Council Agenda 19 December 2001 Mayors Report

Council
Wednesday, 19 December 2001
Commencing at 5.30 pm
Supplement One
Part IV:
Report of the Mayor
WAITAKERE
CITY
COUNCIL
SUPPLEMENT ONE TO THE AGENDA FOR AN ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
TO BE HELD IN THE CIVIC CENTRE, 6 WAIPAREIRA AVENUE, LINCOLN,
WAITAKERE CITY, ON WEDNESDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2001,
COMMENCING AT 5.30 PM.
PART IV - REPORT OF THE MAYOR
We come to Christmas in what has been an eventful year, and that is not even including the
election. We can look back on a year in which the highlights include (in no particular order):
•= The resolution of the People’s Park project on the Harbourview land in Te Atatu after over a
decade of false starts;
•= The completion of the New Lynn Community Centre;
•= The completion of the Ranui library and community centre - and Ranui’s skate bowl, research
projects and action zones;
•= The opening of a massive new super yacht facility in Hobsonville - soon to grow beyond
expectation;
•= The turf turning of the Aquatic Centre expansion;
•= The scheduling of new motorways connecting the City to North Shore City and up to Rodney
District;
•= The Trash to Fashion show and the Going West literary festival;
•= The successful negotiations between local and central government and Tranzrail regarding
the rail corridors and public transport services;
•= The expansion of Westfield’s mall in Henderson, together with the final Charter parade
between the City and the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Hobsonville;
•= The permanent appointment of a new Chief Executive for Council;
and of course the events of 7 December:
•= The turf turning of the new Waitakere Hospital;
•= The opening of the Massey Library and Leisure Centre - far and away the most aesthetically
rich centre I have seen anywhere; and
•= The Social Development Conference, attended by most of the New Zealand Cabinet.
These are simply some of the highlights of a very full and successful year.
Through all this the Council staff have worked hard, maintaining a professional platform for the
community and its elected members to work upon. Under this new Council, it is also a great
pleasure to see the respect and genuine working relationship between elected members Council meetings are characterised by an ability to see a point of difference to debate, and to
work through the issues in a collegial manner. This Council has the potential to be one of the
best in New Zealand. I think it is already the best in the Auckland region. We do not all have to
agree to the same philosophy, but we do have to believe in the potential of the City and the key
core projects to which we can make a common commitment.
And so we turn then to the events of 7 December, over which the Prime Minister Helen Clark
presided.
Supplement to Agenda Council
M1-M4
2
19 December 2001
The turf turning ceremony of the expanded Waitakere Hospital was the culmination of decades of
lobbying to central government. It will become, like the establishment of the regional Police
headquarters in Waitakere a few years ago, a further signal that Henderson is indeed the key
town centre of Waitakere City. It will allow people who have for too long suffered the long and
medically critical time delays to North Shore Hospital and Auckland Central Accident and
Emergency unit to get treatment faster. It will also have “cluster” spin offs for businesses in the
area, and will I am sure attract a greater variety of specialist and secondary medical services to
the vicinity. Waitakere City’s key contributions to allow the project to get to this point were to link
its operational systems more closely into the community wellbeing networks, transport planning,
and to ensure that this new public facility sets the highest possible standards in environmental
sustainability, as attached at pages M1 to M4.
Minister Ruth Dyson, Minister Laila Harré, the Prime Minister Helen Clark and I, together with a
host of dignitaries and community volunteers and representatives, Health Board representatives
and staff, all reached for our spades to help the contractors along:
Supplement to Agenda Council
3
19 December 2001
Following the turf
turning
at
the
Waitakere Hospital, in
which
the
entire
crowd came within
thirty seconds of
being drenched by a
rainsquall, the next
event was the official
opening
of
the
Massey
Leisure
Centre.
The Prime Minister
was greeted with the
winning entry to the
Trash to Fashion
Awards, the Queen of
Hearts (as shown in
picture on left.
M5-M6
As an aside I include
a letter congratulating
the organisers of the
Trash to Fashion
Awards, as attached
at pages M5 to M6.
