The Howick Local Board is being accused of failing to carry out sufficient public consultation before investing more than $280,000 on safety improvements in Bucklands Beach.
As the Times recently reported, the board is partnering with Auckland Transport (AT) on the work, the first part of which is being carried out in two stages.
It’s focused on the stretch of The Parade between Laings Road and Whitcome Road.
A concrete raised pedestrian crossing will be installed near the intersection with Laings Road.
Three speed humps will be installed along The Parade between Laings Road and Whitcome Road. The public provided feedback on the initial proposal in 2023.
Board chairperson Damian Light previously said there’s been numerous crashes on the road, particularly near the intersection of The Parade and Laings Road, which he describes as “quite a blind corner”.
“We know we’ve got issues as there’s no footpath on one side of The Parade so people have to use the other side. We want people to get across safely.
“That’s what the pedestrian crossing is for. The speed bumps are intended to slow vehicles down, so if a pedestrian gets hit they won’t be killed.
“Because 50mk/h will kill you, whereas 30km/h is a survivable speed.”
The Bucklands and Eastern Beaches Ratepayers and Residents Association worked with the board and AT to hold consultation sessions to give locals the chance to provide their views and input.
It also carried out a pamphlet drop on the board’s behalf and helped it to facilitate discussions in person and on the association’s Facebook page.
Bucklands Beach resident Chris O’Loughlin addressed the board on the issue at its most recent business meeting.
He raised concerns relating to the impact the work will have on local residents, the accuracy of related data, whether the board’s public consultation was sufficient, and the placement of the pedestrian crossing.
“In January, 2023, safety proposals for The Parade, Laings Road and Bucklands Beach Road were under consultation,” he said.
“By March, only The Parade, with just 27 per cent support, was approved for work. This was despite higher accident rates and higher public support for safety changes on all the other roads.
“The only identified key stakeholder was Fire and Emergency NZ, who advised against speed humps.
“Thankfully, feedback providers were promised future updates and by May, 2023, AT engagement had closed community feedback and invited participants to a public meeting with just seven hours’ notice.
“How is it that that level of notice is deemed as reasonable to interested parties?”
O’Loughlin told the board it needed to “immediately instruct the contractor to stop work”.
“You need to review your entire consultation processes and disclose all of the data.
“You need to be accountable to the majority of the community who did not agree with the safety proposals for The Parade.”
Board chairperson Damian Light asked O’Loughlin about his comments relating to public consultation on the work and how it didn’t have strong community support.
“I’m curious as to what level of support you would expect to see before the board or AT proceeds with a project?”
O’Loughlin said he expected the board would have strong local support for the work via a communication process that’s quite tightly controlled.
“The communication process I thought was pretty loose. It started off with AT engagement.
“People who provided feedback had the option to be included with any further updates on what was going on. That carried on for a smaller amount of time.
“Facebook groups aren’t really the sole way to be communicating these types of arrangements. A lot of people aren’t on Facebook.”
Light then asked what he thought would be a better way of communicating with residents.
O’Loughlin said the board should have held a second public meeting on the proposal.
“You had a public meeting in May of 2023. There’s a long time delay between then and announcing that construction is going to begin in a week.”
He said for the board to impose three speed humps and a raised pedestrian crossing in a 400-metre stretch of road, “it’s just insanity – it’s unreasonable”.
The board voted to ask for advice as to whether its duties under the Local Government Act regarding consultation on the matter were met.
