Hibiscus priorities agreed in Council plan

Auckland Council’s first Annual Plan contains its final agreements with each local board, sets out the priorities in each region and allocates discretionary funding for the current year.

The Plan states that the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board funding (see below) can be used to progress initiatives such as initial funding for the Stoney Homestead Trust and operational funding for Estuary Arts Centre and the Hibiscus Coast Community Arts Council.

Existing Auckland Council budgets will be used to progress key initiatives such as:
• Bulk earthworks and ground preparation at Gulf Harbour Reserve
• The purchase of two pontoons for Whangaparaoa beaches
• Developing a memorandum of understanding with Harbour Sport for the delivery and funding of agreed recreation
  and leisure services.
• Developing a memorandum of understanding with Destination Orewa Beach.
• Initial operational funding to provide administrative support to Estuary Arts Centre and Hibiscus Coast Community
  Arts Council.
• Stillwater mobile library service.

Auckland Council is also seeking to reprioritise budgets to support a consent application for additional field lighting at Silverdale Rugby Club.

Region-wide funding for surf life saving to upgrade club facilities, a higher standard of non-chemical weed spraying across the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board area and rates remission for community owned halls will be considered during the development of Council’s region-wide strategy and policy.

The Local Board did not gain a firm commitment from Auckland Council regarding protecting Council owned land at 497 Whangaparaoa Rd (known as the Archer’s Block) for a reserve (to protect bush, native species, and access to the Weiti River), nor for the protection of the Hammerhead at Gulf Harbour for long-term public use.

Relationship manager Lesley Jenkins says both these issues are still being discussed with the governing body and will be pushed via the board’s Long Term Plan.

Meanwhile, submissions have closed on the draft Hibiscus & Bays Local Board Plan. Submission hearings are tentatively set down to start on August 25. Local boards will then decide what changes will be made to the draft plan before a final version is adopted in October.

Further information on the hearings is available online eat www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/haveyoursay, or by calling Auckland Council on 09 301 0101.

Hibiscus & Bays Local Board discretionary funding, 2011-12
• Operating expenditure, $178,000
• Capital expenditure, $355,000
• Capital expenditure for small local improvement projects in East Coast Bays, $381,000
• Community grants, $40,754