In this newsletter, there will be a few reminders, a couple of updates and a big thank you.
First, I would like to thank you all for the kind messages and condolences I have received since my mother, Leonie Lawson passed away a few weeks ago.
Leonie was a music teacher, a choirmaster, a conductor, organ player, singer, the heart of my family and much more. It was lovely to see so many people at her funeral, paying their respects and highlighting the positive impact she made on her students, her colleagues, her peers and the wider Auckland musical community. Next month (July), Auckland will be hosting the World choir Games. Over 11,000 singers from more than 30 countries will participate in the largest choral competition and festival on the planet. I am sure she will be there in spirit.
Now back to council business.
Travelling by train has been undeniably unreliable over the past months. There have been signal issues, hot tracks, fallen trees on tracks, to name but a few examples. To add to our woes, in the last few days, we have been informed about two industrial actions which mean disruption to Auckland’s public transport even more. Until the unionised staff of Auckland One Rail (train drivers/ managers etc) and unionised staff of CAF (who look after the trains,) their union and employers come to an agreement, there will be disruption for the foreseeable future. It should be noted, that Auckland Transport staff are not on strike.
So if you use the train, please note that trains at peak time will be running every 20 minutes (rather than 10 mins). Please plan your journeys and check Auckland Transport journey planner. Due to this industrial action, there may be additional cancellations outside of our control.
Ngāpipi bridge widening finished.
It has been a long and eventful journey to get the Ngāpipi pedestrian bridge project completed. There have been hiccups and delays, but it is finally complete!
The pre-existing light pole, that ended up in the middle of the new pedestrian walkway (an accident waiting to happen) and a set of temporary traffic lights that were there so long they should be considered permanent have now both been removed. Traffic can now flow, and pedestrians can walk, run, scoot without having to dodge the light pole.
The trio of Ōrākei transports projects are now finished:
- Tamaki Drive pedestrian walkway completed August 2023
- Kepa Road - slip zone retaining wall completed December 2023
- Ngāpipi Bridge widening opened in May 2024 (completed June 2024)
Residential bin collection day changes
Council is changing the routes and days of rubbish, recycling and food scraps collection services to make sure it’s operating at maximum efficiency and to deliver the best service.In short, we have a new contractor to deliver this.
These changes affect approximately 113,000 properties across Auckland Central, Manukau, East Auckland, Papakura and Franklin and take effect from 1 July 2024.
All three kerbside services (rubbish, recycling and food scraps) will continue to be aligned to a single day of the week for each respective property. However, your bin day and week may have changed. Please check if you are affected here at aucklandcouncil.nz/binday
To be extra sure you know about any change you may have, directly affected properties will also receive a letter outlining the change.
Kerbside recycling reminder
Sadly, some Aucklanders are not using their recycling bins correctly. This behaviour is not only contaminating the recycling trucks, but also costing the ratepayer an additional $3 million a year to sort, process and dispose of the contamination! Contamination in council’s kerbside recycling bins has doubled since the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2021 and sadly we now dispose nearly a quarter of all that’s recycled to landfill, almost defeating the purpose.
You may have seen in the news about the Kerbside recycling bin contamination reduction trial that is being undertaken in Mangere-East, Wiri, Manurewa and Papakura. Data and results from the trial will be analysed and will be reported on to elected members in late 2024.
Whilst the trial is not in the Ōrākei ward, it is a good reminder to be mindful about what you put in your recycling bin. The list of do’s and don’ts can be found at this website:
Basically the below list is what you can put in your blue topped recycling bin
· Glass bottles and glass jars (empty and clean).
· Tin, steel and aluminium cans (empty and clean).
· Plastic bottles (grades 1, 2 and 5) from your kitchen, bathroom and laundry.
· Plastic food containers (grades 1, 2 and 5).
· Newspapers, magazines, and advertising mail.
· Paper, cardboard including empty pizza boxes, egg cartons and window envelopes.
Things you CANNOT put in your recycling bin include nappies, clothing, aerosol cans, and batteries.
The Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) consultation
The Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP ), better known as the 10-year investment proposal for Auckland’s transport network, is open until 17 June. You have a few more days to have your say which I strongly encourage.
This major plan sets out which projects, programmes, and operating items that Auckland Transport, along with the New Zealand Transport Agency and KiwiRail is seeking to fund or partly fund, from the National Land Transport Fund.
The draft RLTP 2024 proposes $63 billion worth of investment over the next 10 years. The transport priorities in the draft RLTP are taken from Auckland Council’s Long-Term Plan (LTP) and the government’s Government Policy Statement (GPS).
For example, if you want the Meadowbank Kohi connection (Gowing drive) to shared path to go ahead, please have your say. Auckland Transport have it in the plan for delivery 2025/2026 but it’s yet to get the government’s matched funding.
Read the RLTP and have your say: https://haveyoursay.at.govt.nz/hub-page/rltp
I also strongly suggest you email your local MP and the Minister for Auckland/ Transport Simeon Brown to keep this on their radar too!
My final reminder is about Remuera Library. As I have mentioned in an earlier newsletter we are doing improvements to our wonderful heritage listed Remuera Library, but to do the works we need to be inside it for a long period of time. The library will be temporarily closed from 1 July 2024 for approximately a year.
I know many local school children use the library straight after school – so for the next 12 months caregivers will need to make alternative plans.
The library’s services will be relocated to Somervell Presbyterian Church, 497 Remuera Road, with the library expected to resume operating from the church around mid-July 2024.
In the meantime, Library users are welcome to visit the Parnell, St Heliers or Epsom libraries (or any other Auckland Council library) until the temporary library is open.