Chair’s report October 2024 – Submission on Crown Minerals Bill

Submission on Crown Minerals Amendment Bill

The local board has for a long time taken an interest in the Block Offer process for permits for exploration and drilling offshore for oil and gas.

We have consistently opposed the granting of any permits in the local area.

The reasons for our opposition are that the area has incredible beauty, a diverse environment which is a source of artistic inspiration, recreation and high intrinsic cultural values.

Offshore oil and gas drilling could destroy that.

Under some time pressure a submission was prepared and filed. There was only five days between the introduction of the bill and the close off date.

The submission was then presented three days after the close off date.

The essence of our submission was that the West Coast should be left alone, that undiscovered oil and gas should be left in the ground to minimise the effects of climate change and that even if discovered it would not provide any assistance to the country’s immediate gas requirements.

The Bill is inconsistent with our Paris Accord undertakings, our international obligations as well as various trade treaties not to mention the Climate Change Response Act. And any discovery of gas will hinder our goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.

A copy of the Board’s submission approved under urgency is attached to this report.

Councillor Ken Turner’s notice of motion to Council on slip repairs in road reserves

Deputy Chair Michelle Clayton and I had the opportunity to address Council on Councillor Ken Turner’s notice of motion seeking assistance for residents affected by slips in road reserves that impact on their property.

During our presentation I noted that the local board have taken major interest in issues relating to storm damage caused by the two storms last year.

Previously we advocated for full remission of rates for some affected properties and thank Council for doing this

I am pleased that the buy back scheme is proceeding.  I personally know a few families who are very grateful that they have been able to extricate themselves from difficult situations.

But some families are still caught up, particularly those whose properties are affected by slips that are adjacent to their properties. 

EQC can’t help, their insurance company will not help but they are caught in a situation where their lives are on hold through circumstances beyond their control.

I became acutely aware of this problem early on when I walked around the streets of Titirangi to see the problem first hand.  I can recall meeting one particularly distressed resident whose access to her home had been decimated by a slip.

I can recall asking Auckland Transport early on about this situation and they said that these issues would be treated on a case by case basis and that landowners would be involved.  It is clear now that there is a budget problem and repair work to road reserves which in the past has been done is not being done now.

I noted in my last month’s report that an application for funding to the Cyclone Recovery Capability Fund has been declined.  A similar application to the Auckland Transport Landslip Remediation Programme has also failed.

Crown Infrastructure Partners have turned down a request to fund a grant scheme for residents seeking to repair private assets in the road corridor.

This distinction to me is an anomaly and one that needs to be addressed.  The scheme generally is to help our neighbours move on from a traumatic and dramatic event and get on with their lives.  But there are some who because of an administrative distinction are prevented from doing so.

And there are other situations that need consideration. I recently visited a couple who own a property on Scenic Drive, Waiatarua. Their driveway has been compromised by a slip which in their case is adjacent to a Crown reserve.

I expressed general support for Councillor Turner’s notice of motion.

Fast Track Projects Bill submission

I submitted earlier on this bill on behalf of the Local Board.

Our submission raised the following concerns:

1. The undue haste being shown to get the bill passed.
2. Effects on Treaty of Waitangi obligations.
3. Consideration of activities that are prohibited under the Resource Management Act.
4. The test to be met in determining if an application qualifies for fast-track processing.
5. The extent of the Ministerial discretion.
6. Public input into hearings and timeframes for input.
7. The potential effect the bill if enacted could have on World Heritage Areas

Many other organisations and individuals raised similar concerns.

The Select Committee has now reported the Bill back to Parliament.

Point 5 has been addressed.  Ministerial discretion has been somewhat limited. The Expert Panel now makes the decision and there is limited ability for Ministerial intervention after this.

Point 6 has also been addressed at least in relation to time frames. The time period for comment has now been extended to 20 working days from 10 working days. But given that these applications tend to be very complex the time frame is still very tight.

The initial list of fast track projects has been released and none of them are within the Local Board area.

But there is the possibility of further references of local projects to the

Weed Free Bins

For a number of years with the assistance of Ecomatters the Waitakere Ranges Local Board has provided free weed bins to our local rural communities. 

The bins are spread around our rohe and the intent is to help locals get rid of local weeds that are a very prominent feature of the local environment.

Auckland has been described as the weediest city in the world and the forested west is unfortunately the weediest part of the city.

Too many ornamental and exotic plants have been introduced to New Zealand because they were pretty flower.  And too many of them have jumped the garden fence and spread amongst our benign and forgiving environment.  Today’s pretty flower easily becomes tomorrow’s pest.

Auckland has over 300 declared pest plants including  climbing asparagus which poses a special threat to the forest.

The weed bins are provided to support local efforts to at least hold weeds at bay.

There are some rules.  The bins are for invasive weeds only.

Bamboo, large branches or tree trunks, nīkau/palm trees or fronds, cabbage trees, or general garden waste, soil, and weeds from around kauri trees are not welcome.

To those who engage in the work trying to hold back the invasion of weeds can I thank you and urge you to keep up the good work.  Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa needs our love and attention.  And holding back the weed invasion is an important step to to maintain the health of Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa.

Emergency Readiness Plan

Council staff are in the process of preparing an Emergency Readiness plan for the Local Board area.

The plan will include helpful information for residents during an emergency as well as further information of use to people wanting to prepare.

In February 2023 West Auckland was hit by two storms a week apart the intensity of which we have not seen before.

The repercussions have dominated our work this term.

Futureproofing our local area remains at the heart of much of our work and it is imperative that we all take steps now to prepare for our future.  

 The Waitākere Ranges Emergency Readiness and Response Plan, is being developed to support communities in the Waitākere Ranges to be more resilient in the face of emergencies. It provides key information regarding local hazards and clear, practical steps for how to prepare for and respond to these.

When it is released I urge everyone to read through and familiarise yourselves with the information in this plan and to action it as part of your household’s emergency response preparations as soon as possible.

Titirangi Ratepayer AGM

I attended this recently.

The outstanding Mels Barton was re-elected to her role as Chairperson and the executive was largely returned.

Mels has been chairperson since I relinquished the position in 2011 after being elected to the local board.

Her leadership and her drive and dedication cannot be faulted and the TRRA constantly provide us with high quality critiques on our consultation documents.

Our local area is well represented by her.

Waiatarua Hall 50 year birthday party

Liz Manley and I attended the recent ceremony for the Waiatarua Hall’s 50th birthday put on by the Waiatarua Residents and Ratepayers.

The ratepayers are a very well organised and active group ably led by Mark Wager with assistance from Marc Holibar and Lyn Chappell and others.

The event had an interesting collection of memorabilia including old photos showing the area 50 years ago. Back then the forest was much more diminutive. And survey plans drawn up at the time were clearly a desktop exercise taken downtown with no idea of the local topography or the area’s features.

Moved:

1. That my report be received.
2. That the Local board receives the decision made under delegation concerning the submission to Government from the Waitākere Ranges Local Board on the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill.