That is the choice at the Governing Body today
I have been plugging away at this issue since the presser came out on Friday but it is too important of an issue to drop. Especially when today the Governing Body of Auckland Council meets today in an extraordinary session after the Auditor General pour cold water over the Mayor’s plans to start the main City Rail Link project next year.
The reference posts leading up to this including the presser is below, but the podcast for today is on whether today the Council respects our intelligence as Citizens or will simply insult it. More in the podcast:
Further comment:
I picked up this from the Herald earlier today: Project Auckland: Push for closer ties. So it does seem Government is going to be working closer with Auckland on all matters to make sure we are firing on all cylinders. You will have to forgive me if I have a wry smile on my face as four of these five points (apart from old Winnie Peters) seems to be rather happening or about to happen:
Where Next?
Food for thought
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I replied to a post our Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse pasted on her FB page this morning in terms of Council and Government working together. I make no apologies for the 5 points given below.
It has been rocky yes Penny but still in good enough shape to get things done at somewhat a muddled pace.
However, there a few pointers which I am going to point out (and will be in the blog later today) so of which might be controversial but this is for the sake of the City
1) National now command a solid majority and a near Super Majority if Winston Peters gets some deals (English and Joyce hinted at this last night). I suspect Government to be more interesting in our Planning matters although that will be tempered by the Unitary Plan becoming operative in 2016. The RMA reforms will now go through
2) The Congestion Free Network is for now dead in the water for the most part with the Greens losing vote share even in Auckland herself. However, parts of it can be picked and run with depending on how the Spatial Priorities turn out in the LTP discussions currently under way
3) Sorry but the City Rail Link is now definitely off the table for next year. Your earliest start date is 2017 at the moment as National looks to her 4th Term which she is looking solid in getting all things considered this morning. Council will need to review her transport priorities as a result of this and prepare to bite a rather large lemon. That said there is a way to salvage aspects of the transport plans and is something I have stored away in the blog.
4) South Auckland will continue to bubble away and develop on her own accord regardless of the LTP and National’s new term. West Auckland however, has sent a rather big warning with the West and Isthmus Party Voting National even in traditional Labour strong holds. The West is not happy and sees little faith in the Left at Central Level. This can make its way down to Local Level especially those who reside in New Lynn and Henderson (and I know who the Ward Councillors are for those areas). My most controversial point is this: Unless the West sees some serious cash coming its way in the LTP even at the expense of the City Centre the 2016 Local Elections out West just got interesting.
5) Will someone boot AT up its backside please. There are lots of small wins that can be gained from our transport system (Manukau South Link being one) but we are caught in them fluffing around. Start on small wins then move to the big stuff. Walk before you can run.
I make no apologies Deputy Mayor Hulse in those 5 points above. I care for this City a lot probably way too much. Last night was a shock (even Nat supporters were ;-O ) but as you said it We including Wellington can get the best for Auckland together
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George Wood I feel that you are right about the CRL Ben. My view is that Aucklanders can’\t afford the huge repayments on the capital spend alongside the operational costs of rail. A poll would give more rates and road pricing to pay for the CRL the thumbs down strongly.
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Luke Christensen CFN far from dead in the water, just delayed a few years. Auckland needs a rapid transit network regardless. Same with CRL, makes council budgeting much easier with more certainty around start date. Though will keep pushing govt, they will shift position depending on mood of the city.
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Penny Hulse Wise comment Ben. No apology needed. Most of this needs to be on the table regardless of the election result. We do however need to work proactively with government on the transport solutions …..lets not give up on a more sustainable future for our city just yet. As far as the west goes…..dont forget that boundary changes were major for our area…..point taken however. Main thing is to stay focussed on our city and how to get the very best for our community. Cant imagine the government disagree with that
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Ben Ross Some replies
Luke that by definition is dead in the water. Meaning all stop and not going anywhere at the moment. However, as we have noted the CFN is delayed and needed. Some changes and alterations to reflect what has happened and the CFN will be well on its way.George: Yes on the repayments George. However, do not under-estimate the mood of Auckland wanting a good rapid transit network of which the CRL is a part of it. The CRL will not start 2015 but most likely 2018 all things considered. Right now though George I would ask that focus is given on extending the Northern Busway to Silverdale and the Botany Busway gets underway in 2016.Penny: Yes the boundary changes did cause a stir and will take some time to settle down.
