For consultation From Auckland Council New agency to fast track urban development Auckland Council’s Governing Body today agreed to support the establishment of an urban development agency to … Continue reading Council to Proceed Forward with Auckland Development CCO
In breaking news the Governing Body of Auckland Council has resolved to not to give Auckland a referendum next year on our transport funding options. The option that would have most likely been in play was whether Auckland wants a $2 motorway toll to help fund the $12 billion transport funding gap that is affecting projects like the Otahuhu and Manukau Transport Interchanges.
The vote failed 9-11
UPDATE
The Governing Body has resolved the following:
Recommendations
That the Governing Body:
a) agree to not undertake a referendum to seek feedback from Auckland electors on
transport investment and funding options.
b) direct the Chief Executive to commission an independent statistically reliable survey
to help inform choices about transport funding.
Vote passed 12-9
UPDATE 2
From Facebook
Just now ·Those of us pushing for the Mayor to deliver on this promised public (non-binding) referendum on alternative transport (eg tolls) funding just failed 9/11. However a small win for me as my amendments to his winning (12/9) proposal to do the consultation through the LTP instead, were successfully added which will hopefully help the public and the subsequent analysis.
C) that matters pertaining to alternative transport funding options are separated from the rest of the consultation document in a visually distinct way to highlight their significance to the people of Auckland
D) that feedback from submissions and responses to the LTP consultation document on alternative transport funding are independently reviewed and analysed by a suitably qualified and independent party who will report back their findings, and those from the statistically accurate survey, directly to the Governing Body.
UPDATE:
The Governing Body has resolved to send out to consultation the establishment of the new Auckland Development CCO. The Recommendations were:
Recommendation/s
That the Governing Body:
a) agree to progress evaluation of the establishment of an urban development agency
in order to further the council’s urban development objectives.
b) agree that the option to establish an urban development agency by combining
Waterfront Auckland and Auckland Council Properties Ltd is the preferred option.
c) note that the proposal for a new council controlled agency will be provided for in the
Long Term Plan and subject to public consultation.
d) agree to transfer responsibility for managing the council’s diversified financial assets
portfolio from Auckland Council Investments Limited to Auckland Council treasury
team, from 1 July 2015, and to reduce the number of Auckland Council
More as it happens
At the moment I am busy with Auckland Council matters as the mayor gets bundled into a corner over rates
On the same day as the Cheryl Gwynn report was released, we also got the release Justice Chisholm’s report into Judith Collins and the allegations that she undermined former-SFO head Adam Feeley.
The report was ordered after the release of an email from Cameron Slater, detailing Judith Collins’ apparent involvement in a plot to undermine Mr Feeley. The email stated:
“I also spoke at length with the Minister responsible today (Judith Collins). She is gunning for Feeley. Any information that we can provide her on his background is appreciated. I have outlined for her a coming blog post about the massive staff turnover and she has added that to the review of the State Services Commissioner. She is using his review of these events to go on a trawl looking for anything else. It is my opinion that Feeley’s position is untenable.”
Cameron Slater’s explanation was that he had…
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Auckland Council Governing Body to Deliberate on Transport Funding Referenda TODAY If people would listen to Radio NZ and read blogs more, the Herald article today on Council Officers opposing … Continue reading Referendum? What Referendum [Update]
Some thoughts to get a conversation going It was revealed during question time after my Auckland Development Committee presentation earlier this month that Council were setting about establishing a … Continue reading What I Would Like In This Upcoming Auckland Development CCO
We are getting there…. Yesterday Mayor Len Brown and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith released the first annual Housing Accord report for Auckland. The joint presser: First year Auckland … Continue reading First Annual Auckland Housing Accord Report Released
Due to Slightly Left of Centre now being a private blog any reblogs I have done from that site will no longer show up here in Talking Auckland.
Out of my control folks sorry
And if wonder why I am covering this every so often it is because it is this:
One Dimensional thinkers of both the Left and Right Wing (hence I was annoyed a BA Politics student not getting it) say that (in this case it is the 1D right wingers) that they are not focusing on issues that matter.
Well not only does that statement belittle the intelligence of the electorate but shows they do not understand the three dimensions a democratic institution works in. For that matter if a Government MP has said it (Jami-Lee Ross) then they are not fit to be MPs as they have no understanding of the full nature of our democratic institution.
As I have pointed out when rot sets at the top of our democratic institution it can become a cancer that will eventually claim even the most powerful economies or Empires. The Roman Empire being a classic example, the modern USA is lurching towards the same fate. For a sci-fi example it would be the Old Republic going to the Galactic Empire before that gave way in a violent rebellion to the New Republic.
With the PM also forced to return to Parliament to make a personal statement for in effect lying during Question Time, and the Inspector General of the Intelligence forces now kicking off an investigation over a leaking of a report then you know that Rot is now set in at the top.
If a voter goes out saying that all this is not issues that matter then they are part of that rot as well as they are complicit in harming the democratic institution we are in.
At the end of the day all this is a very large issue that matters. Rot sets in at the top and as it has done in History it will claim even the strongest of economies and even strongest of Empires
Have you really never spoken to Cameron Slater in your capacity as Prime Minister?
I would like you to consider the following questions before you answer this, because I would suggest you choose your words carefully. Remember John, no-one likes a liar…
1) You told Parliament in late October that that you have never spoken to Cameron Slater in your capacity as Prime Minister. Was this really true?
2) Did you talk to Cameron Slater the night before the release of the IGIS report, and the Justice Chisholm report on Judith Collins?
3) How many times in the last month have you spoken to Slater?
4) Does Cameron Slater records his phone calls, and if he does, how much leverage does he now have over you (whether in your capacity as a private citizen, PM, Minister of Tourism etc, etc)?
5) Are you OK with the possibility of Slater having…
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Dr Roger Blakeley has been writing I was passed a copy of our Chief Planning Officer Dr Roger Blakeley’s op-ed piece to the Dominion Post down in Wellington. At … Continue reading Chief Planning Officer Talks to Wellington on the Auckland Super City
Update on the Pohutukawa at St Lukes Road Interchange by Vernon Tava.
A decision will be known in early December
It was fortuitous – having just completed two days of RMA hearing training the day before – to attend a full day of hearings on the 6th of November regarding a matter on which the Waitematā Local Board was the main submitter in opposition.
Before and after as modelled by AT.
AT propose the removal of six mature Pohutukawa trees from the side of Great North Road on either side of the St Lukes intersection. There is a good summary (including a one-minute video here). This is to allow for two lanes of traffic to turn on to the North Western Motorway on the eastern side of the St Lukes bridge intersection. The site is on the Local Board’s boundary with the Albert-Eden Local Board and on the western side of the intersection the boundary runs along Great North Road as far as Motions Road. The reserve in which…
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Talking Southern Auckland 