Community and Auckland Council driving outdoor projects
To improve public access to the outdoors, Auckland Council employee Chris Charles has been working with the Matakana Coast Trail Trust, driving a series of initiatives with the support of Herenga ā Nuku funding.
One highlight is Matakana Coast Trail Trust's (MCTT) recent success in securing significant financial contributions from the private sector to enable construction of a 2.2km stretch of trail from Point Wells to a commercial complex. Charles has worked closely with MCTT, the commercial complex owners and the council to create public access easements for this section. Charles has worked with business partners, supporting this community-led initiative, especially Hutchinson Consulting Engineers, who have led the project design and planning on a pro-bono basis. He has also worked with stakeholders to set the project's construction phase in motion. With an additional $200,000 commitment from the council and further private contributions, trail construction is scheduled to commence this summer, marking a significant achievement for the trust following years of dedicated work.
Engineer, arborist, and ecologist – site visit Muncaster to Grange Street Path
In the Muncaster Path project, Charles has acted on behalf of the MCTT to coordinate the resource consent application following a review of specialist reports. Once again, pro-bono support from Hutchinson Consulting Engineers, Warkworth Surveyors, and the Planning Collective, has enabled the resource consent application. Pending the resource consent, the MCTT can begin planning the construction phase.
On behalf of MCTT and the Pūhoi Community Forum, Charles is coordinating a Pūhoi Domain carpark project, which has received funding from the MBIE Tourism Infrastructure Fund. The project aims to alleviate local parking demand driven by visitors, particularly cyclists and walkers, using the local segment of Te Araroa. Charles has coordinated the involvement of business partners, Hutchinson Consulting Engineers who have designed the project on a pro-bono basis.
A Cultural Marker Project, led by the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, is applying for resource consent to construct a cultural marker in Regional Park land. If capital funding is available, building could begin this summer, promising a significant cultural addition to the park.
Auckland Council and MCTT are also supporting legal proceedings to secure a public access easement for Matakana Estate winery. The parties hope to achieve a resolution without necessitating a trial.
Expanding his sphere of work to the Franklin area, Charles is establishing a partnership between the Franklin Local Board, Auckland Council, and Auckland Transport to develop a comprehensive programme framework for public access. Recent achievements include advertising for a Programme Manager role and completing an initial roles-and-responsibilities planning phase. Charles has been orchestrating engagements between various stakeholders, drafting a crucial partnership agreement, and facilitating the identification of project leads, among other actions.
Charles is committed to advancing these projects that aim to secure public access easements, identify co-funding opportunities, and involve the community in creating outdoor access for everyone.