Promise made in 2007

Outcome

Sustainable City - Land Use and Transport

Dealing with poor quality infill

This was the major city issue in 2007. Plan change 56 was approved in Nov. 2007 and has almost completely dealt to poor quality infill. I led that process.

Protection for heritage and heritage suburbs

Plan Changes 53 and 58 added additional heritage listings,

Plan Change 75 adds 6 suburban centres as heritage areas.

Plan Change 72 upgrades and improves the rules for Thorndon, Mt Vic, Aro Valley. I led those processes too.

Suburban Centre Quality

Johnsonville plan completed 2008 – now planning community facilities. Mall expansion has consent. Funding earmarked for roading and community facilities

Adelaide Road plan completed 2008 –beginning implementation. Drummond St being upgraded.  2 supermarkets approved, Funding for Adelaide Rd and John St approved and in detailed planning.

Kilbirnie plan completed 2010 – (money budgeted for public space improvements)

Miramar plan commenced late 2010

Tawa and Karori plans programmed 2011/2/3.

Newlands Town Centre Plan completed 2010. Now beginning implementation. (supermarket approved)

Plan Change 73 significantly enhances Council’s ability to require high quality and well located development in suburban centres. I led all these processes.

Targeting sustainable development close to services and  public transport

Lead extensive consultation leading to Plan Changes 72 and 73 which encourage more people to live within walking distance of centres.

CBD greening

Completion of greening the quays.

Planting along Waterloo Quay partially complete.

Next stage to Cruise ships starting very soon.

CBD parks

Pushing for Dixon Street/Te Aro Park extension.

Shared space Cuba St (to be constructed in 2011)

Memorial Park – waiting on Government

Upgrade of Cobblestone Park – panel member. Completed 2010.

Funding for additional park 2014/5.

Parks and greening are an important part of the 2040 plan currently under development.

Focus on Railyards and Port

Walking and cycling upgrade from city to cruise ships is partially complete, and the second stage about to start. A future stage as part of the Great Harbour Way would be to take the walkway/cycleway to the Ferry, and then somehow through to the reclamation and thence north.

The port company has developed its office park. Council had limited ability to affect this. A more mixed use outcome is desirable.

I wanted the indoor sports centre here – above the Westpac Stadium concourse, though I’d also have also been happy with it across the road on port land. Sadly it is not to be.

Support public transport

We’ve been working closely with Greater Wellington and operators to support rail and bus upgrades.

More bus lanes in key areas

As portfolio leader I proposed Courtenay Place bus lanes – The Council had agreed to consult on them, before a reversal of position by the Mayor and Cr Ray Ahipene Mercer.

I’ve supported Manners Street works. These have been controversial but gained majority public support when twinned with the Cuba St shared space. These works will help make a more reliable public transport spine.

Support real time information  

I’ve consistently supported GWRC implementation of real time information. They’ve trialled the chosen technology, and will install real time displays at 290 bus and rail stops over the next 12 months. I’m working with GWRC on the exciting hub and spoke system. This has real potential to massively improve bus services.

Better airport bus services

Airport bus service frequency doubled by NZ Bus. It is better located, and a high quality service

Consider Light Rail into CBD

I argued for feasibility study to be done as early as possible. It is now programmed to be done in 2011/12.

Support Cycling and Walking

I led development of Wellington’s first ever Cycling and Walking Policies, and significantly improved both In the 2009 draft budget I moved to increase the budget to implement cycling and walking policies. The cycling budget was lifted from $70,000 to $220,000 a year. In the final budget I also moved a $500,000 a year budget for the Strategic Cycling and Walking network funding. It passed 9 votes to 6. I’ve helped lobby NZTA for funding support for walking and cycling. As a result we are about to start the $4 million Tawa – Porirua Stream Walkway/Cycleway and are progressively implementing the Great Harbour Way

Restoring our Natural Environment

Protecting our Environment

Plan Change 61 – Huntleigh Park I changed the resolutions to provide better protection for this special area of bush, and made a submission to support this. I opposed Plan Change 68 (allowing development off Homebush Rd Khandallah) and worked with local people against development I helped Grenada Village Residents Assn oppose filling in of a major stream and gully system north of Grenada village. The proposal is currently subject to Environment Court mediation.

Reserve network and Green Belt completion

I have consistently argued for funding to complete our green network. Consequently a strategic paper is currently under preparation for the new Council.

I’ve lead the push with Celia Wade-Brown to get land held as reserve into reserve status – giving it greater protection

We are still waiting on Crows Nest Environment Court outcome. Crows Nest is a significant hill above Ngaio.

We approved adding Rangiohua reserve to the Town Belt in November 2007. I’d been pursing this with Jonathan Kennett for several years. Never give up if you want to get a result !

We’ve finally go a reserves agreement for lower Stebbings

We are trying to obtain agreement for Bests Ridge to connect the northern end of the Outer Green Belt together

We’ve agreed some additions to the reserve network on the harbour escarpment at Newlands

Karori Sanctuary (Zealandia)

Zealandia - Karori Sanctuary finally has its new Visitor Centre. (opened April 2010) It was expensive, but it is fantastic, and all the expert advice is that it will allow the Sanctuary to become financially independent of Council.

