Monthly Archives: June 2012

In Wellington

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Rebekka and I are in Wellington on the first leg of our Winter Trip. We had come down to The Capital via The Northern Explorer Train yesterday and head out on the Ferry tomorrow for the South Island leg.

I already have lots of pics, will upload those for your viewing pleasue on Sunday.

I am also aware Auckland Council adopted the Long Term Plan on Thursday while I was on the Train heading to Wellington. I shall run commentary on Sunday with my reaction.

In the mean time I have a dinner to attend to :-)

Leave

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Away on Holiday

 

 

Rebekka and I are going away on holiday to the South Island for a few days on our annual winter holiday.

We will be up before the birds to catch a subbie train into town to relay up with The Northern Explorer for the first leg of our journey.

Thursday we will be heading to Wellington on The Northern Explorer (former Overlander) on its second trip from Auckland ever. Friday is a day in Wellington checking out the sites before making our ferry crossing on Saturday morning. After our ferry crossing it will be on another train to Christchurch where we will spend a few days down there, before making a road trip to Nelson and flying back home to Auckland after that.

 

As a result VOAKL will also be on vacation while I am away

 

Posts will be restricted to major and significant issues that might crop up in Auckland and the holiday snaps until I return

 

So take care out there folks – and will be back before you know it

 

VOAKL: Looking at Issues in Auckland - From an Independent Average Ratepayers’ View

Auckland Backs the CRL?

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City rail link backed by Aucklanders | Stuff.co.nz.

 

Part of The City Rail Link Series

Debate on the City Rail Link continues with figures and all sorts coming out from both sides coin.

VOAKL will cut right down the middle and rely an article from Stuff on 63% of Aucklanders apparently supporting the CRL

It is time for a discussion and VOAKL will provide one – for everyone with a VIEW

 

So how many Aucklanders do support the City Rail Link? Well apparently some 63% of Aucklanders support the CRL – which would include me (in principle as my CRL Debate Series shows) and 29% opposing the mega project.

From Stuff:

According to Research New Zealand, 63 per cent of Aucklanders surveyed are in favour of the link, while 29 per cent were against it and eight percent didn’t care.

That is good to know :)

 

As for the National Government, oh they will still sign the cheque (if they are in power at the time) just not when some expect it ;)

However I would support the government here:

Again from Stuff:

Brown is relying on the government to fund half of the project but the National government has been shying away from an agreement and rejected a business case in 2010.

Then again I did ask the question about our CRL business case after the disasters in the UK and The Netherlands with their dodgy rail business cases leading to some spectacular Rail Fallacies.

 

Our resident Prude – the Mayor did say thing right though:

One more time from Stuff:

“Common misconceptions that the benefits won’t be felt beyond the central city are finally being dispelled and we can now move to an educated debate on how we pay for this and a number of other major infrastructure projects necessary to get our city moving.”

Well HELLO – MISS THE TRAIN ON THAT ONE LEN? Sheesh VOAKL has been busy since its inception writing up (independent) commentary, analysis, and information pitches on the CRL as Auckland Council and Auckland Transport were doing a useless job at it – and still are. The VOAL City Rail Link Series will continue until the last station is open on the staged CRL project and our trains and passengers moving through it.

 

Ah well: moving along

Questions

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Questions to Auckland Council and its Bureaucrats

 

Some questions to ask and think about while I am away in the South Island on leave for the next two weeks (from Thursday)

 

  1. Has Auckland Transport got a back up system for Thales if Snapper misses the boat entirely and we need to dump them for the sake of the city 
  2. Why is money and resources being sucked out of the suburbs for a grandiose Central Business District fantasy 
  3. Will I get a chance at full, proper, formal and frank feedback on the Port of Auckland Review
  4. With Spain’s banks near tits up if this Herald Article is anything to go by; does Auckland Council have back up provisions if CAF has difficulty securing credit to build our EMUs
  5. Does Auckland Council realise its: “POWERING AUCKLAND’S LOW CARBON TRANSFORMATION” discussion document is contradictory to even its own prescribed goals – let alone actual common sense and realism
  6. And why is my Local Board so powerless and strapped for cash when someone decided it was wise to build a gold plated cruise ship terminal and Waterfront Theatre

 

 

So some questions to think about while I am away – and yes I will bring back heaps of happy snaps :)

In Brief

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Brief Commentary on News and Views around Auckland

 

Snapper goes Fish?

Seems One News ran a piece last night on NZ Bus which owns Snapper is going to miss the November deadline for Auckland’s Integrated Ticketing roll out. Must be serious if our resident Prude – The Mayor has called the lawyers in. Ouch central here we come.

 

Big and Blue

Integrated Ticketing Machine

I like, simple and hopefully easy to use. Okay something from the 1960′s but style does not trump practicality by any means. Coming on stream to a rail station near you :) as they get rolled out across the rail network.

 

Leave

I am on winter leave with Rebekka from Thursday for 12 days. We will be heading on the new Northern Explorer to Wellington before catching a ferry and another train to Christchurch. In any case VOAKL will be back in full on Wednesday 11 July will commentary on our usual plus more. Will get lots of happy snaps up while away and when I come back including of the new Northern Explorer.

 

The CRL and Rail Efficiency Program

I have asked myself is the City Rail Link the end-game piece for Auckland rail, or just another piece in the puzzle. I have also asked will we still get the same issues post CRL as we do currently due to lack of proper redundancy capacity in the network when something goes wrong (like a train breaking down). While away I will draw up The Rail Efficiency Program and how it can be implemented pre CRL, and how it would boost the existing rail network pre and post CRL.

 

Well this Sucks

Sucks as in money for our suburbs being sucked out and dumped for grandiose Pro-CBD schemes. As our resident Prude – The Mayor and his officers got it right in their intense focus on the CBD while the suburbs get hit and sucked dry. Why are play grounds, and local events being sacrificed for Cruise Ship Terminals and Wynyard Theatres? VOAKL will investigate when I get back.

 

And that was the news and views in brief

Brief as I never have enough time to do the things I need to or really want to do – including a holiday :D