Board Member Report & Portfolio Report: Heritage and Planning (originally published February 2021)

Alexandra Bonham Board Member Report

This report covers my Waitematā Local Board Activities from 27 November to 16 February 2020. My roles include: Planning and Heritage portfolio (lead); Culture, Arts and Events portfolio (second); Domain Committee member; member of the Climate Change Political Reference Group; liaison for the Karangahape Road Business Association and Herne Bay Residents Group. The WLB is also advocating for climate change action, better water management and greater protections of the Hauraki Gulf. It is fantastic to see the rahui (no-take) in Waiheke on mussel, paua, crayfish and scallop for two years up to a nautical mile. In Karangahape Road there is excitement over Pride Month AND a rainbow crossing which has been long advocated for. It is coming soon. Both AT and Arash of the CRL are leading a business development response to get people excited about coming down to Karangahape despite the road works and a pop up park with band space is on the way for Pitt Street. He has been working with local businesses and residents to activate the space with performers and DJs. CRL have also donated materials for a community skateboard park in East Street that has already been the venue for a Skateboard Competition. The hope is that after a few months it tours Waitemata in different spaces, sharing the love. A new board is on the Karangahape Business Association and first Thursdays are becoming a monthly Karangahape Hour event (on the first Thursdays of the month).

The conversations continue around meeting the challenges of providing support for those who are homeless and/or are struggling with mental health/ addiction/ trauma issues. A series of meetings are taking place including MPs Helen White and Chloe Swarbrick, Lifewise, merge café, business associations, local residents. It is understood that a multi-agency approach is required and collaboration between central and local government. Recent articles indicate the problem is not isolated to Waitemata and that lack of funding for both police and social services has long been an issue. There is a desire for more policing, more support and more things to do. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/frustrated-emails-from-kawerau-constable-to-police-commissioner-mike-bush-led-to-downfall-of-mongrel-mob-president-frank-milosevic-in-operation-notus-drug-bust/2HZNRHTJLE2P4QZ4XKEJ5I4CUI/

Following the visit to Mint Innovation, I have raised the possibility of trialing some sort of e-waste collection. A good deal of budget is going into community waste resource centres which will be one avenue. There may be opportunities to do something else if it is considered a priority by other elected members.

Portfolio Report: Heritage and Planning

I keep track of resource consent applications for buildings, structures, and tree pruning and removal as they are received by Council, requesting further information, plans and Assessments of Environmental Effects for applications of interest. Significant applications are referred to the relevant residents’ associations for their input which I then relay to planners as part of the Local Board’s input. I particularly keep a look out for tree removals, helicopter pad requests, digital billboards facing residential buildings, impact on heritage buildings and place and more than minor breaches of the unitary plan.
The Waitemata Local Board recognises the amenity value of trees and has adopted the Ngahere Urban Forest Strategy. Where it is possible to keep trees we advocate for them. Sometimes trees may be removed for the building of transport and energy infrastructure that locks in lower carbon emissions in the future. Where trees are removed our position is that there should be more trees planted than are lost. Good urban design and spatial planning can make a huge difference to the quality of a neighbourhood. Considering new developments through a climate change lens is also necessary. The council has committed to halving emissions by 2030 which will impact decision-making across all departments. The Climate Change Commission advice is to enable a compact urban form as the best way to reduce emissions every day. This contradicts aspects of the National Policy Statement on Urban Design that demands councils enable sprawl. However the NPS also demands councils go up in certain areas. If consumers demand housing that locks in low carbon lifestyles then this is what the market will offer.