Viewpoint

Louise Johnston, Dairy

Flat Representative, Rodney Local Board louise.johnston@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Poor planning for Dairy Flat

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holiday. In this column, I want to highlight an area that several residents have recently contacted me about.

The strategic location of Dairy Flat between the urban areas of Albany and Silverdale is both a blessing and curse. Locals can enjoy a rural lifestyle but still be close to the shops, the motorway and decent public transport with the Northern busway. However, Dairy Flat also offers a cheap place for industrial type activities that can use the various loopholes of the Unitary Plan to operate in the rural zone. Rural land is relatively cheap, and industries won’t be subject to the same business rates they would incur if they operated in an industrial zone. The latest industrial business to be consented by Auckland Council in the rural zone, is the new industrial-scale container yard on Dairy Flat Highway with its maximum-security barbed wired fences, lighting, and rows upon rows of containers. As a Local Board, we questioned this application, as it was not in keeping with the rural character of the area. However, it went through on a non-notified basis and therefore there was no avenue for community input. As part of this container yard consent, the operators had to implement landscaping before storing the containers. Well established and planned landscaping buffers along the roadside can help maintain rural character. It is debatable if the landscaping now implemented will achieve this. I certainly don’t think so! But it is up to Auckland Council compliance staff to enforce consent conditions with the assumption being that operators will follow the rules. It is often up to members of the public to report non-compliance. If you have ever rung the Council call centre you will understand that this is not a quick process. We have a couple of serious issues that are happening alongside this type of consent. As a result of staff shortages and cutbacks, Council implemented a policy last year when it came to following up on complaints from the public and only those matters that are considered a risk and harm to people and the natural environment will now be investigated. Lower priority complaints are closed without follow up!

During 2022, of the over 6000 incidents raised across Auckland, compliance staff closed over 4000 without any investigation. It is imperative that with the budget cuts required across Council to plug the ($295 M) deficit, the compliance department is not in the firing line – it is an essential core service, and it must have the funding required to do its job.

The other issue is that the rural zone, where most of these industrial type activities are taking place, is not planned to be rezoned until between 2038 to 2048. Without proper planning, in the next 20 years Dairy Flat could become a haphazard industrial area without the necessary infrastructure, reminiscent of a 1950s industrial zone.

This issue needs to be addressed this month when Council refreshes its development strategy for Auckland.

Kainga Ora plans consultation

Kainga Ora expects to begin discussions with the Hibiscus Coast community in March as part of a wide ranging review of its portfolio needs and plans for social housing in this area. Last December, the organisation announced that it would put its plans to build social housing in Bonair Crescent, Millwater, aside while it undertakes the review. Kainga Ora Auckland North and West regional director, Taina Jones, says the review will mean looking at how and where the organisation delivers public housing and other kinds of housing across Millwater, Silverdale, Orewa and the wider Hibiscus Coast, rather than focusing on one specific site.

Council gets pat on back

Thought we should give credit when it’s due. The Council has managed the freedom camper situation very well over this Xmas period at Big Manly, with regular checks in the evenings and first thing in the morning. We saw them on a few occasions and one morning they were moving some campers on. The extra signage definitely helped. We were quick to complain last season so it’s only fair we give them a pat on the back for a good job.

Debbie Vercoe, Manly

Foreshore first priority

Reading your newspaper, I am astounded at the lack of sensible planning. Surely, if you first create a foot/ bike path and we have one of the numerous high tides or storms, the footpath will be destroyed as it has been now. All ratepayers’ funds go down the drain again! The Ōrewa Beach foreshore should be protected first, so that you then can create a lasting footpath above it. The sea is now gradually encroaching, exposing and endangering the beautiful mature trees and homes. The Council has wasted enough of the ratepayers’ money shifting sand from A to B. It is a sick joke and the Ōrewa residents are fed-up with the non-existent foresight. Each weekend, Ōrewa is the drawcard for hundreds of city dwellers arriving to enjoy our beautiful beach, a large part of which was dumped onto Hibiscus Coast Highway during the last two weeks. Please pay attention and make strengthening the foreshore a priority. It is essential!

Margaretha Western-Brounts, Ōrewa Editor’s note: A chance to have a say about the future options for the beach management along Ōrewa Reserve will be coming up, as per the story in our January 23 edition. When more information about this are available, they will be in this newspaper.

Surely no end to Big Dig?

