CCRG's recent submissions & feedback to various governance groups and authorities.

Emily Place Improvements Project Draft Concept Plan

Following on from the 2021 Innovating Streets Tactical Project , the concept planning progresses for the Emily Place improvements project, a project that aims

to provide a more people-focused street. This project and the proposed improvements align with the City Centre Masterplan and Access for Everyone, plans that focus on making better use of city centre spaces and improving the quality of the environment.

The overall objectives for the Emily Place improvements project are to:

•Deliver a quality, accessible, attractive, distinctive and desirable public place.

•Create a destination that celebrates and responds to the cultural heritage and built form of the area.

•Provide a space that empowers local community-led placemaking and activation opportunities.

EMILY PLACE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT – DRAFT CONCEPT PLAN CONSULTATION MATERIALS

The Draft has good bones, but we see it as a springboard to much more resident-focussed, and residential living goodness!

This a project funded through the City centre targeted rate

Funding our storm recovery and resilience - CCRG Feedback

Auckland Council and the central government negotiated a one-off funding package to help Auckland recover from the severe weather events of Auckland Anniversary weekend and Cyclone Gabrielle.

INFO

The package is co-funded with the government providing just under $1.1 billion of new and reprioritised existing funding, and Auckland Council investing around $900 million.

Feedback was sought on:

Doyou support Auckland Council agreeing to the funding package?

Are there are any features of the package that you would like to comment on.

Doyou support Auckland Council strongly advocating to central government for a national scheme to help us recover from similar future events.

CCRG, feedback on the draft Local Board Annual plan 2023

CCRG, feedback on the Auckland Future Development

The Future Development Strategy sets out the big picture vision for how and where we should grow over the next 30 years to achieve the best outcomes for Tāmaki Makaurau.

The Strand Optimisation Project

The project runs along The Strand between Alten Road and Tāmaki Drive in Auckland. This is a short-term project that aims to improve travel choices, efficiency for freight and safety for all along this corridor.

This is a project that CCRG supports - a step perhaps on the path to full implementation of the city centre masterplan vision for this area.

But it does miss some obvious wins for both safety and mode shift, and the climate emergency mitigation assessments for this project appear not to have been undertaken - assessments that would see if the whole, or parts of the whole, meet our plans and obligations.

Read about the PROJECT

Auckland Council Annual Plan/Budget 2023/24

A particularly important one to have your say on given the scale of the slash, burn, and asset sale value being proposed.

CCRG opposed all cuts, prefferringto provide a solution to filling the fiscal hole instead.

CCRG also submitted separately on the proposals for the Waitematā Local Board annual budget - effectively a 50% cut to discretionary spending - that is spending not already tied up with long term contracts.

As with our main submission, CCRG opposed all cuts, preferring to provide a solution to filling the fiscal hole instead, along with supporting climate initiatives.

CCRG Deputation to Council's Expenditure Control and Procurement Committee

21 February 2023

CCRG Chair Noelene Buckland  presented to the committee with a modest proposal to raising revenues at Auckland Transport that might reduce or eliminate the need for the large budget cuts that Council are currently proposing,

This has to do with Parking.

 This is a suggestion CCRG made to  Auckland Councils Annual Budget in 2022, but is more relevant now than ever, both a revenue-generating standpoint, as well as climate emergency one as well.

The outcome will be low greenhouse gas emissions, and a cleaner and more efficient public transport system that people can rely on to get from A to B on time.

Critically, it would raise in one year, what the current Climate Action Targeted Rate would raise in ten years.

In other words, we are asking that greenhouse gas producers meet the same share of climate damage that they cause — no other process could be fairer than that.

proposed protection zones designed to revitalise the Hauraki Gulf

The Hauraki Gulf is in a state of decline after decades of overfishing.

The Government sought feedback on a proposal for establishing 19 new areas to protect and restore the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park / Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui ā Toi. The result will be a network of "national parks", each protecting a small area, but all contributing to a more healthy, resilient and abundant Gulf. This may be our best opportunity to restore the Hauraki Gulf in a generation.

