Plans, policies and reports
The Rakino Way
Introduction | Central
principles | Development strategy | Physical
infrastructure | Social infrastructure | Implementation
and monitoring
Social infrastructure
The size of the island and the low population numbers make provision of
social infrastructure on the island difficult.
Open space network
All of the reserve land is under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Conservation (DOC) with the road reserve being managed by Auckland City.
Key actions
Auckland City currently:
- ensures that financial contribution provisions of the Hauraki
Gulf Islands District Plan
provide for the provision of public access to reserves, coastal areas, bush
areas, or areas of special character, and for the creation of open spaces,
recreation areas, visual buffers and amenity areas (refer subdivision
section)
- is investigating possible land rationalisation on Rakino between Auckland
City and DOC. This aims to free up land that has no conservation value for
Auckland City ownership or control and management, to develop walkways and coastal
access for public and community use.
Auckland City will:
- ensure that identified areas of ecological, cultural, spiritual and
historical significance are protected from inappropriate development
- investigate the feasibility of acquiring open space along the coastline to
provide walkways and coastal access for residents and visitors.
Recreation, community facilities and visitor activities
Due to the size of the island, and its low number of residents community
facilities should be multi-use. There is an existing hall located on the wharf,
which caters for a range of activities. It is subject to occasional inundation
by the sea, and an investigation is needed to identify the best method of
protection.
Key actions
Auckland City will:
- provide opportunities for recreation which recognises the special island
habitats, landscapes and community interest
- strengthen and maintain partnerships with other agencies in the provision
and management of recreational opportunities for visitors
- promote recreational and visitor activities and facilities which reflect
and protect the rural and coastal character of the island
- manage the impact of visitors and recreational users to ensure
conservation and preservation of the natural and physical environment
- work with the community to assess the impact of visitors and recreational
users on the island
- investigate, when funding is available, methods for protecting the
existing community hall from inundation by the sea.
Health and wellbeing
Auckland City recognises that healthcare provision is a central government
responsibility. However, through Auckland City's regulatory function it must ensure
public health standards are maintained.
Key Actions
Auckland City currently:
- takes prompt and effective action when risks to public health occur.
- reviews the relevant bylaws at regular intervals to ensure that standards
in public health and safety are maintained.
Emergency management
There are limited emergency services provided for on the island. For that
reason residents and land owners must be always conscious of the risk of fire,
and act responsibly by removing weeds and other material which may provide fuel
for fire.
At present Auckland City is responsible for fire on Rakino and provides and
maintains limited fire fighting equipment. There is a volunteer fire brigade on
Rakino. Auckland City has an agreement with the New Zealand fire service for
additional services for fire fighting should it be required. The urban fire
station with responsibility for Rakino is Parnell which can provide a fire
service within 30 minutes.
Volunteers supply First Aid services, and emergency services can be contacted
from the public telephone.
There is no helipad access for emergencies on the island and Auckland City does not
have any suitable land for helipad development. Presently helicopter landings
can occur in a number of accessible places on the island but with limitations on
night landings.
Unmaintained areas of kikuyu and other weeds on the island are potential fire
hazards. Auckland City's policy is to remove weeds from any Auckland City land
including road reserve and wharf land. Individual residents and landowners
should maintain their private property by keeping the grass short and by
removing weeds wherever they pose a hazard.
Key actions
Auckland City currently:
- maintains accurate information on natural hazards in the Hauraki Gulf
Islands
- integrates natural hazard reduction into the built environment
- facilitates emergency response actions through Auckland City's emergency
management
- develops and maintains a coordinated incident management system for
responding to emergencies including material on public education.
Auckland City will:
- investigate the provision of a shed to store fire fighting equipment
- liaise with the Auckland Regional Council to educate and encourage property owners to remove
weeds which may contribute to fire hazards.
Published February 2003
