Puketāpapa is set for a boost since $2.9 million has been committed across a range of projects and programmes in the area to benefit the community.
Work across parks, facilities, heritage, transport and environmental projects will be delivered thanks to Puketāpapa Local Board approving its work programme for the 2023/2024 financial year.
Local Board Chair, Ella Kumar is pleased with the board’s decision. “With budget reductions, we’ve had to make some tough decisions to finalise work programmes that will still deliver value to our community and environment.”
The customer and community services programme is a significant portfolio of work that services the area. Some of the activities new to this year’s programme include:
- local crime prevention fund ($33,976)
- sport and active recreation facility plan ($40,000)
- building renewal at Arthur Faulkner Reserve ($250,000)
- slip remediation at Lynfield Reserve ($33,824)
- open space lighting – renew lighting ($25,000)
- Pah Homestead – renew veranda posts and structural elements ($30,000)
- remediate storm and cyclone affected assets ($100,000).
The environmental programme is designed to deliver the board’s three-year plan outcomes developed in 2020, including improving the Manukau Harbour; taking care of waterways, parks and public spaces; preparing communities for extreme weather events, health challenges and limited resources.
Funding has been approved for:
- awa ecological enhancement ($20,000)
- climate action activator ($38,250)
- eco neighbourhoods ($32,000)
- low carbon lifestyles ($30,000)
- Manukau Harbour Forum ($8,000)
- Manukau Foreshore herpetofauna Survey ($20,000)
- Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek) pest plant control buffer project ($10,000).
The awa ecological enhancement project supports community groups working alongside contractors to enhance native habitat and protect native biodiversity through pest control and planting.
Climate activator, Leora Karon is thrilled to continue receiving support for her work in the climate space. “I’m glad we can continue engaging the community to actively reduce emissions and protect our environment from future climate impacts”, she says.
“We’ve got so many activities in store to motivate our people to live more lightly. In the past year we’ve been helping people fix their bikes, showing them how and gifting bikes to those who can’t afford them. And just when you think you can’t do everything on bikes, we’ll show you the e-cargo bike – it’s got storage space for you to pick up the kids and run errands.”
The role of the climate activator involves driving initiatives to achieve carbon reduction targets and to help implement the board’s climate action plan. Initially $45,000 was proposed for the climate action activator, however its proposed activities were reduced to fit within the local board’s budget.
In its fifth year of funding, Eco Neighbourhoods comprises of six or more neighbours adopting sustainable practices and increasing resilience within households and neighbourhoods. Sustainable activities include, sustainable food production, water conservation, waste minimisation, energy reduction and biodiversity initiatives.
The low carbon lifestyles project disseminates personalised transport advice and incentives, encouraging residents to use active or public transport for everyday activities.
A joint initiative across nine local boards, the Manukau Harbour Forum is allocated $8,000 from each board towards a coordinator, a sustainability training group for youth and communications geared towards protecting and restoring the harbour.
Funding is also allocated for the Manukau foreshore herpetofauna survey to investigate native lizards to better understand environmental management in this area.
Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek) pest plant control buffer programme, co-funded by Albert-Eden Local Board, to support private landowners neighbouring high-value parks and reserves to control invasive weeds.
More information about all the work programmes can be found here.
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