Density - The NPS UD City Centre Plan change 78

This proposed plan change by Auckland Council responds to the government’s National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (amended in 2022) and requirements of the Resource Management Act. These mean the council must:

• enable more development in the city centre and at least six-storey buildings within walkable catchments from the edge of the City Centre, Metropolitan Centres and Rapid Transit Stops

• enable development in and around neighbourhood, local and town centres

• incorporate Medium Density Residential Standards that enable three storey housing in relevant residential zones in urban Auckland

• and may: implement qualifying matters to reduce the height and density of development required by the RMA to the extent necessary to accommodate a feature or value that means full intensification is not deemed appropriate by council.

Visit the Council WEBSITE for full info and documents, and how to make a submission.

CCRG are wholly supportive of the intent of the NPS UD - to create many more homes in places with good access to pubic transport, and close to places of employment, entertainment, and amenity. We are supportive of much more residential living in the city centre.

We will place our submissions here’s the various detail is fleshed out about these proposals, concentrating of course, non the city centre, though in reality, we can’t separate out the city centre from the immediate neighbouring inner suburbs when it comes to their effects on the city centre. And council is now proposing that the density form of the city centre should not be allowed to affect the inner suburbs with their Special Character Areas covering them.

Current Proposals are to mostly remove all height controls in the core, and 72.5m around the core. Whilst retaining the siting controls such as sunlight access to certain squares and parks, heritage, etc

Submissions will open on 18 August 2022 and close on 29 Sept 2022

Inquiry into the future of inter-regional passenger rail in New Zealand

Inter-Regional Rail Inquiry Submissions closed Friday 21 October.

Sounds a bit dry doesn't it but as city centre residents we value having lots of options when we get around inside and outside of the city centre, including travelling outside of Auckland. And rail travel can be so relaxing and convenient - well it could be.

It wasn't that long ago that we had a decent regional and national passenger rail network.

Rail could certainly improve access, safety and lower emissions for a wide variety of potential users.

How about a high-quality inter-regional rail network linking the Waikato and Bay of Plenty to Auckland?

Reshaping Streets - September 2022

We need to make it safer, quicker, and more attractive for people to walk, bike, ride devices, and take public transport in our towns and cities across Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to implement our City Centre Masterplan, especially Access for Everyone, and create really great residential neighbourhoods we can fully enjoy, with safer streets, cleaner air, and more places for us to hang out in and catch up with friends and neighbours.

Reshaping Streets is a suite of proposed changes to legislation and land transport rules that will enable local government to trial temporary street changes in our cities and towns and provide new ways for communities to be involved in changes that affect them.

Our public street space is that - public - it should be a lot easier to choose what we like to do with it - but this has been very difficult under a whole maze of law, regs, instruments, bylaws and so on that have cemented in vehicle dominance and priority.

CCRG support these proposals. The changes look good and should be supported as they bring some of our outdated legislation into the 21st century. This is good legislative progress.

CCRG submitted to see more clarity around who legally controls and manages pedestrian malls (once they have been created).

We think it should not necessarily be Auckland Transport, as Pedestrian Malls are all about Place, whereas AT is understandably more interested in Movement.

We would also like it to be cleared up so that it is clear to AT that they can legally enforce no-parking in pedestrian malls.

Creating Safer Streets: Emily Place - The Future

August 2022 - Twelve months after the successful trial project, we are getting ready to embark on a long-teCreating Safer Streets: Emily Placerm upgrade for this area through the Emily Place Improvements Project. Funded buy the City centre targeted rate, and included in the City Centre Masterplan since 2012.

After a wonderful neighbourhood twilight picnic in July to finally celebrate this expanded, safe public square council sought further feedback on people’s perceptions of how the project worked for them.

CCRG were very supportive of this project as meeting so many of the masterplan objectives for residents. And of course the climate emergency has become so much more real, turbo charging the need to make real change on how we get around, and how our cities look and work.

Creating Safer Streets: Emily Place INFO

Quay & Tangihua Street - Pedestrian Crossing Improvements

Like many of our bloated ‘STROAD’ intersections, designed to prioritise every vehicle movement and often at speed, safety and accessibility for walkers and people on bicycles can be pretty unpleasant and fraught!

