Subscribe to RSSSuper-City: How Transport Decisions Will Be Made
The Auckland Transition Agency today detailed how it sees local boards working in the new super-city scheme, including specific examples of how it will work for key transport issues, including building a new rail station.
It gave a briefing to the a public hearing of the select committee considering the third super city bill and released a document.
Local government minister Rodney Hide called the boards a new entity in local government. “They are not community boards. They are more significant and will operate independently of the Mayor and Auckland Councillors.”
Labour immediately slammed the proposal saying boards will have only the power to talk among themselves, and beg the Super Council to do something.
Labour MP Phil Twyford said the boards won’t be able to move a bus stop or paint a yellow line on the side of the road.
“These things and the great majority of the Auckland Council’s operations will be handled by powerful corporate entities that operate completely independently of local boards.
“They will be able only to “propose” local by-laws to the super council, and “give input” to regional by-laws and plans. They won’t be able to hire staff, own property or have any legal status. ”
Today’s Auckland Transition Agency briefing confirmed that Auckland Transport implements the strategy, and manages and controls Auckland’s regional transport system. This includes local and arterial roads, public transport services (rail, bus and ferry services) and public transport infrastructure, but excludes railways.
Taking over council roles, Auckland Transport is also responsible for activities that affect a local board’s area on a day-to-day basis, such as traffic calming, bus stop locations and speed restrictions.
For such small-scale projects that are within Auckland Transport’s budget, local boards are likely to work directly with Auckland Transport.
It gave these examples of how it sees working with local bodies:
Building a new rail station: Auckland Transport is responsible for the planning and delivery of new rail stations (in consultation with Kiwi Rail, the owner of the rail tracks and corridor). Auckland Transport includes a new rail station in its programme, which must be consistent with Auckland Council’s strategy.
The local boards are consulted on both the preparation of the strategy and the programme. In planning for the project, Auckland Transport will consult with the affected local board and take into account its views on the location and design of the station, subject to the technical constraints of running a rail system.
Upgrading an existing rail station: Auckland Transport is responsible for rail station maintenance and improvements and sets priorities for improvements. The local board, as part of its planning process, may consider that the local rail station should be improved earlier than indicated in Auckland Transport’s programme. The local board also wants to promote park-and-ride facilities and new infrastructure to better connect the rail station to the town centre.
The local board needs to agree funding with the governing body as part of its local board agreement. This includes funding for the project itself and the ongoing maintenance and renewal costs.
In doing so, local boards may need to prioritise this project over other projects planned for the local area. The local board may also decide to levy a local targeted rate for this project, to reflect the benefit to the local community. The local board needs to reach agreement with Auckland Transport to proceed with the project. Auckland Transport will deliver the project for the local board.
Building a major new arterial road : Auckland Transport is responsible for new arterial roads. It includes a new arterial road that goes through a local board area in its programme.
The programme must be consistent with Auckland Council’s strategy. The local boards are consulted on both the preparation of the strategy and the programme. In planning for the project, Auckland Transport consults with the affected local board and takes into account its views on location and design:
Improving a local road : Auckland Transport is responsible for road maintenance and general road improvements. The local board, as part of its planning process, decides that the finish of a particular town centre road should include better quality or different colour materials on the footpaths, and new benches, rubbish bins, and street lighting.
The local board and the governing body could agree on funding, as part of the local board agreement. This includes funding for the improvements and for the ongoing maintenance and renewal costs. In doing so, the local board may need to prioritise this project over other projects planned for the local area.
It may also decide to set a local targeted rate for this project, to reflect the benefit to the local community. Before agreeing funding for the project, the local board needs to work with Auckland Transport to make sure that the project does not have a negative impact on the road network.
The local board needs to reach agreement with Auckland Transport to proceed with the project. Auckland Transport will deliver the project for the local board. Prioritisation of road sealing Auckland Transport is responsible for road maintenance and improvements.
As part of asset management planning, Auckland Transport decides to seal some roads within a specific local board area. Auckland Transport invites the local board to prioritise which roads are sealed first. The local board consults with its communities to decide which roads should be sealed first, and then recommends this to Auckland Transport.
Minister Hide said that the local boards will be an important gateway into the work of local government in the region. “Local boards will contribute to the development of regional strategies, policies and plans, propose bylaws. They will also contribute to the oversight of Council Controlled Organisations. Local boards will be operating from day one of the new Auckland Council structure. Each board will have a budget and specific decision-making powers.
“Because local boards will be a key link between local communities and the Auckland Council responsible for regional issues I am strongly encouraging people to have their say. It will help make Auckland greater.”
Manukau’s Len Brown said this has provided some reassurance around the types of decisions local boards will make but what we really need to see is stronger legislation that enshrines the powers of local boards and gives them a true place shaping role. “Local boards must have regulatory responsibilities. Local boards need to make decisions around liquor laws and other important issues that are specific to their communities. They also need adequate resources to get things done.
“While the discussion document is a start, we still have a long way to go. The council is still advocating for the role and powers of local boards to be strengthened in legislation and we plan to talk to the select committee about that on Monday.
“Local boards should be responsible for local decisions on local roads, footpaths, crime prevention (where CCTV cameras should be sited, for example), beautification schemes, building consents, animal control, environmental health, local parks, recreation and sports facilities, libraries and pools, community houses and advisory services, town centre promotion, galleries and museums, beaches, camping grounds, liquor licensing, and more.”
The Greens say the new system takes the “local” out of local. “Given the powers vested in the mayor and council, it is critical that second tier local boards have real power and sufficient resources to provide balance,” said Green MP David Clendon. “All we have heard today are abstract, ‘in principle’ statements, with far too little substance. This is totally unacceptable only months before nominations will open for the boards.
FULL DISCUSSION DOCUMENT: Read it here
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