Month: March 2014

Major Transport Announcement – April 1

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It is after 12pm so not an April Fools Joke

 

Saw this which lit Twitter up yesterday:

 

The announcement is after 12 so I highly doubt it is something to “yank our chain”

So we await for April

 

As for the EMU’s – the electric trains, they start running on the Onehunga Line on April 28th

Planning Tweet of the Day

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From our Australian Cousins

 

This from the Planning Institute of Australia who are holding a very large planning conference in Sydney right now:

 

So true and something Auckland would like to note.

You can keep tabs on the PIA Congress either through http://www.piacongress.com.au/ or via Twitter @pia_planning

 

Lessons from Lusi

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How Resilient are YOU recovering from a Natural Disaster

 

Thinking of Lusi who was a bit of bluster for Auckland and not much use for the Waikato (in the terms of rain needed to break the drought) the question you ask yourself is? “How resilient would you be if Auckland was struck by a natural disaster.” The honest answer for most of Auckland should be (if they are being brutally honest) ‘not at all.’

 

From Auckland Council

Resilient Auckland Expo opens on 21 March

 

The Resilient Auckland Expo 2014 is on this Friday and Saturday (21 and 22 March 2014) at the Aotea Centre.

The free Expo will give property owners, developers, engineers and businesses a chance to learn from New Zealand’s leading engineering companies and institutions how to better prepare for and recover from natural disasters.

Auckland Council’s Director of Civil Defence and Emergency Management Clive Manley says the Expo is a great opportunity for people to get up to speed with the latest technology solutions.

“Earthquake preparedness is a dynamic area of technological development and I would encourage anyone with an interest to come along.”

Participants include:-

  • Leading engineering consultancies, including Impact Group and Opus, with details of their work around providing New Zealand building owners and developers with the tools to ensure their property’s resilience
  • Hawkins Construction, one of New Zealand’s leading contracting engineers and a major player in the reconstruction of Christchurch
  • Specialist suppliers of concrete, masonry and reinforcement products that can assist the challenge of managing our pre-1976 building stock
  • Extensive displays from leading scientific research institutions GNS Science, the University of Auckland and University of Canterbury (including information on research and courses).

 

The Expo is on this Friday 21 and Saturday 22 March at the Aotea Centre and is open from 8am to 6pm both days. Entry is free.

For more information, visit the expo website: http://confer.co.nz/resilientauckland/

—-ends—

 

So again: How resilient are you for coping and recovering from a natural disaster?

 

Final Update on Lusi

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Final Update unless something significant

 

Final Update from Council and Civil Defence

No significant incidents reported overnight

The Auckland Emergency Coordination Centre monitored conditions in the wake of Cyclone Lusi overnight but no significant incidents were reported.

Roading contractors and the Fire Service continued to respond to calls of fallen trees and clearing other debris overnight.

Winds continued to gust over 100km/h in parts of the region into the early hours of this morning.

Auckland Civil Defence controller Clive Manley says power companies worked overnight with most power being restored overnight.

“At 10am approximately 200 Auckland customers were affected.

“Staff and Community Response Groups are inspecting northeastern beaches this morning.  Initial inspections indicate that some beach erosion has occurred but no property damage has been reported to date,” he says.

MetService advise that wind will continue to decrease throughout the day with infrequent showers across the region.

The Emergency Coordination Centre continues to monitor the region.

Follow Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management on Facebook and Twitter @AucklandCDEM.

You can also follow updates from Auckland Council on Facebook and Twitter @aklcouncil.

If you have a smartphone, please download the Auckland Civil Defence App to receive instant updates. Go to www.aucklandcivildefence.org.nz/Alerting/Get-the-Applications. 

Visit www.getthru.govt.nz for detailed information on what to do, before, during and after a storm.

—-ends—

 

And that was Lusi folks. All bluster and no rain (well significant amounts) for South Auckland. That said job well done by Civil Defence – I rather be over prepared than not prepared at all. That day we are unprepared will be the day will hurt us significantly.

 

Cyclone Lusi – The Latest

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Heightened Risks Tonight for Auckland

 

From Civil Defence and Auckland Council:

Warning to stay away from beaches as weather conditions deteriorate in Auckland

 

The Auckland Emergency Coordination Centre continues to monitor adverse weather conditions across Auckland. Auckland Police are investigating a report of an 11 year-old boy possibly missing off Takapuna beach near the boat ramp.

Auckland Council Civil Defence controller Clive Manley says weather conditions are still expected to deteriorate into this evening. 

The Auckland east low tide occurred at 1.32pm. Tides are now rising and swells are forecast to become very large during the afternoon.

A seven metre swell was recorded at Marsden Point this afternoon.

Clive Manley says the main concern is the potential for coastal erosion on north-eastern beaches between 4pm and 10pm.

“People need to be very careful, especially later this afternoon and into the evening on or near east coast beaches in Rodney and the North Shore. It is best to keep away from beaches.”

The areas likely to be affected are:

  • At high risk of coastal erosion (ie properties that are very close to the beach may be affected): Snells Beach, Waiwera, Orewa, Milford, Cheltenham and Whangateau.
  • At moderate risk of coastal erosion: Stanmore Bay, Big Manly, Long Bay, Waiake, Browns Bay, Murrays/Mairangi Bay, Campbells Bay, Castor Bay, Milford Beach, Takapuna Beach, Narrow Neck, Omaha, Hatfields Beach, Algies Bay and Claris.

 

Throughout the region, there have been localised power outages, surface flooding, landslips and trees down. Around 7000 people have been affected by power outages.

The Fire Service has responded to approximately 100 incidents in the northern region. Most were in Northland but calls are now coming in from the Mahurangi and Rodney areas.

The Auckland Harbourmaster has advised that three boats had to be secured after they broke moorings today.  Fullers Devonport ferry is now operating after disruption due to sea conditions.  Due to conditions in the harbour, a ship has been redirected to shelter off the Coromandel Peninsula.

The maximum recorded wind gusts have been at Channel Island (122 km/h) and Whangaparaoa Peninsula 113km/h.

Rainfall totals as of 1430 hours  are; Northern Auckland 50mm, Waitakere Ranges 41mm, Hunua Ranges 25mm, South Auckland 25mm .

The Emergency Coordination Centre continues to monitor the region and will provide additional updates as necessary.

 

People are advised to be prepared and keep up to date with severe weather warnings and forecasts from MetService.

To keep up to date with outages, download Vector’s Outage Manager App from iTunes or Google Play. Go to http://www.vector.co.nz/outages.

Follow Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management on Facebook and Twitter @AucklandCDEM.

You can also follow updates from Auckland Council on Facebook and Twitter @aklcouncil.

If you have a smartphone, please download the Auckland Civil Defence App to receive instant updates. Go to www.aucklandcivildefence.org.nz/Alerting/Get-the-Applications.

 

Visit www.getthru.govt.nz for detailed information on what to do, before, during and after a storm.

 

—ends—

 

Currently in Papakura it’s all bluster with no rain and the odd patch of blue sky as we go into sun down.