You probably have ideas about how Auckland should spend your rates. And, as a local, you probably have smart ideas about clever projects in your neighbourhood that would make life better for people on bikes (or on foot).
Well, good news: it’s budget time – which means consultation is now open for your thoughts on the city’s budgets and priorities over the next three years. And your Local Board could use your help identifying possible projects.
So how do you get the ball rolling – especially if you’ve never approached a Local Board before?
Bike Auckland to the rescue! We’re running a Bike Burb Hui that will take you through the ins and outs of making a submission – and most importantly, how to do so in a way that makes it easy for your Local Board to say yes.
When Wednesday 15th March 2017, 6-8pm
Where Outhwaite Hall, 55 Carlton Gore Rd, in the pocket park on the corner of Park Rd. Very handy to Grafton train station, and a 7 minute bike ride up Carlton Gore’s protected bike lane from Newmarket station.
The workshop will be led by our wise owl Richard Barter, who understands all the angles as former chair of the Puketapapa Local Board, leader of PATH (the Puketapapa Active Transport Haven), and all round community development hero. The two hour session will talk through questions like:
- Landownership: Who owns the land your project would be on, and what does this mean for you?
- Stakeholders: Who’ll benefit from the project, and who else can help make it happen?
- Funding Options: What’s out there, and how do you apply for it?
- Engaging with Local Boards: How can you make your case as convincingly as possible?
Here are some recent examples of smart local projects that prioritise (or double as) cycling and walking improvements, to get your creative juices flowing:
- the Puketapapa Local Board is filling a crucial gap in their bike network via AT’s transport fund
- the Kaipatiki Local Board magicked a swampy stormwater area into a public park with art and shared paths
- the Waitemata Local Board has widened paths through parks as part of a Greenway (complementing this with a pollinator pathway project for the birds and the bees, and support for a community-led pump track for kids of all ages), and is now improving the pedestrian experience on Ponsonby Rd.
The clock is ticking on the budget process, so it’d be great if you can bring along an idea you’ve been hatching… or perhaps the workshop will give you ideas? Either way, if there’s a twinkle in your eye, come and share it with others so we can help you make it a reality.
The venue holds 30 people, so please RSVP to Richard Barter, so we know how many are coming 🙂
NB The session is aimed at existing community ‘Bike Burb’ groups – but anyone with an interest is very welcome to attend. If you can use our assistance getting local projects rolling, we absolutely encourage your enthusiasm!
