THIS IS THE EMAIL WHICH WAS SENT TO WLB AND FORWARDED TO AUCKLAND COUNCIL:

 
I have spoken with Paul Raymond (1/2 share owner of 52 - 58 Canal Rd) and he is not adverse to selling to AC. Him and his brother (David), have entered into a conditional contract, which has been extended to Feb 10. They could leave behind a valuable legacy for the local and wider community...     “Raymond Reserve” ?
 
In 2018 the Whau Local Board ‘commissioned’ a report (attached) about ecological connectivity in the Whau and its relation to the Westlink. This report needs to be endorsed and used to apply pressure on AC bureaucrats (Community Services Director) to act quickly. 
 
The WLB has the ability to push this as a reserve not a local park. QE2, F&B, Tree Council, and 2500 people have either endorsed or mandated the proposal. 
 
Also HNZ/Kāinga Ora have begun development across the road earmarked redevelopment in Bellgrove Place. They could possibly be persuaded to land-swap/purchase for the small parks in Bellgrove Place, giving them more flexibility and space in Bellgrove.
 
WLB could zone the Canal Rd sites become a reserve not a Park, as that would hold them more in the field of conservation under the Reserves Act not the Local Government Act.
 
There is an opportunity to utilise co-funding, co-management and collaboration with the community in purchasing the sites. 
An example would be:
1. AC buys 52-58 Canal and also 12 Wairau (which is now in the mix)
2. AC sells 58 Canal and 12 Wairau.
3. Development contributions from those Lots goes directly to the purchase of 52 - 56 Canal.
4. WLB puts forward finance to the purchase.
5. AC then puts puts up 60% of the residual cost.
6. The Raymonds accept a 10% discount on their purchase price.
7. ‘Give-a-little’ or community bonds are used to raise additional funding. Forest & Bird DoC etc may also want to be seen to support the endeavour longterm through financial or resource input.
8. Any balance can be written down over 5 years as the asset (tree) value increases and ongoing community funding comes in.
9. A trust could also be set up to co-manage the reserve and community members take part in the replanting and ongoing maintenance, administered by the trust in conjunction with AC/WLB.
 
This is just a different way of achieving the same result, but using a more collaborative and future ist way of approaching this issue.
 
I believe theres need to be a radical and dynamic change in the paradigm to protecting our future city green space by supporting the Urban Ngahere Strategy and the Climate Emergency Declaration which AC have promoted tp the public and spent many hours putting together. 
 
If the council (that includes the WLB and all rate payers) are serious about these strategies and really want to connect communities with nature; there is no good reasons to avoid purchasing these sites for the future, only excuses...