Grey Lynn 2030 Transition Community

Clause 52 of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2009, banning general tree protection in urban areas.

ACTION IS NEEDED NOW – IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO START WRITING NOW (if you haven’t already) and please pass this on to others who might be also be interested.

It is expected that the government will put this Bill through the final parliamentary process as soon as possible – possibly starting on Thursday 27th August, with the critical final voting stage possibly on the 8th or 9th September (there is a week’s recess in between).

We urgently need people to write letters NOW to MPs and to their local newspapers to help influence the final decision. There is also talkback radio.

The Labour Party and the Greens already oppose this Clause, so it is best to target National (in particular), Maori and United Party MPs. If you live in an electorate with a National MP, please write directly to them, voicing your concerns, saying you are a
constituent. It is really important to target National electorate MPs, in particular Nikki Kaye (Auckland Central); Paula Bennett  (Waitakere), and Sam Lotu-Iiga (Maungakiekie) as they are most vulnerable, with slim majorities.

PLEASE ASK THEM TO REMOVE CLAUSE 52 OR SUPPORT AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING TREE PROTECTION SYSTEM.

Here are some points you could include (a couple more added from earlier Alert):

• government ignored large proportion of submitters who objected to this Clause
• Options are available from the NZ Arboricultural Association that will save time, money and the environment without removing general urban tree protection (see below** for a broad outline as   conveyed to MPs at the Select Committee stage, but were ignored)
• once law, developers will be able to clear fell a site and not have to replace any lost trees through replanting
• many trees will be cut down as soon as it becomes law
• with development pressure so great in the Auckland region, there will be increasing number of sites with little or no tree cover for shade, screening or visual amenity – any trees planted will be of a size that will take    decades to provide such functions
• listing, or scheduling, of trees in the District Plan, as the only permissible means of protecting trees, is costly, time consuming and very limited
• listing, or scheduling, will potentially involve more cost and council staff time than administration of current tree protection rules
• the well recognised and diverse functions and values of trees, clearly identify trees as being of community value, and need to be taken into account as well as that of an individual property right
• NZ risks losing its international clean green image that it has worked hard to promote and could negatively affect tourism.

You can also look at The Tree Council’s pages for more comprehensive ideas.

**(from the NZ Arboricultural Association) Improvements to the  existing system (i.e. not prohibiting general urban tree protection) include:-

• Lifting the permitted baseline (requirement for a resource  consent) and allowing a higher level of activities ­ like pruning ­ to go ahead without the need for a consent (based on additional
• criteria, for   example, utilising Œapproved contractor¹ provisions or similar),

• Allowing a greater level of delegation, so that the appropriate council officers can sign off on the majority of consents, therefore reducing the level of staff involvement,

• Allowing on-site, instant, carbonated or electronic decisions,

• Standardising some of the rules (i.e. the ³super city²
  concept),

• Increased efficiency through a review of the internal council processes and administration procedures.

Here is a more comprehensive list of Auckland MPs than was sent in the earlier Alert:

Auckland MPs:- (you can cut and paste whole list)
Nikki.kaye@parliament.govt.nz; paula.bennett@parliament.govt.nz;
sam.lotu-iiga@parliament.govt.nz;
Jonathan.coleman@parliament.govt.nz;
Murray.McCully@parliament.govt.nz; Rodney.hide@parliament.govt.nz

Sustainable Living Centre
WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS September 2009

Trees in the Urban Environment
Part 1of 8 part series: Introduction
Wed 16 September 6-9pm $80 for 8 sessions or $15 each
Daphne Mitten, Landscape Architect, and course coordinator

Introduction to The Tree Council’s vision for encouraging awareness and sense of ownership of the region’s trees by giving the course participants a practical and theoretical foundation in tree management. Presentation on the environmental value of trees. Explanation of the Assignment briefs: Assignment 1: A portfolio of 10 actual trees in your locality including one Great Tree; Assignment 2: A brief presentation on the final day of the course, to your peers, about your selected Great Tree of Auckland.