AT are proposing some CHANGES on Quay Street and Tanighua Street.

Draft parking strategy May 2022

So many of our city issues are fundamentally space issues, & our solutions need to address how we use this finite resource. Addressing this and we enable so many other things we all wish to achieve for our cities - safer, child-friendly, aged-friendly, disabled friendly, cleaner, greener, easier to get around, quieter and more. This is what our city centre masterplan requires.

Parking vehicles in our streets takes up a huge amount of space, and inevitably the more parking we have, the more driving there will be, and the harder it is to reallocate street space to reliable public transport, wider footpaths, along with protected cycle and mobility paths. So the Auckland Parking Strategy is important.

image: Alec Tang from Twitter

CITY CENTRE RESIDENTS GROUP 2022/23 Annual Budget Submission

In December 2021 the Mayor proposed the annual budget. Following the public consultation process (closed 28 March 2022), council’s Governing Body will discuss the mayoral proposal and develop the proposed annual budget.

The main thrust of the budget is proposed to be funded by a Climate Action Targeted Rate (CATR) that will raise around $574 million over 10 years, ringfenced for direct climate action in Tāmaki Makaurau.

The most damage to our environment comes from transport in both the private and public sectors. CCRG’s submission argues that it is this sector that should be paying for the CATR, not a target rate on everyone. Auckland Council should require Auckland Transport to implement a system where all vehicles needing to park on a public road purchase an annual parking permit.

The outcome will be lower greenhouse gas emissions, and a cleaner and more efficient public transport system that people can rely on to get them from A to B on time.

Critically, it would raise in one year, what the Mayor’s proposed Climate Action Targeted Rate would raise in ten years and provide both co-benefits and social equity.

CCRG Feedback on Te Hā Noa Victoria Street Linear Park and Wellesley Street bus improvements projects

The Te Hā Noa Victoria Street Linear Park project in particular has long been discussed and forms a core part of the City Centre Masterplan linking Waikokota/Victoria Park through to Rangipuke/Albert Park. You can see the overview and detailed plans proposed HERE. CCRG are very supportive of this project, which will have good results for residents. However there’s always room for improvements!

CCRG feedback on project wave - nelson to Quay st

Trialling a new cycleway, loading zones, and drop-off areas through the Viaduct.

A very quick and nimble install . All about safety, better walkong and cycling connections around this popular people-focussed space.

The trial will be in place for at least three months (starting May 2021). During this time, feedback will help tweak the design and improve it. Following the trial’s end, Auckland Transport will decide its future, based on public feedback and monitoring. Round one of feedback closes Sunday 13 June.

Have your Say HERE

Submission on Auckland Transports’ Proposed Queen Street Changes May 2021

CCRG provided a submission in response to the advertised changes to the city centre bus networks.

MAPS

Draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP)

The Regional Land Transport Plan RLTP is a very important strategy. It is a 10-year investment programme for transport in Auckland. It is intended to identify the transport challenges our region faces now and for the next decade, and locks in what and where infrastructure improvements will be made. The RLTP gets reviewed every 3 years.

Our view, along with many others is that this draft RLTP fails to address Auckland’s transport challenges and takes a “business as usual” approach, at a time when we urgently need to change how we prioritise road safety, transport choice, and the impact transport has on the climate and our environment.

Submissions closed 2 May

Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Bill

If you live in the city centre it’s almost 100% certain that you live in a building that’s either run by a body corporate (BC) under the UTA, or in a building that is set up as a company. BCs are very much more common than company structures.
The Unit Titles Act 2010 governs the rules a round Body Corporates, and attempts to make many greatly needed reforms have been underway for a few years now.

Our submission followed the general consensus around elements needing urgent change. One thing we don’t need is any further kicking the can down the road.

The Bill has passed its first reading, and there appears to be good cross-party support so let’s get this happening!

congestion charging report ccrg feedback April 2021

In November the Ministry of Transport released their report on congestion pricing.

This discussion has been ongoing for many years but there is now far more detail around just what a road pricing scheme in Auckland would look like.

If fully implemented and combined with improvements to public transport, officials think this could see congestion reduce by around 8-12%.

