Your Council

Time now short for Commission submissions: The Mayor and North Shore City Councillors are working hard on the city submission to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Auckland Governance as the final date for submissions approaches. The Mayor, Mr Andrew Williams recently spoke out against a plan published by Auckland City which he says is looking at Governance from the top down rather than thorough consultation with the community as is being done by North Shore City. The city’s Community Boards have held public meetings, submissions have been encouraged from residents, and meetings have been held with interest groups including iwi (photo). More Information

Chelsea Park now a reality: Last week, more than 10 years after the idea for creating a large park on the Uruamo headland in Birkenhead was conceived, the 37 hectare Chelsea Park on part of the historic Chelsea Estate was given the go-ahead.The Chelsea Estate can now become a fully fledged and interconnected part of the whole public reserve area on the Uruamo headland. North Shore City Mayor, Andrew Williams, says the Council is thrilled at the agreement which will see the land and lakes surrounding Chelsea Sugar refinery secured in public ownership.“This is an historic moment, not only for the North Shore but for the whole of the region." Mr Williams said. "This park becomes a legacy for all time on a scale that our forefathers took when they created the likes of the Auckland Domain and Cornwall Park." More information

Electronic innovation speeds survey plans: North Shore City is now certifying all survey plans electronically, as part of its drive to streamline the resource consent process and support e-government initiatives. A survey plan, which is prepared by a registered surveyor, is required as part of the resource consent process for a new subdivision. The plan is a legal document showing the new boundaries of the site. Trevor Cullen, Team Leader Subdivisions says certifying these plans electronically has dramatically cut down the amount of time it takes to process consents. North Shore City has been working closely with surveyors to ensure a smooth transition. More Information

Heavy fine for planning violations: A North Shore man and four of his companies have been heavily fined for breaching the North Shore City District Plan and failing to comply with abatement orders in relation to semi-permanent trailer homes placed on a property and left after an order was made to have them removed. North Shore City’s compliance and monitoring team leader, David Frith, says the fines imposed are an indication from the courts that District Plan rules are there for the benefit of residents and for the protection of the wider community, and that there are consequences for disregarding the rules. More information

Draft Annual Plan submissions still open: Now is the time to have your say and to help shape the future direction that North Shore City takes. We are consulting on the draft Annual Plan 2008/09 until 18 April 2008 and would like to hear what residents have to say. Submission can be lodged to the draft Annual Plan 2008/09 either electronically or via our area offices and libraries. Details can be viewed online. More information

What's On in North Shore City
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Summer success on the sea Shore: More than 600 sailors from 55 countries descended on Takapuna Beach for 3 Olympic Class World Championships over summer. The contests began in January and finished in the middle of March. A total of 76 races were sailed which produced seven world champions. New Zealand managed to claim two of those titles and also two silver medals. The weather was superb (allowing for a couple of days without wind) and it was a memorable experience for all competitors. Takapuna bars, cafes and shops were filled with sailors sampling the North Shore lifestyle. These events prove that North Shore City has world class sailing facilities and is becoming a home of high performance sailing.

Movies by Moonlight audience counted in thousands: A new free outdoor cinema event series that has proved hugely popular with North Shore City residents, with around 18,250 in attendance across 21 screened films. Feedback from the public has been huge and overwhelmingly positive. Over the summer months, the biggest outdoor screen was trucked across the city, setting up at different locations on the shore each week. There was a huge diversity in the selection of films screening, providing something for everyone, young and old. More information

Shore Sounds a great show: The summer season of Shore Sounds has concluded and is judged a great success. A new line-up featured this year with many more recognized, leading edge musicians, forming a more contemporary and higher profile series for 2008. The North Shore City Council website showed off embedded video within the events sections for the first time this season too – helping to create a more stimulating and interactive environment for visitors. More information

Cycling safety: Over 550 students attended North Shore City’s first ever International Students Road Safety Day at Windsor Park on Friday. Over 2000 international students come to North Shore City each year, many of them unfamiliar with New Zealand road rules. The road safety event was an opportunity to educate these students, especially those who use English as a second language. The event focused on key problem areas that affect NZ drivers, including alcohol and driving, stopping distances, safe driving skills as well as safety tips for pedestrians and using public transport. More information .

Your Neighbourhood

Busway damage sees duo in court: Police have arrested and charged two men who are alleged to have caused over $25,000 worth of damage to the new Sunnynook Busway Station at Easter. Thirty-two glass panels were smashed with a sledgehammer and the station was tagged with spray paint during the incident. Security cameras are in place to protect each of the five stations along the Northern Busway and they captured images of the attack. Although the security cameras are monitored 24 hours a day the vandals left by the time security staff arrived. Mayor Andrew Williams says, "It was a pointless and idiotic thing to do and definitely not a trivial or harmless incident". More information.

Busway numbers boom: The popularity of the Northern Busway is continuing to grow with the number of passenger trips increasing, as residents become more familiar with the attractions of bus travel to and from Auckland City. There has been a 7% increase in passengers using public transport overall, and double the number of passengers on the Northern Express. More Information

Recycling improvements: North Shore City’s recycling collections have been extended and all plastics (except polystyrene) with recycling symbols 1-7 on the side or base of the items, along with glass bottles and jars, aluminium and steel cans can now be placed into recycling bins. Previously the only plastics residents and businesses could recycle were plastic bottles numbers 1 and 2. This means that products such as ice cream containers and lids, yoghurt pottles, dip containers and takeaway containers can all be recycled. More information

Anzac Day collection schedule: There will be no rubbish, recycling, paper and cardboard collections on Anzac day Friday, April 25. If your collection day is Friday, your rubbish, recycling, paper and cardboard will be collected on Saturday, April 26.

Playground Plan for discussion: North Shore City Council has prepared a draft Playgrounds Plan, a consultation document to guide the provision and management of Council-owned playgrounds facilities for the city. The council recognises that public playgrounds are highly valued community facilities and that they play an important role in contributing to the well-being of its community but a number of challenges and opportunities exist. The plan is seen as the key mechanism for developing and upgrading playgrounds throughout the city to a standard that offers a diverse range of play and recreational experiences and public comment is sought. More information

Ecological study open for consultation: The North Shore City Council’s Parks Department has prepared a Draft Ecological Enhancement Plan to guide the ecological enhancement of natural environment areas within North Shore City’s parks and reserves network. The Plan proposes an assessment process to prioritise natural environment areas within North Shore parks and reserves for ecological enhancement works, which will entail pest plant and pest animal control followed by indigenous revegetation to help prevent reinvasion by pest plants. Public comment is invited. More information

Brown's Bay beach upgrade: There’s now a people-friendly link between Brown’s Bay shops and the beach, following an upgrade of Beach Front Lane. The road was formerly a shabby parking area with little visual appeal. It wasn’t a great place for pedestrians and there was no formed access way for visitors and beachgoers to reach the beach easily. The upgrade started ten months ago and has been completed on time and on budget. There are now new plazas, the road has been resurfaced, a boardwalk for pedestrians built and unique seating added. New planting’s been put in, and the lighting improved. Finishing touches are now being added and there’ll be a formal opening on May 17, with a special celebration including attractions for the whole family.

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