Pollinator Pathways coming to Grey Lynn
April 14, 2016 by Rob Thomas
Filed under Blog
Pollinators are a critical link in our food system. It’s estimated that animal pollinators are needed for the reproduction of 90% of flowering plants and one third of human food crops. There are a wide variety of pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, skinks, birds, bats and flies.
Unfortunately, the numbers of both native pollinators and domesticated bee populations are declining. They are threatened by habitat loss, disease, and the excessive and inappropriate use of pesticides.
Though networks in our community I meet with Andrea Reid, who is a recent landscape architect graduate, employee at ACOM and specialises in Pollinator Pathways. Andrea is the community champion for this cornerstone project and has published many reports and planting guides for food source and habitat creation. Please visit her website and like her facebook page.
- linked to an existing project,
- would enhance the environment,
- be a corner stone project,
- delivered through partnership, and
- challenge conventional thinking.
With more than $90m going into new cycleways and Greenways over the next three years it made sense to coordinate one of these projects with Pollinator Pathways. As a result of the great work of Andrea Reid and the notice of motion Greenways; enhancing ecological outcomes that was passed by the Waitemata Local Board this is becoming a reality. Pollinator Pathways is now a community engagement tool within the Greenways Design Manual that any Auckland Community can advocate to implement.
There are three unique and distinct pollinator projects taking place along the Greenway Link Between Richmond Road and the Farro site:
The Buzz Inn will be situated along the new Greenways walkway and cycleway (TBC location). A bee haven will not just be for honey bees but for other lesser known NZ bees too (there are 28 varieties of native bees). While one section of the design would focus on bees, another would focus on birds and contain a variety of feeders and shelters.The Pollinator Pathway through the site will be signposted will also be fully accessible.
Using masonry blocks we will create unique habitats with the assistance of local Enviro Schools. Each block will contain different forged materials such as bamboo, bark, pine cones to create these habitats. This small wall will be placed along the side of the Greenway.
To date Andrea and the Geko Trust have a fully funded project through a community grant and many volunteer hours. Mitre 10 has confirmed their participation from the business owner, head office and land owner. To date two Enviro Schools have confirmed their participation.
Once land-owner approval is granted, a meeting with neighbors and detail design completed the project is planned to commence halfway through this year.
It has been a great pleasure working with Andrea Reid and the enormous number of stakeholders in our community to pull this project together. This is what I believe will be the start of many other pollinator pathways in our community.
Read More
2 February 2016 – Greenways; enhanced ecological outcomes, click here
13 December 2015 – Coxs Bay Walkway Upgrade, click here
20 April 2013 – Construction update: Coxs Bay Boardwalk, click here
1 April 2013 – Column: Starting soon construction on our first walking and cycling highway along Cox’s Bay Creek, click here
10 March 2013 – Construction commences on cycling and walking highway, click here
4 March 2013 – Greenways consultation closing soon, click here
2 September 2012 – Coxs Bay Creek Boardwalk rebuild approved, click here
11 December 2012 – Waitemata Greenways, click here
UpTown business innovation hub to be investigated
April 13, 2016 by Rob Thomas
Filed under Blog
At last night’s Waitemata Local Board meeting the resolution was passed to investigate the building of a new business innovation hub in UpTown, near the Mt Eden Train Station.
The UpTown innovation project is an economic development initiative aimed at cultivating an innovation community in UpTown. The Waitemata Local Board and ATEED have granted $12k to further scope the opportunity in terms of long-term value creation, activation options and costs to develop and implement the plan. A plan is expected to be available by the end of May 2016.
The geographic location of the site is the relatively small commercial area in the UpTown District that is bounded by Nikai, Ruru and Shaddock Streets. However the outcomes are expected to impact more widely. All the buildings within the specified area are owned by Auckland Transport and are currently designated for demolition due the end of 2017 as part of the City Rail Link project.
The project’s short term focus is to tenant the buildings with innovation-related entities aimed at establishing an innovation community, or hub, and laying the foundations for longer term economic benefit for UpTown and wider Auckland.
- Auckland Lightning Lab – curators of start-up acceleration programmes
- Industry Connect – preparing ICT graduates with work-ready skills
- Enspiral – providing networks, support and training for tech startups
- Shared Space – spaces to co-habitat with other organisations
- The Collective
The total group represents a fledgling community of innovators upon which to construct an active support programme.
Let’s Talk
Please contact me if you want to discuss further.
Media Release: Resident Parking Zone to be rolled out in Freemans Bay
April 6, 2016 by Rob Thomas
Filed under Blog
For immediate release
Parking in the central suburbs has become a serious issue, with locals and commuters jostling for precious parking spaces. The latest research from Auckland Transport shows there are more free carparks in Freemans Bay than the Civic Carpark in Aotea Square and during the working day Freemans Bay has more than 80% occupancy.
Waitemata Local Board Member Rob Thomas says “It’s time that we kick out commuters from resident streets in the inner-city and encourage people to us public transport. Our residential streets are not parking lots.”
With parking in the city becoming increasingly expensive, suburbs with free parking have seen an influx of city commuters searching for all day parking. The link buses have unfortunately exacerbated this problem; turning leafy suburbs into park and ride services into the city. Residents are struggling to access their homes, with no off-street parking, and commuters are forced to compete for free parking.
Mr Thomas says “Cars hawk local neighborhoods looking for free car parking. Wellington has had resident only parking for years and now is the time for Auckland to roll this out across the inner-city.”
The planned residential parking zone is planned to be rolled out by Auckland Transport in June this year. The scheme will have a 2-hour parking time-restriction (P120) that applies Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Residents and businesses within the zone can apply for permits and coupons that give exemption from the time-restriction. A permit costs $70 and is valid for one year. Electronic coupons are also available for trades people and visitors.
Mr Thomas says “The 2-hour parking time-restriction should free-up more parking for shoppers to Ponsonby but commuters will need to start making alternative transport choices.”
Mr Thomas has concerns that Auckland Transport will not be able to meet the demand with recent cancellations of trains and regional buses reaching full capacity.
“Displacing thousands of commuters from the inner-city needs to be backed-up with reliable, frequent, affordable and high-occupancy public transport choice. We need to see more public transport investment in the region with more park-and-ride facilities at train stations and on busways.”
For more information about the Freemans Bay Residential Parking Zone visit https://at.govt.nz/driving-
Previous Blogs
11 August 2015 – Resident Parking roll-out – click here
9 September 2013 – Media Release – Rob Thomas promises to kick commuters out of residential streets
1 June 2013 – Column: Parking in Auckland’s Inner-City – click here
25 July 2012 – St Mary’s Bay Parking Trial – click here
