Nearly a hundred local residents came to listen, discuss and advocate for a better Cockle Bay.
The Cockle Bay Residents and Ratepayers Association has existed since the 1930s, advocating for the needs of locals and to ensure it remains a beautiful place to live.
At today's AGM, we heard about the work that they have been up to over the past year and it’s been another busy one. They’ve been working with concerned locals on the Sandspit Road development which has been a long and ongoing battle. The first hurdle to overcome was to get clarity on the definition of what an IRD (integrated residential development) meant and if it was intended to allow for more than just retirement homes. Together with a new consent application from the developer, the situation was still evolving and the Committee was working to understand the process going forward before seeking further public support.
They provided support to locals during lockdown and have been working to ensure the sustainable future of the cockles that give the area its name. They’re awaiting some scientific studies on the smaller species of shellfish. It was great to hear they’d submitted on the Emergency Budget, providing some practical suggestions for savings as well as alternatives to funding such as user pays. It was also pleasing to hear that they felt that there had been a cultural shift on the Howick Local Board with the engagement with the association significantly improving. While the Association had not been successful in their application to get the walkway between Cockle Bay Beach and Pah Rd upgraded, they were now working towards getting the bamboo cut back.
As Chair, Laurie Slee has done an amazing job of leading the organisation through some extremely complex issues while maintaining strong advocacy. He was once again reelected as Chairperson without opposition which is a reflection of the confidence locals have in his leadership. As treasurer, Grant Taylor has ensured the organisation has remained financially sustainable and was also reelected unopposed.
Alan La Roche giving his talk on local history, filled with facts and laughs.
Then local historian Alan La Roche gave a fantastic talk on the history of advocacy in the area, filled with humorous anecdotes. He noted that the residents association (then called Cockle Bay Residents and Improvement Association) was formed in the 1930s with the aim of getting changing sheds for swimmers, street lights and improved roads. At the time the area was largely bachs, but as this changed the association advocated for more, including connection to the Auckland water supply to (somewhat ironically) avoid droughts. In the 1960s, proper sewage connections were established which saw the end of septic tanks in exchange for a 30% rates rise. He recalled as a child swimming through sewage at Cockle Bay to get out into the clearer waters, which at the time didn’t seem like an issue. While attitudes have changed dramatically, Alan also mentioned that the planned development of Whitford Manor had been approved to discharge treated sewage into the Turanga estuary. Seems we still have a lot to learn from history and need strong local groups to advocate for our people and environment.
It was a great turnout this morning and together with the hard work the association has been doing, I’m confident that the locals of Cockle Bay are being well served by their association.