This month Auckland Council is 10 years old. Yes, it’s been that long since amalgamation saw Auckland Regional Council join with seven territorial authorities to form the so-called Super City. Unprecedented in terms of scale in New Zealand, it was hoped that the new Auckland Council with one mayor, 20 councillors, 21 local boards and what was then six big council-controlled organisations (CCOs) would unite the region, be more efficient and deliver value for the then-approximately 1.4 million ratepayers.
A decade on, albeit in the midst of a global public health and financial crisis, I thought I would reflect on some of the highlights. While the Super City’s first decade has not been without its setbacks and controversies, there have certainly been some significant achievements.
I’ll start with the obvious one. Has the Super City model actually saved ratepayers any money? I’m pleased to be able to report, yes. Each year since the formation of Auckland Council, we have set savings targets. Up to the end of June, we have actually saved $1.89 billion of cumulative savings. With this being the tenth year, I’m confident that figure will exceed $2b. In essence, even though we have gone from about 1.4 million people in 2010 to about 1.7 million people in 2020, we are operating with approximately $2b less than we would if we had not focused on saving ratepayers’ money. This year alone, our Emergency Budget has a savings target of $120m. Three months into the year we have found $69m of that.
They do however tell me that finding cash savings is a bit like weight loss — it starts out being easy but the last few pounds are the hardest. I give you my absolute assurance however, we will meet that $120m target!
But what benefits have we seen locally? I’ve loved championing and delivering investment in our ward as both your local board chair previously, and now councillor. When I look back over the 10 years, highlights for me have included a number of new and upgraded sports fields (17 of them 2014-16), a number of new playgrounds and some significant environmental projects, such as improvements to Waiatarua Reserve, New Zealand’s largest urban wetland project.
Some of the bigger projects I’ve advocated for and delivered include the Ōrākei Basin perimeter walkway and the Hobson Bay walkway, both well used and loved by a huge number of recreational walkers and runners.
I haven’t always seen eye to eye with Auckland Transport, but an absolute highlight for me was one of our smaller transport investments, the installation of a roundabout at Shore Rd and Victoria Avenue. This took a lot of lobbying but has made a huge difference to traffic flow at that intersection, in fact it’s hard to remember how difficult it used to be to turn out of Victoria Ave against the traffic. And while I’m on intersections, the Tamaki Dr/Ngapipi Rd signalised intersection has also proved a success managing some 33,000 car movements each day. The raising of Tamaki Dr up to half a metre in places where it has flooded so badly in the past finally got the green light. It is currently in construction and a welcome addition having been incorporated into the new separated cyclepath project on the causeway between Ngapipi Rd and Solent St.
Whilst I’m sure cyclists will be very pleased once this is completed, the question I’m asked most often about those works on Tamaki Dr is will there still be four vehicle lanes once that project is complete? I’m pleased to be able to report yes (I’ve even heard AT’s CEO confirm that at a community meeting).
Another big project happening in the ward is the Glen Innes to Tamaki Dr shared path. We have finally (and that’s a big finally) achieved funding for the last two sections. Stage three is in construction and will join up to the existing section that runs along the rail line next to the Ōrākei Basin. Stage four will begin next year.
But not all our regional investment can be seen. More recently we have begun a large project to improve the water quality of Okahu Bay. This includes the upgrade and
separation of old combined waste/stomwater pipes improving our below the ground infrastructure and ensuring sewage doesn’t flow into the harbour.
But having briefly looked back, now we look forward. Currently we are working on planning for the second decade of Auckland Council. It’s going to be tough, as we juggle the financial constraints Covid-19 continues to challenge us with. Having said that, I’m committed to continue to push for regional investment into our ward. This will include tackling the expensive, but in my opinion necessary, water quality issues that plague Hobson Bay and also working with both the Waitematā and Ōrākei local boards on funding plans that deliver more localised investment.