By Cameron Brewer – 22 October 2015:

Auckland Transport has committed to reporting back on Tamaki Drive flooding after I raised it with them following another inconvenient recent closure due to flooding.

The low-lying Tamaki Drive causeway across Hobson Bay and near the ‘Ngapipi bridge’ is increasingly problematic.

Auckland Transport now needs to investigate at this key section of Tamaki Drive – a critical lifeline for the eastern suburbs.

Worryingly the only capital expenditure programmed is $4.2m for a new set of traffic lights at the Tamaki Drive/Ngapipi Road intersection that no one wants.

Another issue is the need to secure council funding for the Orakei Local Board’s Tamaki Drive Master Plan which promotes many improvements for this regional asset, including mode separation to improve cycling safety.

Tamaki Drive carries tens of thousands of commuters a day and is a much loved and important Auckland amenity which even has its own hard-working protection society. Investment is long overdue.

On 21 October I attended a sod-turning ceremony with councillor Denise Krum, the Orakei Local Board, Auckland Mayor Len Brown, and Minister of Transport Simon Bridges – marking the start of construction of the new 7.3km Glenn Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path. The $40m NZTA and Auckland Transport project will be constructed in four stages between this year and 2018.

With this significant piece of infrastructure landing right on Tamaki Drive, near the Outboard Boating Club, in just three years time, greater investment along Tamaki Drive is even more imperative given the increasing pressure it will come under.

Column by Cameron Brewer – Ellerslie magazine – Spring 2015 edition:

Ellerslie is well served by two very active and effective locally based associations – namely the Ellerslie Residents Association and the Ellerslie Business Association.

These two groups are closely supported by the Orakei Local Board.

Local volunteers serving on the Ellerslie Residents’ Association have done some great work in raising community concerns over the impacts of intensification as promoted in the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan for example. They have made submissions and continue to monitor the Independent Hearings Panel’s work on the unitary plan closely.

At the same time the Ellerslie Business Association punches well above its weight given the relatively modest amount of revenue they receive via local commercial rates.

I take my hat off to the volunteers that take valuable time away from their businesses to serve on the business association board. Chairman Rob Pollard of Dental Solutions and treasurer Murray Wells of local accountancy firm Jolly, Duncan & Wells Ltd are long serving Ellerslie business leaders as is vice chairman John Rennell of Ellerslie Jewellers and Engravers.

EBA manager Megan Darrow is doing some great work lobbying for ongoing improvements to the town centre, keeping all of us well informed, as well hosting some great events. The annual Fairy Festival and Christmas Parade are well known well outside Ellerslie.

I encourage you to support these two local associations when and where you can.

Finally, most of you would’ve received a much higher rates bill in recent weeks. For Ellerslie residents it was an average increase of 13.3% and for local businesses it was an average increase of 6.0% for the new 2015/16 rating year.

There is a Government-funded rates rebate scheme designed to help people worst impacted by rates. However, worryingly very few ratepayers traditionally apply for a rebate which is worth up to $610 this year depending on your level of rates and household income.

I encourage you to look into the rebate and postponement schemes if not for yourself, then maybe a member of the family, friend or neighbour.

More information and an application form can be obtained via www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or by calling the council on (09) 301-0101.

Media release –  24 September 2015:

Auckland Councillor for Orakei, Cameron Brewer, says ratepayers should be very concerned council management will not rule out another budget blow-out when it comes to staff costs in the coming year.

His comments follow councillors signing off the 2014/15 Annual Report today where Mr Brewer raised concerns around escalating staff costs of nearly $200m over the past five years and in the same period the appointment of another 2,080 staff – taking council’s total headcount to 11,380.

“In recent years council’s huge wage and salary budget has blown out substantially. In 2014/15 the council budgeted $729m for total group staff costs but it came in at $792m – a blow-out of $63m. In the previous year the council budgeted $680m but it came in at $730m – a blow-out of $50m.

“We’ve budgeted $771m for the new 2015/16 financial year, but I doubt we’ll come within budget given we spent more last year and management can offer no assurances it won’t be exceeded again. What’s more given the current track I suspect Auckland Council’s total in-house staff costs will exceed a staggering $1 billion by 2024/25.

“The concern is not only the ongoing cost escalations, but the fact that staff numbers have grown by 258 over the past 12 months alone. The latest official excuse is that Auckland’s population is growing so must the council.

