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The information on this page has been provided by the candidates. It does not reflect the views or positions of Auckland Council.
Alexis POPPELBAUM
Candidate for Hibiscus and Bays Local Board (East Coast Bays Subdivision)
Backing the Bays
Candidate statement
As a lifelong Bays resident living in Okura with my husband and two daughters, it's been an honour to serve as Chair of your local board. I've worked hard to deliver results - saving North Harbour Stadium, securing funding for Glenvar Rd, planning a dog park and disability beach access mat, enhancing town centre safety, and ensuring stronger compliance on building sites. I'm proud of these achievements, but there's more to do. Looking ahead, I'm excited to partner with Auckland Prison to supply cost-effective native plants and park furniture; deliver a youth centre; work with DoC to reopen Okura bush walk; and develop plans to ensure the stadium's long-term success. I bring a professional background in policy analysis and communications, with experience in preparing multi-million-dollar budgets. I use evidence-based decision-making to ensure your rates fund projects that deliver results. For effective, community-driven leadership, vote for the Backing the Bays team.
Why I want to be elected
I love the Bays and want our community to continue being the best place for families to grow and thrive. I've had some great wins already, and I have a big action plan I want to see delivered for our community over the next term. This includes delivering a refreshed vision for North Harbour Stadium (after my work to save it last year), working with the Department of Conservation to reopen Okura Bush Walkway, and advocating for new and expanded indoor sports facilities in our area.
My key skills and qualities
I have been the Chair of the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board for the last year and a half, having served as a local board member since 2019. My background is as a Policy Analyst and Communications Manager. I am experienced in strategy and policy development, planning, and preparing multi-million-dollar budgets. My expertise in evidence-based decision-making and public consultation ensures that your rates contribute to projects and services that deliver results.
My top three key issues
1. Fund more initiatives to reduce sedimentation runoff in the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve. 2. Fund town centre improvements from existing plans to support our business districts to thrive. 3. Deliver exceptional public spaces that cater for the future growth in our area and that better meet social, recreational and environmental needs.
My position on key topics
Transport
Undertake a review of all our tracks and walkways to ensure they are well-maintained and signposted with clear directions, distances, and interesting local information. Allocate our transport funding to upgrade footpaths in poor condition that are in key areas. Continue our relentless advocacy for the Glenvar and East Coast Roads upgrade project that is planned to start in 2027. Advocate for a complete renewal of Vaughans Road, and dangerous sections of Okura River Road.
Water
Watercare will need to focus on doing the basics brilliantly and catering for population growth. Significant infrastructure investment is needed now. This includes planning for the expansion of, and securing diversification of, our water sources, and planning for smart re-use of biosolids with Puketutu Island closing shortly. Greater investment in blue-green infrastructure and stricter controls on developing in flood plains or on overland flowpath areas is needed now.
Built environment
Auckland is shifting towards greater intensification on the direction from the government. Infrastructure such as water and wastewater networks is struggling to keep pace, and require significant investment now to deliver what we need in the next decade. The local board must invest more now in its green space initiatives and biodiversity strategies to offset the impacts of intensification and ensure our communities have fit-for-purpose, beautifual open spaces.
Natural environment
Work with the Department of Conservation and iwi to reopen Okura Bush Walkway. Beautify some of our under-utilised neighbourhood parks with more native planting and furniture delivered by Auckland Prison and Men’s Sheds. Increase investment to improve our tree canopy across the area. Support iwi and other stakeholders to ban the take of shellfish from our rocky shorelines that are currently being obliterated.
Community
Your rates will be spent on the things that matter and we will do more with less by: using our community partners to deliver better quality items and planting for less (e.g. Auckland Prison and Men's Shed); and delivering new, more playful and engaging play elements around communities. Purchase more portable play and recreation equipment to activate neighbourhood parks and get our community more active.
Economic and cultural development
Fund neighbourhood and town centre crime prevention initiatives. Fund improvements and new initiatives to revitalise the Browns Bay Village Green. Commit to implementing a revised Mairangi Bay Reserves Management Plan and town centre plans.
Well-managed local government and outcomes for Māori
The local board should work to ensure that any suitable storm-affected properties that have been acquired are planned and designed for public open spaces or are planted out to enhance biodiversity in our neighbourhoods. We should continue to invest in our programme of work that clears out and stabilises stream banks on private properties, to enhance the flow capacity during storms.
Candidate's supporting links
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