St Lukes Environmental Protection Society

stephen October 31st, 2010

Westfield St Lukes Plan Change – Update October 2010

Following the plan change hearings in June 2010, a draft planners report was produced. The report link is http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/members/councilmeetings/20100923_1800/CNCL%2D23092010%2DOPN%2DAGD%2D%2312.pdf

The independent Commissioners for Auckland City recommended in the final weeks of Auckland City existence that the plan change to facilitate the St Lukes expansion should go ahead. STEPS had made a comprehensive submission on the impacts on Meola Creek, and we presented at the hearings. As reported in an earlier Blog, we supported the peer review done by Council officers in respect of water issues. One reason we appeared is that it has been made clear to us at Resource consent time that our only hope for being heard is by influencing the plan. The Commissioners report appeared to rely on the evidence from the developer.

See pages 62-64 in the decision for 1 page on water and lava forest. As we read it:

– Stormwater will all be worked out at the appropriate time. Despite the contradictory evidence – Westfield engineer is happy with soakage. And the commissioners agreed.

– Waste water effects will be no more than minor and anyway though the situation is unsatisfactory, this is beyond the control of the applicant so it would NOT BE REASONABLE FOR A PLAN CHANGE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LACK OF AN INTERCEPTOR.

STEPS asks Who would need sewerage infrastructure to increase peak waste water flows by 8 times?

We were pleasantly surprised at the final Auckland City Council meeting on 23 September that the council deferred a decision.

STEPS believes that St Lukes Community Association were key to achieving this deferral – see press release at:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1009/S00306/st-lukes-community-applauds-mayoral-leadership.htm

Reporter Bob Dey reported on it as follows:

http://www.bdcentral.co.nz/afa.asp?idWebPage=8338&idBobDeyProperty_Articles=14964&SID=351783881

Later the Auckland City Council wisely decided to leave the decision for the new council – see

http://www.bdcentral.co.nz/afa.asp?idWebPage=8338&idBobDeyProperty_Articles=15078&SID=407944042

STEPS is hopeful that the new City Council will pay more attention to the very real infrastructure issues faced by the St Lukes area and will consider the interests of local residents when they review this plan change.

• Community Interests , Environmental Issues , Press , Resource Consents
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stephen September 22nd, 2010

A very large group of volunteers turned up to help with planting the north eastern corner of the walk way near the Watercare Services Eden branch overflow (area 5a on the planting plan).

Selene, Taryn and Caleb from Morphum were there early to unload and lay out the plants. Then we had a large group  from Bhaska who helped STEPS and others to get 800 plants in the ground in record time. The plant list is attached, though a few substitutions were made: the tree fuchsia was replaced with the groundcover Fuchsia procumbens, Coprosma rhamnoides with Coprosma propinqua and Corokia buddleoides with Corokia cotoneaster.

Thanks to Morphum for their generosity in providing plants, time and the expertise to plan and make it happen. Our grateful thanks to all the people from Bhaska, and other volunteers including some from Rasheed Trust,  John and Jane from Teradata, and Sel, Nick and Stan. We were also thrilled to have Onno Ursem from Metrowater contributing his time. Onno was the first person from our local authorities to arrange the creekside plantings by the bridge in the Kerr-Taylor Reserve. Thanks Onno – we wish you and your family well on your travels and look forward to your return and ongoing involvement with Meola.

Some photos are attached – others are available also if you contact us via this site we can email them to you.

Post script: September 2010.  Thanks also to neighbours Peter and John who are helpfully tracking down plants which have been removed from time to time and replanting them. It makes such a difference to have active and ongoing contributions to improving the creekside.

Planting Schedule Morphum 2010

• Planting days
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stephen July 11th, 2010

Join members of the St Lukes Environmental Protection Society (STEPS) and Morphum Environmental Ltd who are supplying the plants for the last community planting day this winter at Meola Creek.
Bring along your family and friends for a couple of hours of planting.

Where: The entrance to Roy Clements Treeway behind Noel Leemings, Wagner Place Megacentre, St Lukes.

What to Bring: Sunhat, Sunblock, Raincoat, Water Bottle, Gardening Gloves and a Spade if you have them.
For further information contact: Selene@morphum.com Selene (09) 377 9779.

Download the Roy Clements planting flyer and invite your friends.

• Planting days
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