Decision digest | Environment and Community Committee

18 July 2017

From Los Angeles to local parks: today’s committee agenda covers global partnerships, land acquisition and threatened species

The continuation of Auckland Council’s relationship with Los Angeles and Guangzhou, the council’s submission on DOC’s draft Threatened Species Strategy and a round-up of parkland acquisition over the last financial years were discussed at today’s Environment and Community Committee.

The following is a digest of decisions made. The agenda is available on Auckland Council’s website and the minutes will be added once confirmed. This meeting was also webcast on the council’s website and items are available on demand.

Items 1-8 were administrative items. There were no public and local board input items.

Item 9: Auckland Council Submission to the Department of Conservation’s Draft Threatened Species Strategy

Auckland Council actively manages threatened species through its programmes on parks and surrounding land and at specialist sites like Auckland Zoo and the Auckland Botanic Gardens. The council also undertakes a range of more general activities which protect and enhance indigenous species habitat, like activities on parks, transport corridors, supporting community groups and regulation of activities on private land.

The council’s submission is generally supportive of DOC’s draft strategy but seeks more emphasis on the importance of supporting threatened species in natural environments and greater recognition of the role of councils and others in achieving effective threatened species management.

The council’s biosecurity manager Rachel Kelleher says the role of councils and other groups that manage threatened species, aside from DOC, should not be downplayed.

“Our programmes are successfully nurturing populations of kōkako in the Waitakere and Hunua ranges; kiwi, takahē, dotterels, robins, pateke, saddlebacks and Duvacel’s gecko in our open sanctuaries; and several threatened plant species including Waitakere rock koromiko, puha and New Zealand forget-me-not across the region,” she says.

Item 10: Wiri Prison – Social Impact Fund Allocations Committee

The committee appointed Cr Alf Filipaina and Cr Daniel Newman to the appointments committee for the Wiri Prison Social Impact Fund Allocation Committee. The councillors will join members from the southern local boards and will then make two appointments to the fund allocations committee.

Item 11: Extension of the Tripartite Economic Alliance

The Tripartite Economic Alliance is a strategic relationship between Los Angeles, Guangzhou and Auckland that aims to deepen trade and political engagement between the cities.

Mayor Phil Goff commented on the value of the alliance, noting that it is both significant and beneficial for a city the size of Auckland to have relationships with much larger global cities like Los Angeles and Guangzhou.

“Summits have a life and it’s time to think beyond holding a summit to maintain this alliance and keep our connections fresh. Leveraging off local events and making the most of innovative opportunities will continue to create openings for Auckland businesses with our offshore partners,” he says.

The committee approved extending the alliance for an additional three years, with no exclusive annual summits and with each city leveraging existing major trade and innovation events for delegations and initiatives.

Item 12: Political representation on the AKL Paths Leadership Group

The committee appointed Cr Chris Darby to the AKL Paths Leadership Group. This is a continuation of tenure for Cr Darby.

The programme looks at how Auckland’s shared paths and cycleways can be better activated and is a joint initiative between the council and Auckland Transport, with significant input from local boards.

Item 13: Review of the Community Occupancy Guidelines 2012: Terms of Reference

Auckland Council has over 1400 community leases; many of these are long-standing and the terms and conditions can vary markedly. Recent plans, including the Sports Facilities Investment Plan, Golf Facilities Investment Plan and Facility Partnerships Policy Project, have prompted an opportunity to review the existing guidelines.

This review will look at the best outcome for Auckland, ensure the guidelines are fit-for-purpose and improve consistency and transparency. The committee agreed to the terms of reference and will be updated again on the progress of the review with the final report coming to the committee in May 2018.

Item 14: Classification of Hampton Park, 334R East Tamaki Road, East Tamaki

This resolution will correct an incorrect provision made more than a decade ago which saw the wrong section of the Reserves Act used to classify Hampton Park as an historic reserve.

Item 15: Open space acquisitions in the 2016/17 financial year

In 2016/17, more than $46m was spent on 20 new parks and open space, covering a total land area of approximately 16.5 hectares. An additional 10 parks and open space were acquired at no capital cost, covering approximately 13.7 hectares.

ENDS

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