How to convince a ‘cool’ Council
One thing I applaud with Generation Zero is getting out there and mobilising people to have their say in Council (and Central Government) plans that come out from time to time. The most recent being Skypath with over 10,000 submissions, and the Long Term Plan with 27,000 feedback pieces to which Generation Zero contributed I believe just over 3,000 (if that figure is out let me know please 🙂 ).
A core plank of the Generation Zero Long Term Plan campaign would be the Essentials Transport Budget. In short the Essentials Transport Budget was a cross between Council’s Basic, and Auckland Plan Transport Network in stripping the gold-plated stuff from the APTN while giving a bit more oomph than the Basic plan.
Long Term Plan feedback illustrated that 50% agreed with the Auckland Plan Transport Network while 29% support the Basic Plan and 17% “Other.” It can be reasonably concluded that “Other” would be mainly the Essentials Transport Budget showing through.
So then with a super majority wanting more than just the Basic Transport Network and looking at the breakdown further those same people wanting more invested in public and active transport modes it should be a straight forward task for Council to implement via the Long Term Plan – right?
Well actually no.
It is to be expected owing to budget and political constraints will see the Auckland Plan Transport Network get scaled back somewhat significantly unless Government steps up an extra billion in the May Budget. While the Basic plan would be also politically untenable at least if submissions were anything to go by. So this leaves the Essentials Transport Budget to come sailing up the middle as the solution to move Auckland but not blow the bank.
Problem?
When I pressed the Councillors on the Essentials it was received coolly even though it could be the saviour if budget constraints get really tight. So where is the problem showing up with the Essentials Transport Budget verses the Auckland Plan Transport Network?
Remember this:
Just a general observations from the Southern Auckland Long Term Plan Have Your Say Sessions I have picked up thus far.
It was around transport and the Development Auckland CCO.
When I mentioned the Gen0/Transport Blog Essentials Transport Budget, as I noted in my earlier comment it was received coolishly by the two Councillors and the Deputy Mayor present (it was not dismissed out of hand so let me be extremely clear there). So I got Franklin Ward Councillor Cashmore, and our Deputy Mayor to flesh their side of the argument out. Personally I knew where this was going but I was going to see if they could articulate their point to which they did.
Cr Cashmore I have respect for after he articulated a point about heavy industry last year when no other Councillor apart from Penrose could. But what was being articulated last night was that the Essentials Transport Budget (note from my end that the BTN and APTN is not any better) has a hole in it and that hole is in Southern Auckland. Now don’t shoot me here I am just reporting back a critique (I gave one back as well). Southern Auckland is tipped for large if not the largest amount of both residential and employment growth – even more so than the City Centre itself. Reason? The South houses four of the five Heavy Industrial Complexes and those complexes are experiencing both growth and are nearly out of land until Drury South and later Glenbrook come on stream. Coupled with the South housing 38% of the population of Auckland and all things considered with NIMBYism on the Isthmus growing to 45% by the end of the Auckland Plan you hit an acute situation at hand.
YES the South will still commute to the City Centre but as I just pinged Simon Wilson from Metro Magazine on:
Metro @MetroMagNZ
“It’s easier for people in the inner city to escape to the country than for people who live on outskirts to drag themselves into the centre”Ben Ross @BenRoss_AKL
@MetroMagNZ if they “want” to go to the Centre
MoTransport report says the South “doesnt”That Ministry of Transport report out last year strongly suggested Southern Auckland commutes within herself primarily and looking at future trends will continue to do so.
That report which I commented on in specific to the South can be seen here and here:
https://voakl.net/2014/08/21/aucklands-commuting-journeys-a-series-major-non-city-centre-employment-centres-overview/
https://voakl.net/2014/09/08/aucklands-commuting-journeys-a-series-concluding-remarks/Now before Patrick pipes up everyone in that Have Your Say Session is aware of students and off peak leisure trips using the networks to go north from the South. That was beside the point. The point being and as Cashmore articulated and the session agreed with last night is that the South is growing and set to grow faster in housing and jobs (from her Industry). The South commutes within herself for the most part.
Transport investment coupled with integrated land use planning needs to realise this and this is where East West linking across the South, links like the Manukau South Link to be in position (Pasifika will prove that particular point this weekend), three new stations between Papakura and Pukekohe being needed all come into play.
NOW, whether the Council and Auckland Transport actually follow through and do the above is yet to be seen. However the rumblings coming from the Southern Councillors and with the Deputy Mayor nodding realise at the absolute minimum there is a massive hole in planning down here and it needs to be rectified and budgeted for soon.
http://transportblog.co.nz/2015/03/10/the-consultation-problem-who-submits-on-the-plan/
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From chit chat I have heard there is possibly something coming through from both Council and Central Government that could be planning for some 50,000 houses and 35,000 new jobs in Southern Auckland over the life of the Auckland Plan. I emphasize this is a possibility and anything can happen in politics.
But lets run with the above for a moment. Combine what could be coming down in the South on top of the observations I made from Cashmore and Hulse. If 50,000 homes and 35,000 jobs are indeed heading down towards the South you are effectively city building within a City. By de-facto Southern Auckland strengthen itself as a City within its own right while still being part of larger urban and regional Auckland.
This would mean that the Essentials Transport Budget runs into issues as it is City Centre – Isthmus Radial Centric and weak on both Cross-City and Industrial Complex links. The Auckland Plan Transport Network does the cross city and linking to the complexes somewhat better although knowing the planners they can change it around to adapt more easily as time goes on.
So I do wonder if Hulse and Cashmore know something a little bit more than what is being let on through the Auckland Plan and Long Term Plan discussions. Granted talks are or might be still under way on such large schemes as mentioned above. I believe an announcement might be due mid year but remember a week is a long time in politics and things can change.
However, even if this large scheme does not happen the hole in Essentials Transport Budget especially with the South was noted and could be a reason why the Governing Body might be receiving it coolly for now.
Talking Southern Auckland 