Grey Lynn 2030 Transition Community

Waitemata Local Board members will be joining council staff on Sunday 9 October at the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market (9am- 12.30pm) to answer questions and provide information on the draft Auckland Plan.

The Roadshow is part of the consultation on Auckland Council’s Draft Auckland Plan which currently underway.  The Plan will have a major impact on Aucklanders lives over the next 30 years.  The Auckland Plan and its related plans will shape where we live, work, study and play.  They will also transform how we use transport over the next 30 years. 

The related plans are:

• The Draft Economic Development Strategy
• The Draft City Centre Masterplan
• The Draft Waterfront Plan 

Through the four plans the council has identified priorities for Auckland’s development, which aim to make it the world’s most liveable city by 2040.

The Waitemata Local Board is very supportive of the draft Auckland Plan and its related plans. They are aligned with the priorities and initiatives in Waitemata Local Board Plan which reflect the aspirations of the central suburbs of Auckland (to be finalised by the end of October). 

How to find out more:

A copy of the full draft plan is available on the Auckland Council website

The Auckland Plan Home -  or at any library. 

Council staff will be available at the following public roadshows to discuss the plan and answer questions:  Draft Auckland Plan Roadshow

Local Board members will be joining the roadshow at the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market on Sunday 9 October 9am – 12.30pm and at Parnell Farmers’ Market on Saturday 15 October 8am – 12pm

How to make a submission:

Submissions to the Auckland Plan and its related plans can be made in the following ways:

• at the public roadshow
• online submission – Give your feedback through our online submission form
• download a printable submission form and
  • scan and email to theaucklandplan@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
  • drop off at any library, council service or local board office
  • post to:

The Auckland Plan, Auckland Council, Freepost Authority 237170, Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142

Grey Lynn 2030 plans to circulate a draft submission in time for the deadline of 25 October 2011.

Grey Lynn 2030 is taking a keen interest in the Waitemata Local Board draft plan as it will help shape the future of our community.   The priorities in the plan are:

• a distinctive high quality built environment that embraces its heritage
• connected healthy transport options
• places for people
• strong, connected vibrant communities
• a world class city centre
• respecting and enhancing natural environments

Submission on draft Waitemata Local Board Plan by Grey Lynn 2030: Transition Community

About Grey Lynn 2030: Positive Vision, Practical Action

Grey Lynn 2030 is a participatory community organisation that facilitates and supports local focus groups working towards a positive, connected, sustainable, resilient community through practical action.

We take our terms of reference from the international Transition Town movement which encourages local communities to respond to current environmental and economic challenges with positive solutions that tap into the skills and innovation available in the local community. There are currently 55 Transition Town groups throughout New Zealand.

Grey Lynn 2030 has over 1200 direct subscribers to regular updates, we host monthly meetings and have active focus groups promoting community gardens, traffic calming, waste reduction, regeneration of local streams and a range of innovative activities that contribute to the community. We also have a lively website and over 2600 Friends on Facebook. Our steering committee is run by 5 volunteers.

Grey Lynn 2030 is based in Grey Lynn, Auckland, encompassing the surrounding neighbourhoods that are in the west side of the Waitemata Local Board area (including Westmere, Ponsonby, Freeman’s Bay, Herne Bay and St Mary’s Bay).

Key message

The Grey Lynn 2030 steering committee strongly supports the vision of the Waitemata Local Board to foster and develop vibrant, connected and sustainable communities. We agree with the Board playing a key role in transforming Auckland into the world’s most liveable city.

We believe that to make Auckland the most liveable city in the world it is necessary to respond to the challenges of climate change and the end of cheap oil. The Waitemata draft local board plan (the plan) must take into consideration the impact of changing availability and prices of oil. The plan must recognise the central place of the environment as underpinning the quality of life, economic and social wellbeing of Auckland and the limited timeframe available to take decisive action.

We therefore ask the Board to support local communities to work on local solutions to meet these challenges so that the Auckland region is more resilient, sustainable, connected, compact and efficient.

Specific Comments on the Waitemata draft Local Board Plan

We agree with all the priorities and initiatives in the plan and wish to make the following additional comments with a particular focus on what is most relevant to Grey Lynn 2030.