Trees in the Urban Environment
Part 2 of 8 part series: Tree Identification & field trip
Sat 19 September 9-4pm $80 for 8 sessions or $15 each
Lesley Haines, Senior Lecturer, Landscape Architecture, UNITEC, and co- author with The Tree Council of the course structure and content.

Tree Identification: Taxonomy, purposes and significance, Leaf Identification: parts, arrangement & shapes; Plant Identification Keys; The Herbarium- Functions & establishment; Variety of our native urban forest

FIELD TRIP – Auckland’s vegetation, climate, physiography, factors affecting changes. Visits to a colonial plantation park, gully forest, kauri forest, lava forest, coastal forest, and overview of urban forest of Auckland.

EDIBLE GARDEN CULTURE Part 7.
Spring Action ‘A fine sense of timing’
Sat 26 Sept 8.30am-10.30am 11am-1pm (repeat) $20
Richard Main, co-founder Unitec Hort Sanctuary, environmental educator

An 8-part practical series designed to get participants up-skilled in home fruit and vege production. This module covers: Planting selection and schedule; Model organic garden visit – experience the Unitec Hortecology Sanctuary; Spring planting cycle.

Trees in the Urban Environment
Part 3 of 8 part series: What tree where?
Wed 30 September 6-9pm $80 for 8 sessions or $15 each
Penny Cliffin, Senior Lecturer and Programme Director, Landscape Design, UNITEC. Penny completed a Master’s thesis on Tree Collections of Auckland in 2002.

Trees for places, plant adaptation: Tree characteristics and types; Presentation on a comprehensive range of trees suitable for planting in the Auckland region; Understanding how trees adapt to survive in their natural habitat; Researching trees suitable for certain situations.

Other events:

Biodynamic Organic Gardening Group

BD Stir and tour of Jenny Freewalker’s garden
When: Sat 5 September 10.30 – 12.30pm
Cost: $5 new annual membership + koha
Venue: 82A Astley Ave, New Lynn (house at rear) – please park on roadside
Bring: Glass jar with lid, food to share, things to trade
Bookings essential: phone 826 4276 or email info@ecomatters.org.nz

Jenny has a productive garden with chooks and incorporates biodynamic, organic, permaculture, square foot gardening principles. Her challenges to the site are wind, hungry tree roots, less than optimum sun and space.

PERMACULTURE WORKSHOPS
All inquiries please phone Finn on 021 562 995 or email aucklandmpdc@gmail.com
Interested in learning practical sustainable design skills?
Come along to an upcoming Auckland Permaculture Design Certificate module. There is something for everyone. Everyone is welcome. Attend as many or as few as desired. No previous permaculture or design experience required.

–>August 29, 2009
Module 16. Retrofitting Your House
Guest Tutor – Jerome Partington – Sustainability Manager, Jasmax
Introduction to residential / suburban retrofit and redesign; Working with existing structures; Improving energy efficiency; Creating healthy living environments; Utilising appropriate home technologies; Household waste and water management.

September 5, 2009
Module 17. Civil Defense and Resilience
Guest Tutor – Michele Daly – Disaster Risk Management, Team Leader, beca
Introduction to natural disasters and risk management – volcanoes/geothermal, epidemics, fire, droughts, floods, erosion/slips, earthquakes, tsunamis; Recognising risk and hazard; Coping with dramatic and immediate change; Auckland Evacuation Plan; Emergency response – first aid, basic sanitation, potable water, shelter, food storage and natural food sources, natural medicines, cleaning agents.

September 12, 2009
Introduction to Permaculture Design
Module 2. Landscape Analysis and Design
Observation and interactions with nature and the landscape; Landscape and site and sector analysis including – topography, hydrology, ecology, soil, micro-climates; Understanding and working with external influences, variation, and change; Landscape management; Integration of uses; Site specific design with nature – designing for place.

