In 2019/2020 we plan to invest $5.2 million to renew and develop assets and $24.7 million to maintain and operate assets, as well as provide local programmes and initiatives.
Investment plan
For information on the investment plan, see section 2.20 (page 61) of the supporting information document for the capital spend and operating spend for Waitematā Local Board 2019/2020.
What we are doing
Developing 254 Ponsonby Road as a civic space remains our major local initiative.
Activating, improving and renewing our parks, guided by our Park Development Plans, will continue to be a focus.
We will improve the playgrounds at Western Springs Lakeside Park and Home Street Reserve, provide pathways in Basque Park and commence building the Grey Lynn Park changing rooms.
Our waterway restoration projects will continue, and we will seek opportunities to implement initiatives to enhance the Western Springs-Meola-Three Kings Aquifer. Through our grants programme, we will support community and arts groups and local events, as well as stage our two flagship events, Parnell Festival of Roses and Myers Park Medley. We are funding an arts partnership with TAPAC and increased library hours at Grey Lynn Library and the Central City Library.
We will also continue investigating opportunities to reduce agrichemical use, including advocating to the Governing Body to take a regional approach to agrichemical-free park maintenance.
What we are proposing
We are not proposing major changes to the existing work programme for 2019/2020 as we continue to deliver the projects identified in our 2017 Waitematā Local Board Plan.
Message from the chair
Following the development of the 2017 Local Board Plan and last year's 10-year budget consultation, we have heard what is important to you. It was reassuring to see that the majority of responses received were in support of our priorities. We are not proposing to make any significant changes to the direction of our work programme for the next financial year. Our focus is to build on the planning undertaken this year and to deliver our key projects.
Ponsonby Park at 254 Ponsonby Road remains our 'one local initiative' and our major capital project for the next few years. We are committed to making the community's vision for this space a reality and remain optimistic about achieving a positive outcome.
We know improving our waterways is important to you. This coming year we will continue streamside restoration programmes for Newmarket Stream, Waipapa Stream, Waiparuru Stream and Waitītiko Meola Creek. Following completion of the multi-board funded strategy to restore the Western Springs-Meola-Three Kings Aquifer, we will implement initiatives to improve water quality.
We are privileged to have many outstanding parks in our area. We have recently completed development plans for Meola Reef Reserve Te Tokaroa and Western Springs Lakeside Park Te Wai Ōrea. These plans, alongside our other park development plans, will inform funding priorities such as improved playgrounds at Western Springs Lakeside Park and Home Street Reserve, new pathways at Basque Park and commencing building the Grey Lynn Park changing rooms. We will continue to fund agrichemical-free maintenance of Western Park, Albert Park, Myers Park and the non-sportsfield areas of Victoria Park, investigate extending to other parks and advocate to the Governing Body for a regional approach to achieving agrichemical-free park maintenance.
Participating in events, arts and recreational activities is a major part of community life. We are funding an arts partnership with TAPAC in acknowledgement of their performing arts leadership. We will continue to stage Parnell Festival of Roses and Myers Park Medley and fund local events and community arts programmes. Based on positive feedback, we intend to carry on funding increased library hours at Grey Lynn Library and the Central City Library.
We welcome your views on the above and anything else you think the local board should fund or support. I encourage you to take this opportunity to provide your feedback – it is important to us and directly influences the projects and initiatives we invest in.
Chair, Waitematā Local Board
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