A distinctive high quality built environment that embraces its heritage

We support the need to protect our built heritage and character both in our town-centres and our residential houses. We support the Board in developing projects that promote, identify and celebrate our heritage.

• Connected, dedicated and safe cycleways starting with key routes such as Richmond Road. This is necessary to encourage more people to cycle.
• Traffic calming tools used on all  residential streets to reduce the speed to under 40km. We support this as it improves safety and amenity for pedestrians and cyclists.  We would also like the speed reduced through our local shopping areas for example on Richmond Road.
• A  masterplan for Richmond Road that takes a “whole road” approach so that it improves the amenity of the street for all users particularly for children walking and cycling to school.
• a public bike hire scheme in the city centre that extends to the central suburbs as far as Westmere and Grey Lynn. We support this to provide an innovative form of public transport that allows short trips to be made conveniently and at short notice
•  a parking policy that discourages commuters parking all day in residential streets and encourages carpooling and the use of public transport.
•  We would like priority given to safety improvements that will encourage children to use active modes of travel (including skate boards)

We would also like the following new initiatives to be considered for better transport:

• Great North Road from Ponsonby Road to Surrey Cres made into a “Boulevard” with provision for segregated cyclelanes.

• local connections to the planned CMJ cycleway that will connect Grey Lynn through the Central Motorway Junction (“CMJ”) down Grafton Gully to Beach Road.

• A new bus route that connects Westmere/Grey Lynn with Kingsland Station and Mt Eden and potentially on to Mission Bay. This is also necessary to support “connected communities”

• The board supporting an education campaign for retailers to understand why encouraging residents to walk and cycle (rather than providing more car parking) is good for business

In addition we support making streets into public spaces that are used for recreation, rather than just for transit, through good design, public art, more use of shared space, and speed reductions and other traffic calming measures;

Strong, connected vibrant communities

We support the Board providing opportunities and events for our communities to develop and interact with each other. In particular we support:

• Community-led events such as the Grey Lynn Park Festival and Art in the Dark.
• events for our local communities and events which cater for our youth including movies and music in the park
• All events requiring Council approval to meet minimum environmental standards that include a commitment towards zero waste

We strongly support the section on urban food production. It is essential that food is grown within the city so that we are not reliant on transporting our food needs.  We would like land to be identified that is suitable for community gardens and/or fruit tree planting.

 We support local jobs and training opportunities through initiatives to encourage social enterprise, innovation and a “green” economy. We support the establishment of a “hub” for social entrepreneurs and creative practitioners.

 We support the Board advocating for Auckland to be made Fairtrade and for the Council to continue supporting  the conscious consumer project

We support improved communications from the board but without the creation of “junk mail” and paper waste. We would suggest the Board makes better use of social media.  We would however support targeting communications to groups without internet access (for example older people)

Places for people

We support the Board maintaining and improving our current assets including community facilities, our Grey Lynn library, open spaces, beaches, parks and cultural venues. We would like the following initiatives included in the plan:

• Equipment provided in parks to allow people of all ages to play. For example equipment for older people.
• Renovation of the club rooms in Grey Lynn Park
• Implementation of a  management plan for the bush area at Western Springs off West View Road (including naming of the area, signage, removal of the pine trees, reforestation with natives and walking route (as a urban tramping track) and a multi-purpose route (suitable for push chairs and cycling)
• Connection via a “Green link” from Francis Street reserve to Cox’s Bay via Wellpark Reserve

We support the identification of Grey Lynn as an “urban village” (in the Auckland plan) and this area being able to maintain its distinct identity on the city fringe. Creative, vibrant communities like Grey Lynn support economic prosperity for the wider Region.  We would like support for Grey Lynn to become a business improvement district with the lead taken on this initiative by the Grey Lynn Business Association so it is appropriate to fit the needs of local businesses.

We support more shared spaces, traffic calming and road diets as proposed in this priority to improve our urban environment by creating more space and respect for pedestrians and cyclists. However, we would also like these concepts used outside the city centre, such as being considered for parts of Grey Lynn

We would also like the city centre to better reflect the Polynesian perspective of our communities and our place in the Pacific.

