Category: General

Everything else

Update with Karaka Collective Information

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An Information Error

 

PLEASE NOTE

I have received an email from a person in regards to the Karaka Collective and information the Collective’s representative has sent me which I subsequently posted on BR:AKL.

The information I had received which was subsequently embedded in my “Karaka Collective Shares” post was incorrect in the fact a resident who is not part of the Collective –  was highlighted as being part of the collective. Subsequently the incorrect information has been spread further in the public domain (the original submissions were already in the public realm prior to BR:AKL posting them) of which is a concern.

I have been informed that the barrister for the Karaka Collective has been alerted to this incorrect information and should be making the proper adjustments to reflect the correct information.

As a result of this I have pulled down the Karaka Collective Shares post, as well pulling down the information links from Scribd. I will repost the information once I have the CORRECT information from the Collective at hand. Thus for now any other posts linking back to the Karaka Collective Shares post will not work for the duration of the suspension.

 

BR:AKL does send apologies to the person affected by the incorrect information embedded in the blog for any inconveniences caused. 

The RPTP – Round Two

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Next Round of Consultation with the RPTP

 

Bit of a break from the Unitary Plan this morning as I cover my perennial favourite topic: Auckland Transport (in particular public transport). Four days ago Auckland Transport released a full update post-hearings of the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) which I both submitted and later presented in Manukau.

For a recap you can see my following RPTP posts on my submission and presentation

 

As a result of the hearings in February Auckland Transport has released a 57 page report on those hearings. You can read the report in the embed below:

 

I have not had a chance to read the document yet as such (busy with The Unitary Plan) however, take note of this:

 

When will the RPTP be formally adopted by Auckland Transport?

Auckland Transport has made significant progress towards the adoption of the draft RPTP.  Since the submission period closed:

  • We have successfully completed public hearings on the draft RPTP
  • After considering all the submissions received, the Hearing Panel presented a report to the Auckland Transport Board (the Board) recommending changes to the draft RPTP
  • In March 2013 the Board endorsed the changes to the draft RPTP recommended by the Hearing Panel.  This enables Auckland Transport to proceed with detailed local consultation on the proposed new public transport network for Auckland, a key element of the Plan.

 

The Land Transport Management Amendment (LTMA) Bill is currently before Parliament for approval.  Once the LTMA Bill is enacted by Parliament, the RPTP will be altered to ensure it is compliant with the new Act.  We envisage that any changes to what the board has endorsed will mainly relate to procurement issues.  Only once compliant, will the RPTP be formally adopted by the Board (expected to be later this year).  This delay is necessary because the new Land Transport Management Act will repeal the Public Transport Management Act under which the current draft RPTP was created.

 

Once formally adopted, we will inform submitters and make the final RPTP available for the public to view.

 

Local consultation on the proposed new public transport network for Auckland

Consultation on the proposed new public transport network for Auckland (the New Network) has been broken into 3 areas, with South Auckland being the first area to be consulted on.  Please see over the page the proposed consultation and implementation dates for the New Network.

 

 

​Areas ​Consultation ​Implementation
​South Auckland 19 June 2013 to
2 August 2013		 Mid – end 2014​
North Auckland​ Early 2014​ Mid 2015​
Central, East and West Auckland Late 2014​ Mid 2016​

If you would like further information on the proposed New Network please visit our consultation webpage www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/newnetwork, or email us at busreview@Aucklandtransport.govt.nz

 

Further information on the RPTP

To view further information on the RPTP; such as a copy of the draft RPTP, an electronic copy of the Hearing Panel’s report, or the hearings minutes please visit our consultation websitewww.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/rptp

 

So it seems I am back up for another round of consultation with the Public Transport Network (PTN) from June to August. I better brush up on my reading before submitting the next round of feedback (which is thankfully after the Unitary Plan).

