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- By Kelvin Hiett, Papakura Local Board chair
It is that time of year when the Papakura Local Board is preparing its local board plan for
public consultation. We are seeking the community’s views on our ideas and aspirations for
Papakura.
This is a three-year plan covering community wellbeing, the natural environment, economic
development, the built environment, and transport. Following consultation, public feedback
will be considered and incorporated before the plan is adopted this October.
As a three-year plan, it carries forward several projects from the previous term. These include the Opaheke Park, the Papakura Community Resilience Network, renewal of facilities at Prince Edward Park, additional car parking at Bruce Pulman Park and South Park, and the Te Kete Rukuruku programme for dual naming parks and reserves.
Opaheke Sport Park has existed for many years, but the passive park was completed last year once the Bellfield subdivision developer finished their work. The park is now open for the community to enjoy. It has been designed as a natural flood overflow area to absorb rainwater during major flood events from Ōtuwairoa/Slippery Creek. Over the coming years, thousands of native trees will be planted to increase water absorption and restore birdlife.
The Papakura Community Resilience Network (CRN) was formed after the Auckland
Anniversary Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. It brings together community organisations
working alongside Auckland Emergency Management and the local board to provide
community hubs, resilience equipment, education, training, and “street meets” that help
neighbours connect and support one another. The board intends to continue supporting the
CRN in the new plan.
At Prince Edward Park, the board has completed the renewal of diamond one and designs for the new changing rooms and referee facilities. The project is now ready for construction. The new plan also proposes renewing diamond two.
At Bruce Pulman Park, the toilet and dump station car park and the new arena car park have been sealed. Further sealed parking is planned at both Bruce Pulman Park and South Park off Beach Road to better support park users.
Finally, through the Te Kete Rukuruku programme, the board continues to work with mana
whenua and local iwi to dual our name parks and reserves, bringing local history to life. An
example is Otaawhiti/Ray Small Park. With tranche two names now received, we look
forward to progressing tranche three.
You can provide feedback on the local board plan on Wednesday, July 15 from 10.30am to
12pm at Sir Edmund Hillary Library, or Saturday, July 18, from 10am to 12pm at Bruce
Pulman Park Arena on Walters Road. Feedback can also be submitted online via the
Auckland Council AKHaveYourSay website.