Respecting and enhancing natural environments

We strongly support this priority and the approach proposed to protect and enhance our natural environments. In addition we support for inclusion in the plan:

• A smokefree policy to include all public open spaces and parks to reduce cigarette litter contaminating our harbour and waterways and killing wildlife
• Programmes to discourage littering that are funded by producers of the waste
• Education on what to plant to encourage bees and a project to plant bee friendly plants
• worm farms and compost bins for local shops,  households and schools.
• Creation of a wildlife corridor (“Wild link”)
• Planting on berms to encourage bio- corridors
• Community composting facilities such as Wilton Street Community Garden
• Advocacy by the Board for Container Deposit Legislation
• Restoration of cox’s bay as a sensitive coastal area
• All Waitemata Local Board events on public land to be Zero Waste events
• Council support and accreditation for businesses that recycle, minimise carbon emissions and waste.
• Establishment of a local transfer station and  local resource recovery centre

Grey Lynn 2030  supports the identification of strategies, within a localised plan, to reduce carbon emissions including clean energy, efficient buildings, decentralised renewable energy, public transport, local food production and waste reduction, walk ways, cycle ways and urban planning to reduce the need to travel; electric and low emission buses and vehicles, planting carbon sinks and reducing organic waste in landfills.

General feedback for the submission forms, brochures and the submission process
We would like to see all board documents and brochures printed on recycled paper or on paper with recycled paper content supplied by a sustainably managed forest. We suggest that brochures do not need to be matt laminated – this will save money and make brochure recycling easier.
We would also support a reduction in the size of the plan (for example with smaller photos) to reduce costs.

We would like to speak to this submission.

Grey Lynn 2030 Steering committee

The vision for our community – Presentation and discussion on the draft Waitemata Local Board Plan

Wednesday 13 July 7.30pm
Grey Lynn Community Centre
The meeting will be an opportunity to find out what is in the plan that sets the vision, projects and initiatives for our community for the next 3 years and beyond – a plan that includes lots of ideas inspired by Grey Lynn 2030 that need your support  (And if you disagree or have other ideas we also want to hear about them).
The official consultation process has just started and runs until 8 August.

Grey Lynn 2030 Steering Committee member, Pippa Coom will be  joined by other members of the Waitemata Local Board and will have copies of the draft plan available.

A copy of the plan is available here online http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/PlansPoliciesPublications/localboardplans/Pages/home.aspx

If you are not able to make the meeting you can submit using the online form here
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/PlansPoliciesPublications/localboardplans/haveyoursay/Pages/home.aspx

Grey Lynn 2030 Monthly Meeting : Meet the Candidates Evening

Wednesday 8 September, 7.30pm

Grey Lynn Community Centre

There has been a lot of uncertainty about the “super city” restructuring but as the date fast approaches for the first Auckland Council elections the time has arrived to get informed. Who do you want to represent you? What are the election issues? What is the voting process?

Come a long to meet the candidates standing for the Waitemata & Gulf Ward and the Waitemata Local Board.

All are welcome to come along. Please bring questions for the candidates.

2010 election information is available on the new Auckland Council website www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

9 July 2010
In This Issue:

Grey Lynn 2030 Monthly Community Meeting
Grey Lynn Farmers Market
Waste Away news & Green Screen
Putting the Local into Local Government
Wilton Street Community Garden
Western Bays Community Board – thank you
Local news from the City Fringe
Happening Locally at the Grey Lynn RSC

Under a full moon and a clear matariki filled sky, Grey Lynn celebrated the winter solstice at a family – orientated event at St Columba Church on Saturday 26th June. Vicar Susan Adams and celebrant Keith King started the evening with readings, poetry, a circle dance and song. The labyrinth was lit with lanterns where Susan explained the significance of the winter solstice and Matariki, the Maori New Year. Entertainment was provided by Soul Samba Circus, Sam Benge, the Ukeladies, Capeiora dancers and drummers.

We are fortunate to have so much talent in our community who are willing to give their time and get us all dancing! Well done to Caroline Banks, Kathryn Goodman and Sam Benson and the organising team who made the evening such a success.

Talent and creativity was also in abundance at the Grey lynn 2030 June Meeting - The Art of Grey Lynn.
You can see photos from the meeting and details about all the artists here.  A few of the hidden art secrets of Grey Lynn were revealed.

