28 October 2010

Mayoral News Release

North Shore City goes out in proud "Shore Style"

The North Shore City Council has held the final council meeting of it's 21 year existence as a local authority within New Zealand. The last meeting of New Zealand's fourth largest city was held in the council chamber in Takapuna and was attended by the Mayor, Mayoress, Councillors, Community Board members, management, and staff of North Shore City. Members of the North Shore community were in attendance, many of which had had a long association with the city council.

"This was our final meeting, and it was very fitting that we had the opportunity to bid farewell to the proud city of North Shore, which has achieved so much over the past 21 years since its formation." said North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams.

"We have been a council that has been working right up to the end, prior to the amalgamation into the new Auckland Council on 1st November. We have had significant business continuing until this very week including important final plan changes, the signing off of the Takapuna Strategic Review, conclusion of longstanding property negotiations including a major land acquisition agreement at Long Bay, and committments to the Millennium Institute Olympic Pool and the National Ocean Water Sports Centre at Takapuna."

"As a result, we have have only now this last week of our council's existence been able to have a final council meeting to conclude the last of this important business and say a fond goodbye to North Shore City." said Mayor Williams.

Mayor Williams addressed the meeting and provided a comprehensive overview of this term of council from 2007 - 2010 with also references to notable records of the city during its 21 year existence. The mayor's presentation included more than 120 slides on a large overhead projection showing the achievements of Mayor Williams' council.

Major issues resolved included:

* Whenuapai Airbase not becoming a commercial airport * Rates increases reduced from over 8.5% to average 5.5% * Pak 'n Save Supermarket - resolved after 18 years and was finally opened. * Birkenhead Library & Civic Centre was built after five years of indecision. * Albany Senior High School was built after being stalled for a number of years.

Land acquisitions included:

* Chelsea Estate Heritage Park, Birkenhead * Long Bay Heritage Protection Area - 23.3 hectares including 13 park reserve areas * Mairangi Bay beach reserve parkland * Bayswater reserve parkland * Laketown reserve parkland, Takapuna * Anzac Street reserve parkland, Takapuna

The Mayor gave details of the many town centre upgrades, road widenings, transit lanes, and public transport initiatives that had been completed or were underway by the North Shore City Council, which showed the Shore was very much a leader in transport and infrastructure in the Auckland region. The six kilometre $116 million outfall tunnel from the Rosedale Sewerage Treatment Plant was noted as having been the single largest project completed by the council, which would provide capacity for treated effluent discharge for the next 100 years.

Mayor Williams highlighted the many achievements across the communities of the North Shore in the areas of sports, arts, music, education, business development and the environment. Acknowledgement was given to the strong links with the Navy based at Devonport, and also with the Army and Airforce through commemorations such as the Passchendaele Exhibition last year at Fort Takapuna. The Mayor also noted the strong support of the Waitemata Police that has seen North Shore City having the lowest crime rate of the largest 15 cities in New Zealand.

Special praise was given to the management of North Shore City Council who, despite trying times with the forced amalgamation to the Auckland Council, had provided a high level of professionalism for the city, including the roll-out of the award winning new council website that has allowed greatly increased on-line access for residents for a multitude of council services. It has also seen North Shore be the first council in New Zealand to provide electronic lodgement of building and resource consents, which it is hoped will be taken up by the new Auckland Council and other councils around New Zealand.

Mayor Williams presented Councillors and Community Board Members with a signed mayoral copy of "The North Shore - An Illustrated History" which was published recently as a heritage publication of the Shore. The 300 page book, written by David Verran, gives a comprehensive insight into the evolution of the North Shore from first Maori settlement, early European times, and on through the generations to the modern North Shore.

The Mayor concluded his presentation by thanking his wife, Mayoress Jane Williams, for her devoted service and support. "My thanks go to Jane for standing by me and putting so much of her time and energy into supporting me, and her dedication to the community. I could not have done it without her and she deserves a great deal of thanks for her huge committment of time and energy in support of the Mayor and the city."

Two Councillors received special recognition who were retiring from lengthy public service. Councillor Tony Holman QSO received a Mayoral Award for his civic duties that stretched back to the 1970's as a councillor on the Northcote Borough Council. Tony Holman has chaired a number of key council committees and has also represented the North Shore on the boards of Watercare, the Museum, Auckland Regional Transport Network, and the Regional Growth Forum.

Councillor Joy Brett received a special award for her public service having been an East Coast Bays Commmunity Board member from 1992 - 2007 and a councillor from 2007 - 2010. The Mayor noted Councillor Brett's committment to a great many community issues affecting the East Coast Bays and her longstanding devotion to the area she represented.

+++ENDS

© Scoop Media