Supplement to Agenda Council
4
19 December 2001
Following my address, I invited the Prime Minister to place her new biography to be among the
very first of the new books that would become part of the new Massey Library.
Supplement to Agenda Council
5
19 December 2001
In her address and during the reception the Prime Minister remarked more than once that if only
Te Papa has paid a similar attention to scale and size, it would be so much more welcoming. In
my view, that is a high tribute from the Prime Minister to the entire Council team that brought the
project together from beginning to end.
M7-M11
The Prime Minister clearly felt that the Massey Leisure Centre was as good as they come. With
its dazzling water features, its art, and its landscaping, the building sits invitingly snug, warm and
on a human scale. I have enclosed my notes for that opening as attached at pages M7 to M11.
The third - and still not the final - major event to occur on 7 December was the Auckland
Regional Social Development Conference held at the New Lynn Community Centre, hosted
jointly by myself and the Prime Minister. Fittingly enough for a conference designed to shape the
future of the society we want younger people to inherit, the Ministers were greeted at the
entrance with the new generation of Maori challenger:
M12-M16 This conference - the social equivalent of the Crown’s government-to-business initiative earlier
this year - was attended by Prime Minister Helen Clark, the Minister of Social Development the
Honourable Steve Maharey, the Minister of Maori Affairs, Parekura Horomia, the Minister of
Corrections, Matt Robson, the Minister of Transport, Mark Goshe, the Associate Minister of
Accident Compensation, Ruth Dyson, the Minister of Immigration, Lianne Dalziel, the Chairs of
Council Committees, and many other distinguished participants. I have enclosed my notes from
the opening address, as attached at pages M12 to M16.
M17-M22 At the very least this conference showed that Central Government was prepared to take the time
of most of the Cabinet during a very busy period, in order to front up to honest dialogue with the
community. But at its best the results of this conference will be felt for some time, as the
Auckland region plans for greater growth, newer social problems and opportunities, and a far
higher benchmark in honest consultation during the formation and the implementation of policy.
It also allowed many to rise above sectoral, departmental or political interests and to see how the
whole functions organically. I do not recall having seen this occur before in New Zealand, and it
was a privilege to be a part of it. The overwhelming feedback I received afterwards was that
people wanted more of such events, as attached at pages M17 and M22.
Supplement to Agenda Council
M23
6
19 December 2001
At the conclusion of the Social Development Conference, the Prime Minister and I walked
through to the southern wing of the New Lynn Community Centre to announce the winning
sculpture for the (now demolished) Plunket site. The finalist entries were of such a high standard
that the Prime Minister commented at the announcement that they were all some of the best
public sculpture she had seen. However, in these events there is only one winner, and it was
Warren Viscoe and Bill McKay, as attached at page M23.
The sculpture, when completed in 2002 with the generous assistance of the Portage Licensing
Trust, will represent New Lynn as a transition point between waters and between worlds ever
since human settlement in the area. The site represents the narrowest point in the Auckland
isthumus, and pre-contact Maori would use New Lynn as a “portage” point for their waka
between the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours. The form of the canoe will to some represent a
compass, whose shadow changes with the seasons. It is also a signal of the future, as New
Lynn will continue to be a transport hub for the entire Auckland region.
Days like these must run to precision. This one did, revealing Council and Central Government’s
ability to stage-manage without haste or hassle. Given the events, the clockwork and splitsecond timing is a credit to the organisers and the participants. It proved that rehearsal and
briefings are invaluable, and all Councillors should expect and ask for time to rehearse important
events of which they take part.
We have used the eco-city as a magnet, and never has it paid off more than on the incredible
events of 7 December. This was a day of unfolding the potential of the City. We showcased the
City against the tragic death of Sir Peter Blake and the world media buzzing around our guest.
During the day, I had a chance to discuss the future of this City and its potential. The Prime
Minister’s grasp of our direction was very strong, and her reaction to where her Government
could partner us in future, was very positive. She is no stranger to Waitakere and its players, but
she left enormously impressed and personally indebted to the support that she got during the
day. She found us stimulating: willing to share ideas, and willing to work together.
