ROB THOMAS CAMPAIGN LAUNCH FOR WAITEMATA & GULF WARD 2013

Date: 7pm Thursday, 28th March 2013

Location: Campaign HQ, 105 Nelson Street, Auckland

Growing up between Newmarket and Waiheke Island my parents taught me two valuable life lessons; be true to yourself and speak from your heart.

This election I intend to do both.

Thrust into my first civic role as the Chairperson of the Auckland City Youth Council at 18 years old opened my eyes to the democratic process for creating change. After working for the council on the Britomart Project, Wellington’s Annual Plan and monitoring children at risk at London’s City of Westminster this gave me oversight to the bureaucratic process. Marrying together the goodwill of our community against the right people within council is a winning formula.

In 2010, against all odds, with only a handful of people, I stood for Council, and 7,000 people responded by electing me as the first independent onto the Waitemata Local Board.

I’ll let you in on a little secrete, Politicians and Council staff will never have all the answers or resources. But this is not about dividing our community but bringing us together, creating the expectation of change and empowering people to create that change. It has been a great pleasure to work with our community to achieve results:

• We established the Eden Terrace business improvement district.
• We founded the Newmarket Community Association.
• We are building our first walking and cycle-way in Cox’s Bay.
• We have started implement resident only parking.

In 2013, I stand here with a campaign team, the size of this room, ready to jump to it, ready to re-shape our city.

This election I am standing on four key issues:

• Sewage free beaches (join on facebook)
• Building a creative city centre
• Protecting Auckland’s Heritage
• Dedicated funding for cycling

I want to work closely with Waiheke Island to improve ferry services and build tourism.

I want to work closely with Great Barrier Island to upgrade the road and support the local board.

When you’re asked who are you voting for this election, you can say:

• I’m voting for the energy, the passion, the enthusiasm and commitment that our community deserves.
• I’m voting for someone that has spent almost half his life worked in this environment that time and time again has proven himself.
• I’m voting for someone that can work between different communities, not divide them.
• I’m voting for the best person for the job.
• I’m voting for longevity to empower the people within our community for generations to come.
• I’m voting for the future Mayor of Auckland.

This election I’m voting ROB THOMAS!

 

 

   

 

UPTOWN, Girl!

The Eden Terrace Business Association and Mayor Len Brown launched the new brand www.UpTown.co.nz on Tuesday 16th April at Squid Row.

It has been a long journey for the business association to get to where they are today. If you have been reading my previous blogs, you will know that the business community voted 60% in favor of establishing the association and become a business association at their annual general meeting with a 32 to 29 vote.

Auckland latest business improvement district UPTOWN brings with it a strong voice led by the Chairperson Ron Harcus (left of me), the board and business manager Gary Homes (left of the Mayor).

Thank you to local business 2degrees Mobile who presented at the launch on their success of establishing a challenger brand in New Zealand market that now has over 1 million customers.

So where are you going?  UPTOWN!

A “Band Aid” on Newmarket’s Station Square

Planter boxes, seats and signage have been installed in Newmarket’s Station Square to claim back the square for residents and retailers.

Station Square in Newmarket was always a poorly conceived design. Overshadowed by the buildings that surround it, the square has never been properly connected to the main shopping street on Broadway.

Tragically after the 2011 Christmas in the Park someone was stabbed walking home from the event. Over the years residents have complained about drug use, vandalism and antisocial behaviour. A resident meeting was held last year to bring all these issues together and as a result of that the Waitemata Local Board, Newmarket Business Association and body corporate identified options to improve design elements of the square with the intent to enhance its safety:

1. Installing seats and planter boxes – completed
2. Signage to the square – completed
3. Security guard – completed
4. Community mural at the entrance – to be completed

These small improvements bring us a few steps closer to making the square more liveable.

However, there’s a general feeling amongst residents that these improvements are just band aids over the bigger long-term solution of a larger entrance from Broadway to Station Square. A wider walkway would allow people on Broadway to see into Station Square and dramatically improve the safety for residents /shoppers and improve access to the Newmarket Train Station.

Point Resolution Bridge opens soon

This week the Waitemata Local Board inspected the new bridge soon to be open on Tamaki Drive.

The final selection of steps are being installed today (Sunday) and the bridge will officially open next month.

The bridge is over a meter taller than the original blue bridge, providing spectacular views along Tamaki Drive and it’s likely to be a popular wedding photo venue.

There are a few unique designs incorporated into the bridge:

• Bicycle rails up the stairs – to push your bike up.
• Maori korus / Puungarungaru patterns – meaning ripples on the water.
• Three sculpted arches – a salute to the original metal spans of the old bridge.
• The glass balustrade – gives a sense of openness.
• Reinforced steal structure – that would withstand the impact of a carcrash.

