Story has appeared in the Main Stream Media
I have noted both from Transport Blog, and the Manukau Courier (online) that there is indeed a situation with both Otahuhu and Manukau Transport Interchanges. Both these issues I have picked up on before.
From Transport Blog first as flows into the Manukau Courier article:
The sticky mess of the transport budget
The big news that the Council will be pushing back its preferred start date for the main part of the City Rail Link was not a huge surprise – aside from the enabling works the project’s probably not practically ready to start so quickly, even if funding support was available from Central Government (which it’s not). However, this is hardly a “win” on any account, as reduced spending on CRL in the next few years doesn’t free up money for other projects – as we stressed last month. This is because CRL doesn’t have an impact on rates until it opens, and it apparently is the level of rates income that constrains the transport budget.
So what does the rest of the transport budget look like? Looking at the details, the result is quite a mess, particularly during the first five years. This will become a core part of the big LTP question around whether the public wants a much larger transport programme and if so, how we’d prefer to pay for it (rates & fuel tax increases or a motorway toll). Hidden away at page 252 and 253 of the November Budget Committee agenda (27MB PDF) is the 10 year transport programme (although this is from before yesterday’s decision to delay the CRL):
….
You’ll see a number of important projects in there that are based around supporting the new public transport network that Auckland Transport are implementing over the next few years. Projects like the Otahuhu, Te Atatu and Manukau interchanges. Or the necessary improvements to Wellesley Street so it can cope with becoming the main east-west bus route across the city centre. The big problem is that these projects don’t appear to be funded until 2021 or in some cases (like Wellesley Street) even later:
This is a pretty insane situation, especially for projects like the Otahuhu interchange which is utterly fundamental to any implementation of the new PT network in the south. AT have started on the project but it seems they only have enough money for early works and design. The other big issue is the walking and cycling programme – which appears to be the line item “W+C Programme Risk Management”, that doesn’t have any funding at all for the first five years of the budget period.
…..
Source of text, graphic, and full article: http://transportblog.co.nz/2014/12/10/the-sticky-mess-of-the-transport-budget/
The Manukau Courier piece:
The future of public transport in South Auckland is being held to ransom, an Auckland councillor claims.
George Wood has levelled the accusation at mayor Len Brown after discovering funding for two important transport projects could be shelved for six years.
Money for the Manukau and Otahuhu bus interchanges had been secured so the projects could be finished next year.
But the council’s cost-cutting measures could push the funding back to the 2020/2021 financial year.
That’s unless Brown gets the extra $12 billion needed to complete all of the city’s planned transport projects.
If he does, the interchanges will be back on schedule.
The council is weighing up whether to bring in motorway tolls or increased rates and fuel taxes to raise the money for the projects.
Wood says delaying the two interchanges would be a “disaster” for South Auckland.
“The way I look at it, the mayor wants to push the City Rail Link forward but to do that he has to eliminate local capital projects unless he can get motorway tolls.”
The Otahuhu interchange will cost $26.8 million but only $6.3m is available over the next seven months – the rest of the money has been pushed back.
Auckland Transport has enough money to complete the design and some “early work” which began on November 20.
The Manukau interchange has $3.8m budgeted for this year, enough to finish the design, but no money to do any construction until 2020.
The decision is part of the council’s 2015-2025 Long Term Plan, which is set to go out for consultation in January and be decided on in June.
Brown admits that if the extra money is found the construction of the interchanges will be brought forward to the 2015/2016 year.
“We still have seven months to go before any final decisions are made on Auckland’s transport budget for the next decade. Throughout those seven months Auckland Transport will continually work to optimise the programme within the funding envelope – this is the way the budget process always works.”
Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan says it’s exploring ways to find the money from other places in the budget.
The Manukau Interchange was to be built on the car park that sits on the corner of Manukau Station Rd and Davies Ave, opposite the new train station under the new MIT building.
It was planned as replacement for the current interchange at the Westfield Manukau mall.
It would have allowed for more frequent buses and better alignment with the train timetable and included enough space for 16 buses to park.
The Otahuhu interchange was planned with similar goals in mind, as a way of transferring people from the bus network to the train network and vice versa.
– Manukau Courier
—-ends—-
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/63936594/Transport-delays-for-South-Auckland
Councillor Wood’s claims was what set of a series of Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act requests to both Auckland Council and Auckland Transport. The LGOIMA’s are not due back until the 22nd sadly but here are the questions I have sent them:
LGOIMA to Auckland Transport
Missing Tender Documents, Clarifications, and Definition of Early Works in Regards to Otahuhu and Manukau Interchange Projects
Ben Ross made this Official Information Act request to Auckland Transport
Currently waiting for a response from Auckland Transport, they must respond promptly and normally no later than December 22, 2014 (details).
From: Ben Ross
November 24, 2014
I am seeking information and clarification around the status of the Otahuhu and Manukau Transport Interchanges please.
Context
From a communication forwarded to me that Auckland Transport had written in regards to Otahuhu and Manukau Transport Interchanges it was stated:
In relation to your question on Manukau and Otahuhu Bus Interchanges, here is a response.
At the moment, Auckland Transport are operating in a very uncertain funding environment as they deal with potentially lower LTP capital expenditure in the Basic Transport Network (BTN) versus that in the Auckland Plan Transport Network (APTN).
Auckland Transport have opted to progress design and potentially early works (within funding) on projects that would be funded in earlier years under the APTN to ensure momentum is not lost.
And in the case of these two projects, the following would be the desired timeline without the constrained BTN funding:
- Construction on the Manukau Bus Interchange project would start in the 1st quarter of 2015 with target completion in late 2015. Currently, the detailed design process is underway.