At this Council meeting I will also deliver a special thanks to the staff: to Harry O’Rourke for his
leadership, and to the team of officers that delivered the Massey Library to this community and
the future, and for the Social Development Conference.
The events of 7 December focused upon the social dimensions of governance - the hospital, the
library and gym, the social development conference. This was backed by major financial
commitments from Central and Local Government to tertiary healthcare, education, information
technology, fitness and wellbeing, and more effective social development through intensive
cooperation between central and local government agencies and community stakeholders.
M24-M25 This social dimension complemented perfectly the intensive work by Council over the last couple
of years into the economic dimension through partnering new business in the City - with its goal
of bringing in greater wealth, high-skilled and stable careers, and prosperous industries. I
enclose a recent article on page one of the business section of the New Zealand Herald featuring
the Hobsonville Marine Industry Park, whose development simply cannot keep up with demand,
as attached at pages M24 to M25.
For both, the key word is development. The root Latin word for development is velom, which
means a raw mass of wool. Development, then, means to disentangle. We know now what the
threads are. Our job now is to weave them together into a whole.
The two broad governance areas of the social and the economic are slowly being brought closer
together. On the one hand, social development initiatives are now linking Council’s long-term
wellbeing strategy to central government funding. On the other, economic development
initiatives are linking central government’s economic strategy to Council’s strategic goals.
Supplement to Agenda Council
7
19 December 2001
M26-M30 The point is not merely to allow different kinds of government or interest group to dialogue
successfully, or even for central and Local Government to have the same strategy - the point is
to allow more effective, more just, and more sustainable societies to flourish. We are going the
right way to achieve this end. It is in this sense that Waitakere City, and the New Zealand
government, is completely in accord with the major address delivered by the Secretary General
of the United Nations Kofi Annnan upon his acceptance on December 10 of the Nobel Prize for
Peace, as attached at page M26 to M30.
Both the social and economic dimensions build upon a decade of careful planning and analysis
by Waitakere City and central government agencies. We are seeing Waitakere City accelerate in
its ability to attract the attention of government in social investment and the attention of business
in commercial investment because we have worked hard for ten years at getting the mix right.
As I note from the Agenda Report to the Special Council of 12 December 2001, “The best way to
predict the future is to invent it.”
Following immediately on from that, 8 December workshop was one where Councillors were
asked for their three-year “wish list”, and the general direction of this was affirmed by the Special
Council meeting of 12 December. The common thread was one of a good working relationship
and to me anything and everything is possible if that ingredient stays in place, and there is no
reason why it should not.
My contribution was that the culture of the relationships is always respected, and in doing so that
a framework is built that leads people to assist and support others and take an active part in the
community. Visibility is to me an important ingredient of being a Councillor, and so I would like to
thank all Councillors who have agreed to attend invitations on behalf of the Mayoral Office,
particularly during the Christmas and New Year period.
The events of 7 December, then, served to confirm the future direction of Council in following a
partnership approach with central government, its Ministers and agencies, and the community.
In 2002, the City’s pathway forward is assured.
MILESTONES
Livening Things Up
M31
The ratepayers of Georgetown, Colorado perhaps got more than they bargained for by electing
Koleen Brooks to be their Mayor. Not that I have any ideas of doing the same, as attached at
page M 31.
Leading the Way to the Wired City
M32
Enclosed are articles, as attached at page M32 on initiatives that this Council is taking toward
providing much greater internet access for our citizens, side by side with the Labour parties’
resolution that: “The Government work with Local Government to encourage free public access
to the internet and e-mail (for example through public libraries)”. Great to see them making the
effort to catch up.
Ad of the Month
M33
Attached at page M33 is an article from AdMedia November 2001 on a proposed campaign to
encourage more people to vote in their local body elections. Without a question mark after the
text, the results would have been unpredictable. Still, it was a good idea.
RECOMMENDATION
That the report of the Mayor be received.