Thank you to our local community for your patients during the construction. Thank you to our council staff, the architects Warren and Mahoney and collaborative artwork designed by Henriata Nicholas. Thank you to the contractors Hawkins and their subcontractors for building this spectacular bridge at the entrance to our city centre.

Construction update: Coxs Bay Boardwalk

Work is well underway with replacing the Coxs Bay Boardwalk.

Contractors have been on site the last few weeks removing the old dilapidated path. They have started laying the new foundation of the bridge, by building foot holes and installing posts, that will separate the creek and the 2.5 meter wide path.

The residents I spoke to are thrilled to see the new path being installed. They tell me that the contractors have had minimal disruption to the neighborhood bringing in equipment and construction material.

The project is planned to take approximately 12 weeks to complete with opening in mid June.

Read more

 

Residents to be heard on Sarawia Street Rail Level Crossing

Residents in Newmarket will have recently received a letter from Auckland Transport considering closure of the rail level crossing connecting Sarawia Street and Laxon Terrace, Newmarket. Click on the image to watch the video on YouTube.

Background information

The efficiency and safety of future rail operations depend on the removal of the level crossing. The crossing is currently the busiest and most complicated in the country in terms of rail movements and these are expected to increase with the arrival of electric trains with 10 minute headway on all main lines during peak periods. It will mean both more rail passengers being affected by train delays and a longer waiting period at the crossing.

Visit the Auckland Transport website for further background information and concept drawings of the three options discussed:

• Furneaux Way option
• Cowie Street bridge option
• Newmarket Park option

Provide your feedback

What is vital in this process is that locals have a forum to express their views.  I raised the concern at our Local Board meeting in March that Auckland Transport has not provided the ability for residents to present to Auckland Transport, who are both the funder and the decision maker in this process. Therefore, I passed a resolution “That Auckland Transport report back to the Waitemata Local Board on the Sarawia rail level crossing options at the May Board meeting“. This will allow residents to present in public forum and the Local Board can pass a resolution on options to Auckland Transport.

If you would like to present in public forum to the Waitemata Local Board on the 14th May 2013 at 35 Graham Street please email Waitematalocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Alternatively you can complete Auckland Transport’s online survey which closes on 24 April 2013.

Or email your comments directly to Auckland Transport

New plans for Costley Reserve, Freemans Bay

The Waitemata Local Board is holding a family fun day at Costley Reserve 2pm-4pm on Sunday, 7 April 2013 to introduce and consult on the Board’s draft concept plans to improve Costley and Renall Reserves in Freemans Bay.

It was this time last year that I meet with local residents and our park adviser to discuss the dilapidated playground equipment in Costley Reserve. As mentioned in my blog on the 23rd March, there is a constant growth of moss on play equipment and a loss of safe sight lines because of vegetation overgrowth. The innovative concept design looks to incorporate play among trees and works to improve safety within the park

Concept design

At the open day the Waitemata Local Board will be presenting a new concept plan for the playground and the connection between Costley and Renall Reserves. Click on the images below to view the full page.

Your feedback

Please email your feedback to Waitematalocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz by the 22nd April.

Column: Newmarket Businesses: Rally Behind Store Trying to Bring Vibe to Osborne Street

Verve magazine – April 2013 edition – By Rob Thomas – Candidate for Waitemata & Gulf Councillor:

Sitka is a lifestyle fashion retailer in Newmarket’s Osborne Street whose store is made entirely from recycled, salvaged materials. To stimulate more atmosphere and encourage a sense of community in the area, since late last year Sitka have been placing couches and other furniture from their store on the pavement outside their window. However on 30th January, owner Andrew Howson posted a comment on their Facebook page announcing that “Today we lost the fight with Auckland City Council”.

Talking with other businesses in the area, I learnt that the couches were successful in attracting more customers to the area and in establishing a sense of identity for Osborne Street.

Yet the Council has deemed they are “advertising a business and not in line with what others are doing in the vicinity”. Any opposition to this ruling would require a Resource Consent Application starting at $1500. In my view, it’s ironic that rules designed to protect public space are now hindering its enjoyment as well as adversely impacting retail sales. Andrew and the team at Sitka have since made contact with the Ashley Church of the Newmarket Business Association. Together they have compiled a petition that has been signed by almost all the local retailers on Osborne Street. The petition asks neighbouring retailers to support the return of the chairs and couches to the street or a similar activity that will have the same positive effect on both community spirit and retail sales.

