Whau Local Board
Deputation |
May 2025 

​Presented by: Cynthia Crosse and Jody Yawa McMillian On behalf of the Avondale Racecourse Alliance
Date: 28 May 2025

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Tēnā tatou katoa. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
I’m Cynthia Crosse, Manager of the Avondale Business Association and Jody Yawa McMillian of Whau the

People, on behalf of our core group. We are all proud residents of Avondale.

We’re here to connect with the Whau Local Board on the critical issue of the proposed sale and development of the Avondale Racecourse land, and to update you on what we've learnt and done since our last deputation.

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1. First, we acknowledge and appreciate your recent public support for community-led efforts to retain as much of the racecourse land as possible for public and community use.

2. Second, we’ve adopted the name for our cause, Avondale Racecourse Alliance (ARA). This is to reflect both the collective focus of our core group of volunteers and the broad base of community support. A new logo and website will follow shortly and will be used to share information, sit as a resource for others to learn more about this cause and rally its collective voice.

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Recent Developments

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Plan Change 78

● Hearings regarding the Avondale Jockey Club have been postponed, pending changes to the Resource Management Act.

 

Avondale Jockey Club (AJC)

●  Earlier this month, AJC hosted a long-awaited meeting with stakeholders, including community representatives. A welcome step toward building the relationship between .

●  The Club reiterated its desire to leave a positive legacy as the land transitions to NZ Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), including community assets such as a swimming pool, sports fields, and a public park.

●  While there’s no formal member sign-off yet, there appears to be broad support among AJC members for a community-focused outcome.

●  However, negotiations with NZTR remain difficult. The national racing body has made it clear that its priority is to maximise capital for the racing industry.

​● The current Memorandum of Understanding between AJC and NZTR expires at the end of June, with no resolution yet achieved.

 

Complexity of Transfer

●  The land transfer process is legally and politically complex, even for those of us closely engaged.

●  Ultimately, the final decision appears likely to rest with Minister Winston Peters, who has expressed frustration at delays and signalled a preference for national racing interests over local community outcomes.

 

Developer Interests

●  Fletcher Living has drafted plans for the site, despite denying any formal contact with NZTR.

●  Their track record, notably at Three Kings, shows a pattern of disregarding community input.

●  Challenges such as flood risk, transport, and school capacity remain — but none are likely to deter a large-scale developer.

 

The Real Question: How Much Land Will Be Retained?

●  The land transfer now appears inevitable. The critical fight is over how much land will be preserved for the community.

●  Fletcher’s plan includes just 10 hectares of green space. In contrast, Motu Design estimates 25 hectares are needed to accommodate a swimming pool, Sunday Market, sports fields, and open parkland — roughly two more Eastdale Reserves.

●  A related question is: who will develop the community portions of the site? Community Response & Momentum

 

Legal Strategy

●  The Avondale Business Association has engaged a King’s Counsel to explore legal avenues. AJC cannot act until their MOU with NZTR expires, after which they ‘may’ join a legal challenge.

●  The recent stakeholder meeting showed just how much community energy is building, with readiness to mobilise.

●  Brett Young of Community Asset Solutions was present, advocating for retention of sports fields — not only for local needs, but also as a potential sports tourism drawcard.

 

 

Research Backing Our Call

 

A Vision for Avondale – Inspired by Unitec

Third-year Unitec architecture students have developed alternative concept master plans, focussed with a foundation of community wellbeing, sustainability, and cultural heritage. Their final critique is on June 14 and may be a valuable resource.

 

Too Hot: Urban Heat Risk

The Auckland Urban Heat Assessment (October 2024) highlights growing heat risks tied to urban expansion and climate change.
The report stresses the importance of green infrastructure in cooling cities, mitigating flood risk, and protecting public health. This was evidenced recently in the Easter floods which caused issues at Wingate Street.

For tree-poor suburbs like Avondale, preserving and expanding green space is urgent, not just desirable. Avondale already suffers from a green space shortage. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change that.

 

Shorebird Habitat

Unitec ecologist Trina Smith has completed a report confirming the site’s importance as a refuge for shorebirds like kuaka (bar-tailed godwits).
This past January, over 900 native birds were sighted in a single week.
Any rezoning or repurposing must account for this ecological significance.

 

The Sunday Market

A Researcher from Unitec has just completed a project on the Avondale Sunday market. They will be sharing their research findings with interested parties in the coming weeks.

As we know, the Avondale Sunday Markets are a vital cultural and economic pillar in Avondale.

In Summary

 

We ask the Whau Local Board to:

●  Continue advocating for maximum retention of public green space;

●  Support transparent processes in all land negotiations;

●  Champion community wellbeing, sustainability, and ecological justice.

●  Help us ensure this land becomes a living legacy for generations to come.

● Whau Local Board and Council have a vital role in ensuring long-term community benefit from this site.

 

We as the Avondale Racecourse Alliance look forward to continuing our work as allies in our shared goal for the future of Avondale Racecourse.