March – July 2024 

It has been an interesting few months on the Local Board. We have seen the Long Term Plan passed by the Governing Body, with some wins for locals including funding for toilets in Turner’s Reserve and the Three Kings Quarry development out of the region-wide “Growth Funding” package. The RLTP was also passed, with a number of local residents submitting on the need for the Denbigh Avenue roundabout to be fixed. It is also good to see a renewed focus on the Avondale-Southdown line. This had land set aside over 70 years ago – its time to get it done.  

I submitted a Notice of Motion, seconded by Bobby Shen, requesting info on the works done so far in Waikowhai Park and what is planned. We have now received all of the information, and I have attached this to this report. It has been a very long wait to get back into the park but the road works done by Auckland Transport are very close to being complete. The track network will require investment and time to get back to being fully open, although it is possible to enjoy a walk along many parts of the coast again.  

The herpetofauna survey continued, finding both copper and ornate skinks. One other great outcome was that the Council environmental team have increased possum trapping in the area, due to the low numbers found while doing the survey. Long term, there could be the potential to make Waikōwhai a predator free sanctuary – although that would require a lot of money and time to make happen.  

We have seen some safety improvements locally, with the most notable a raised crossing on Richardson Road connecting Keith Hay Park through to Glass road and the community around there. Its great to see school children and families safely able to cross here, without having to take a 400m both way detour to cross the road to get home or to the park. We have also seen both road resurfacing and footpath repair, with Penney Ave getting a full rebuild at the moment. It has been tough for Roskill South residents recently with all of the Watercare works on Dominion Road, and this will continue for a while as we future proof our water infrastructure. 

It was fantastic to see the Governing Body unanimously pass the “Strategic Direction for achieving better environmental outcomes for the Manukau Harbour” report in June. This is a long awaited piece of work that sets out the high-level strategic direction for achieving better environmental outcomes for the harbour and steps forward from here. 

One thing to note in this report is that we have had a number of workshops cancelled due to lack of business over the last few months.  

Roles assigned by the local board 

• Chair of the Manukau Harbour Forum. 

Meetings / events attended 

• 12^th March – Long Term Plan Have Your Say at Mt Roskill Library. 

• 14^th March –  Puketāpapa Local Board workshop. 

• 18^th March – Coastguard Bar Awareness seminar in Onehunga. 

• 21^st March – Puketāpapa Local Board business meeting . 

• 28^th March – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop. 

• 4^th April – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop. 

• 6^th April – Victoria Hall Open Day Celebration. 

• 11^th April – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop. 

• 14^th April – CultureFest in Mt Roskill War Memorial Park. 

• 18^th April – Puketāpapa Local Board business meeting . 

• 22^nd April – Bus Tour of Mt Roskill with Kainga Ora and electorate MP. 

• 24^th April – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop. 

• 25^th April – ANZAC day service. 

• 2^nd May- Puketāpapa Local Board business meeting . 

• 2^nd May – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop (cancelled due to no business). 

• 9^th May – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop. 

• 16^th May- Puketāpapa Local Board business meeting . 

• 16^th May – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop (cancelled due to no business). 

• 20^th May – I&ES Kaitiaki Forum hui with Manukau Harbour Forum staff and Deputy Chair. 

• 23^rd May – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop. 

• 30^th May – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop (cancelled due to no business). 

• 6^th June – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop (cancelled due to no business). 

• 13^th June – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop. 

• 16^th June – Puketāpapa Manu Aute kite day. 

• 20^th June – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop. 

• 21^st June –  Manukau Harbour Forum workshop and business meeting. 

• 27^th June – Puketāpapa Local Board business meeting. 

• 4^th July – Puketāpapa Local Board workshop.