Category: Hot Discussion

An issue causing hot discussion either here in the blog or in the wider community

Generation Zero: Support on Public Transport

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Press Release from Generation Zero

 

On

 

Increasing Support for Public Transport Investment

 

I have certainly not forgotten about Generation Zero and their efforts for more balanced transport funding. This was from them today over the latest UMR Poll in regards to transport funding support levels:

 

From Scoop.co.nz – Scoop Media

Poll shows Govt’s dinosaur transport plans behind the times

Monday, 25 February 2013, 3:41 pmPress Release: Generation Zero

Poll shows Government’s ‘dinosaur’ transport plans behind the times

25 February 2013

Youth organisation Generation Zero has endorsed a recent poll by UMR research showing that support for spending on public transport has doubled over the last 20 years.

When asked whether they preferred Government money being spent on motorways and public roads or on public transport, 48 per cent of survey participants supported spending on public transport – in contrast, 37 per cent supported spending on motorways and public roads.

The poll by UMR Research shows the changing times in New Zealand with a reverse from 1992, when 43 per cent of those surveyed preferred Government money to be spent on motorways and other public roads, compared with 25 per cent support for public transport as the priority spending candidate.

Generation Zero spokesperson Louis Chambers said, “It’s time for the Government to get with the times on transport funding in New Zealand.”

The centrepiece of the Government’s transport strategy is to spend over $12 billion on its seven so-called ‘Roads of National Significance’.

To raise the money for these motorways, the Government has had to raise fuel taxes and is amending the Land Transport Management Act to allow the New Zealand Transport Agency unlimited borrowing capacity with only a signoff from the Finance Minister required.

Meanwhile, the Government is refusing to fund smart transport initiatives like the Auckland City Rail Link, and the National Land Transport Programme 2012-15 shows that for every dollar invested in new infrastructure for rail, buses, walking and cycling, 20 dollars will be spent on new state highways.

“This poll shows that New Zealanders understand our transport future can’t look like the past, and smart cities need smart transport systems to support them,” said Mr Chambers.

“But the Government doesn’t seem to get it – spending billions on unnecessary and uneconomic motorways like the Kapiti Expressway at the expense of vital smart transport projects like the City Rail Link.”

“The Government’s dinosaur transport plans will entrench ‘business as usual’, locking us into increased carbon emissions and dependence on foreign oil. As young Kiwis, that’s not what the future we want to be handed.”

“It’s time to deliver New Zealanders the better public transport systems that they’re calling for, but this will only be possible if we stop throwing money at these motorways of madness.”

About Generation Zero:
Generation Zero is an independent youth organisation seeking to catalyse action on climate change in New Zealand. For more information see:
www.generationzero.org.nz
www.facebook.com/GenerationZero

ENDS

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The UMR poll was pretty convincing and I am willing to support Generation Zero in their call made above about our Dinosaur Central Government being that – Dinosaurs in regards to these Roads of National (Party) Significance.

BR:AKL also continues to support Generation Zero’s 50:50 transport funding campaign. 😀

THE MANUKAU INTERCHANGE – Work Resumed?

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Work Resumed on the Stalled MIT and Manukau Transport Interchange Building?

 

 

Last Friday before heading to up north for a spectacular weekend away chill-laxing I popped in Manukau to do some last-minute shopping (as you do). As I was coming down State Highway One to approach the Manukau turn-off I noticed the Mainzeal crane was actually working at the MIT and Manukau Transport Interchange site. I thought to myself; “Okay, have we started again?” As I have covered in previous posts such as the “THE MANUKAU INTERCHANGE – FROM THE HILL” work has stalled at the site leaving the place like a mess and an eye sore.

 

Here are the recent photos from the site with the crane actually working

2013-02-22 12.55.04

 

 

2013-02-22 12.54.59

 

Click pictures for full resolution

 

So a good sign that the crane was working and workers milling around? In this case it is a no. I went up to the fence at the site entrance to have a closer look and saw no construction trucks of any kind. What was happening is that the crane was lifting down portable generators and other construction equipment into trucks and the subsequent equipment being taken off site.

Umm not so good as that means the site is now pretty much abandoned with a small squad of security guards posted at the entrance gate keeping a watch. It also means Auckland Transport will not be opening their new transport interchange at the same site in June (which was already a delayed date – the interchange was meant to be open next month) if I read their February Board Meeting Agenda properly.