The City Centre may be the first easily implemented and obvious area to have this applied.

CCRG are supportive, though with a caveat around impacts on city centre residents.

Info & Feedback is open until 20 May 2021.

Further Info/Analysis from Greater Auckland HERE

Innovating Streets - Emily Place pilot - Feedback Open to 18 April

Emily Place Innovating Streets for People Update - plans have landed!
Progress to date, proposed temporary changes (informed by the data &inspiring ideas that emerged from co-design process), next steps Have Your Say (till 18 April) webpage & feedback options:

CCRG supports these projects. They fit in with the City Centre Masterplan , local board plans, and of course CCRG's hopes for a more people-friendly (just nicer really) street environment promoting safety, local neighbourhoods and communities of residents for us all.

CCRG is highly supportive of the agreed plans like the city centre masterplan , Access for Everyone, and this Innovating streets kaupapa. Many of the positions that CCRG have agreed upon and for which we advocate, can flow from the implementation of these plans, from air quality improvements, noise, street Safety, and just a more people friendly city centre neighbourhood.

Share the streets cos residents live here!

Feedback open till 18 April

The 10-year Budget 2021-2031 (long-term plan) consultation

CCRG submitted made this submission to the Local Board and Council.

CCRG’s submission is quite heavily focussed on climate & it ties into issues we have in the city centre such as air quality, not enough trees, wall to wall diesel buses etc

We think the climate parts of the budget are timid and un-ambitious & won't achieve what needs to be achieved (and that council's own agreements and policies say they need to achieve).

Letter seeking support for immediate implementation of carbon reducing transport on Waihorotiu/Queen Street Valley (W/QSV).

On 9 Feb 2021 CCRG emailed various groups, various leaders (including Michael Wood, Chloe Swarbrick, Phil Goff, Pippa Coom, Chris Darby and Richard Northey) about our determination to ensure what we agreed upon in the CCMP refresh, is the goal, and also how the proposed bus network will fit into this without poisoning residents in the short term before all buses become electric (at this stage by 2030).

Anzac/Symonds/New North Rd corridor Auckland Transport Feb 2021

Consultation Is Excellent (it's part of what CCRG relies on), but not when it's overdone, revisited, relitigated, (and used as a strawman excuse for doing nothing and blocking progress for residents), especially when the need and action required, has already been identified and agreed upon.

In the City Centre we already have very well consulted-upon, agreed, and widely supported statutory and other plans and policies (e.g. Unitary Plan, Auckland Plan, #freakinawesome City Centre Master Plan).

AT’s own brochure already lays contains what needs to be presented

CCRG's view is that we don't need further consultation, and that we have the necessary plans to guide this for the city centre.

CCRG Feedback on the Waitematā Local Board/ Te Poari ā-Rohe o Waitematā Local Board Plan 2020

Every 3 years the Waitematā Local Board develops a three-year plan outlining the key initiatives want focus on to help our communities thrive and support the recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. Info HERE

The plan has six key outcomes:

1. Māori are empowered, and their identity and culture is visible (page 11 of plan)

2. Connected communities that are inclusive, accessible and equitable (page 14)

3. High quality urban development that has accessible, versatile, and sustainable public and private spaces (page 19)

4. A future focused green and climate change resilient Waitematā (page 24)

5. Sustainable transport network that is safe and accessible (page 28)

6. Prosperous Waitematā economy that is sustainable and innovative (page 32)

CCRG Deputation to Waitematā Local Board on Regulatory Issues in the City centre - 19.5.20

We presented on issues of concern to CCRG relating to a range of regulatory functions/dysfunction that resident’ experience living in the city centre, grouped under five headings –

1. Resource Consents

2. LED screens

3. Operating hours for road/street works

4. Events and the use of public spaces

5. Urban trees

CCRG Submission to Auckland Council on Council Controlled Organisations (CCO) 18.3.20

There have been rumblings for years on how the various CCOs are not sufficiently under the direction of the Governing Body, and therefore not responsive to the direction of elected representatives, potentially undermining the democratic process.

The 2020 Review is underway. CCRG made a submission.

The 4 main changes we suggest are:

· More alignment between New Zealand local government legislation and that applying to Auckland, to assist with national comparisons of performance.

