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Future-proofing Auckland: is building a sustainable city really possible?

Wednesday 10 April 2019
Grand Millennium, Auckland City Center
5:00pm – 7:00pm

With Auckland’s population set to swell to 2 million by as early as 2029, growing demands on housing and infrastructure, and climate change exposing our city to impending natural disasters, future-proofing Auckland has become more important than ever before.

The way we plan, design, construct and govern our city will determine Auckland’s future viability.  The world’s cities are under threat by climate change.  Building a sustainable city is an integral part of Auckland’s future.

But what does the ideal sustainable city look like?  And is it possible?  Join us with Dr Michelle Dickinson as she facilitates the conversation focusing on crucial attributes and solutions – high-rise medium-density, incorporating resilience into urban design and development, and high-quality living for our people with easy access to employment, social infrastructure and clean, green spaces. 

More details here.

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TTPC and Healthy Streets Alliance

In line with our Transition Town goals of encouraging the use of lower-carbon transport modes Transition Town Point Chevalier has become a supporter of the Healthy Streets Alliance.

You can learn more about the Healthy Streets concept here and see the video of Lucy Saunders talking in Auckland about the subject here. The group is also aiming to promote safer speeds, Vision Zero, the work of health academic alliance, Healthy Auckland Together, and Neighbourhoods for Active Kids. Essentially, the group is looking to promote the benefits of having safe, low-speed, low-traffic, well-designed city environments so people can live active, healthy  lives in their communities.

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Invitation for TT people to join the Collectively Kids mini march

Kia ora,

We are a small early childhood centre situated at 28 Carrington Road and will be taking part in the Strike for climate action on Friday March 15th. 

Kaiako and parents will be accompanying the tamariki from our centre to march along Carrington Road, towards Mt Albert Road, at 10.30 on Friday morning.

A focus on envrionmental education has been an integral part of our centre curriculum for many years and we feel strongly that time is running out. 

We need to act now.

Feel free to join us on Friday. 

We will have morning tea at 10am and begin the march at 10.30.

Please let us know if you are coming.

For  more information or any questions, please email collectivelykids@xtra.co.nz or see our websitewww.collectivelykids.com

Ngā mihi nui

Marina Bachmann and the team at Collectively Kids

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“If you don’t act like adults, we will.”

Kia ora and greetings,

Please take a moment to read the attached: “If you don’t act like adults we will”.

There is also a short video by Bronwyn Hayward who shares her thoughts about “Children, Citizenship and Environment” which may be helpful when deciding to accept the children’s invitation to sign the petition and the request to share it on your social media.

Na mihi
Angus from ActionStation

1. ‘If you don’t act like adults, we will.’.pdfDownload
2. Bronwyn Hayward – ‘Children, Citizenship and Environment’Download
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Psychology of climate denialism

This is an interesting article. The psychological aspects of climate denialism were something some of our members have been studying for a while – and I was treated to Action Station’s excellent “Climate Conversations Training” a couple of years ago, which touched on the subject too. The range of types of denialism are good to think about, too. Like those who have given up on reducing the scale of climate change, and think our only option is to adapt.

https://www.newyorker.com/science/elements/the-other-kind-of-climate-denialism/amp?__twitter_impression=true

“every inch of warming makes a difference”—we cannot stop the process of warming altogether, but we can control whether climate change yields a future that is apocalyptic or instead “merely grim.”

It reminds us that Transition Town has never been about just adaptation to a new reality. Our first, and most urgent job, is to meet this huge challenge by reducing our contribution to climate change.

The good news for a city like Auckland, is that reducing our transport carbon emissions and preventing further loss of soil carbon in greenfields growth, are both not only possible, but doing so would improve lifestyles, and increase community connections and quality of life.

In the process, Auckland can inspire other cities around the world to do the same. It’s wonderful Transition Town stuff.

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Presentation of Extinction Rebellion to Auckland Council – Tuesday 12th March 9am at Town Hall

Please join XR next Tuesday at 9am to urge Auckland Council to declare a Climate Emergency!

If you have a spare couple of hours next Tuesday morning, Extinction Rebellion Tamaki Makaurau Auckland is making a presentation to the Auckland Council about the need for immediate action on climate change. We are speaking at the Community and Environment committee meeting. It would be great to have support from other climate groups around Auckland. 

Extinction Rebellion will be presenting our proposal to Auckland Council, calling on them to join 369 councils all over the world by declaring a Climate Emergency and acting with proper urgency. 

Meet at the bottom of the council chambers in the Town Hall – 9am Tuesday 12th March. Please wear black.

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Monthly Meeting Calendar for 2021

The dates for our meetings in 2021 have been moved to the first Wednesday of each second month hosted at the private home of one of our members. Our meetings will start at 19:30 and end at 21:00 while the address will be sent out with the monthly meeting reminder via email.

The coming meeting on 1 September is being hosted by Ally who will have a brief talk (tbc) and provide some snack food.

Subsequent dates for 2021 are as following:

10 February
10 March
14 April
12 May
2 June
7 July
4 August
1 September
3 November

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proposed tunnel project

Dear Western Isthmus CLG members,

Watercare would like to let you know about an important project to build a new wastewater tunnel in Grey Lynn. The project is needed as the current combined pipelines in the Grey Lynn area overflow into Cox’s Creek when it rains.
The tunnel will be constructed by a tunnelling machine, between 15-60m deep underground, reducing impact on communities along the project route. The project will start at the Western Springs shaft already required for the Central Interceptor project and tunnelling will continue through to a new shaft site, required at the eastern end of Tawariki Street.
When complete it will have further benefits in the Western Isthmus than the current Central Interceptor proposal, enabling future connections in the area as the population continues to grow.

While tunnelling is not expected to begin until 2022 and work on the Tawariki site in 2023, Watercare will soon lodge the necessary consents for the works.

More information about the project is in the attached flyer. Please let me know if require any more information, as Watercare is happy to talk to you further either in person or at the next meeting. The group will be kept in touch with updates as the project progresses.

GLT Tunnel RouteDownload
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Speed Limit Bylaw – excellent video from AT

The speed limit bylaw consultation is a really important step to bringing a healthier, lower carbon transport network to Auckland, where it’ll be much more appealing to Aucklanders to actively move around our city.

With so much bad information circulating about the consultation speeds, I thought you might be interested in watching this inspiring video from AT. Their myths and misconceptions page is really good.

https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2019/03/speed-limit-bylaw-myths/

If you’re following the damaging position the AA has taken on the subject, my post in Greater Auckland today discusses the survey they are trying to use to strengthen their position. There’s much more on that subject to come.

https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2019/03/07/aa-lobbying-part-two-the-survey/