Consultation on Port of Auckland

Posted on May 12, 2013 by BR:AKL_Admin01

Time to Talk Port

Bit of a change of tact today. Today BR:AKL talks port – no not the drink – the port that sits on Auckland‘s prime waterfront and moves goods in and out of the city via ship.

During the anxiety caused by the Housing Accord being dumped upon Auckland by the clueless Dr Nick Smith, Port of Auckland released their latest development proposals. You can read the “interactive” presentation from Port of Auckland here: Port of Auckland Development Proposals

Note: You need Flash to run the page and not recommended on Smart Phones

I have gone through the entire proposal on first glance and will take a decent look at it tomorrow (unless someone else decides to dump a Unitary Plan stopper upon the city) (makes a good break from the UP anyhow). In going through it my pragmatism came to the play and some realisations had to be “made.”

Port of Auckland knows very well I would like to see the port shifted to the South East Auckland site near Clevedon (and 35mins east from where I live in Papakura). This would allow the redevelopment of the $4.5b worth of waterfront real estate into something more eye pleasing to the public, as well as get that freight traffic off the inner motorway system (to the point of staving off the Eastern Highway even further). However, due to Council through its shortsightedness (Ann Hartley) in denying the second part of the Port Review (looking at relocation options) the city (we) are stuck with the port staying where it is. In the same regard the Port seem happy enough to stay where it is, so efforts flip over to mitigation on their expansion ideas.

And so I realise the Port is staying where it is and now thoughts focus on how do we mitigate the worst of the effects if and when the Port expands in its current location. Hence I shall have good look at the proposal tomorrow and give my feed back on what POAL is proposing.

In the same regard; Port of Auckland is asking for public feed back. So please do so as this is critical piece of infrastructure and real estate holder in Auckland.

Port of Auckland Debate

Posted on April 8, 2013 by BR:AKL_Admin01

Port of Auckland Debate is Back

I have brought back my Auckland Waterfront Index to the front page after putting into suspension with Port of Auckland (POAL) making another attempt in its bid to extend the port in its current location at the downtown waterfront.

This has been brought on after commentary from ATB on Port of Auckland’s scaled back expansion program proposal which can be seen at this post: Do we need a port in downtown Auckland?

Admittedly I was wondering why I got such a large spike in traffic on what are usually quiet Sundays for me. I send my thanks to Sacha for his link back to my “POSSIBLE PORT OF AUCKLAND RELOCATIONS” post which did stir some debate although somewhat one-sided.

So it seems after a 12 month break, the POAL chestnut is back on the table with me opening around of commentary on Facebook:

Tony Gibson is as unvisionary as Councillor Ann Hartley who shot down Part Two of the Upper North Island Port Review which to look at ALL OPTIONS for Port of Auckland. And by ALL OPTIONS I mean whether:
1) Expanding the Port as is where is, is a good idea
2) Moving the Port to Clevedon is a good idea}
3) Moving the Port to Marsden Point and Port of Tauranga is a good idea

The review would have looked at all costs AND benefits to each of those three options so at least Auckland knows where it stands in any future decisions
http://www.3news.co.nz/Ports-move-too-costly—CEO/tabid/421/articleID/293399/Default.aspx

Port of Auckland have replied through Twitter after I posted the above with them noting that I am most likely to be opposed to the new expansion idea – which I am.

A reminder to all that I support moving the Port to Clevedon unless a comprehensive report will all the pro and con’s for my reading and comprehension is undertaken and presented.

I better keep an eye out when the public consultations start on POAL again…

Councillor Lee has a Moment

Posted on February 21, 2012 by BR:AKL_Admin01

A Moment from a Veteran Councillor

www.franklin-live.net/site/player/887.html.

OK there is two parts to this post; the first being Councillor Lee’s tantrum at the end of the clip when Deputy Chair of the Auckland Council Future Vision Committee – Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse “calls” Cllr Lee as the agenda needs to be moved on. The second is (if you can get through Cllr Lee’s monotonous ramble) is about productive land verse Greenfield development as Auckland expands and grows to two million people by 2032.

First some background though

The meeting on which this video transcript was taken was on the 17th February when the Auckland Council Future Vision Committee was continuing deliberations into finalising The Auckland Plan. Now at the time of the video (around 15:06 so some five hours into the meeting) the Committee were discussing in length Chapter Seven (Rural Auckland) of The Draft Auckland Plan and in particular from Councillor Lee’s ramble it was the debate of productive land verse Greenfield development – and how according to Councillor Lee, the Draft Auckland Plan maps had left out “productive land” for readers to view.

