Latest news with #FranklinLocalBoard
Scoop
3 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Parent Calls For Better Playground Fencing To Stop ‘Runners'
Article – Torika Tokalau – Local Democracy Reporter The lack of fencing around a destination park in rural south Auckland, where 17,000 cars zoom by each day, has come under fire. After hearing the safety pleas from a local parent and principal, the local board has agreed to fence the whole of Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park. The upgrade of the historic Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park began last October, by Eke Panuku's Unlock Pukekohe High Level Project Plan. Once complete in mid-2025, Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park is expected to feature improved play facilities to cater for a wider age range. However, residents were unhappy that the playground on the corner of one of Pukekohe's busiest intersections, with a traffic volume count of 17,000 vehicles per day, was not going to be completely fenced. Valley School principal Roger Goulstone, speaking at the Franklin Local Board meeting on Tuesday, said barriers or fencing was needed to keep children safe. 'With the busyness there, and attraction of a new facility, it's going to quite a higher traffic area,' Goulstone said. 'With the high amount of families coming, they would like the security of a barrier going at least around the park to stop kids wandering from off … [It's] a very busy intersection.' The park, located at the corner of East St and Stadium Dr, is costing $1.5 million to upgrade. The local board considered three design options – initially going with the first option which included a 900mm-high wired fence at the top of the park, leaving multiple areas of the park with no fencing or gates. Option two included two additional gates with latches, including a sliding gate and a wired fence completely around the park. Resident Sam Ross said she was stoked the park was being upgraded but felt it needed to be safe and inclusive for all users. 'As a mother of two neuro-diverse children, I'm particularly concerned about the safety issue. 'My kids have a tendency to be runners as do a lot of autistic children, they're brilliant climbers so they can easily scale the fence as is.' According to Eke Panuku's overview of the project – the park was bordered by major arterial roadways that were expected to get even busier as Pukekohe grew, its website stated. The local board moved a motion to adopt option two for fencing – supported by five of its nine members. Member Logan Soole said the difference in design options was huge. 'They involve the addition of two more gates and extension of fencing,' Soole said. He said one of the main issues board members debated about was accessibility, and highlighted Auckland's only accessible playground in Weymouth. 'If we choose to retrofit later, it will cost more and the likelihood of that happening is not very high. 'The one thing I don't want to see is us opening this park, and something happens and it undoes all the good work that the Pukekohe Unlock programme has brought for our town.' Member Gary Holmes said they should upgrade the playground once, 'and do it right'.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Young Auckland Politician's Parting Challenge
Article – Torika Tokalau – Local Democracy Reporter One of New Zealand's youngest politicians has bowed out of politics, but not without a challenge to his local board, 'do not forget our commitment to Māori'. Logan Soole, 25, (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa), was first elected to the Franklin Local Board at just 19 years old and served two terms with the south Auckland board. He resigns to join his partner in London, after years of a long-distance relationship. Addressing the other eight members of the local board in his valedictory speech, Soole asked them not to forget their partners, whānau, history, and future. 'Do not forget our commitment to young people and the generations that will follow, long after we are gone. 'Make mokopuna decisions—choices that always prioritise the needs of our grandchildren, ensuring they inherit a place where they can survive and thrive. 'Think climate change, future focused-infrastructure and mentoring the next generation.' The small local board meeting room filled with people on Tuesday, who came to see the Pukekohe-resident off. Also present was former Auckland mayor, Phil Goff. Soole's position would not be filled, with the local elections looming in September. 'I cannot help but feel some guilt for leaving at a time that is so crucial for our future. 'A time where things not just in our own backyard but internationally seem to be in decline.' He said the Franklin ward was not a perfect community, but one that cared and worked together to get things done. 'To my local board colleagues and staff, thank you for your tireless work for Franklin. Thank you for the disagreements, the compromise and a willingness to challenge the status quo.' Soole will spend his last day in office in early June. 'As I step away from this role, I carry with me a massive sense of pride in serving this place, lessons learned, and a few more grey hairs than I started with.'
Scoop
3 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Parent Calls For Better Playground Fencing To Stop ‘Runners'
The lack of fencing around a destination park in rural south Auckland, where 17,000 cars zoom by each day, has come under fire. After hearing the safety pleas from a local parent and principal, the local board has agreed to fence the whole of Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park. The upgrade of the historic Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park began last October, by Eke Panuku's Unlock Pukekohe High Level Project Plan. Once complete in mid-2025, Te Pae Mahara Roulston Park is expected to feature improved play facilities to cater for a wider age range. However, residents were unhappy that the playground on the corner of one of Pukekohe's busiest intersections, with a traffic volume count of 17,000 vehicles per day, was not going to be completely fenced. Valley School principal Roger Goulstone, speaking at the Franklin Local Board meeting on Tuesday, said barriers or fencing was needed to keep children safe. "With the busyness there, and attraction of a new facility, it's going to quite a higher traffic area," Goulstone said. "With the high amount of families coming, they would like the security of a barrier going at least around the park to stop kids wandering from off ... [It's] a very busy intersection." The park, located at the corner of East St and Stadium Dr, is costing $1.5 million to upgrade. The local board considered three design options - initially going with the first option which included a 900mm-high wired fence at the top of the park, leaving multiple areas of the park with no fencing or gates. Option two included two additional gates with latches, including a sliding gate and a wired fence completely around the park. Resident Sam Ross said she was stoked the park was being upgraded but felt it needed to be safe and inclusive for all users. "As a mother of two neuro-diverse children, I'm particularly concerned about the safety issue. "My kids have a tendency to be runners as do a lot of autistic children, they're brilliant climbers so they can easily scale the fence as is." According to Eke Panuku's overview of the project - the park was bordered by major arterial roadways that were expected to get even busier as Pukekohe grew, its website stated. The local board moved a motion to adopt option two for fencing - supported by five of its nine members. Member Logan Soole said the difference in design options was huge. "They involve the addition of two more gates and extension of fencing," Soole said. He said one of the main issues board members debated about was accessibility, and highlighted Auckland's only accessible playground in Weymouth. "If we choose to retrofit later, it will cost more and the likelihood of that happening is not very high. "The one thing I don't want to see is us opening this park, and something happens and it undoes all the good work that the Pukekohe Unlock programme has brought for our town." Member Gary Holmes said they should upgrade the playground once, "and do it right".