· The Governing Body issuing the annual Statements of Intent to CCOs (rater than the current other way around), which then allows citizens to hold the elected members to account for the performance of their CCOs

· A requirement for CCOs to include the costs associated with commercialisation of public assets, so that the benefits/losses to the public realm are made more transparent.

· A review of the Governing Body’s Significance and Engagement Policy to more clearly reflect the obligations that their CCOs have to consult with citizens.

Auckland Council Annual Budget (annual plan) 2020/2021 - Local Board Priorities

Here is CCRG’s 4 March 2020 Presentation to the Waitematā Local Board 2020-21 Budget

Local Board Priorities help us shape the city center's future, especially for residents, via the Waitematā Local Board 's priorities.

CCRG Submission & Appeal construct, operate, occupy and maintain public space between Princes Wharf, Pier 2 and the Ferry Building. Nov 2019

The City Centre Residents' Group withdrew its appeal to the granting of resource consent, after mediation with Auckland Council. Media article HERE

CCRG have always been active in wanting to ensure we get great outcomes across our waterfront, planned as a cohesive whole. We stress our intention to arrive at a good outcome for everybody, including residents and Council

Key issues are:

The need to not compromise future ferry growth
Retaining the last vestiges of heritage on our waterfront
Not extending into the harbour
A need for connected/joined up strategic planning across the entire waterfront

We also need Quality Public space without compromising ferry growth. This is a unique opportunity to make needed improvements to existing public space without compromising the outcomes of the Queen’s Wharf Master Plan exercise.

We want to focus on total support for improving public spaces, but not at the cost of essential public transport.

All of these smaller developments (ferry piers along Queens Wharf east, Mooring Dolphins, DPS, Queen’s wharf, New event facility etc.) all create scope creep – just a little bit at a time but over time the quantum may totally compromises our waterfront, and in this location – particularly Queen’s Wharf - and the notion of a People’s Wharf.

POAL have to come to the party with mooring dolphins, the vehicle trade, Upper North Island Supply Chain.

CCRG want a strategic approach for this key area of our waterfront which will allow a high level of confidence that future investment decisions will deliver us the world class, connected waterfront we want, rather than a lot of the ad hoc approach spread across various organisations carving out their own localised spheres of interest and control.

City Centre Masterplan Refresh Oct 2019 CCRG Submission

The crucial document guiding the future planning of Auckland's city centre, the CCMP was originally adopted in 2012, setting out a 20-year vision for the city centre The CCMP and the Waterfront Plan are being refreshed and combined to better reflect the city's unprecedented growth.

The CCMP refresh is a high-level, non-statutory document that supports the Auckland Plan 2050 and Auckland Unitary Plan, and together with the Waitematā Local Board Plan, provide the overall vision that sets the direction for Auckland's city centre.

Very important is the introduction of new initiatives and projects – most notably Access for Everyone which has the potential to be the most significant game-changer ever in creating a resident and people-friendly city centre.

Skypath - Connecting the Auckland Harbour Bridge Shared Path with the City Centre and Takapuna (aug 2019)

Skypath, City Centre residents will undoubtedly be heavy users of this crucial transport, exercise and sightseeing link.

NZTA asked for more feedback on the design of the SkyPath's connections at Westhaven and Northcote Point,.
NZTA assessed three options for the landings at these points.
CCRG supported the ramps - option 1. The new ramps represent a safe, well designed and cost-effective way for all users of the path to access the it easily and safely while taking into account impacts on the local areas at each end. Designs are expected to go to the NZTA Board for approval later this year (2019).

Replacing Te Wero Bridge connecting wynyard quarter to the city centre (aug 2019)

The existing bridge is a temporary one built for the 2010 Rugby World cup, designed to have a life of six years. It has a resource consent that expires in August 2020 and a building consent that lapses on 2 October 2020.
In April 2019 Panuku released plans for Te Wero bridge. The design looked pretty inspiring.

But a major issue almost everyone had with this new design, including CCRG, was that it simply wouldn’t be big enough for the Americas Cup, let alone future growth needs. Theses needs include 10's of thousands more residents,and people working in the city centre, as well as new links to a completed Skypath route across the harbour bridge.

