Waitakere09 City Council 16 months Annual Report 1 July 2009 – 31 October 2010 10 09Waitakere City Council 16 months Annual Report 1 July 2009 – 31 October 2010 10 2 Introduction // Contents 10 Contents SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING Wastewater 98 Message from the Chief Executive 3 Stormwater 101 About the City 4 Water Supply 103 Sustainability Reporting Property Assets 106 Planning and Reporting Cycle 8 Solid Waste 108 How the Eco City has Developed 9 Aftercare 110 Stakeholders 11 Library Services 111 Sustainability Challenges 12 Emergency Services 113 Community Outcomes and Strategic Direction 14 Leisure Services 115 Quadruple Bottom Line West Wave Aquatic and Recreation Centre 118 Social 28 Arts, Events and Communications 120 Cultural 32 Animal Welfare 123 Economic 36 Field Services 125 Environmental 45 Consent Services 127 Awards Received 56 Resource Management 129 Vehicle Testing Station 131 GOVERNANCE Waitakere Quarry 133 Role and Structure of Waitakere City Council 58 Support Services 135 Council Controlled Organisations 70 Statement of Compliance and Responsibility 84 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Statement of Comprehensive Income 149 ACTIVITY STATEMENTS Statement of Changes in Equity 150 Development and Investment Group 87 Statement of Financial Position 151 Social and Cultural Strategy 88 Statement of Cash Flows 153 Strategic Planning 89 Statement of Accounting Policies 155 Cemeteries 91 Notes to the Financial Statements 167 Parks and Open Spaces 93 Audit Report 211 Transport Assets 95 GRI Index 213 3 Message from the Chief Executive This is the final annual report of Waitakere City Council, one This document has been prepared on the assumption of of eight former councils which were amalgamated to form continuity of activities and responsibilities under Auckland the Auckland Council group on 1 November 2010. Council. No adjustment has been made in the financial statements to reflect the dissolution of the former councils. This report tracks the performance of the council for the 16-month period 1 July 2009 to 31 October 2010 and reports With Mayor Len Brown, I acknowledge the work of the progress made against its long-term council community plan former Waitakere City Council mayor, councillors and staff, (long-term plan) and annual plans. who have left a strong foundation for us to build upon. Auckland Council, Watercare Services Limited and six new I look forward to producing the first annual report for Auckland council controlled organisations assumed the responsibilities Council later this year, which will report on our achievements and powers held by the former city, district and regional for the period 1 November 2010 to 30 June 2011. authorities. Final annual reports have also been produced for: • Auckland City Council • Auckland Regional Council • Franklin District Council • Manukau City Council • North Shore City Council Doug McKay • Papakura District Council Chief Executive Auckland Council • Rodney District Council 4 Introduction // About the City The Annual Report, including the Sustainability Report, is one of a suite of three documents, the others being the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) and the Annual Plan. This Annual Report is for the 16 months period to 31 October 2010 and reports on the first year of the Council’s Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) 2009-2019 and the four months Annual Plan 2010/2011. This report explains what the Council did, how much it cost, how it was funded, and uses the international sustainability reporting guidelines from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for sustainability reporting. Waitakere City Council’s commitment as an eco city, the principles and platforms that direct the Council’s work and the Eco City direction, the integration of sustainability into its corporate activities, progress on the Community Outcomes and Long Term Council Community Plan 2009-2019, and financial reporting for Council are all covered in this report. About the City Massey Ward Henderson Ward Bethells / Te Henga New Lynn Ward Waitakere Ward A snapshot of Waitakere Piha Area: 36,000 hectares Laingholm Open Space: 18,239 hectares Area of open space with Karekare Huia outstanding vegetation: 5,246.8 hectares Population: 204,500 Whatipu (estimated resident population 30 June 2009 Statistics New Zealand) Climate: warm temperature/subtropical 14°C – 27°C in summer 8°C – 19°C in winter 5 Waitakere Waitakere is located along the west coast of the Auckland Mihi region and includes the Waitakere Ranges, cascading down the foothills, and through rural villages and urban centres to No Hea te aroha, te mihi nei, the Waitemata Harbour. no Waitakere Waitakere has an outstanding natural environment and diverse population, and a physical presence comprising E hapai, pikaukau ana matou te kaupapa 1/3 bush and rainforest, 1/3 rural land, and 1/3 urban land. Hei manaaki te oranga whenua, The original inhabitants – “The people of the land” – are the Maori tribes of Te Kawerau a Maki and Ngati