The Big Dig is one of those rare events with an idea that has stood the test of time, appealing to children throughout the years. This area needs to work to hold onto it (HM January 23). I get why it is a lot of work for the outcome, but am hopeful that maybe a local business that could get naming rights, or another community group with a youth angle –as it’s an event for the young ones – might be prepared to take it on, and make it more profitable. Please – someone out there put your hand up for this.

Louise Baker, Tindalls Bay

Hibiscus Coast Village in Red Beach again celebrated a Burns Night supper, on January 25. The night started with the piping in of the haggis and whiskey, led by Pipe Major Stewart Hudson. After James McFadden addressed the haggis, a whiskey toast kicked off a threecourse meal and poetry. The singing of Auld Lang Syne ended a great night’s festivities. From left, Katie Elgar,

Rocks the answer

In the recent storm, Ōrewa Beach (see photo) is a shocking sight. Ancient trees have their roots exposed, the sea has carved channels right up to the sandbreaks in the park and tree trunks and rubbish are everywhere on the small strip of beach left. The only saving grace is the place where huge rocks had been placed years ago, - there, the damage is negligible. Man-made walls will not work against the might of nature. Rocks should be placed all along the foreshore to prevent us losing what used to be one of the most beautiful and people-friendly beaches in Auckland. Shifting sand back and forth is a joke as it does not work and it costs the Auckland rate payers tens of thousands each time we have a King tide or storm. The Auckland Councillors should be called to account for their lack of understanding and foresight, instead of wasting our hard-earned money.

Margaretha Western, Ōrewa

Marja Lube ck

The Ōrewa Garden Club hosted its annual Garden Party Fundraising Luncheon on January 19, supported by many local businesses. This was the 10th year that the fundraiser has been held, and this year’s recipient was Ōrewa Surf Lifesaving Club. Once again, with the help of garden venue hosts Dee and Lloyd Farrand, 35 women, dressed in colourful garden party hats raised $1460. The best hat was judged by Gwenda Holster-Dowler, from Ōrewa Surf lifesaving Club, who found it a very difficult task, so members allowed her to choose a winner, plus two runners-up. Members donated goods to make up raffle gift baskets and sponsors include Cheek & Chong, Life Pharmacy and Charisma. To find out more about the Ōrewa Garden Club, phone Linda Mellor, 027 614 0363.

Seal sightings sought

Last year, there were four reported sightings of fur seals (kekeno), both alive and dead, on the Hibiscus Coast – two at Gulf Harbour, one at Ōrewa Estuary and one in Stanmore Bay. Currently, DOC is encouraging the public become more aware of these creatures, and to report any sightings. The idea is to build scientists’ understanding of the distribution of the species as well as determining if a spike in reported mortalities around the Hauraki Gulf/Coromandel in 2021 indicated a trend. DOC welcomes reports of sightings of all seals –live or dead – from around the upper North Island. Information and photos of all dead seals found means local DOC staff can assess whether the specimen meets the criteria for necropsy to determine the cause of death. Report seal sightings and send photos by emailing kekeno@doc.govt.nz. If you encounter a live seal, do not get closer than 20m, keep dogs on a leash, under control and away from seals.

Davies Appliances

Ainslie and Danielle Davies’ new appliance store in Silverdale has several key advantages for anyone looking for whiteware, televisions, microwaves and small appliances.

Ainslie Davies, a born and bred Coastie, is committed to customer service, and really knows his products. Back in 2009, Ainslie was in Hibiscus Matters for building and marketing a TV and computer in one, with an inbuilt Blu-ray player, Freeview recorder, and online streaming. This was well before smart TVs came along. He managed a large appliance store on the North Shore for 12 years and says starting his own business is a natural progression.

“I enjoy every part of it – especially making my own decisions and finding solutions for customers. And I like a challenge,” Ainslie says.

Danielle works alongside him, keeping things running smoothly.

As an independently owned business, affiliated with Appliance Plus, Davies Appliances offers quality products at competitive prices and can quickly respond to customers’ needs. Delivery, installation and taking away old appliances, are part of the service.

“I am focused on keeping it local – having the right products at the best prices so people don’t have to drive down the motorway to shop,” he says.

In future Ainslie hopes to make the showroom interactive, so you can try before you buy – whether you want a coffee maker or a washing machine.

The business started two months ago, and Ainslie and Danielle, who have three children, are loving it.

“We’re making it work with family life, and customers tell us our service and prices set us apart,” Ainslie says.