- Construction of the Otahuhu Bus Train Interchange would start later this month with expected completion in late 2015. Currently, the detailed design process is underway.
In addition, Auckland Transport are currently exploring re-prioritisation options for these 2 projects. As this is currently being worked through, no update to the draft LTP has been made. If re-prioritisation cannot be achieved in 2014/15 and in the early years of the LTP, Auckland Transport would only deliver on initial improvements within the current funding, with the delivery of full specification in 2020/21.
Current Basic Transport Network (the Mayors proposal) budgeted figures:
Manukau Bus Interchange
- We have design funding of $3.8m in 2014/15
- Then there is no funding provided in the BTN programme until 2020/21
- Total required funding is planned at $23.9m (inflated)
Otahuhu Bus Train Interchange
- We have design and some early works funding of $6.3m in 2014/15
- Then there is no funding provided in the BTN programme until 2020/21
- Total required funding is planned at $26.8m (inflated)
My questions to Auckland Transport are the following:
- What is the definition of Early Works for Otahuhu Transport Interchange, in other words for $6.3m for the 2014/2015 year what does it get us in regards to Otahuhu Transport Interchange if reprioritisation is not successful in allowing the full set of works for Otahuhu Transport Interchange
- The Tender Documents either open or closed for the construction of these “early works” for Otahuhu Transport Interchange cannot be found on the various Auckland Transport pages including these two:
Is there a particular reason why these tender documents are not publicly accessible or not on your Awarded Contracts PDF
- Is there an updated version of the https://at.govt.nz/media/665907/CDD-Forward-Tender-Work-Plan-August2014.pdf which is meant to be updated monthly but has not been done so since August 2014
- Are the designs for the Manukau Transport Interchange able to be released into the public domain yet? If not when so please. What will happen with those designs if the Basic Transport Network continues and the Manukau Interchange cannot be built until 2020/2021? Please note I will be forwarding a LGOIMA directly to Auckland Council on what happens to Lot 59 where the Interchange sits if the Manukau Interchange does not proceed until 2020/2021
I look forward to your reply
Yours faithfully,
———————————–
The LGOIMA to Auckland Council
Clarification and Information Request around Lot 59 Manukau
Ben Ross made this Official Information Act request to Auckland Council
Currently waiting for a response from Auckland Council, they must respond promptly and normally no later thanDecember 22, 2014 (details).
I am seeking clarification and information around the sales process of the land at Lot 59 in Manukau City Centre.
Context
A LGOIMA has been sent to Auckland Transport (https://fyi.org.nz/request/2195-missing-tender-documents-clarifications-and-definition-of-early-works-in-regards-to-otahuhu-and-manukau-interchange-projects ) in seeking clarification to the statuses of the Manukau and Otahuhu Transport Interchanges in which this question was asked:
- Are the designs for the Manukau Transport Interchange able to be
released into the public domain yet? If not when so please. What
will happen with those designs if the Basic Transport Network
continues and the Manukau Interchange cannot be built until
2020/2021?
Please note I will be forwarding a LGOIMA directly to Auckland
Council on what happens to Lot 59 where the Interchange sits if the
Manukau Interchange does not proceed until 2020/2021
The questions to Auckland Council in specific relation to the Manukau Transport Interchange are the following:
- What happened to any apparent funding that was meant to allow both interchanges to be built and operational by the end of next year
- Why are the future proceeds from the sales of three parcels of Lot 59 in Manukau where the Manukau Interchange is to be built as allowed by the Finance and Performance Committee in September (much to the disgust of the Southern Auckland communities in any case) not being actively ring fenced by Council, so those land sale proceeds could be used to pay for the construction of the Manukau Interchange thus not put pressure on general funding streams. I believe the proceeds were to be around $11-$18m at the minimum which would cover a very large proportion of the $16.9m price tag for the Interchange
- Will the delay in both Interchanges have any further consequences on the New South Auckland Bus Network starting mid 2015 for which both (especially Otahuhu) which are reliant on those interchanges being operational
- Have Expressions of Interest gone out into the market for the sale of Lot 59 (the sections in yellow)? Is that EOI in the public domain or will it be in the public domain once the EOI has been ‘released?’
- If the Manukau Interchange is being delayed until 2021 I assume that the current stops outside the Scentre (Westfield) Mall Entrance by the food court will remain in operation? Will in the interim Council and AT do some quick cheap remedial works to spruce up the run down stops until the Interchange at Lot 59 is built
- With the Manukau Interchange now apparently stalled for 6 years is there a chance to go back to the drawing board or rather start from scratch and get a Community led design for the interchange rather than an AT led one that no one effectively like thus later ridiculed (note: Sawtooth designs do not work for Metro Bus Stations)
- What happens to Lot 59 if the Manukau Transport Interchange cannot be built until 2020/2021 owing to the funding constraints in the Basic Transport Network package? I ask because of the Urban Development risk where you have the lots in yellow being developed once the land is sold but the section in blue which AT hang onto and is meant to be used for the Interchange is left rather barren – that is we have a potential eye sore looming unless the Interchange is built 2015.
- Finally if the Manukau Interchange has stalled until 2021 will the Land Sale at Lot 59 be put on hold if not cancelled?
I look forward to you reply
With Regards
————————
Source: https://fyi.org.nz/request/2196-clarification-and-information-request-around-lot-59-manukau
Note:
Since that LGOIMA with Auckland Transport was filed it has been revealed that Fulton Hogan won the tender for the early works on Otahuhu Interchange. None the less it will be interesting to see what Auckland Transport comes back with on that one.
Once the replies to the LGOIMA’s do come in I will post them to Talking Auckland for your reading.
But yes the transport budget is in a sticky mess as Matt L from Transport Blog mentioned.
Talking Southern Auckland 