Whatua. oranga moana Around 14% of the City’s population identify themselves Ara te kaitiakitanga mo te iwi hoki as coming from Maori descent. Maori within the City have played a leading role in the renaissance of Maori language and culture, and in promoting the increasing prominence of Maori in business and education. Pacific Islands people Greeting (15%) and other ethnic groups from Europe and Asia are Where is the love, it is here in this increasing in numbers and add to the City’s culture and diversity. greeting from Waitakere The community’s history has emerged from the brick and Who raise and carry the message pottery industry, timber milling, gum digging, orchards, farming, viticulture, the water industry and the rail industry, To look after the wellbeing of the and today Waitakere has evolved and expanded into boat land and sea building and marine industry, screen production and the light manufacturing sector. Thus as the guardian for the people Case Study – Council Walking the Talk The Council must show leadership through Sustainability reporting on corporate actions will examining its own practices as it seeks to work with help achieve the following aims: the community in realising the vision of the eco city. • Demonstrate the Council’s commitment to being As with the community, sustainability is a journey a good employer. This is expected to help with and the Council needs to continuously improve its recruitment and retention of quality staff and reduce internal policies, programmes and activities in order the costs caused through turnover and loss of to become a more sustainable organisation. institutional knowledge 6 Introduction // Waitakere • Increase the positive impacts of the Council on • Reduce the environmental impact of the Council’s the local economy by increasing the proportion of operations through such activities as reducing the the money raised through rates and user charges production of greenhouse gases and the amount that is returned to the local economy through jobs of material disposed of to landfill and purchases. This will help strengthen the City’s • Seek to maximise the social benefits of the economic base Council’s investments and interventions. Sustainability Reporting Planning and Reporting Cycle 8 How the Eco City has Developed 9 Stakeholders 11 Sustainability Challenges 12 Community Outcomes and Strategic Direction 14 Quadruple Bottom Line Social 28 Cultural 32 Economic 36 Environmental 45 Awards Received 56 8 Part One // Sustainability Reporting Planning and Reporting Cycle Why Plan Ahead? As long term sustainability and resiliency become more embedded in our thinking it is important we plan for the LTCCP needs of residents now and in the future. The way the 10 Year Plan Includes Year 1 roads and paths, the pipes and the parks are developed Annual Plan today will shape our city for many years, and will affect the way our children and our grandchildren will live in this place Annual Report Annual Report for many years ahead. The Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) as set out in the Local Government Act 2002 is our plan ahead for Waitakere and its residents. We believe our plan is a Annual Plan Annual Plan good plan. It sets a clear direction and some challenging but Year 3 Year 2 achievable goals towards becoming a prosperous, resilient, sustainable and liveable city. How Do Annual Plans and The Long Term Council Community Plan Work Together? The following diagram shows the planning cycle of the Annual Report Council. The 2009-2019 LTCCP, adopted in June 2009 sets out the Council’s work programme for the next ten years. The plan is reviewed every three years and progress is reported on every year. The annual report is a one year “slice” from the LTCCP. It explains what the Council did in the last year, how much it cost and how it was funded, and also reports on sustainability, using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The previous Annual Report was adopted on 28th October 2009. Each year we also produce an Annual Plan that is based on the LTCCP. It provides an opportunity to make minor changes to the LTCCP. If a major change to the LTCCP is identified then the Council must follow a more rigorous consultation and decision making process. Generally this will still be done through an expanded Annual Plan consultation process. 9 How the Eco City has Developed: Long Term Council Community Plan 2009–2019 In 1993, the Waitakere City Council declared itself an The City’s Response to Growth eco city and was the first council in New Zealand to adopt Enabling the city to develop whilst still becoming Agenda 21 – the programme of action that was produced more prosperous and sustainable is a challenge. at the United Nations Rio Earth Summit in June 1992. Initiatives include: Waitakere’s vision as an eco city is a place where developing the economy, caring for the environment, • the creation of a sustainable and integrated transport celebrating cultural diversity and building strong network that increases use of public transport communities go hand in hand.