Source: Auckland Council
The Waitematā Local Board area will benefit from Auckland Council’s record capital investment over the next 10-years focused on keeping the city running and continuing to build for the future.
The council’s Governing Body adopted the 10-year recovery budget (2021-2031) last week which provides for a $31.8 billion capital expenditure programme. The spending is at its highest level ever despite difficult financial circumstances the organisation is facing in the short term due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Waitematā and Gulf ward councillor Pippa Coom says despite those financial pressures, the 10-year recovery budget still enables the organisation to deliver on the activities and services Aucklanders expect, while also investing in protecting the environment and improving water quality, reducing emissions, and investing in communities.
“The record $31.8 billion investment package will support Auckland’s recovery from the on-going impacts of COVID-19 and delivers locally for Waitematā with significant investment into a number of local board projects.
“It’s also great to see regional funding supporting local projects including progressing towards making Queen Street valley a zero-carbon zone and upgrading ageing storm and wastewater infrastructure at Hobson Bay to improve water quality.”
Local investment
Among the local asset improvements budgeted for in the Waitematā Local Board area are:
Waitematā Local Board
- Cox’s Bay to Wharf Rd Greenway – renew pedestrian bridges and pathways over the existing sewer pipeline providing an all-weather connection to Hukanui Reserve, east of Cox’s Bay Reserve. $1.1 million
- Renewal of the Symonds Street heritage toilets. $908,000
- Central Library – comprehensive building refurbishment including the renewal of furniture, fixtures and equipment, roof remediation, and renewal of air handling units. $13.0 million
- Implement priority renewal actions from the Western Spring Development Plan, including extensive native tree planting in stages across the first three financial years. $550,000.
- Cleaning up of Hobson Bay and of the streams running into it.
Waitematā Local Board Chair Richard Northey is pleased with the investment into Waitematā and says the local board area will benefit from it.
“Consultation with Waitematā residents helped to set our key local priorities, and their feedback was vital in shaping our advocacy to the Governing Body.
“We remain hopeful that the restoration of the Leys Institute buildings will go ahead, and that the community-led Ponsonby Park project will be funded.
“The board looks forward to moving ahead with these projects and more so that Waitematā will continue to be a place where people love to live, work and play.”
As part of the 10-year recovery budget, each of the local boards also consulted on its Local Board Agreements for 2021/2022 year which outline its priorities, activities, and budgets for the 2021/2022 year.
Find out more about what’s in the 10-year recovery budget at our website.
