In 2019/2020 we plan to invest $7.4 million to renew and develop assets and $9.9 million to maintain and operate assets as well as provide local programmes and initiatives.
Investment plan
For information on the investment plan, see
section 2.19 (page 59) of the supporting information document for the capital spend and operating spend for Waitakere Ranges Local Board 2019/2020.
What we are doing
We will continue to support community environmental projects in the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area. Last year, this included weed buffer zones and climbing asparagus eradication.
Shadbolt House needs restoration and we will consider how we can work with the Going West Trust to create a writer's residence.
We will soon have finalised our Local Paths (Greenways) Plan. We will continue to develop a network of local walking and cycling connections so that we can advocate for future funding.
The 2017 Toi Tū Waitākere report gave valuable insight into the concerns and aspirations of West Auckland's Māori community. We will now look at how we can achieve better local engagement, and advance aspirations from a Māori community perspective.
What we are proposing
We will continue to deliver the projects you have already identified as being local priorities through the 2017 Local Board Plan, so we are not proposing major changes to existing budgets or work programmes for 2019/2020.
Message from the chair
Last year we made a strong case for the Glen Eden Urban Design Framework and Implementation Plan to be fully funded in the 10-year Budget. We were pleased to see specific steps included as a 'One Local Initiative' in that budget, and for the subsequent support of the Governing Body in buying 202-208 West Coast Road, a building central to realisation of the plan.
Glen Eden is one of many regional projects and realistically it will be several years until any big transformation is complete. In the mean-time we will support this step-by-step approach to getting key elements of the plan in place.
You may be aware that Auckland Transport recently consulted with Glen Eden users on a proposal to improve the pedestrian and commuter experience in and along West Coast Road. It is great to have been able to attract this additional funding, so expect to see 'spades in the ground' later in 2019. We believe that this opportunity to greatly enhance our streetscape, support the safe passage of new and existing residents into the town centre, and address long standing traffic safety issues is too good to miss.
While we do not intend to make major changes to our work programmes we will take up opportunities to act on the findings of the 2018 State of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area report where practical. This will also be the third year that our climbing asparagus eradication project has been operating in Piha and Huia. We are pleased to see some great progress in this area and that the work is also attracting complementary regional funding, as its wider value really starts to be felt.
Chair, Waitākere Ranges Local Board
Have your say
Ways to have your say about your local board priorities.
