April 2026: Chairperson's Report
- May 1
- 12 min read
Healthy Waters projects underway
April board business meeting: Chair's report
The following is a copy of my Chair's report I write for our monthly business meetings (this one being from 28 April 2026).
Purpose of the report
To receive the chairperson’s update on recent activities of the chairperson, itemised by outcomes in the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Plan 2023.
Executive summary
Items noted in this report are intended to be key highlights, not a full overview of all activity.
Our People
My regular meeting with the Rodney Area Commander was held on 20 March 2026. They
spoke about the four new national policing targets intended to improve trust in police,
increase satisfaction with officers’ service, resolve more retail crimes and reduce public
violence. Rodney has five new FTE frontline officers starting in their team. This increase
is part of the government’s commitment to increasing police constabulary numbers by
500 extra officers nationwide by late 2025 / early 2026. I shared information about local
hotspot issues of speeding and noted that the local board would be looking at speed
reductions around schools again. The team noted that youth crime has been very low
recently and they were feeling well supported with Hibiscus Youth Hub working to get
young people back into school or alternative education pathways.
On 26 March 2026, Member Parfitt and I visited Hibiscus Youth Hub to have a look at the
facility there in Ōrewa and talk about the programmes the are running. It was really
energising to meet the team and hear more about the programmes they’re running and
the successes they are having. They are pleased to have had the local board’s support in
recent years to upgrade the roof and showed us some issues they needed to address
next with the toilet and shower facilities which were in very poor condition (the showers
not functioning at all). We shared some ideas and thoughts around other funding
opportunities that they will be exploring. I have written a support letter, on behalf of the
local board, in order for them to include in applications to other funders.
Member Parfitt and I were guest speakers at the Murrays Bay Residents Association
(MBRA) meeting at Outram Hall on 14 April 2026. The hall is looking and functioning
extremely well. It is very busy with regular and ad hoc bookings, and the MBRA are
working hard to ‘give back’ to the community - with funds raised from bookings, they are
putting on regular seniors’ morning teas with guest speakers, and occasional school
holiday events with family entertainment. They are exploring other opportunities to give
back and connect more with the local community, which is a great outcome from
successfully managing a community hall. Member Parfitt and I updated attendees on
local projects as well as some bigger items like our upcoming local board plan, the
transition of Auckland Transport in to Auckland Council, Plan Change 120, and the
advocacy we have been doing to ensure the two-year shoreline take ban is widened to
include all of Auckland.
Our Community
Browns Bay School celebrated their Year five students completing a Ko Te Wai He
Taonga programme, which I was pleased to help celebrate on 27 March 2026. The
programme lead for this is looking at ways that the programme can better integrate and
deliver on the new curriculum so it can continue to be an attractive programme for
schools to participate in.
On 22 March 2026 Deputy Chairperson Law, Member Walden and I were very pleased to
be part of the rock pool celebration event at Okoromai Bay. This was an event organised
by Ngāti Manuhiri, supported by the local board, to celebrate the achievement of the
Minister for Oceans and Fisheries approving part of Ngāti Manuhiri’s application under
Section 186a of the Fisheries Act - a temporary two-year closure of intertidal species take
on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula and parts of the Rodney Local Board area. It was a
wonderful opportunity to bring together and thank all the local people who have worked
hard to shine a light on this issue and help to educate people who may be over-
harvesting in the area.
Our Places and Economy
Member Moffat, Deputy Chairperson Law and I visited the Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park on
16 March 2026 to look at the facilities and talk through opportunities to enhance the
offerings there. It was great to see some upcoming improvements that will be taking
place, and to understand the areas they will need to be address next (such as insufficient
staff quarters, the main kitchen and social block, and turf renewals and levelling in the
campground/campervan area). At a subsequent workshop, we asked the Holiday Parks
team to provide the local board with a forward works programme to better understand the
essential renewals and investment opportunities they have in mind for the next 10 years.
