Waitemata  Low  Carbon  Network    
Submission  
 
Waitemata  Local  Board  Long  Term  Budget  2018-­‐28  Hearing  
 
22  March  2018  
 
 
Introduction  
 
This   submission   focuses   on   how   the   Long   Term   Plan   and   Auckland   Plan   are   addressing   our  
climate  crisis.  
   
Low  Carbon  Auckland:  2018  Review  and  Update  
 
At  its  meeting  on  20  February  2018,  the  Environment  and  Community  Committee  resolved  to:  
 
(a)  approve  an  approach  for  the  review  and  update  of  Low  Carbon  Auckland,  to  include  
both  a  mitigation  and  adaptation  strategy  for  the  region    
 
b)  agree  that  the  update  of  Low  Carbon  Auckland  be  presented  to  the  Environment  and  
Community  Committee  for  decision  by  December  2018    
 
c)   agree   to   the   creation   of   an   Independent   Advisory   Group,   to   provide   on-­‐going  
guidance,  challenge  and  evaluation  of  the  review  and  update  of  Low  Carbon  Auckland    
 
In  short,  the  proposal  is  to  review  and  update  Low  Carbon  Auckland  this  year.    
 
We   ask   that   the   Waitemata   Local   Board   participate   strongly   in   this   Review  
and   that   this   be   factored   into   the   work   programme   of   the   Portfolio   leads   on  
the  Board,  that  local  board  staff  time  be  dedicated  to  this,  and  that  a  budget  be  
set  aside  for  any  local  research  or  consultancy  to  ensure  a  strong  community  
voice  from  Waitemata  in  the  Review.      
 
 
Waitemata  Local  Board  –  Becoming  a  Low  Carbon  Community  –  An  Action  Plan  
 
In  August  2015,  the  Waitemata  Local  Board  became  the  first  to  adopt  a  local  Low  Carbon  Plan.  
 
The   Waitemata   Low   Carbon   Action   Plan   brought   together   a   range   of   actions   to   adopt   low   carbon  
practices   and   reduce   carbon   emissions   within   the   community,   businesses,   infrastructure,  
transport  and  housing.  
 
The   Actions   were   grouped   under   Action   Areas,   including:   Utilising   Social   Infrastructure;   Walking  
the   Talk;   Good   for   Business;   Low   Carbon   Transport   Options;   Champions   of   Change;   Engaging  
Householders;  and  Local  Exemplars  and  Initiatives.    
 
 

 
  

 
By  way  of  example,  under  Walking  the  Talk,  the  actions  included:    
 
2.1   Ensure   the   practices   of   the   Local   Board   in   relation   to   purchasing   decisions,   waste  
management   and   travel   reflect   the   Board’s   desire   to   be   leading   by   example   in   working   in   a  
low  carbon  manner.  For  example:  increase  in  staff  and  Elected  Members  using  public  and  
active  transport.    
 
2.2  Use  advocacy  powers  to  ensure  that  the  practices  of  the  Auckland  Council  (including  the  
Council   Controlled   Organisations)   support   the   low   carbon   outcome.   For   example:   Advocate  
to  the  Governing  Body  for  Council-­‐Controlled  Organisations  (CCO)  to  include  low-­‐carbon  in  
their  Statement  of  Intent.  
 
In   the   meantime,   other   communities   across   Auckland   have   taken   a   lead   from   the   Waitemata  
Local  Board  and  produced  their  own  Low  Carbon  Plans,  such  as  the  Puketepapa  Local  Board  Low  
Carbon   Plan.   These   plans   include   an   array   of   great   new   ideas   for   reducing   carbon   emissions   at  
the  community-­‐based  level.  
 
Many  of  the  Actions  are  also  now  reflected  in  the  Auckland  Council  ‘Live  Lightly’  campaign.    
   
In   light   of   the   review   and   update   of   Low   Carbon   Auckland,   we   ask   that   an  
assessment  also  be  undertaken  of  the  Waitemata  Low  Carbon  Action  Plan  and,  
in  particular,  how  progress  has  been  made  against  the  Waitemata  Low  Carbon  
Action   Plan.   The   results   of   such   an   Assessment   would   also   assist   the  
Waitemata   Local   Board   participate   strongly   in   the   Review   of   Low   Carbon  
Auckland.   Further,   we   ask   that   upon   completion   of   the   Assessment   and   the  
Review  of    Low  Carbon  Auckland  in  December  2018,  that  the  Waitemata  Local  
Board   ‘refresh’   the   Waitemata   Low   Carbon   Action   Plan   in   the   first   half   of  
2019.   We   also   ask   that   the   Council   and   Waitemata   Local   Board   support  
expansion  of  the  ‘Live  Lightly’  campaign  and  its  budget.    
 