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Young Auckland Politician's Parting Challenge
One of New Zealand's youngest politicians has bowed out of politics, but not without a challenge to his local board, "do not forget our commitment to Māori". Logan Soole, 25, (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa), was first elected to the Franklin Local Board at just 19 years old and served two terms with the south Auckland board. He resigns to join his partner in London, after years of a long-distance relationship. Addressing the other eight members of the local board in his valedictory speech, Soole asked them not to forget their partners, whānau, history, and future. "Do not forget our commitment to young people and the generations that will follow, long after we are gone. "Make mokopuna decisions—choices that always prioritise the needs of our grandchildren, ensuring they inherit a place where they can survive and thrive. "Think climate change, future focused-infrastructure and mentoring the next generation." The small local board meeting room filled with people on Tuesday, who came to see the Pukekohe-resident off. Also present was former Auckland mayor, Phil Goff. Soole's position would not be filled, with the local elections looming in September. "I cannot help but feel some guilt for leaving at a time that is so crucial for our future. "A time where things not just in our own backyard but internationally seem to be in decline." He said the Franklin ward was not a perfect community, but one that cared and worked together to get things done. "To my local board colleagues and staff, thank you for your tireless work for Franklin. Thank you for the disagreements, the compromise and a willingness to challenge the status quo." Soole will spend his last day in office in early June. "As I step away from this role, I carry with me a massive sense of pride in serving this place, lessons learned, and a few more grey hairs than I started with."
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Waiuku's $383k pedestrian crossing proposal paused after criticism from local board
Gary Holmes has pointed to the use of raised rubber crossings used in Australia. Photo: Supplied A $383,000 multi-street safety improvement project in the South Auckland town of Waiuku has been put on hold. The Auckland Transport proposal has been a source of contention among the local community. Franklin Local Board member Gary Holmes said he had major concerns about the project and it's impact on local businesses. In particular, he was worried about the costs related to a raised pedestrian crossing which would need to see the town's main street of Queen Street needing to be closed for 30 days for work to be completed. Holmes said the proposal has been paused following a meeting yesterday. "I'm pleased my fellow local board members are supporting my recommendation that we pause this project," he said. "We ask Auckland Transport to come and workshop that with the board so we can fully understand what the project entails, the cost involved and potentially other alternatives." Auckland Transport group manager of infrastructure project delivery Mark Banfield said the cost for the raised crossing element of the project is $65,000 out of a total project estimate of $383,000. "This is only a small part of the proposed project, which encompasses a multi-street safety upgrade scheme that also includes footpath and drainage upgrades". "AT proposed a multi-street safety improvement project which includes works on Queen Street, George Street, Mellsop Avenue and Kent Street in Waiuku." "Our pedestrian surveys showed dozens of unaccompanied children walk through this area on weekdays and when we engaged with the Waiuku community in April 2023 most respondents told us the changes would benefit the community." "There have been some recent concerns raised by the Franklin Local Board and community members about the cost of the project, the time it will take to complete, along with our shared concerns about the disruption that the project will cause during construction." "We are committed to listening and responding to the needs and concerns of our communities and balancing the disruption that comes with road construction projects against the safety and benefits they will deliver." "Our project team will now work through these concerns and possible solutions with the Franklin Local Board in a workshop before we progress any further with this project or start construction. We will also engage with the community again on any potential changes to the proposal," Mark Banfield said. Franklin Local Board member Gary Holmes, who has been involved in discussions about the AT proposal, said he disputes the breakdown of costs. "I see that AT is stating that the raised pedestrian crossing part of the project is $65,000 only, well I call them on that." "Any sort of project like that, includes consultancy fees, traffic management etc, so they're putting a spin on that which I is disingenuous," the Franklin Local Board member said. The local politician is advocating for rubber alternative, which he said would cost about $100,000 and one day to install. Holmes pointed to a similar example of a rubber raised pedestrian crossings in Australia and the success of a trial rubber roundabout which has been used in Waiuku for several years. AT said a temporary rubber device would need to be replaced within five years. "Waiuku already boasts one of this company's rubber roundabouts, proving the efficacy of these solutions in our community," Holmes said. "It's time Auckland Transport stopped operating in a vacuum and started listening to common sense and embracing solutions that are better for ratepayers and better for our communities." "Waiuku is ready to lead Auckland on pedestrian crossings, demonstrating a forward thinking approach to road safety that is both efficient and economical, without compromising on the safety of our most vulnerable road users," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