RA Harvey, QSO, JP
MAYOR OF WAITAKERE CITY
Council
Wednesday, 19 December 2001
Commencing at 5.30 pm
Reports of
Standing Committees
WAITAKERE
CITY
COUNCIL
AGENDA SUPPLEMENT FOR AN ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL TO BE HELD IN
THE CIVIC CENTRE, 6 WAIPAREIRA AVENUE, LINCOLN, WAITAKERE CITY,
ON WEDNESDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2001
COMMENCING AT 5.30 PM.
INDEX
ITEM
PAGES
PART II - REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
3
18A WAITAKERE SPORTS COMPLEX - ADDITIONAL LAND PURCHASE
3
PROCEDURAL MOTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC
3
PART V - STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
4
20
CITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
4
1.
HARBOURVIEW PEOPLE’S PARK
4
2.
OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED
4
21
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
1.
2.
3.
22
5
PAINTED APPLE MOTH UPDATE REPORT FROM THE MINISTRY OF
AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
5
HERBICIDE REDUCTION ON ROADSIDES
5
WAITAKERE WARD WEED AND PEST CONTROL
5
OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED
5
FINANCE AND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE COMMITTEE
6
1.
FREEHOLD OF LAND LEASED FOR WILSHER VILLAGE
6
2.
WAIKUMETE CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM PROPOSED FEE
STRUCTURE
6
TIMING, COSTS AND BENEFITS OF A STANDARD AND POOR’S CREDIT
RATING
7
4.
BYLAW SPEED LIMIT - WAITAKERE RANGES
7
5.
ENTERPRISE WAITAKERE TRUST BOARD APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES
7
6.
AUTHORISATION OF ALTERNATE CONTROLLER
7
7.
OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED
7
3.
WAITAKERE
CITY
COUNCIL
AGENDA SUPPLEMENT FOR AN ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL TO BE HELD IN
THE CIVIC CENTRE, 6 WAIPAREIRA AVENUE, LINCOLN, WAITAKERE CITY,
ON WEDNESDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2001
COMMENCING AT 5.30 PM.
PART II - REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
18A
WAITAKERE SPORTS COMPLEX - ADDITIONAL LAND PURCHASE
PROCEDURAL MOTION TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC
That the public be excluded from the following part of the proceedings of this meeting,
namely Waitakere Sports Complex - Additional Land Purchase.
The general subject of the matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the
reason for passing this resolution in relation of the matter, and the specific grounds under
Section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the
passing of this resolution are as follows:
General subject of the Reason
for
passing
this Ground(s)
under
matter to be considered.
resolution in relation to the Section 48(1)(a) for the
matter.
passing
of
this
resolution.
•= Waitakere
Sports The withholding of information is That the public conduct
of the relevant part of
Complex - Additional necessary in order to:
the proceedings of the
Land Purchase
•= Enable the Local Authority meeting would be likely
result
in
the
holding the information to to
carry on, without prejudice or disclosure of information
disadvantage
negotiations for which good reason
(including commercial and for withholding would
exist.
industrial negotiations).
This resolution is made in reliance on section 48(1)(a) of the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987 and the particular interest or interests protected by
Section 7(2) (i) of that Act which would be prejudiced by the holding of the relevant part of
the proceedings of the meeting in public as follows:
•= The report contains information that if released would affect the Council’s negotiating
position.
Agenda - Supplement
Council
2
19 December 2001
PART V - STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
20
CITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
YOUR COMMITTEE SUBMITS THE FOLLOWING REPORT OF ITS ORDINARY
MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2001
1.
HARBOURVIEW PEOPLE’S PARK
Your Committee Recommends:
That the voluntary appointment of Councillor Denise Yates and Councillor Judy
Lawley as Council’s representatives to the Harbourview People’s Park Working
Party be confirmed.
2.
OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED
Your Committee dealt with a number of items for which it has delegated powers to
act and a copy of the minutes has been circulated separately to members.
Your Committee Recommends:
That the report of the Ordinary Meeting of the City Development Committee be
received.