Grey Lynn Business Association Kick-off

Grey Lynn 2030 are looking to establish a Grey Lynn Business Association. We want to hear your ideas on how this could best work for local business people. Come along for an evening of networking and to share ideas plus updates from our focus groups.

Wednesday 14th July
7.30pm – 9.30pm
Grey Lynn Community Centre

Grey Lynn Farmers Market

The Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market is starting an exciting promotion on Sunday: crack the code and win $5000, plus market hampers and more! Buy something from any of the stalls or become a member for your chance to win.

Luckily we are inside so despite the often beastly weather, the winter months have seen the market continue to gain some great new stalls such as Turkish Foods and EVO’s olive oil. Now, regular stall holders like Ooooby and Blackwood’s Gourmet Bread have been joined by Nicola Leone’s ‘Home Made Italian Deserts’ featuring Italian cookies and biscotti. Yum!

Another new feature is the bike workshop run by a group in the process of creating a non-profit community bike workshop. Their long-term goal is to have a permanent space where tools, advice and donated/reused parts are freely available to help people to repair, maintain and build bikes. At the GLFM they will be mainly teaching basic repair skills, making tools available, fundraising and simply talking to people about the project.

Phineas Phrog’s story telling shows are still on every Sunday at 10.30am in the Oval Room, and offer fun and entertainment for the kids on a rainy winter day.

How to Grow Microgreens – a new book by Fionna Hill

Congratulations to Grey Lynner and Grey Lynn 2030 supporter Fionna Hill who’s latest book How to Grow Microgreens, Nature’s Own Superfood is being released in six countries with a New Zealand launch in August.

Fionna is also the author of A Green Granny’s Garden – a year of the good life in Grey Lynn learning her gardening skills at the Grey Lynn Community Garden. It’s due for release in September. You can often find Fionna at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market where Ooooby sells microgreens and surplus veggies from her plot, and more recently promoting her new books. She’s a GLFM committee member.

To buy a signed copy of How to Grow Microgreens and receive a complimentary gift of ‘Fionna’s Blend’ Kings microgreen seeds please email your details to  fionna@fionnahill.com.  Fionna will contact you as soon as the book is available. www.fionnahill.com

Waste Away news

GOT A DRAWER FULL OF DEAD BATTERIES? NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH THEM?There is now a Used Battery Collection Box at Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market

LETS REDUCE TOXIC WASTE IN OUR LANDFILL!Why is, how we dispose of batteries important?  Most batteries we use contain heavy metals and therefore should not be casually disposed of into our landfill.   In our landfill, the battery will erode and many toxic materials will eventually find their way into the water and soil environment.

For those of you who attended the Grey Lynn 2030 community meeting in May, the Waste Away group spoke about the different types of batteries, correct disposal and recycling, making use of the local HazMobile collection, and what we can do as a community to reduce battery waste in our landfill.  If you missed this May meeting, you can see our battery flyer.

One action discussed was to set up a battery collection box at our stall at the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market.  And we now have one (see photo below), ready and waiting for some batteries!  We can only accept household batteries (no wet cell/lead acid batteries!), and from here, batteries will be either sent off to be recycled for their metals, or if they are unable to be recycled, encased in concrete so that leaching in our landfill is minimal.

Better still is changing to rechargable batteries as they last considerably longer than single-use batteries, so using them will mean less batteries going to our landfill. http://www.ecobatteries.co.nz/

So, please bring your used batteries along to the Waste Away stall at the Farmers Market (every Sunday except the last Sunday of the month), and feel free to come and have a chat with us about batteries!

Green Screen
Green Screen is back to the last Saturday of the Month:
This month: Saturday 31st July 7pm (film yet to be confirmed).

Apologies for any confusion over our last green screen (held on 3rd July with a screening of the “Yes Men Fix the World” to make up for missing out on June).
We are now back to the last Saturday of each month.
We are enjoying having cosy community movie nights, a great thing for the middle of winter!
Looking forward to seeing you there.