 
C40  –  Fossil-­‐Fuel-­‐Free  Streets  Declaration    
 
In   October   2017,   Mayor   Goff   signed   the   C40   –   Fossil-­‐Fuel-­‐Free   Streets   Declaration.   One   of   the  
commitments   was   to   ensure   that   a   major   area   of   Auckland   is   zero   emissions   by   2030.   This  
statement  says  the  focus  will  be  on  the  Auckland  city  centre,  which  is  that  part  of  Auckland  that  is  
located   within   the   urban   motorway   system   and   the   Waitemata   harbour   edge.   In   this   area,  
Auckland  Council  will:    
 
• Complete  the  City  Rail  Link  which  will  increase  rail  capacity  to  the  city  centre  by  150%    
 
• Building   on   the   success   of   shared   spaces   on   Federal,   Elliot,   O’Connell,   Fort   Streets   and  
Fort   Lane,   continue   to   adapt   the   public   realm   and   streets   across   the   city   centre   to  
prioritize  walking  and  cycling  and  dis-­‐incentivize  private  vehicles  
 
• Expand  mass  transit  
 
• Investigate  how  to  expand  the  existing  bike  share  scheme  
 
• Deploy  innovative  mechanisms  such  as  the  recently  completed  business  case  for  walking  
to  continue  to  make  the  economic  case  for  pedestrianisation  
 
• Build  on  the  successful  programme  of  activation  which  has  seen  the  community  reclaim  
car  spaces  for  community  activity  including  Griffiths  Garden  and  Pocket  Parks  
 
• Deliver  the  Victoria  Street  linear  park  which  will  connect  and  build  more  green  spaces  in  
the  city  and  integrate  pedestrian  and  cycle  movement  with  public  transport  
 

 
  

• Adopt  an  Urban  Forest  Strategy  

 
• Remove  minimum  parking  standards  which  means  on-­‐site  parking  is  not  required  in  
new  developments,  allowing  for  more  efficient  use  of  land,  encouraging  better  urban  
design  outcomes  and  supporting  public  transport  
 
• Increase  the  capacity  of  commercial  car  share  schemes  with  preference  for  electric  
vehicles  
 
• Continue  the  development  of  Wynyard  Quarter  as  an  exemplary  sustainable  
development  
 
• Investigate  how  to  reduce  emissions  from  marine  transport  
 
• Complete  the  Low  Emissions  Roadmap  for  Auckland  and  refine  next  steps  and  actions  
 
In   light   of   these   commitments,   we   ask   that   the   Waitemata   Local   Board   ensure  
there   is   Budget   in   either   the   Long   Term   Plan   or   its   own   budget   (as   necessary)  
to   deliver   on   the   commitment   that   the   Auckland   city   centre   have   zero  
emissions  by  2030  as  well  as  the  initial  actions  above.    
 
 
 
Auckland  Plan  
 
We  are  very  disappointed  with  the  approach  to  climate  change  and  low  carbon  initiatives  in  the  
Auckland  Plan.      
 
The  current  Auckland  Plan  dedicated  an  entire  Chapter  8  to  setting  out  Auckland’s  Response  to  
Climate   Change.   It   set   a   target   for   Auckland   to   achieve   a   40%   reduction   in   GHG   emissions   by  
2040  (based  on  1990  levels).  It  included  several  Directives:  
 
• Directive   8.1:   Progress   towards   the   Auckland   Plan’s   emissions   reduction   target   and   take   a  
coordinated  approach  to  transitioning,  through  green  growth,  to  a  sustainable  Auckland.  
 
• Directive  8.2:  Protect,  enhance  and  increase  Auckland’s  green  infrastructure  networks.  
 
• Directive   8.3:   Improve   energy   efficiency   and   conservation   (in   both   supply   and   use)   through:   a  
quality   compact   city   form   that   is   well   integrated   with   a   multi-­‐modal   transport   system;   a   transport  
system  that  reduces  reliance  on  non-­‐renewable  resources  and  improves  energy  efficiency;  energy-­‐
efficient   development   and   design,   by   (i)   ensuring   development   is   assessed   using   an   appropriate  
ratings  tool  along  with  provision  in  Auckland’s  Unitary  Plan  and  (ii)  supporting  the  retrofitting  and  
redevelopment  of  residential,  commercial  and  industrial  buildings.  
 
• Directive   8.4:   Increase   energy   resilience   by   diversifying   the   location,   type   and   scale   of   energy  
sources  and  fostering  greater  use  of  renewable  energy  resources  available  in  the  region.  
 