Cr CA Stone
CHAIRPERSON
Agenda - Supplement
Council
21
3
19 December 2001
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
YOUR COMMITTEE SUBMITS THE FOLLOWING REPORT OF ITS ORDINARY
MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2001
1.
PAINTED APPLE MOTH UPDATE REPORT FROM THE MINISTRY OF
AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Your Committee Recommends:
That an elected member be appointed as the Council’s spokesperson on the
Painted Apple Moth issues.
2.
HERBICIDE REDUCTION ON ROADSIDES
WAITAKERE WARD WEED AND PEST CONTROL
Your Committee Recommends:
That there be an increase in the Annual Budget for funding for trailing and
application of alternative methods of weed control.
3.
OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED
Your Committee Recommends:
That the report of the Ordinary Meeting of the Environmental Management
Committee be received.
PA Hulse
CHAIRPERSON
Agenda - Supplement
Council
22
4
19 December 2001
FINANCE AND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE COMMITTEE
YOUR COMMITTEE SUBMITS THE FOLLOWING REPORT OF ITS ORDINARY
MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2001
1.
FREEHOLD OF LAND LEASED FOR WILSHER VILLAGE
Your Committee Recommends:
2.
1.
That the freehold of Lot numbers SO44358 and SO34037, currently leased
for part of Wilsher Village, be purchased for $26,894 (excluding GST) by
uptake of cash purchase offer from Landcorp Investments Limited.
2.
That funding for the purchase of Lot numbers SO44358 and SO34037 be
further considered via the half yearly review.
WAIKUMETE
STRUCTURE
CEMETERY
AND
CREMATORIUM
PROPOSED
FEE
Your Committee Recommends:
That the following fees be set and come into effect on 1 January 2002:
PROPOSED FEES
WAIKUMETE CEMETERY & CREMATORIUM
Waikumete Plots
(including GST &
maintenance levy where
applicable)
Lawn
$1,300.50
Berm
$1,525.50
East Berm
$2,850.75
Plot purchase
$1,525.00
Digging fee
$ 650.25
Plot purchase
$1,800.00
Digging fee
$ 780.75
Plot purchase
$1,300.50
Hebrew (includes Liberal Hebrew)
Muslim (includes Liberal Muslim)
Swanson Cemetery
Digging fee
$579.75 single depth
$650.25 double depth
Agenda - Supplement
Council
3.
5
19 December 2001
TIMING, COSTS AND BENEFITS OF A STANDARD AND POOR’S CREDIT
RATING
Your Committee Recommends:
4.
1.
That approval be given to obtain a credit rating for Waitakere City Council.
2.
That the current interest savings be used to cover the expense of obtaining
the credit rating.
BYLAW SPEED LIMIT - WAITAKERE RANGES
Your Committee Recommends:
5.
1.
That Council rescind Resolution 1477/2001 relating to the proposed
80 km/h bylaw speed restriction on rural roads in Waitakere City.
2.
That Council amend Resolution 2299/2001 to allow officers to select
appropriate speed values for the approved voluntary speed restriction in
the Waitakere Ranges.
ENTERPRISE WAITAKERE TRUST BOARD - APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES
Your Committee Recommends:
6.
1.
That Councillor Derek Battersby and former Councillor, Mr Robert William
Stanic, be removed as Trustees of Enterprise Waitakere pursuant to
clause 10.4 of the Trust Deed.
2.
That the Chief Executive, Harry O’Rourke, be appointed as a Trustee in
accordance with clause 10.2 of the Trust Deed.
AUTHORISATION OF ALTERNATE CONTROLLER
Your Committee Recommends:
That Ross McLeod, Director: Corporate & Civic Services, be appointed as Third
Alternate Controller for Civil Defence Emergencies and that the Civil Defence Plan
be amended accordingly.
7.
OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED
Your Committee Recommends:
That the report of the Ordinary Meeting of the Finance and Operational
Performance Committee be received.
J M Clews, QSO, JP
CHAIRPERSON