My regular monthly meeting with the Browns Bay Business Improvement District (BID)
Executive Committee (as the appointed delegate from the Hibiscus and Bays Local
Board) was on 14 April 2026. Between the March and April meetings there has been
concern from the executive about plans for a church-led social enterprise to open in the
middle of the town that would operate as a commercial café in the day, and provide $5
meals to 500 people each night. The BID canvassed its wider members via a survey and
has written twice to the Vicar of St Mary’s by the Sea Anglican Church regarding the
BID’s concerns about the social enterprise undercutting local eateries and bringing large
crowds to the area with little planning or stakeholder engagement. These and other
concerns have been spreading throughout the wider Browns Bay community.
April board business meeting key reports to note
The April meeting included several important reports where the board made decisions on local funding and provided input into wider Auckland Council and Government processes.
Utilisation of vacant spaces at Stanmore Bay and East Coast Bays Leisure Centres
Two previously vacant Early Childhood Education spaces at Stanmore Bay Pool and Leisure Centre and East Coast Bays Leisure Centre are set to be given new life as community-use spaces. The spaces have sat empty since both ECE centres closed in December 2023, following Auckland Council's decision to withdraw from directly providing childcare services. The Hibiscus and Bays Local Board has now approved converting them into bookable community spaces — Stanmore Bay's room will be available for birthday parties and general hire (including the return of popular pool parties not offered since pre-COVID), while the East Coast Bays space will focus on meetings and community events. Refurbishment costs of around $50,000 per site will be covered by the regional Pools and Leisure capital fund, with the spaces expected to generate $25,000 and $15,000 per year respectively.
Kōkiri Report: Bus infrastructure improvement projects
The Hibiscus and Bays Local Board has approved two new bus stops on Colin Chester Drive, Silverdale — subject to bus timetable route changes being confirmed — which will extend the 989 connector service linking Milldale to Hibiscus Coast Station. The board also requested further information from Auckland Transport on the cost and process of indenting the new stops. Separately, the board reversed its earlier approval for a bus stop relocation at Beach Road, Torbay, after strong community opposition and Auckland Transport confirming all design alternatives had been exhausted. The two remaining projects from that February resolution — improvements at Glamorgan Avenue, Torbay and Bankside Road East, Silverdale — will still proceed to construction.
Annual Plan 2026/2027: Hibiscus and Bays Local Board consultation feedback and input
The Hibiscus and Bays Local Board received community consultation feedback on its priorities for the 2026/2027 Annual Plan, reflecting broadly mixed views. Water protection and community safety were the most supported priorities, while recreational spending and inclusion initiatives drew more divided responses. Residents were largely opposed to the proposed 7.9% rates increase, with particular frustration directed at contributing to the City Rail Link — seen as delivering little direct benefit to the area. The board resolved to convert approximately $1.4 million of its operating budget into capital expenditure, with potential projects including refurbishing the East Coast Bays Community Centre and renewing the cricket ground at Victor Eaves Park. The board also passed feedback to the Governing Body advocating for fairer local board funding, reduced fees for community events, greater compliance enforcement, and sufficient transport funding for long-awaited local safety projects.
Transport Transition Programme: Auckland Roading Classification Framework - identification of arterial roads
As Auckland Council develops a new framework to classify roads and split transport decision-making between the Governing Body and local boards, the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board has submitted pointed feedback raising significant concerns. The board objected to the "contiguous corridor" principle, arguing that applying a single arterial classification along entire roads like East Coast Road and Beach Road — which pass through very different environments — is inappropriate and would remove local decision-making from roads where residents would expect to have it. The board also flagged serious problems with the freight classification criteria, specifically that temporary permits (some lasting only two years) are being used to permanently shift roads like Ara Weiti Road and Beach Road, Torbay into Governing Body control — something the board described as "ludicrous." It requested that temporary HPMV routes be explicitly excluded from arterial classification. The board further raised concerns about the quality of maps provided, stating they were insufficient for proper scrutiny, and called for detailed, zoomable maps with clear road names before any final classifications are confirmed. Across the board's feedback runs a consistent theme: that the framework, while well-intentioned, risks producing outcomes that would confuse and frustrate the public by placing familiar local roads under regional rather than local governance.