Now this brings me to my first point – productive land

Now granted – The Draft Auckland Plan did not include “productive land” in its maps – what it should have included was a rural Auckland land use break down on what the rural land was being used for (actually I think the draft plan did (can’t be bothered to look at this moment)). That is because I follow Straight Thinking writer Owen McShane’s philosophy is that it is human investment into the land on whether it is productive or not. For example, the rich red soils of Pukekohe are great for potato growing but useless for sheep and cows, and mushrooms. The flood plains near Clevedon would be hopeless for horticulture but great for agriculture or maybe forestry. Someone barren soil near Drury would be useless for nearly everything except gorse and mushrooms. Worn out soils can be restored through intensive regeneration and pastoral care or retiring to forestry. Many different uses – all productive land one way or the other including a paddock full of gorse as the bees go bloody crazy over their yellow flowers (and hello we need bees for food). So effectively it is our efforts (including gorse growing and bee keeping) that will determine the productivity of the land (or lack thereof).

And personally I have turned some weed infested nutrient poor clay soils into extremely productive vege gardens with tomatoes, beans, corn and boysenberries literally overflowing the main freezer. So again it is what we do with the land is whether it is productive for our uses or not.

Now to the back-end of this nice video thanks to Councillor George Wood and Facebook.

If you can get through the six odd minutes of the worse monotonous drone on Chapter Seven I have ever heard you hit this little gem.

The Deputy Chair politely if not rather apologetic about the request calls Councillor Lee to wrap up his piece and the Committee move on with the agenda. From here you can see Councillor Lee get very upset, mumble something about Councillor Quax “taking all day” then storming out of the room as the Deputy Chair explains Cllr Quax’s actions and the reason behind her call. Now I can understand Councillor Lee’s passion about Chapters 7, 8, and 11 (rural, urban, transport) of the Draft Auckland Plan as they are my very passions (and what my submission was on) as well – and the reason why I started VOAKL. However Councillor in the eyes of this ratepayer – your actions were childish, indefensible and down right disgusting as an elected representative of Auckland Council – especially on such a critical issue as Chapter Seven. Now I do not know what Councillor Quax as up to but from the remarks of the Deputy Chair he was legitimately asking questions into the day’s agenda. You sir Councillor Lee for someone who has served Auckland for such a long time – should have been mature and more civilised on the matter.

I wonder if I ask for time off from work and prepare to sit through Chapter Eight (urban Auckland) deliberations as that should be some fireworks in that meeting (remind me to bring two lunches, coffee and some cash to visit a bar later).

Tomorrow the next round of deliberations begin with transport being discussed.

Sadly not expecting much there as if the agenda is anything to go by then Auckland Council (and Central Government) have missed the one opportunity in getting Auckland free from her traffic constipation…

Workings on Relocating Port of Auckland

Posted on February 10, 2012 by BR:AKL_Admin01

Work Starts on Draft Drawings for Relocating Port of Auckland to South East Auckland

As I chose South East Auckland (Clevedon) as my preferred site in relocating Port of Auckland, so that it can be a more healthier and productive port, I am beginning (albeit slowly) to draw up draft diagrams and maps on the relocation site as well as transit links and subsequent urban development. Now granted that I am no master urban designer or planner – although I did study geography and planning at the University of Auckland for five years, however I think it taught me the basic skills to do drawings basic for people to understand (I suppose if you want to see my last two pieces you can go HERE and HERE).

Now this first picture if of the actual site in the relocated port and three transit links combining both road and rail. The jpeg picture does not do the drawings justice so I will try to upload a ZIP folder with the Google Earth shot that has full descriptions and distances of the proposed POAL relocation and associated transit links. [Note from Admin: I have uploaded the file successfully to a file sharing site, you can access it HERE - no apologies made about the pop-ups though as I need a place to upload Google Earth files]

Now if you use Google Earth (which I would recommend as I will be using the application a lot for my POAL Mock-up work) you can download the file, extract it to a documents folder, open Google Earth, Select File > Open and select the Google Earth file (Draft Transport Workings in POAL Relocation Program) and it should open with all my “drawings” and annotations attached.

With Google Earth you can see in detail where I am suggesting the port to go and the accompanying transit links (both road and rail). You can probably work out that I have a small problem of existing urban areas at Takanini and north east Papakura in trying to get the new transit links hooked up to either State Highway One or the North Island Main Trunk Line (Rail). However with a bit of creative thinking and acknowledging some sprawl was due to occur in the area (my own submission called from extensive urban development in the entire area) it can be done especially if the market calls for it.

However this is what my enquiry would look into with fine detail: the exact site for the relocated port, the required transit links and their location, subsequent urban development, environmental mitigation requirements and the Benefit:Cost Ratio for the entire scheme (or more to the point the cost of an ambitious scheme).

Over the next half-year (yes it would take this long) I will continue to work on the drawings and other work on the Relocation Port of Auckland Project (I will think of a marketing name soon) and post them here at VOAKL as well as share with interested others.

Port of Auckland has provided us an opportunity like The Auckland Plan did – lets not scotch this opportunity (as the Plan was) and work together in getting our sick Port of Auckland back into health (and the benefits that will flow on from it.