Street trading under review

The Auckland Council is currently running a review to replace many of the street trading policies that apply to the region from Central Auckland to Rodney. The new single, focused street trading policy covers a range of activities including markets, street stalls, hawking, mobile shops, footpath dining and amusements. This is likely to impact on many retail businesses within the region. If you would like to find out more, please contact the Auckland Council on 09 301 0101.

A bit about Rob

My name is Rob Thomas. For those of you that haven’t met me before, I began my community service 14 years ago as Chairperson of the Auckland City Youth Council. Currently I am an elected member of the Waitemata Local Board representing the views of 80,000 residents living between Newmarket and Parnell to the Western Springs area. This year, I am standing for council. My goal is to bring a new voice and refreshing, approachable style to our community.

Column: Starting soon construction on our first walking and cycling highway along Cox’s Bay Creek

Ponsonby News – April 2013 edition – By Rob Thomas – Candidate for Waitemata & Gulf Councillor:

Last month, I was walking the wobbly boardwalk that meanders by the Cox’s Bay Creek with a local journalist. We were discussing the dilapidated state of the path and its imminent replacement to form a more suitable walking and cycling track. The journalist unexpectedly tripped on a loose plank and took a potentially hazardous tumble. Thankfully unharmed, however, this brought home the hazards presented by our aging city infrastructure.  I immediately posted a picture of myself holding the offending boardwalk plank on the council’s @aklcouncil Twitter page, and recounted the incident to our Parks advisor. As a result, the boardwalk was shut down until further assessment could be completed. When this was received, we learned that whilst the boardwalk was structurally sound, 20 planks would need to be replaced in the interim, before work began later in the month on a replacement structure.

The Cox’s Bay Creek Boardwalk is a vital conduit connecting Cox’s Bay to Grey Lynn. Each week hundreds if not thousands of locals in the Greater Ponsonby Area use the walkway. If you’ve been along the path yourself, you’ll know that it’s a picturesque route that winds and undulates its way along the creek, through mangroves and sheltered by a variety of trees packed with birdlife.  It’s enjoyed by runners, dog walkers, school children, mums with pushchairs, wheelchairs, tricycles and bicycles – all trying to squeeze their way along its 1.2 meter width. As a member of the Waitemata Local Board, I share the Parks portfolio with fellow board member Jesse Chambers.  At a monthly Parks meeting, renewal of the Cox’s Bay Creek boardwalk was being discussed. I quite literally halted the meeting and walked out of the room to place an immediate hold on the pending resource consent that would clear the way for the existing boardwalk to be replaced with an exact replica.

Given the issues of the past, this would not be a suitable long-term move to protect and enhance this stunning city asset. As a consequence, the Waitemata Local Board has reallocated funding to widen the proposed replacement boardwalk to 2.5 metres. Meantime the existing structure has been closed. I commend the Council’s Parks team for acting so swiftly, and for delivering the first section of a potential walking and cycling greenway that could continue through the heart of Grey Lynn. Construction of the new Cox’s Bay Creek boardwalk will begin after the Easter weekend. Total cost of the project will be $358,254, broken down into $269,426 to cover the initial renewal project and a further $88,828 in additional funding. Construction will take 12 weeks to complete – and then we will have a walkway that we can all be proud of.  I’d like to thank the Cox’s Bay Park Advisory Panel for their support on this initiative as well as local residents Andrew, Grant and Russell for their constructive feedback. And of course, many thanks to the local journalist whose unscheduled trip proved to be such a catalyst. I hope the next visit is smoother!

Building a Healthier Auckland

Our city is growing fast with an estimated 85 more people added to our community every day. For some Aucklanders, the recently revealed Draft Unitary Plan is as exciting as a slap in the face with a wet fish. But if you can summon the patience to dig through the layers of rules and regulations to view the big picture, you’ll see how this plan will shape the world in which we live. It’s impossible to underestimate the importance of both our current and future built environment. How the plan for Auckland is engineered – right down to matters such as the Cox’s Bay Boardwalk – has major ramifications on how our future social and physical environment promotes good health and economic prosperity.

Something else that will impact on our society is the current epidemic of obesity. I read somewhere that New Zealanders are now the third fattest nation on earth after the US and Mexico. As a consequence, more Kiwis die of heart attacks as a percentage of population that any other country in the world. The Heart Foundation puts this down to unhealthy living, a growing incidence of obesity and diabetes.

This relates to what I said earlier in that part of building a healthier, safer environment is reducing our national healthcare bill. If government spending on healthcare continues to grow at its current rate, it will represent 40% of all government expenditure by 2026. This is simply not sustainable from either an economic or quality of life perspective. So the major opportunity that I see in the Auckland Plan and the Draft Unitary Plan is to create connections between our built environment and the impact this has on creating better health for Aucklanders.