You may or may not have opinions on Auckland Council’s 2016/2017 budget. But in amongst the local board priorities are some flagship projects that will make life better for people on bikes… and indeed, there are a few local boards who have forgotten to put easy cycling wins on their list of priorities.
If you have a moment, it’s well worth adding your voice. There are several ways to do this:
- tweet @aklcouncil and use the hashtag #aklbudget
- post on the Council’s Facebook page, with the hashtag #aklbudget
- email your thoughts to annualplan@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
- fill in the online feedback form
Feedback is due before 5pm, Thursday 24th March, 2016
If you’re using the online form and want to get straight to the point, scroll down to Question 5a: Which local board does your feedback relate to?
Two choices here:
- tick the Local Board area you live in, if you prefer to keep it simple.
- tick as many Local Board areas as you care about, if you want to help Council see the big picture.
There are plenty of interesting projects on each Local Board’s list, which you can read about here. You don’t have to comment on all of them – we didn’t – although of course you can comment on whatever you like!
Below, we’ve listed the issues that Bike Auckland did weigh in on, sorted by Local Board area. Feel free to borrow our phrasing or put it in your own words or take a different spin altogether.
Our feedback boils down to:
- a big YES to a bunch of greenways plans and projects – i.e. cycling/walking links through local parks, like Chamberlain Park. Greenways are a very useful complement to on-road cycling facilities, often faster and more easily built.
- some gentle encouragement to the local boards that don’t have greenways in their sights, but should.
- a thumbs up to Town Centre revitalization projects, notably Mt Albert; Silverdale, Orewa and Browns Bay; and Manurewa – with an encouraging nudge to Henderson Town Centre to be more walking/biking friendly.
- support for any sustainability initiatives that can help boost biking.
- support for parks maintenance techniques that make things sweeter for people passing through on foot or on wheels (e.g. mechanical edging, rather than spraying foul-smelling chemicals).
- strong support for the Puketapapa Local Board’s Sandringham Rd project.
- strong support for the Orakei Local Board’s focus on side-connections for the upcoming GI-Tamaki pathway which is being built through their green backyard over the next few years.
Right. That’s our take on the bike-friendly bits of the city’s budget. What’s yours?
Albert-Eden Local Board
Question 5b: In your opinion, have we got our priorities right for this local board area in 2016/2017?
Yes
What do you think we should change? Please comment:
Concentrate, as part of works in reserves and parks, the ability to connect and pass through them on foot and bikes.
Continue the development of the western end of Chamberlain Park for recreational purposes
Support
Comments
We strongly support improving Chamberlain Park in terms of better links into and through the park on foot and on bike.
Do you agree with bringing funds forward from later years to ensure the completion of the Mt Albert town centre upgrade in 2016/2017?
Comments
Yes
Devonport-Takapuna Local Board
Continue using mechanical edging instead of chemical edging in parks
Support
Do you have any other comments? Have we got our priorities right?
We strongly support increasing walking and cycling access – and Greenways projects in the board area. We would like the board to consider and support implementing slow-speed traffic in residential and town centre areas to ensure greater pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Franklin Local Board
Work with the community to develop a greenways plan
Support
Comments
We strongly support the development and implementation of a Greenways plan to make it easier to walk and cycle for both recreation and transport in the board area.
Great Barrier Local Board
Increase spending on environmental initiatives
Support
Continue to invest in biosecurity, biodiversity and sustainability projects
Support
Continue to upgrade local park and walkway development projects
Support
Reduce herbicide use and move to mechanical management methods
Support
Comments
We support intentions of the board to provide more walk and cycleways.
Henderson-Massey Local Board
Do you have any other comments? What do you think should be the local board’s priority over the next year?
We would like the board to put greater emphasis on walking and cycling path development in the board area, including to and through Henderson Town Centre.
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board
Develop Greenways Plans
Support
Implement key actions from Silverdale, Orewa and Browns Bay Town Centre Plans
Support
Comments
We support the development and implementation of a greenways plan to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area.
Howick Local Board
Develop a greenways plan to provide safe cycling and walking connections
Support
Connect our walkways to open up the coastline for everyone to use
Support
Fund green assets/ecological restoration
Support
Comments
We strongly support the proposed Greenways initiatives to improve walking and cycling in the board area – for both recreation and transport.
Are there any other priorities you would like us to consider?
Comments
We strongly support the board advocating for the AMETI project, but consider that the Reeves Road Flyover should not be a priority, as it would only risk cementing current traffic congestion.
Kaipatiki Local Board
Review how projects are prioritised in the Kaipatiki Network Connections Plan
Support
Provide support for local place-making groups
Support
Develop sustainability initiatives and fund delivery
Support
Fund mechanical edging in our parks instead of chemical spraying
Support
Comments
We strongly support Greenways initiatives, to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – particularly considering upcoming projects like SkyPath and SeaPath that need to be connected to.
Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board
What do you think about what we are proposing?
Develop priority greenways, or safe networks of cycleways and walkways
Support
Comments
We strongly support Greenways initiatives to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – whether for recreation or transport.
Manurewa Local Board
Progress the Manurewa Town Centre revitalisation project
Support
Do you have any other comments? Have we got our priorities right?
We would like the board to develop and implement Greenways initiatives to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – whether for recreation or transport.
Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board
What do you think about our new proposals?
Advocate to ensure that the council-supported redevelopment in Tamaki results in a range of quality housing options and better parks, open spaces and community facilities in the area
Support
Comments
We would like a focus on better walking and cycling in the Tamaki redevelopment areas.
Do you have any other comments? Have we got our priorities and advocacy right?
We would like the board to develop and implement Greenways initiatives to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – whether for recreation or transport. This will be particularly important to tie into the AMETI project cycleways, and possibly, the East-West project.
Orakei Local Board
Create cycling and walking connections to the Orakei Spine (the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path)
Support [read more about the importance of this one here!]
Continue to advocate for the harbourside shared walkway project, identified in the Tamaki Drive Masterplan to improve the overall safety for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians
Support
Comments
Bike Auckland strongly supports the board’s intentions to improve walking/cycling side accesses and local connections to the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path, which we consider crucial for the board.
We also support further progress on the Tamaki Drive masterplan, and would like particular focus to be placed on ensuring pedestrians and cyclists receive separate space in the future design, so each group does not conflict with the other.
Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board
Comments
We would like the board to develop and implement Greenways initiatives to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – whether for recreation or transport.
Papakura Local Board
Develop a town centre parking strategy
Support
Streetscape improvements in the town centre
Support
Comments
We would like the board to develop and implement Greenways initiatives to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – whether for recreation or transport.
In terms of town centres, we would like the board to emphasise making it easier and safer to get to them by walking and cycling.
Puketapapa Local Board
Sustainability initiatives
Support
Funding phase two of the Waikowhai Coastal board walk
Support
Place making along Te Auaunga awa-Oakley Creek
Support
Upgrade the car park at the Noton Rd entrance to Keith Hay Park
Do not support [That said, we’re told this includes straightening a greenway to make it more bike-friendly – your call]
Prioritise the construction of the Sandringham Road Cycle Route: SH20 to Wesley Community Centre
Support
Comments
We strongly support the board’s projects to improve walking and cycling and create a real network of paths and cycleways.
Rodney Local Board
What do you think about what we are proposing?
Community led placemaking initiatives ($40,000)
Support
Greenways plans for future walking/cycling routes ($40,000)
Support
Environmental projects, including support for community-led environmental initiatives and ecological restoration ($110,000)
Support
Transport projects including constructing footpaths ($750,000)
Support
Comments
We support the board to develop and implement Greenways initiatives to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – whether for recreation or transport.
We also support improved footpaths as part of the transport focus, but would similarly like the board to consider improving cycling safety and amenity.
Do you agree with our continued focus on planning and building footpaths and walkways?
Comments
Yes, but please also consider cycling improvement opportunities at the same time.
Upper Harbour Local Board
Do you have any other comments?
We would like the board to develop and implement Greenways initiatives to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – whether for recreation or transport.
Waiheke Local Board
Do you have any other comments? Have we got our priorities right?
We would like the board to develop and implement Greenways initiatives to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – whether for recreation or transport.
Waitakere Ranges Local Board
Further cycle and pedestrian improvements and connections between Oratia, Parrs Park and Sunnyvale
Support
Comments
We strongly support the board to develop and implement Greenways initiatives to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – whether for recreation or transport.
Waitemata Local Board
Improve the pathways through Western Park
Support
Install a new pathway through Symonds Street Cemetery
Support
Help Waitemata lower carbon use and become more energy-resilient
Support
Support community-led development and place making
Support
Comments
We strongly support the board to develop and implement Greenways initiatives to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – whether for recreation or transport.
Whau Local Board
Funding community involvement in environmental restoration
Support
Delivering on our Greenways Plan through our parks and community environmental programmes
Support
Fund sustainable initiatives
Support
Comments
We strongly support the board to develop and implement Greenways initiatives to make it easier to walk and cycle in the board area – whether for recreation or transport.
[The end of the online feedback form asks the following overarching question, which we answered as follows]
Please provide any additional feedback on either regional or local priorities.
We would like Council to continue supporting and increasing funding for walking and cycling-related initiatives, to reduce transport congestion, provide greater travel choice, and a more pleasant city.