No one has lost the sight nor vision of a sustainable and pro people City. It is just a few things have altered given the Election. You as well as I know that Bill English is not a silly person and he knows Auckland’s health is key to the nation (and his tax base).Transport is a big key still yes but I see a realisation that our Mayor will not get the City Rail Link 2015 he has so pushed for. Council must be ready to consider in the Long Term Plan deliberations to move the full start date (not including the Precinct Properties section) to most likely 2018 at the earliest (so it is pushed to the 2018 LTP) when National (in 2017) will most likely bring it forward (call it a hunch). Pushing the CRL back to 2018 as well as a new transport package might give the City a breather as well as calm it down over the LTP debate.
I have seen the 10 Spatial Priorities first mentioned by the Mayor’s presentation to the Council. Well if money and rates are the issue then the Spatial Priorities have presented Council will a nice framework to take the City forward and rationalise what capital we have that wont blow the bank nor the ratepayers wallet. Food for thought for Council and Govt
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Source and full post here: https://voakl.net/2014/09/22/where-next-2/
Seeming that has happened for the most part and I am going to be rather blunt now maybe the Council might actually like to pass these two Notice of Motions today as well before realisation comes back around as it did above:
- Recommendation: Pass a Notice of Motion on Tuesday that would allow no preference in funding options as “suggested” by the Council. But rather allow the ratepayers to pick an option of their own choice or creation (or even a do nothing) and the Governing Body to consider them all then put in place for the LTP in July next year.
- Recommendation 2: Pass a Notice of Motion to overrule the Finance and Performance Committee in selling Lot 59 land in Manukau. Hold on to that land and allow the Development Auckland CCO to decide in September 2015 when it is onstream. I have a LGOIMA away with Council in anycase around the Manukau Interchange any how to see what the status of it is seeming AT is conflicted in either building it next year or having it delayed until 2021 owing to “budget cuts”
Note none of this disables the progress of the enabling works Downtown which should be budgeted for by now. But rather the main project in line with expectations and getting the actual alternative funding sources properly sorted (that yes I have presented on at the ADC in October)
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All this leads to my final conclusion that today could have been long avoided and egg being liberally applied on the faces to a few in Council if it had its wits about them and were more pragmatic than dogmatic over said projects. Of course the egg hits the Mayor the most and of course the buck stops with him as it should have not taken the Auditor General to tell him about the CRL start dates all things considered – not just Government position.
So in simple terms (and allow me to blow the trumpet just this once please 🙂 ) – YOU WERE WARNED!
Reference Posts and Pressers
Amendment to CRL Start Date in the Long Term Plan
Note this contained the presser and agenda highlights:
Mayor proposes amendment to CRL timing in draft LTP
Following discussions with Audit NZ, the Mayor is proposing an amendment in Council’s draft Long-term Plan 2015-2025 on the timing for construction of Auckland’s number one transport priority – the City Rail Link (CRL).
In its draft budget, Council has the CRL project commencing in 2015/16, based on an assumption government’s funding contribution for the project would also start next year, five years earlier than government has so far indicated.
On Tuesday 9 December, council will consider changing the assumption of timing of the government contribution to 2018/19. This will mean enablement works of $280 million will still take place in the first three years of the plan, but construction will not start until 2018/19. This will also delay the completion date to 2023.
Mayor Len Brown says:
“We have a track record of success with central government when it comes to the CRL – we have moved them from a position of total opposition to one of commitment for funding half the project from the year 2020,” says Mayor Len Brown.
“Yes, we still have to work with government on final timing, but I’m confident we can come to an agreement and get on and get this job done.
“I understand why Audit NZ feel that we need to take a more conservative approach to our financial projections and I am proposing that we develop the LTP based on a later timing of government contribution.”
Public consultation on the draft LTP begins January 23 next year. The final plan is due for adoption June 30, 2015.
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The Weekend Analysis: CRL 2018 Start Date Still a Win for Auckland
Business for Tuesday in Regards to the City Rail Link
Amendment to CRL Start Date in the Long Term Plan
Initial Thoughts on Election 2014
Where Next? (Contains the five points in reply to the Deputy Mayor from the resulting 2014 election in September)
My Alternative Funding Package for Auckland’s Transport Projects
The Agenda for the Extraordinary Governing Body session today:
Talking Southern Auckland 