CCRG were also concerned about the separation issues between pedestrians, bikes and scooters, which the proposed design sought to downplay.
In the end, sense prevailed, and Panuku pushed pause. - Media release HERE

Resource Consent application to construct, operate & maintain six new ferry berths within the Downtown Ferry Basin at 85-89 Quay Street, Queens Wharf

CCRG is very supportive of the need for quality and convenient ferry services in the city centre.

Lacking capacity to comment on the technical issues we confined our submission to the wider aspects of planning, and the impacts of this, on how we develop the public at the Queens Wharf area.

Our focus is to work with others on ensuring that the plans we make today provide facilities and services that are fit for purpose for residents, (and also workers and visitors) who will share the city centre in 2040.

This is just one of 4 projects that will have major impacts on Queens Wharf, which the public purchased for $40m – one of the 3 purchase reasons reasons – to provide great public space for people. But the four projects have been deliberately submitted as separate resource consents, and not as one. These projects if approved, will create at times, a bus, taxi and truck motorway around all sides and through the entire centre of the wharf. The public undertaking by the Council family to consult has not been fulfilled.

The reality is that it is almost impossible to reach an informed decision on the design, suitability, heritage and functionality aspects of this application without considering at the same time, the details of the other projects.

This is just deliberate short term, ad-hoc non-planning, designed to stymie opposition and sideline our well thought out guiding master plans .

CCRG support and advocate for:

a) the prioritising and clear securing of an appropriately-sized public recreational space at the northern and western edge end of Queens Wharf.

b) A clear delineation of pedestrian access onto the wharf that follows the line of Queen St to the end of the wharf.

c) That all but essential transport be limited to the southern and eastern sides of Queens Wharf.

We asked for the deferral of any decision until all adequate, and reliable information is provided to the Hearing Panel.

Annual Budget (annual plan) 2019/2020

Council are currently in the process of producing the proposed Annual Budget for 2019/2020. The Waitematā Local Board held engagement events and a final formal hearing on 14 March, for interested parties to provide feedback.

CCRG attended and spoke along with 14 other presentations in total from a range of groups and individuals. Feedback closes 17 march.

Queens’ Wharf 90m Concrete Mooring structures Extensions - Feb 2019

Queens Wharf was purchased (for $40million) by the Auckland Council (from Ports of Auckland), to be our premier waterfront space with outstanding urban design – not further industrialised with concrete and gangways.

Now the Council is reversing Queens Wharf’s intended use by planning significant changes that will commercialise the wharf's open public space - a series of miscalculated proposals that will permanently alter the civic qualities of an important and much-loved community waterfront arena.

Undermining our agreed plans (City Centre Master Plan & Waterfront Plan), this is short-term disconnected planning of our waterfront. Queen’s wharf is being divvied up in an Ad-hoc manner amongst POAL, AT (ferry berth extension down the western side of Queen’s Wharf), and RFA , whilst there is no obvious planning for the promised Queen’s wharf public space, and that public space appears to be being quietly de-prioritised.

There is a poor business case with questionable and inflated figures that fails to account for the costs associated with any negatives - cruise ship diesel and black carbon pollution, congestion, and turning Queens Wharf into a motorway for 100’s of buses, taxis and service trucks around all sides and down the middle of the wharf.

CCRG joined a coalition opposing the wharf extension. Other prominent City Centre groups, Heart of The City, Waitematā Local Board, also submitted in opposition.

LED Billboard 147-149 Victoria Street West

To erect a new 12m (high) by 4m (wide) digital billboard on the eastern façade of an approved residential building. Evidence presented by Audrey van Ryn on behalf of CCRG.

The proliferation of large and very bright LED billboards is an uncontrolled activity with the potential to seriously affect residents’ quality of life. Eventually, every available corner, and blank wall could be billboarded as these LED ones are not covered by existing bylaws, and their cumulative effects ignored. Developers and advertisers state in their evidence that residents and community input should be disregarded, and that we don't understand how light works. We will continue to submit against them until an agreed and reasonable framework is in place

Ferry Basin, Queens Wharf & water space of the Waitemata Harbour, December 2018

This is one of several projects mooted for the waterfront, and while this is ostensibly about creating new ferry berths, for residents it has major impacts on the use of Queen’s wharf for public space. And is an example of poor & piecemeal planning that chips away at our guiding city plans - especially Queen’s Wharf as useable public space and not merely divided up amongst competing transport infrastructure demands.

Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP)

The Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) describes the public transport network that Auckland Transport (AT) proposes for the region, identifies the services that are integral to that network over a 10-year period, and sets out the policies and procedures that apply to those services.

LED Billboards: Application LUC60312872 – Erect a 12 x 4 m LED Billboard - November 2018

There is an increasing number of digital 24/7 billboards in the city centre.“Billboards are a common element within Auckland’s CBD, and it would have the highest concentration of billboards within New Zealand…Electronic billboard displays within the CBD have increased in recent years.” Although the applicant might see the proliferation of electronic billboards in Auckland’s city centre as a reason to place another billboard there, we see this as a reason to limit the number of electronic billboards in our neighbourhood. The effects on residents are often much more than minor given the very large size and brightness these screens attain.

Here’s our submission.

Queens Wharf Mooring Dolphin Submission oct 18

CCRG joined with several other groups opposing this Resource Consent (RC).
While keen to work with Council on all development in the city centre, the proposal to remove yet more public space for shipping purposes is something we simply cannot support. Read the submission for the reasons why.

Changes to Freyberg Place Pedestrian Mall

A cherished public space that links with the City Centre Community's Ellen Melville Centre - Auckland Transport (AT) and Auckland Council (AC) are proposing changes to Freyberg Place. It still has the legal status of a road. The proposal is to change this to a pedestrian mall, which is only accessible to pedestrians and people on bicycles and does not allow the driving or parking of any vehicle.

While CCRG support the closing of the space to traffic, CCRG does not believe a pedestrian Mall is the best way to effectively manage this space and achieve residents' and others vision for this area.

CCRG want to see the road legally Stopped, and vested in Auckland Council, rather than continuing on with dual overlapping ownerships and the inefficiencies and ongoing legal uncertainties that this leads to. Lets get it right, now, and not have to revisit this later on.

Auckland needs to fund large transport projects.

The Regional Fuel Tax  seeks  10 cents per litre (plus GST) added to sales of petrol & diesel within Auckland starting on 1 July 2018, for a period of 10 years.
The goal of the Regional Land Transport Plan is to ensure that Auckland can address current challenges & take advantage of future growth It lays out the vision for Auckland's transport over the next ten years, focussing on:

• reducing congestion

• improving freight reliability

• road safety

• promoting walking and cycling

• advancing public transport

CCRG Submissions on the Auckland plan & Long Term Plan (10 year budget 2018-28)

The Auckland Plan 2050 considers how Auckland will grow over the next 30 years and sets strategy across six outcome areas.

The 10-year Budget 2018-2028 is rest every three years  where Auckland Council adopts a 10-year budget (long-term plan). 

These are therefore important strategic guiding documents that affect all who live in the city. And it is important that city centre residents' voices are heard. We made submissions directly to Auckland Council,  as well as via the Waitematā Local Board's 'Have Your Say' event, and as a contributor to the City Centre Advisory Board's submission to Auckland Council.

America's Cup: CCRG Submission on Resource Consents AC36 & FFRIF

AC36  relates to the syndicate base infrastructure, event infrastructure and associated activities for the 36th America’s Cup. It proposes major 75m extensions wharves and 15m high boats sheds a permanent base for Team NZ.

FFIRF concerns the relocation of the ferry and fishing industry , currently located on Wynyard Wharf, Halsey Street Extension wharf and the Western Viaduct, to new facilities on the west of Wynyard Point.

We did not  support the applications. The proposals are not consistent with the Waterfront Plan and City Centre Master Plan which we all agreed on after a lot of effort and concutation - plans, and goals for a smart working waterfront, a connected waterfront, a public waterfront and a liveable waterfront.  We supported recently proposed workable alternatives, and signed the letter in the image above.

federal street stage 2 (mayoral dr to wellesley st) upgrade

The  next street for the shared space treatment.
"The upgraded Federal Street will create a shared space for more people to enjoy, and provide access to upper and lower parts of the central city and public transport routes on Mayoral Drive and Wellesley Street."

