Author: Ben Ross - Talking Auckland

Admin and author of Talking Auckland Blog ( http://voakl.net )

Cracking Down on Window Washers

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Tougher Line to be taken

 

From Auckland Council – and to be distributed widely please:

Crackdown on window washers for public safety

 

Auckland Council is clamping down on window washers’ intimidating behaviour at intersections throughout the city and is targeting repeat offenders.

The council has begun pursuing the prosecution of window washers found to be in breach of the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw. The bylaw, which came into effect six months ago, was designed to protect the public from nuisance but, after taking a graduated enforcement approach, council officers have had to take a harder line.

“When the bylaw first came in staff took an educational approach with offenders, focusing on voluntary compliance. However this has not deterred people window washing in an unsafe way, which makes drivers feel uncomfortable and even threatened, so council is taking a tougher line,” says Max Wilde, Manager Bylaws and Compliance.

As the lead agency for enforcement on window washing, council is working closely with the Police to address problem hotspots around the region where there has been a noticeable increase in window washers. As part of a targeted approach to tackle this continuing issue and better protect public safety, an increase in enforcement activity is expected. The court can impose a fine of up to $20,000 on a person convicted of breaching a bylaw under the Local Government Act.

The Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw is in place to make sure public spaces feel safe and are convenient for people to use and enjoy without being disturbed or experiencing offensive behaviour. Auckland Council wants to ensure that residents and visitors to the region can freely drive on public roads and enjoy shopping and other activities in public areas without feeling intimidated or unsafe in any way.

 

 

What to do if you encounter a window washer:

  • Make it clear that you don’t want your window washed – shake your head or say no
  • Roll up your car windows and don’t engage in conversation
  • If they continue to wash your car and demand payment in an intimidating way, make a complaint to the council by phoning 09 301 0101
  • Take a photo on your phone of the offender if you feel unsafe and send to the council or Police
  • In cases of criminal activity such as assault or wilful damage, call 111.

 

 

—-ends—-

 

Auditor General on our Infrastructure

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Not a good situation

 

Earlier this week the Auditor General released a rather damning report against both our central and local governments about addressing infrastructure needs for New Zealand (not just Auckland). Now by infrastructure I am talking about physical which includes but often most forgotten until something goes wrong fresh water, waste water, and storm water.

This extract from Bob Dey:

Auditor-general issues blunt warning on infrastructure

on Wednesday 26 November 2014
Auditor-general Lyn Provost issued a blunt warning yesterday: New Zealand communities, in general, need to sharpen their information about & commitment to infrastructure or they will guarantee failure of services.

Mrs Provost warned that population shifts could make some communities unable to continue paying to maintain basic services such as sewers & water supply, while growth in others – such as Auckland – would need to match housing, working & services very carefully to avoid failure.

New Zealand’s economy for the past 200 years has been mostly about growth, although removal of some services such as post offices from rural towns, starting in the 1980s, was a warning about what might befall small communities.

Mrs Provost’s report, Water & roads: Funding & management challenges, was presented to Parliament yesterday, along with findings from research carried out by the NZ Institute of Economic Research that provides an historical perspective of local government investment trends, the forecast investment outlook and observations on differences in investment between regions.

The economic research showed infrastructure investment came in waves, creating investment “echoes”, and that large renewal cycles were pending.

Ironically, there’s been a tendency to underspend infrastructure budgets. Mrs Provost gave some explanation of this – that visible assets such as roads did need more frequent renewal than underground pipes. But, in short, her report can be summed up thus:

  • What you can see is politically sexier than what you can’t, but the infrastructure you can’t see is essential
  • Population shifts could make it impossible for shrinking communities to pay for continuing infrastructure maintenance.

Implicit in the report is a requirement to examine funding: Underground infrastructure is funded locally, roads & bridges nationally.

……

Source and full post: http://www.propbd.co.nz/auditor-general-issues-blunt-warning-infrastructure/

 

The Auditor General’s Infrastructure Report can be seen below:

 

Further commentary on this at a subsequent podcast

 

Auckland Will NOT Get A Referendum on Transport Funding – Update 3

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Governing Body Decides

 

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

Cameron Brewer
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

 

Collins cleared; Slater lied

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More on this later
At the moment I am busy with Auckland Council matters as the mayor gets bundled into a corner over rates

jononatusch's avatarOccasionally Erudite Publications

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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