Several hundred people have provided detailed feedback about what they want to see happen in the community over the next three years.
The Howick Local Board’s draft Local Board Plan 2023 outlines its strategy and goals for the next three-year period.
It will be finalised and adopted this month before coming into effect in July next year.
Board chairperson Damian Light previously said the plan’s divided into five areas, being people, environment, community, places, and the economy.
It’s critical as it helps to inform not just local residents but also Auckland Council about what’s important to the community, he said.
“The plan says what we’re looking for, what we need to deliver on, and gives direction to the rest of council about what our priorities are.”
Integrated into those categories are efforts to ensure the board contributes to climate mitigation and meets its legal obligations to Maori.
The council has published online a 1019-page document that contains 269 pieces of anonymous written feedback the public provided to the board on its draft plan.
The very first individual feedback to the board provides an example of what locals want to see happen in east Auckland.
Its unnamed author says they “partially support” the position that the board’s draft plan reflects the needs and aspirations for the community over the next three years.
“There are good high-level objectives and plans without details in terms of tackling issues.
“E.g. good objectives about transport, and to address the limits on in-fill housing, etc, but no mention of some key issues … of rampant curbside parking in streets not designed for it … parking on footpaths because people don’t want their cars damaged.”
One of the submitter’s criticisms relates to dog access at Mellons Bay Beach.
They say the board has allowed the beach to become a “virtually unrestricted dog zone, with faeces over the grass areas and the beach itself, creating an unsafe area for small children who grow up nearby and should be able to play for longer periods of the day without dogs running up to them”.
“The balance of dog-owner rights versus other people’s rights is out of kilter, particularly at Mellons Bay.
“Also, there has long been mention of better boat access at Mellons Bay … but this is not addressed anywhere in the plan.”
The submitter says the board needs to include a focus on ensuring residential streets are “safe driving/riding zones”.
They say the board needs to work with Auckland Transport to install no-parking lines on roads where safe driving and cycling is no longer possible, with Moore Street, O’Halloran Road, part of Mellons Bay Road and Cheriton Road named as examples.
The submitter also comments on the board needing to consider a new approach to how it delivers services more efficiently due to the council having less funding than in previous years.
“Selling facilities is fairly short-sighted when there are groups crying out for a place to meet, etc.
“We’ll never be able to buy them back. And also land, particularly if it’s to a private developer who simply puts up high-density housing.”