Being a dead end street provides this shared space concept the chance to shine, as there will be no 'rat running. However CCRG believe there is more work to be done on the shared space concept - to build on what has gone before, and to learn from what has worked and what needs more work - specifically around designing  street to slow down traffic, and prioritise pedestrians as was intended.

This is a City Centre Targeted rate project, as endorsed by the City Centre  Advisory Board

CCRG Feedback on Waterfront  Development 23 august 2017

There are many strategies, plans, and visions, often overlapping, for our waterfront areas. There are many pressures , conflicting demands, and now more recently, development deadlines, on these prime, publicly owned jewels.

Prioritising and increasing quality public spaces for the booming number of residents must take priority over privatised space, and longer term usage must uphold that principle.

We support: a pubic waterfront, a working waterfront, a connected waterfront, all accessible via active modes and integrated into good public transport.

Read our submission.

Princes St, Eden Cr, Shortland St intersection Improvements - AUCKLAND Transport

Here is one of many intersections that are perilous for pedestrians,  where vehicles speed, and have priority. Meanwhile  visibility and amenity for anyone else is minimal, and you certainly need to be agile. Pedestrian flows are also very high.

A perfect opportunity then for some serious City Centre Masterplan vision and pedestrian priority, we thought, when we saw the proposal's title.

The initial proposals were inafequate, and thankfully AT agreed and cam up with a much better solution.

Here is our submission on what we thought of AT's  PROPOSAL, and an alternative plan.

MIDTOWN BUS ROUTE  
Our submission on Auckland Transport's  options for a cross town bus service, was about supporting a practical outcome, but moreover, also upheld and supported the City Centre Masterplan - both its vision and its implementation, as a core and agreed plan for the City Centre. We do not accept an outcome that would jeopardise the Victoria street linear park.

Click the image above, or HERE for our submission.

CCRG Submission on  the 2013 Public Safety & Nuisance Bylaw

This bylaw  covers the Auckland Council rules that try to address issues relating to public safety and nuisance, and inappropriate behaviour in public places. Have a look at the full list of items considered safety or nuisance items HERE (clearly many are hard to relate to the City Centre).

Most city centre residents will have their favourite concern (s) about these. A key issue for CCRG is around enforcement of these bylaws. Are they being enforced? Does Council have the necessary resources and sufficient legislative authority?
CCRG's submission is HERE

WAITEMATĀ LOCAL BOARD 2017 ANNUAL PLAN
We focussed on 3 broad fronts that connect into the various projects funded via the city centre residential targeted rate & the Board’s Annual Plan programme.
1. Public Transport - Public transport must have priority over private transport for all transport related projects in, and around, the city centre.
2. Public Spaces - Great public spaces are the identifier of cities – these are the places we all enjoy, remember, photograph, play and relax in irrespective of which city we find them.
3. Public Safety - Residents in the world’s most liveable city are entitled to a clean, safe and healthy environment.

Click the image above or HERE for our submission.

Submission on the Roads & Streets Framework (RASF) and the Transport Design Manual (TDM), June 2017

This document  and framework presents  quite a remarkable shift in thinking about how our streets are designed, and who they are designed for. It considers 'Place' as an important and primary part of designing our streets, along with movement - so the speed and flow of traffic is no longer automatically given primacy - a major change to 60+ years of traffic engineering focused on the speed and flow of cars.  It provides, through the  Transport Design Manual consistent design and technical guidance, to deliver the vision.
It should transform conditions for walking, cycling and public transport, especially in high-density people-centric areas like Auckland city centre.

CCRG provided a short, but succinct submission, fully supporting this framework, but reiterating its view that this definition of 'place' and 'movement' is properly set by the council's Governing Body, and that the other Council Controlled Organisations, such as Auckland Transport, play a significant role in supporting that leadership.

You can see the Framework powerpoint presentation to Council's Planning Committee (June 2017) in pdf form HERE