“Well let’s not forget that New Zealand’s population has grown by half a million over the past 10 years yet our public sector has mostly shrunk while customer satisfaction has risen overall. At the same time the number of dairy farmer has risen while Fonterra staff numbers are falling. 2010’s municipal amalgamation promised economies of scale and doing ‘more stuff with less staff’ but the our Labour Mayor has completely squandered that opportunity.

“The real concern is if Auckland decides to replace one Labour Mayor with another Labour Mayor. Nothing will change on this score. The last Labour Government had an appalling record when it came to growing public sector numbers and costs.

“The ongoing dismissiveness of these issues by council leaders flies completely in the face of what the public demanded in feedback to the 10-year budget just a few months back. The highest number of submissions on where people wanted to see spending cuts was overwhelmingly in the area of governance and support,” says Mr Brewer.

He says only six councillors supported his amendment during the recent budget debates in May to freeze the top-line wage and salary budget with 17 effectively voting for ongoing escalations.

Ends 

Attachment: Relevant excerpts from the draft 2014/15 Annual Report – Audit & Risk Committee agenda, 15 September 2015. Full draft annual report is available here.

Note to Editor:  

Council’s official headcount count and total staff costs:

2011 c.9,300 & $615m

2012: 10,157 & $670m

2013: 10,616 & $693m

2014: 11,112 & $730m 

2015: 11,380 & $792m

2013

$100k-plus 1,500

$200k-plus 113

$300k-plus 23

2014

$100k-plus 1,720

$200k-plus 139

$300k-plus 34

2015

$100k-plus 1,912

$200k-plus 146

$300k-plus 36

Media release – Saturday, 12 September 2015:

Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer has compiled and released the latest Auckland Council staff numbers and costs ahead of councillors signing off the 2014/15 Annual Report next week.

“I’ve been releasing the official staff numbers and costs every year for the past five years and every year they climb despite all the assurances and excuses.”

Mr Brewer says the latest draft 2014/15 Annual Report shows the total headcount of the Auckland Council Group (including the CCOs) has increased by 258 people from 11,122 to 11,380 in the past 12 months.

At the same time, the number earning more than $100,000 has increased by 192 people from 1,720 to 1,912 including 146 now earning more than $200,000 and 36 earning over $300,000.

“Total staff numbers in 2011 were put at 9,300. They’re now at 11,380. In the same period council’s total annual staff costs have risen by $177m – from $615m to $792m since the Super City.

“This Annual Report shows total staff costs for 2014/15 were budgeted at $729m but they’ve come in at $792m – that’s $63m over budget and $62m more expensive than the previous year.

“I put up an amendment during the recent 10-year budget debates which would’ve held council staff costs for three years. However a majority of councillors sadly voted it down. Instead, council is now forecasting its in-house wage and salary costs to rise to nearly $1 billion in the coming years. It’s just staggering and completely unacceptable.”

“Five years ago the ratepayers of Auckland were promised that the Super City would do ‘more stuff with less staff’. We’ll every year since without fail, Auckland Council’s staff numbers and costs have climbed as the Mayor has completely squandered the opportunity to deliver the benefits of amalgamation.

“The next administration will need to get on top of these endless escalations as the current Mayor has been quite happy to let them run away. Staff costs and staff numbers will be a major issue during next year’s local body election and so they should be,” says Mr Brewer.

 Council’s official headcount count and wage and salary costs:

 2011 c.9,300 & $615m

2012: 10,157 & $670m

2013: 10,616 & $693m

2014: 11,122 & $730m 

2015: 11,380 & $792m

2013

$100k-plus 1,500

$200k-plus 113

$300k-plus 23

2014

$100k-plus 1,720

$200k-plus 139

$300k-plus 34

2015

$100k-plus 1,912

$200k-plus 146

$300k-plus 36

Ends

Attachment: Relevant excerpts from the draft 2014/15 Annual Report – Audit & Risk Committee agenda, 15 September 2015. Full draft annual report is available here.

Wednesday, 9 September 2015 – Media release:

“While many are egging on the Reserve Bank to cut the Official Cash Rate this week and again in late October, Auckland Council’s chief economist needs to make his warning for the Auckland region much better known and quickly,” says Cameron Brewer – Auckland Councillor for Orakei.