• Directive   8.5:   Identify   the   opportunities   and   risks   associated   with   climate   change.   Increase   the  
resilience   of   Auckland’s   communities,   natural   resources   and   built   environments   and   their   ability  
to   adapt   to   the   impacts   of   climate   change.   Take   a   cautious,   risk-­‐based   approach   where   there   is  
uncertainty   on   the   effects   of   climate   change,   and   monitor   and   adapt   to   environmental   change   over  
time.  
 
• Directive   8.6:   Recognise,   promote   and   strengthen   the   value   and   contribution   of   local   urban   and  
rural  food  systems  to  improve  resilience,  resource  use  efficiency  and  community  food  security.  
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
  

 
The   current   Auckland   Plan   also   committed   the   Council   to   reducing   the   ecological   footprint   of  
Council’s   own   operations   and   working   towards   the   following:   reducing   greenhouse   gas  
emissions   by   40%   by   2040   (based   on   1990   levels);   reducing   waste   by   30%   by   2018   to   reflect  
targets  in  the  draft  waste  management  and  minimisation  plan;  reducing  Council’s  energy  use  by  
15%  by  2014  (and  a  subsequent  5%  each  following  year);  and  reducing  Council’s  water  use  by  
30%  by  2040.  
 
By   comparison,   the   ‘refreshed’   Auckland   Plan   includes   very   little   on   climate   change,   with   no  
discernable  directives  or  targets  to  measure  progress.  
 
In   fact   we   have   serious   doubts   the   ‘refreshed’   Auckland   Plan   meets   the   statutory   requirements  
set   out   in   sections   79   and   80   of   the   Local   Government   (Auckland   Council)   Act   2009,   especially  
section   79(f),   which   requires   that   the   plan   identify   policies,   priorities   …   programmes   and  
investments  to  implement  the  startegic  direction  and  specify  how  resources  will  be  provided  to  
implement   the   strategic   direction.   Further,   section   does   not   appear   to   provide   authority   to  
‘refresh’  the  Auckland  Plan,  but  only  to  amend  it.  
 
In  light  of  these  concerns,  we  are  of  the  view  and  ask  that  the  Waitemata  Local  
Board  advocate  to  the  Governing  Body  that  the  ‘refreshed’  Auckland  Plan  not  
be  adopted.    
 
 
CCO  Accountability  Policy  
 
By   contrast,   we   warmly   welcome   the   directive   set   out   in   the   CCO   Accountability   Policy  
concerning  climate  change  and  reducing  carbon  emissions:  
 
1.1.8  Climate  change  and  reducing  carbon  emissions  
Each   substantive   CCO   is   to   contribute   towards   reducing   carbon   emissions   and   contributing  
towards  a  climate  resilient  future.  This  is  to  be  achieved  by:  
•   Working   with   the   council   in   the   review   and   update   of   Low   Carbon   Auckland   to   deliver   an  
integrated   approach   to   climate   change,   addressing   both   emissions   reduction   and   climate  
resilience.  
•  Implementing  actions  identified  in  the  current  and  future  iterations  of  the  plan  as  appropriate  for  
each   CCO.   Embedding   climate   change   considerations   into   decision-­‐making,   planning   and   policies  
regarding   both   emissions   reduction   and   addressing   the   impacts   of   current   and   on-­‐going   climate  
change.  
 
Perhaps  to  go  further,  we  suggest  the  amendments  below:  
 
1.1.8  Climate  change  and  reducing  carbon  emissions  
Each   substantive   CCO   is   to   contribute   towards   reducing   carbon   emissions   and   contributing  
towards  a  climate  resilient  future.  This  is  to  be  achieved  by:  
•   Working   with   the   council   in   the   review   and   update   of   Low   Carbon   Auckland   to   deliver   an  
integrated   approach   to   climate   change,   addressing   both   emissions   reduction   and   climate  
resilience.   In   preparation   for   this,   each   CCO   will   carry   out   an   assessment   of   their   carbon  
emissions   and   progress   against   any   existing   low   carbon   plans   and   initiatives   and   report  
these  to  the  Environment  and  Community  Committee  by  1  September  2018.  
•  Implementing  actions  identified  in  the  current  and  future  iterations  of  the  plan  as  appropriate  for  
each   CCO.   Embedding   climate   change   considerations   into   decision-­‐making,   planning   and   policies  
regarding   both   emissions   reduction   and   addressing   the   impacts   of   current   and   on-­‐going   climate  
change.   To   achieve   this,   each   CCO   shall   start   by   preparing   a   low   carbon   action   plan   and  
report  their  plan  to  the  Environment  and  Community  Committee  by  1  February  2019.  
   
We   will   be   following   up   with   each   CCO   to   ask   for   reports   on   how   they   are   meeting   these  
directives.  
 
Thank  you.