September 26, 2009
Module 19. Facilitating Change
Guest Tutor – Daniel Nepia – Community development worker; facilitator; Director, Social Experiment

–>Introduction to community development work; Group Dynamics; Working with groups; Building teams; Facilitating dialogue; Meetings and projects; Decision making processes;Conflict resolution; Community advocacy and development.

For more information or to register contact Marshall Design Studio at aucklandmpdc@gmail.com / 021 562 995

We will provide more detailed information once participants have registered.

To book your general workshop contact ** ECOMATTERS’ MAIN OFFICE **
ph 826 4276 / email info@ecomatters.org.nz Therese Mangos
Manager

Sustainable Living Centre
EcoMatters Environment Trust
4 Olympic Place, PO Box 15 215
New Lynn, Waitakere City 0640
Tel 09 826 0555 Fax 826 0557
www.ecomatters.org.nz

Citizens Advice Bureau Auckland City Inc.

At Auckland Citizens Advice branches you will find an information, advice and advocacy service which is confidential, free, impartial and non-judgemental

Volunteers Needed
Our 11 Auckland branches are in need of volunteers who can deliver our service to the 180,000 plus clients who cross our threshold each year.

How can you help?
Your commitment of 4-5 hours per week could:
Give confidence
Change a life
Secure a future
Empower someone to help themselves

How can we help you?
The Citizens Advice Bureau Auckland City (CABAC) provides full training which is recognised by employers throughout NZ, and would be a welcome addition to your CV.
We offer you the opportunity to use your life experience and skills to come to the aid of those who often cannot help themselves.

We have in excess of 350 volunteers who work across 11 branches. These volunteers promote a work environment that is supportive and encouraging, with the common goal of providing clients with the help and assistance they need.

St Columba Church and the Natural Funeral Company

Invite you to an evening at St Columba, 29 Surrey Cres, Grey Lynn.

Wednesday 9^th September at 7.30 – 9pm

We will be providing information on ‘natural funerals’

and an opportunity to find out about the roles and responsibilities of funeral celebrants and funeral directors; what families can do and what statutory responsibilities there are.

Come and discuss the difference between natural funerals and what has become ‘standard practice’.

There will plenty of time for your questions to be explored.

Tea and coffee provided.

Cost: Koha

For more information

Contact Susan Adams   on 021 522231

Dear Grey Lynn 2030,

Thank you for providing us with your feedback in relation to the speed limit change from 50km/h to 40km/h on Ponsonby Road.

Consultation was undertaken between the 13th of June to the 15th of July 2009. 932 responses were received of which 736 (79%) supported the proposal and 172 (18%) opposed the proposal. The remaining 24 responses did not indicate a firm view on the speed limit reduction.

In addition to the community consultation and considering the petition with more than 600 signatures, there is strong community support for the proposed speed limit reduction to 40km/h.

Additional feedback from the consultation process could be summarised by saying that presently the street is unpleasant as it feels like a major highway, there is no sense of community, more pedestrian friendly environments is required with more and varied crossings, paving changes and landscaping. In addition, education and enforcement measures need be undertaken to address the issues.

A project team has been set up with representation from the Western Bays Community Board, Ponsonby Road businesses and resident representatives to develop an action plan to address improved pedestrian safety raised via the petition and through the consultation process.

Auckland City Council’s Transport Committee considered the consultation feedback at the 6th of August 2009 meeting and has approved the lowering of the speed limit, as has the Western Bays Community Board.

The changes are planned to take place in September 2009, when the new speed limit signs will be installed and the new speed limit will be in place. There will be an education campaign via media of the speed limit change, and we will be engaging with local businesses on Ponsonby Road to assist with promoting the change to patrons and customers. The NZ Police will enforce the new speed limit once it has been implemented.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to the proposal and your feedback has been valuable.

Yours sincerely

Karen Hay
Road safety manager
Network Performance
Transport Assets

Great to see that the Grey Lynn Farmers Market has received funding from the Western Bays Community Board.

Here are the minutes of the meeting