“While cutting the ORC might be just what is needed in Horotiu, Hawera, and Hokitika, in Auckland our official advice now is that cheaper mortgage rates will only add fuel to the property fire and possibly overwhelm the promised cooling-off measures.

“In Auckland this could be an even crazier summer of crowded open homes and record-breaking auctions given how busy winter was after the OCR was cut in June and July.”

Mr Brewer says these observations are not his but those found in Auckland Council’s regular but relatively low-profile report titled ‘Auckland Economic Quarterly – August 2015’.

Subtitled “Rampant Housing” the Chief Economist Unit’s latest edition notes: “The low interest environment is also contributing to the strong demand for housing. The RBNZ has cut the Official Cash Rate by 0.5% since early June, and signalled further interest rate cuts were possible over the coming year. These moves will likely intensify demand for housing. This is despite some other measures intended to reduce demand, such as investors being targeted with higher deposit requirements (30%); banks needing to hold reserves for investor mortgages; and a compulsory capital gains tax if reselling in two years. The faster Auckland house prices continue to rise ahead of rents and incomes the more vulnerable the market is to a substantial price correction.”

“We’re lucky to have a very in-tune chief economist at Auckland Council. That’s why I’m alarmed not so much by his observation that further OCR cuts will “likely intensify demand for housing” but most worryingly he predicts even greater market intensity in Auckland despite the much vaunted and imminent LVR and tax changes,” says Mr Brewer.

“As much as the dairy sector needs a shot in the arm, and as exciting as 4.35% interest rates are, this latest report clearly indicates that Auckland probably needs to be careful what it wishes for if we’re to avoid further unsustainable price escalation and a substantial correction with the vexed issue of improving overall housing supply critical.

“Auckland Council’s chief economist has issued some very sage advice, which I encourage him to make more widely and clearly known to the Wellington-based Reserve Bank. This spring the RBNZ needs to keep considering housing affordability in the likes Hillsborough, Hillcrest, and Highland Park,” he says.

Mr Brewer says his comments will come as no surprise to those inside council as he has raised them twice at recent presentations by the chief economist to councillors.

Ends

Media release – Tuesday, 1 September 2015: “Auckland Transport needs to investigate the possibility of raising a key section of low-lying Tamaki Drive across Hobson Bay which closed again today due to flooding,” says Auckland Councillor for Orakei Cameron Brewer.

“I raised this ongoing concern with the leaders of Auckland Transport this morning when they presented their quarterly report to the Council Controlled Organisations Governance and Monitoring Committee. And I was alarmed to learn it’s not even on their radar,” says Mr Brewer.

“The Tamaki Drive causeway across Hobson Bay and near the ‘Ngapipi bridge’ is increasingly problematic. It’s getting flooded and is closed with worrying regularity not helped by the fact that it’s sinking.

“Yet for Auckland Transport the only capital expenditure programmed is $4.2m for a new set of traffic lights at the Tamaki Drive/Ngapipi Road intersection that no one wants.

“NZTA is busy lifting the level of the north-western causeway because of impact of king tides and the impact on commuters. With this in mind Auckland Transport now needs to look at this key section of Tamaki Drive – a critical lifeline for the eastern suburbs.

“Also long overdue is securing council funding for the Orakei Local Board’s Tamaki Drive Master Plan which promotes many improvements for this regional asset, including mode separation to improve cycling safety,” says Mr Brewer.

“Tamaki Drive carries tens of thousands of commuters a day and is a much loved and important Auckland amenity which even has its own protection society. Ongoing closures due to this critical causeway being easily overwhelmed by the ocean is not good enough and needs to be addressed.

“Following my questioning I am pleased Auckland Transport has now committed to reporting back to elected representatives on Tamaki Drive. Raising this low-lying section is at the very least worthy of an investigation because ongoing closures come with huge cost.

“Today’s weather is just another reminder that work to improve Tamaki Drive must become a priority for Auckland Council. It’s long overdue,” says Mr Brewer.

Ends

Comment by Cameron Brewer – 20 August 2015:

It is alarming to think that despite all the extra rates the eastern suburbs has paid in recent years, St Heliers formally reported to the Economic Development Committee recently that maintenance and cleaning levels are now worse under the Super City. What’s more it’s outrageous that St Heliers businesses have now taken to employing their own gardener and buy their own plants just to keep some standards up that council has dropped.