Marine Reserve

The Tapu te Ranga Marine Reserve has been implemented by DoC.

Marine Education Centre

I supported the proposed MEC at Te Raekaihau Pt. We are now back to square one. The MEC Trust is looking at a different model on a different site.

We support the limited operation at the Bait House

Support for Community Environmental Care Groups

I got additional ranger resources to support community groups (in the 2009 budget)

Pest Control

Council’s pest control programmes working well. - -  Officers are working on ‘halo’ projects for areas surrounding key ecosystems like Otari and the Sanctuary (Zealandia).

We are supporting a long held aspiration to remove goats, pigs and deer from the whole Makara/Outer Green Belt area to prevent ongoing reinvasion. A comprehesive plan has been developed through the Makara Ohariu Community Board with landowner support.

Track system

Despite the majority of councillors voting to dump the track development budget for 3 years (one of a suite of cuts to help fund the indoor stadium) there have been great track developments especially on Makara Peak and above Aro Valley/Brooklyn.

I’ve particularly got involved in helping Highland Park Progressive Association get access to the Anne St trig in Wadestown. I’m currently assisting with plans for another track from Oban St into Ngaio Gorge.

Access to Wrights Hill from Landsdowne Rd (Karori) has been legalised by land swap.

Wellington as a Great Place to Visit

Tourism destination

We are now considered the top winter destination in New Zealand.

Our tourism numbers have held up very well compared to other areas.

Events programme

Wellington has maintained and enhanced its events programme.

Economic Transformation

Reinventing our economy

Grow Wellington established and assisting fledgling businesses with export potential.

Positively Wellington Tourism – remains the leader in the country. Council supported successful Australian marketing push (JV with private sector and Government)

Council’s events programme continued to add to city economy

Looking After Your Money

Prioritisation

I’ve continued to argue that we should rearrange consultation to encourage prioritisation. I think that message is getting through but it’s taken far more time than it should .

Testing spending

I’m pushing to get better quality information for you so you know where your money is going and when key projects are to be delivered. I also want to go back to line by line assessments

Better Recreation

Karori Park upgrade

Karori Park is a superb facility for the community. It’s on the verge of being a first class cricket venue. However the drainage is a disaster for football. As a football player and recent Chairman of Waterside Karori football club this has been intensely frustrating. You can bet there has been a lot of vigorous discussion with Council officers about fixing the problem. Major drainage work including gravel banding will be done this spring.

I’ve done a huge amount of work as Chair of the Karori Park Sports Club in helping get a café operating for community and sports club benefit.

Indoor Stadium – opposed as very expensive and wrong location

I did all I could to fight against a very poor and very expensive development. I believe most Wellingtonians still consider Council got this wrong. However it is done now and we must move on.

Artificial Turf – I wanted 4 or 5

We have built 2 at Nairnville Park and Te Whaea (Newtown). They are fantastic ! We have 5 more in budget.

I have worked hard to get those brought forward but the majority of my colleagues have consistently blocked that.

However the tide is turning. On 29 Sept a paper will come to Council recommending bringing forward at least 5 artificials over the next 3 years.

Caring for Our Community (local facilities)

Karori Recreation Centre

Val Bedingfield and I led it’s redevelopment. It is very popular and has over 100,000 users every year.

Karori Pool

I led the development. It opened October 2004. Last year (2009/10) it had 203,000 recorded users last year. That is well up on expectations of 150,000 to 160,000 on opening. It’s busier than any other pool except the Aquatic Centre. (the old outdoor pool had just 29,000 users in its last year)

We installed a hydroslide in 2010.
As part of the 2010 budget I got an additional learn to swim pool brought forward (construction starts shortly). This will relieve pressure on the main children’s pool.

I also persuaded councillors to stop sessionalisation which would have cut out most children swimming outside of lessons.

Khandallah Town Hall redevelopment

The contract was let in Sept 2010. Credit to Cr John Morrison and the Khandallah community. I actually voted against the initial proposal by John for a $1.4 million redevelopment in 2008, but in favour of the $900,000 redevelopment proposed in 2009.

Khandallah Ganges Road beautification

Completed 2010

Completing Karori Park – including children’s mountain bike/picnic area

Mountain bike area completed 2010

Picnic area in place

Helped church clean up of stream 2010

Northland hall maintenance issues

Significant Maintenance work has been done.

Also helped with funding for St Anne at Ward hall redevelopment

Wadestown Community Centre

Helped with Council funding for St Lukes hall development.

Wadestown library has a community space – credit to Cr Jo Coughlan.

Playground upgrades

All Wilton playgrounds done, Wadestown, Creswick Tce (Northland), Homebush Rd (Khandallah), Nairnville Park. Khandallah Park are all done.

Benburn Park, Kanpur Drive (Broadmeadows) and Silverstream Drive (Crofton Downs) are in the 2010/11 budget.

I tried to increase the playground budget in the 2009 LTCCP but lost 7 – 8.

Huntleigh Park protection

I lead, amended and strengthened Plan Change 61 to protect this iconic bush. I also made a submission in support of the Plan Change.

Crows Nest (Ngaio)

Awaiting Environment Court mediation outcome. Supporting Ngaio Progressive Association

Kaiwharawhara catchment

Ongoing regular engagement with catchment community groups. Otari Landscape plan completed.