Public feedback on proposal to improve waste bylaw and control
The Hibiscus and Bays Local Board received and considered public feedback on Auckland Council's proposed overhaul of its Waste Bylaw, noting with concern that only four residents from the area responded to the consultation. The board recommended a post-consultation review to understand the low engagement and called for more targeted outreach — particularly in coastal and rural parts of the area where waste management differs from urban Auckland. On the proposals themselves, the board broadly supported the direction of travel, but highlighted several local concerns: windblown waste is a genuine issue in beachside communities, making secure on-site storage rules directly relevant; large community events and markets in the area would benefit from clear and affordable waste planning requirements; and the board cautioned against simply pointing residents to the Unitary Plan for rules on composting or multi-unit developments, warning this reduces practical accessibility for everyday people. The board also called on Auckland Council to advocate to central government for stronger enforcement powers, noting the bylaw itself cannot increase penalties.
Healthy Waters project updates
Between January and March 2026, important work has been underway across the Hibiscus and Bays local board area to strengthen our flood resilience, protect our environment, and prepare our communities for future growth.
From reducing flood risk and upgrading critical infrastructure, to improving waterways and supporting sustainable development, these Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience projects play a key role in keeping our neighbourhoods safe, connected, and resilient.
Below is a snapshot of the progress made during quarter three of the 2025/2026 financial year, including the projects currently being delivered in our community. As this work continues, Auckland Council and its contractors will remain in regular contact with residents to keep communities informed every step of the way. Projects that relate to a private property are not included in this list as the information may be confidential (could affect the landowners in a variety of ways which may not be clear or in some cases may not eventuate at the early stages of the project delivery). Broad investigation based projects across the region also haven't been included in this list.
Healthy Waters & Flood Resilience updates:
Project name | Project Objective | Project update | Estimated project start date | Estimated project finish date |
Pipelining Package 3 | 1. Reduce the risk of pipes collapsing. 2. Increase asset life and operational efficiency. | This package includes works in several locations across Auckland, with the below location in our area specifically: Nereus Place, Mairangi Bay | 2/03/2026 | 30/06/2026 |
Orchard Road Browns Bay Flood Mitigation | Improve the level of service provided by the piped storm water reticulation and reduce the frequency of overland flows through the affected properties. | Tender evaluation has been completed and contract has been awarded. | 1/06/2026 | 30/09/2026 |
Roberta Pond Renewal | • Improve safety by ensuring the device meets the NZ Dam Safety Criteria. • Meet requirements of the Stormwater Network Discharge consent to maintain existing water quality treatment devices by ensuring the pond can function to treat stormwater. • Ensure that the pond can be operated and maintained safely and effectively. • Improve water quality treatment capability of the pond if practicable. • Provide improved amenity features and enhanced aesthetics• Provide a stable embankment to the west of the pond | The building consent application for the maintenance access deck is currently under review by Auckland Council’s regulatory team. A detailed construction cost estimate has been completed, and drafting of the final business case is underway to support funding approval for the construction phase. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Browns Bay, Emergency Stream Bank Erosion | To remediate stream bank erosion | Physical works have commenced and construction is likely to be completed in June 2026. | 16/03/2026 | 29/05/2026 |
Helvetia stormwater wetland renewal | The project aims to: (1) improve water quality (2) Desilting the pond (3) renewing the gabion walls (bunds) (4) improve accessibility for operation and maintenance (forebay), and (5) improve the aesthetics of the existing pond | The draft detailed design was delivered and reviewed in January 2026. The final detailed design is expected in the first week of April 2026 (delayed due to some minor changes). Resource consent is not required for this project. Tender documentation is being prepared in parallel. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Torbay, SW Retic and Flood Mitigation | To extend the existing public stormwater reticulation to support future development and reduce flooding | Tender documents have been completed and under review with final Business Case for approval. No Resource Consent is required. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Edith Hopper | To increase the ecological and amenity value of 520 m of Edith Hopper Reserve stream to offset the loss of ecological values from development and/or the provision of infrastructure elsewhere in the region.To recover the cost of this project from those projects or developments that are required to provide offset mitigation. | The project is currently on hold due to in-house design demand. This project needs to be reforecast. | 8/02/2027 | 3/07/2028 |
