen as a priority, so this valuable work can be completed sooner.
We urgently require more cleaning stations, and stations that are easier to use, rather than trying to balance on one foot as we scrub and spray. We should all look to clean our boots before we leave home, ensuring that there is no dirt on them, and spraying and scrubbing as we enter and exit our tracks.
Council officers are also keen to explore non-asset solutions for the prevention of Kauri dieback disease, which include community education, community collaboration, working with user groups and signage. There is already a very high level of engagement from the community.
It is important that we look at to re-routing and redesign track networks away from Kauri stands, look to consider track closures while we wait for the track upgrades to be completed, and install better quality cleaning stations.
Early Childhood Centres that are warmer, less noisy and less overcrowded
Under the Ministry of Education guidelines, Early Childhood Centres can operate with a minimum indoor temperature of 16 degrees and a minimum of 2.5 square metres each indoors and 5 square metres outdoors. View the source material here
I support the position of the Children’s Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft, as he was recently quoted on 1News, Sat 16 Jun, “How can we call this quality in early childhood education, because that’s what the Ministry of Education is supposed to be achieving, is quality, not simply child-minding in minimal spaces, Mr Becroft said. See the interview here.
I also attended the Resource Management Act (RMA) Commissioners Quarterly Forum on 19 June. Under the item and discussion on the development of early childhood centres, I shared the concerns being raised by the Children’s Commissioner and discussed with RMA Commissioners that we should be aware of the minimum standards in play space and temperature and note that it is below the World Health Organisations recommendations of warmth at 18 degrees. It was also discussed that the decibel rating and permitted noise level for Early Childhood Centres has increased from 50 decibels under the Isthmus Plan to 55 decibels in the Auckland Unitary Plan.
In our local board area, we are responsible for three Kauri Kids Early Childhood Centres. I would like to encourage our centres to exceed the minimum standards of noise, temperature and play space.
It has been announced that the Government is developing a 10-year strategic plan for early learning. I will continue to follow this work with interest.
Glenfield College Netball
Netball in Glenfield will become more accessible for the whole community. At our June local board meeting we approved a funding grant to Glenfield College of $88,150 for improvements to their netball courts.
Glenfield College will host a satellite netball competition run by Netball North Harbour and cater for children in years 1 to 6, from schools in the local area such as Glenfield, Bayview, Windy Ridge and Marlborough. This may also be a convenient location for schools in Birkdale and Beach Haven.
The upgrade project delivers three netball hardcourts (an increase of two) that add to the three existing netball turf courts, providing six high quality courts needed to run the satellite programme.
I have worked in the background for many years to bring this opportunity to light. Our local Glenfield families currently travel up to Albany to play netball. These upgraded netball facilities at Glenfield College will provide a local option where our families can enjoy a local competition, without the travel every Saturday morning.
Glenfield College will also benefit from the improved facilities, which will be open to the community for their use outside of school hours. Seeing the College bustling with netballers and their families every weekend will be exciting for our community. I have been talking with senior teachers and parents in our community for many years about this idea. The feedback has always been very positive. It will be wonderful to have this netball competition up and running by next year’s netball session.
The local board have also approved $40,850 towards the operational expenses at Netball North Harbour.
I will continue to advocate for more equitability for Netball North Harbour to bring them in line with other netball facilities in Auckland
Danielle Grant, Glenfield College Principal Paul McKinley, Jon Gillon, Netball North Harbour CEO Lynette Brady
Vaping Shops
We are currently seeing the arrival of several vaping stores in Glenfield and Birkenhead. I have received concerned comments from parents, teachers and school principals in our area, and also observed social media commentary about these stores. I am concerned with the obvious displays of what certainly appears to the casual observer, as the glass pipes used for methamphetamine. I suggest that the health benefits of vaping are being confused with the endorsement and normalisation of illegal drug use.
The Ministry of Health, from its 2009 study into the Knowledge and Attitudes to Illegal Drugs found that there is a perception that people were starting to use drugs at an earlier age and that drugs were readily available to young people. It also highlighted from the report that the two drugs most commonly identified were cannabis and methamphetamine, with 94% of those survey by the Ministry of Health considering methamphetamine to be the most harmful drug in New Zealand.
The Ministry of Health estimates that that there are 600,000 adults that smoke in New Zealand, (15.7 per cent), down from 20.1 per cent in 2006. View more information here
Meetings and workshops dates:
Weekly chairs meeting every Monday morning
Local Board Meeting, 16 May
Local Board advocacy to the Governing Body on the 10-year budget with John Gillon, 17 May
Kaipatiki Community Facilities Trust monthly meeting, 21 May
Local Board Workshop, 23 May
Local Board Community Forum, 23 May
Local Board Workshop, 30 May
Kaipatiki Project monthly meeting, 1 June
Local Board Extraordinary Meeting for agreeing 2018/2019 local board agreement and fees and charges, 6 June
Local Board Workshop, 13 June
Birkenhead Town Centre Assn executive meeting, 13 June
Kaipatiki Community Facilities Trust monthly meeting, 18 June
RMA Commissioners Quarterly Forum, 19 June
Kaipatiki Community Network Meeting, 20 June
Open Space Network Plan political working group, 20 June
Local Board Meeting, 20 June
Birkenhead Santa Parade event planning meeting, 27 June
Local Board Workshop, 27 June
Local Board Community Forum, 27 June
Kaipatiki Project monthly meeting, 28 June
Kaipatiki Project steering group for 17 Lauderdale Rd, 29 June
Local Board Workshop, 4 July
Weed Management Political Advisory Group meeting, 4 July
Northcote Wharf briefing from Auckland Transport, 4 July
Open Space Network Plan political working party, 5 July
Events, Site Visits and Functions
Leadership of Local Board Leaders, Kura Kawana training, 25 May
Glenfield Pool and Leisure Centre, site visit, 6 June
Windy Ridge Playcentre Matariki event, 16 June
World Refuge Day celebrations at De Paul House, 20 June
Good in the Hood – Z Petrol Stations Awards – formal presentations, 22 June
Tartan Day Celebration Tattoo, hosted by the Kaipatiki Community Facilities Trust at the North Shore Events Centre, 24 June
Making the Most of Waste – Plastic Free July community event, hosted by the Kaipatiki Community Facilities Trust, 1 July