Our business associations are reporting some alarming home truths about falling council service levels and just how hard it is to get this council to do things, as well as ongoing communication problems with the likes of our CCOs.

That’s why I called for certain council departments and key CCOs to front up to councillors and local boards in the coming weeks. Where there are still shortcomings, we’ll then make some recommendations and I’m hoping many changes for the better.

I led the Newmarket Business Association for over five years. Back then along with the likes of St Heliers we had a very close and effective relationship with staff at Auckland City Council.

I am now keen to see business associations go back to that kind of past relationship with council departments and staff. Forcing our town centre managers to now go through the council call-centre and leave messages that often don’t get picked up is utterly hopeless. The likes of St Heliers businesses that pay huge rates and deserve so much better.

Below is an amendment that I moved and was passed in the Economic Development Committee on Tuesday, 18 August 2015:

MOVED by Cr CE Brewer, seconded by Chairperson AJ Anae:

That the Economic Development Committee:

1. b) request ATEED, Auckland Transport, and relevant Auckland Council departments including BIDs team, Customer Services, Auckland Council Events, and those responsible for town centre maintenance and service levels, to provide a workshop to Local Boards and the Economic Development Committee regarding key issues raised by the Business Improvement Districts, in order to make recommendations to the Regional Strategy and Policy Committee.

CARRIED

Watch this space! But don’t hold your breath.

Media release – Tuesday, 11 August 2015:

Auckland Council is now lobbying Wellington hoping the Government will not intervene again over their administration of Rugby World Cup matters, as they did in 2011 when the Government took control of the waterfront, says Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer.

“There is a sense of déjà vu in all of this. Auckland’s over-zealous interpretation and enforcement of the 2012 liquor legislation is potentially forcing the Government’s hand at Rugby World Cup time again. No wonder the leadership at Auckland Council is now pleading Wellington not to embarrass and undermine them.

“Last time it was about Wellington taking control of Auckland’s waterfront. Now the Government is contemplating taking control around special licences. This follows Auckland Council’s interpretation going somewhat beyond what was ever intended with the special licence provisions inside the Sale & Supply of Alcohol Act. Let’s be real, it’s sadly Auckland that’s causing the worst headaches on this issue.

“I believe such major international sporting events like Olympic Games and World Cups should be viewed as special events in their own right and not require a special licence and all the cost, time and energy that such a process requires. The law should be changed, because Auckland is interpreting it way beyond what was ever intended.

“Auckland Council is the now running around telling licenced premises wanting a special licence that at least 50% tickets be pre-sold, a cover charge be introduced, special decorations be put up, patrons dress up in costume, live music, quizzes, guest speakers, and/or themed food. Putting up so many silly specific and costly hoops and hurdles was never the intention of the 2012 legislative provisions.

“I actually believe making people pay in advance and wear fancy dress probably only gets people more amped up, stay up all night, and in need of more Dutch courage. You’re hardly going to set your alarm, wake up in the middle of the night, put your costume on and drive down for a quiet beer at the local. These rules are ill-conceived and could have the reverse effect of what’s intended.”

“I encourage the Government to once again instigate some martial law over Auckland’s administration of the upcoming Rugby World Cup, and amend the Sale of Supply of Alcohol Act to exclude the forthcoming tournament only because sadly some authorities are going overboard with what they’re insisting licensed premises have to do to comply,” says Cameron Brewer.

Ends

Herald On Sunday – 9 August 2015: It is 14 months until Auckland chooses a new leader and former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig has become the latest to signal his interest in the mayoral race. The Herald on Sunday asks the contenders how they would head the City of Sails and why they deserve our vote.

The race for City Hall

Our Auckland – Councillor comment – August 2015:

The Orakei ward is well served by some very active and effective resident and business associations, which in turn are closely supported by Orakei Local Board.

I doff my hat to the fact that all 10 suburbs are represented by residents’ or community associations: Remuera, Ellerslie, Stonefields, Meadowbank and St Johns, Mission Bay-Kohimarama, St Heliers/Glendowie, and Orakei.

I also want to acknowledge the hard work done by our business association board members and town centre managers: Wendy Caspersonn in St Heliers, Laura Carr in Remuera, and Megan Darrow in Ellerslie.

You can have a lot of faith that local issues are being well championed and I would encourage you to support these local groups when and where you can.

Ends