-The Green Screen Team

To receive Green Screen notices email greylynn2030@gmail and ask to be put on the Green Screen contact list

Putting the Local into Local Government  : Supercity elections  - Waitemata Local Board

We are really thrilled to be able to announce that Steering Committee member Pippa Coom has been selected to stand with City Vision for the Waitemata Local Board. She joins City Vision as a community independent with the support of Grey Lynn 2030. Also on the ticket is local Jesse Chalmers (who’s parents started Harvest), Christopher Dempsey, current chair of the Albert-Eden Community Board, Bruce Kilmister, current Chair of the Western Bays Community Board, Shale Chambers, Ponsonby commercial lawyer & company director, Tricia Reade, Chair of Ponsonby Community Centre and City Fringe Inc and current Western Bays board member Kate Stanton.

Pippa is passionate about creating the kind of community we want to live in that is safe, lively, healthy and sustainable. She hopes to bring the vision of Grey Lynn 2030 to local government (contact: pippacoom@gmail.com)

Not sure you are enrolled to vote? Check by calling 0800 307 656 or go to www.elections.org.nz. Voting papers for the first supercity elections will be posted on 17 September.

Wilton Street Community Garden

In June the WSCG applied to the Western Bays Community Board for $2000.00 of discretionary funding to complete the Community Garden. We are thrilled that the Board approved our application and we now have the money.  The next step is to ensure that it is carefully spent to achieve the greatest possible benefit for the garden and the community, including the native flora and fauna who inhabited the site before us.

Specific projects that we have earmarked the money for are:

• Native plants to complete the bush habitat in the back plus weta boxes,
• A Lizard Garden and lizard house on the stoney southern end of the site,
• Furniture ie a table and seating under the gum trees so we will have somewhere to sit when we meet, and
• Fruit and vegetable plants.

On another note, the new community compost bins appear to be working well, lots of vegetable scraps and green waste is being dropped off and the bins are filling up.  Thanks to all who are using them – keep it coming!.

The members of the WSCG would like to thank the Western Bays Community Board for their support.

Grey Lynn Community Garden – find out more details here. ‘Growing Together’ every Sunday afternoon 4pm~6pm.

Western Bays Community Board – thank you

1989 – 2010
With the changes to Auckland’s governance the WBCB ceases to exist in October. We would like to thank all the members of the Community Board who have supported Grey Lynn 2030 so enthusiastically: Cr Greg Moyle, Cr Graeme Easte, Chair Bruce Kilmister with Board Members Kate Stanton, Jo Robinson, Paul Stevenson and Leigh Kennaway.

In the last 18 months we have received:

• Funding for the Grey Lynn Farmers Market
• Funding for the Grey Lynn 2030 banner and logo
• $2000 for the Wilton Street Community Garden
• Support for Traffic Calming initiatives through West Lynn shopping area

Over the next couple of month we will be seeking support for:

• Community Orchard in Francis Street Reserve (SLIPS application sponsored by Paul Stephenson)
• Installation of a water fountain (SLIPS application)
• Funding to set up the GL Business Association
• Funding for the West Lynn Street Party and community market; and
• Funding to continue the restoration of Edgars Creek

City Fringe Inc  and Soho Square

Many residents will know that the receiver is appealing the decision of Auckland City Council not to grant consent for building mass and heights over an above what already was granted in 2008.
City Fringe is a lobby group which wants to see Soho Square developed but not the particular design put forward. Nor do we wish for development at any cost just because Soho is an eyesore. We are also concerned about the amount of traffic it encourage in the area.

More information on what is happening can be obtained from cityfringeinc@gmail.com now and City Fringe’s  website will be up and running by 15 July at www.cityfringe.org.nz

Grey Lynn RSC – happening locally

We welcome visitors and new members: This month apart from our members nights on a Wednesday night – we have 7 day a week faclilties-we have no cover charge for entertainment:

Friday 9 July 8pm band “Peta & the Pois” playing pop/jazz and blues
Friday 16 July 8pm band “The Alibis” playing jumpswing and rhythm and blues
Friday 23 July 8pm band “McSweeney Brothers with Marion Burns” on fiddle- Irish band
Friday 30 July 8pm band “The Gunsmiths” playing hard rock and blues, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Hendrix and more

We also have the rugby and league games on our big screens during our opening hours. Our function room upstairs is available for hire for your special functions.

We have large dance floor, kitchen, seated dining area, bar and restroom facilities, the best kept secret in Grey Lynn.

Enquiries greylynnrsc@hotmail.co.nz

Update on the Ooooby Berm Bomb on Richmond Road

July 2010