 

Meantime I recommend a bit of brushing up as well with the PTN if you want a network that better serves you…

 

 

Council is Watching

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Council Watching Digital and Social Media

 

On Unitary Plan Commentary and Feedback

 

I saw this from the Auckland Unitary Plan – Submit Now Facebook page this morning and took a rather particular interest in it. Not that BR:AKL has been linked (although I send thanks for the link (and further advertisement of where I will be this week with Unitary Plan community meetings)) but rather what Council is up to. I shall let the page do the explaining:

From Character Coalition:
Last week, as part of the Coalition’s action plan in the weeks to the end of May, we focused on encouraging your organisation’s members to contact your local MPs about the Government’s RMA changes, which will embed the whole Unitary Plan submission/panel hearings process.

Some feedback on your actions last week would be very welcome.

ACTIONS FOR WEEK TWO
This week we need to concentrate on getting involved in the public conversations about the Unitary Plan – they are happening in several important arenas and are gathering momentum.

It’s important the Coalition’s perspective gets out there for two reasons:
1. The Council has stated that comment on blogs and social media will be counted as an official part of the Unitary Plan feedback process.
2. There are some very organised forces at work trying to influence the debate their way.
3. Council staff are constant participants/contributors to these blogs/tweets etc…

There are a number of ways you can get your members to jump in and become part of the ongoing debate:

Do you go online to look at media coverage of the debates about the plan? The Herald site in particular has a very active comments section. After each article is published, please comment and give your groups’ perspective. Encourage your members to do the same. You need to register to participate, but it is easy to do.

Some important blog sites –

Auckland Transport Blog http://saveourstheliers.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d8c1a4f3e43d639102ebf718c&id=220a4e61e3&e=c50f52d98b. Geoff Houtman has just posted an article about trams!

Cities Matter, at http://saveourstheliers.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d8c1a4f3e43d639102ebf718c&id=25c582b7cf&e=c50f52d98b

Ben Ross: Auckland at http://saveourstheliers.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d8c1a4f3e43d639102ebf718c&id=8267307aec&e=c50f52d98b – he’s attending UP meetings all over Auckland and spreading his message

One to watch is Eye on Auckland http://saveourstheliers.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=d8c1a4f3e43d639102ebf718c&id=6630d4584c&e=c50f52d98b. It has a rant about NIMBYs and some very vitriolic material on the St Heliers meeting. We can’t let this sort of misinformation go unchallenged so get on there and have your say.

If any of you are talkback fans it would be great to start some conversations on radio as well.

Keep local issues alive by writing to your local paper – letters to the editor generate debate

YOUR EFFORTS NOW ARE CRUCIAL
This “feedback/submissions” stage, finishing at the end of May, is extremely important.
Because it’s easier to try and influence a draft plan than to get changes made once it’s notified.

I cannot stress to you enough that this battle will be won only if we mobilise right across the Coalition.
The Council must be made to feel the heat all over the region.

Feel confident that your action makes a difference, get your members into gear and make the Coalition message visible across Auckland.

MAIN POINTS TO STRESS
• The timetable is far too rushed, given size and complexity of UP, remaining 6 weeks too short for informed public input.
• The plan will not protect heritage and character – lack of notification, scale and placement of intensification.
• Communities are still shut out of the process – no local plans, this is a ‘top-down-plan by the Council.
• Auckland’s infrastructure will not cope – where are the environmental impact reports?
• People do not trust the Council to get it right – look at the past.

These particular bold points are the ones to take note of:
  • The Council has stated that comment on blogs and social media will be counted as an official part of the Unitary Plan feedback process.
  • Council staff are constant participants/contributors to these blogs/tweets etc…

I know the last bullet point has been happening with the discussions I get into with Councillors and Planners through the digital outlets floating around. It is how I can convey messages and requests back quickly to the Council and Unitary Plan team, and vice versa from them to me.

As for commenting on blogs and social media, umm yeah well at this rate with that considered feedback then I have well and truly spammed Council with all my commentary on the UP thus far (and we still have 6-weeks to go).

 

 

But the point is rather indicative: Council is paying very wide attention to what is being said around the city with the Unitary Plan. So come on folks, get in there and have your say – this is your city here.

I also better work on my “message” too, can’t go to mush here and go contradicting myself in all this (or doing David Shearer’s favourite game of umm, ooo, and ahh)

 

BEN ROSS : AUCKLAND

BR:AKL: Bring Well Managed Progress

The Unitary Plan: Bringing Change

Auckland: 2013 – OUR CITY, OUR CALL