Outfalls 2024-25 Consented Site Specific sites (formerly Outfalls Package 8 - Okura) | To improve stormwater conveyance at inlets and outlets currently restricting flows and/or causing blockages during flood events, and to reduce stormwater flow velocity to reduce erosion. | The sites under this project are being lodged for consent on a site by site basis. All sites are now lodged for consentWe have a few more consents to get approved and final business case is in approval process. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Centreway Wetland Pond Renewal | - Desilt the pond and improve water quality at the discharge point on the estuary- Improve amenity features- Increase WQV if practicable | Design has been completed and staff are developing the final business case. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Bonair Crescent Pond Renewal | The primary objectives of this project are to: • Ensure effective treatment for stormwater from the 86.8-hectare upstream catchment. • Restore water quality treatment efficiency to meet the discharge standards required bythe Network Discharge Consent (NDC) and National Policy Statement for FreshwaterManagement • Mitigate potential flooding of nearby roads and residential property. • Mitigate health and safety risks for both the public and operational staff. • Manage the effective long-term operation of the ponds | Design complete, awaiting confirmation on funding. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Murrays Bay SW Pipe renewal | 1. Replacing and upgrading defective stormwater infrastructure at risk of collapse. 2. Providing a reliable and efficient public stormwater system. 3. Mitigating risks of pipe collapse and reducing consequent hazards to the road and third parties including flooding risks. | The physical works contract has been awarded.Construction is planned to begin in mid-April 2026 and is expected to be completed by July 2026. | 16/04/2026 | 30/07/2026 |
Silverdale, pipe renewal (stage 2) | To renew poor condition critical assets to restore its functionality. | Design complete, awaiting confirmation on funding. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Hibiscus Coast Pipe Renewal and Upgrade | Reduce the risk of flooding some identified roads. and a stormwater pipereplacement. | The design has been completed, and cost estimates for the proposed works were obtained in January 2026. The Final Business Case for budget approval is expected to be finalised by April 2026. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Stredwick Dam Outlet Improvements (stage 1) | To modify the Stredwick Dam Outlet to mitigate risk of dam failure and erosion in heavy rain events, as well as providing for fish passage. | Repair of the dam outlet and construction of fish passage within the stream was completed in late January 2026. Planting is being planned for this planting season, and iwi and the Restore Hibiscus and Bays Community group will continue to be engaged. | 26/11/2025 | 12/03/2026 |
Orewa, Pipe Renewal | Ensure sustainable stormwater service for the service area and cope up with growth. | Preliminary design is underway. A business case will be prepared once relevant information is available. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Murrays Bay pipe replacement | To reinstate public network destroyed by a landslip | Design is underway, the resource consent application submitted, and staff are waiting for approval | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Bayside Drive Reserve Dam Spillway Upgrade | To protect public safety, comply with legislation, and maintain the value of a critical asset. | Concept design underway and a programme is being finalised. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Torbay - Stormwater Renewal | To renew and upgrade the existing network for the concerned extend up to 10-year ARI | The detailed design is currently being reviewed and finalised. Construction will be planned once budget becomes available. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Hobbs Bay, Pond Renewal | To renew and extend the useful life of the asset. | Detailed design locked in and final business case to be developed by May 2026. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Mayfair Crescent SW Renewal stage 2 | Renew and upgrade the pipe to an adequate level of service. | The Business Case covering Stage 2 was approved in July 2024. The construction will be planned once budget becomes available. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Waiwera, Pipe Renewal | • Renew the stormwater pipes • Reduce flooding risk in the immediate area • Remove the risk of further pipe failure causing flooding to the properties in the area. • Minimize the risk of additional overland flow draining to the existing flood plain, flood prone and flood sensitive areas. | Following discussions with the developers concerning their development plan, it has been agreed in principle that they will be replacing the damaged pipe. This will be done through a development agreement to fund the stormwater upgrades works. This is currently underway. | No Forecast | No Forecast |
Pipelining Package 8 | 1. Reduce the risk of pipes collapsing. 2. Increase asset life and operational efficiency. | This package involves work in a number of locations, including Red Beach | 25/03/2026 | 26/06/2026 |
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