 

To add a new twist to this I am reading that the Auckland Council Governing Body is having its meeting at the Manukau Civic Building which is where I had my RPTP hearing earlier AND is right next to the MIT site. Now is the mayor and councillors going to take the train from Britomart to Manukau Station (which is under the MIT building site) and back again for this meeting or they going to chicken out and take cars? While at the Civic Building I wonder if George, Sharon and Dick will take the rest of the Governing Body to the MIT eye sore and show the rest of the Councillors and Mayor what South Auckland is currently lugged with. I might show up as the tour guide just to emphasis a point to boot.

 

Regular updates from the Manukau Interchange will occur until the building is finally complete. In the meantime it really does look like an eye sore from the outside AND inside…

THE MANUKAU INTERCHANGE – From The Hill

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Is it Really Now an Eye Sore?

 

On Tuesday in my “THE MANUKAU INTERCHANGE – CTD“ I showed the Manukau Interchange (and resulting MIT building for which the interchange is contained in and with) not looking the best picture of roses – in fact the skeletal structure and dust blowing through an abandoned construction site is rather sad and looking like an eye sore.

 

I also said in that post: “The shot I did miss was the shot of the frame and steel girders of the MIT/Manukau Interchange from the top of Redoubt Road heading down the hill towards Manukau City Centre and the motorways. It was a sad shot as the entire ghost site now looks like a large eye sore if one was view gazing towards the airport and picturesque Manukau Harbour (I wonder what it looks like from an aircraft flying over head seeming the main flight path is right there).”

 

So I went and got some of those long and wide shots yesterday and you can ask yourself whether the skeletal structure is an eye sore or not:

 

Still waiting on how Auckland Council and Auckland Transport plan to get the Manukau Transport Interchange finished sooner rather than later…

 

Feedback on Sky-Path

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Sky-Path Asks for Feedback

 

In the previous post I had released the PDF presentation of the AHB Pathway Trust, Sky-Path project: “AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE – SKY PATH – (PART FOUR)”

Again you can read the PDF below:

 

THE PDF OF THE SKY-PATH PROPOSAL FROM THE AHB PATHWAY TRUST

 

 

AHB Pathway Trust who are sparing heading Sky-Path have asked for feedback on the multi-million dollar project in which BR:AKL will assist. You can either leave comments below in the BR:AKL comment box, HOWEVER I and mostly the Trust would prefer you post your feedback in the channels I am posting below:

 

Contacts for Sky-Path:

Bevan Woodward, Project Director
AHB Pathway Trust
bevan@skypath.org.nz
Mobile: 021 122 6040

Kirsten Shouler
Project Coordinator
AHB Pathway Trust
kirstenn@skypath.org.nz

 

Contact Form:

Contact

 

Your View Forum:

Your Views – Tell us what you think

 

The FAQ List (Highly Recommended Reading)

FAQ

 

Get-Across Latest News Page (Sky-Path is located here)

Latest NEWS

 

 

Again Continue to watch this space as the Sky-Path situation continues to make its way through the Council processes.

Submission to Annual Plan

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Submission Sent for 2013/2014 Annual Plan

 

I have just sent my submission through the online portal to Auckland Council for the 2013/2014 Annual Plan. I used the online portal for such submissions as an “express mode” of sending the basics of my idea through to the Councillors and bureaucrats with the main thrust of my arguments subsequently made at a hearing where I can talk to Councillors and bureaucrats (with more success) face to face.

In saying that there are times with submissions where I will go “knit a flag” and do the 55 page spiel where I think the topic is critical. This was both The Auckland Plan and Long Term Plan submissions I did as well a 25 page spiel for the Auckland Transport Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP). In all three cases I fronted up to hearings or forum panels to make my points emphasised to the councillors and bureaucrats.

 

As this is an open democracy (and where I expect people to disagree as well) – and the fact my submission is public anyhow, I am going to paste my express online submission here below before going to work in the Hearings presentation:

Express Online Submission to 2013/2014 Annual Plan

 

The Supporting Documents can be found by clicking the links below

Extract From BR on AP in Regards to Stations PDF Mode  (THE RAIL EFFICIENCY PROGRAM #5A)

Extract From BR for AP Submission PDF Mode  (BACK FROM HEARING PANEL)

 

As I said above I will front the Annual Plan Hearings to emphasis the points made in the online submission when the time comes up to do so.

 

But the basic principle of Council Living Within Its Means and Open Governance apply and again will be emphasised in the hearings and beyond.

 

Now I await for the phone call to make the time slot for the hearing which should be… nuts I might be in Australia when this occurs <_<  – will have to wait and see then.

 

In the mean time you have until February to make your Annual Plan Submission. You can find the Annual Plan homepage here: Draft annual plan 2013/2014, which also includes the link to the Online submission portal.

 

Southern Auckland’s Future

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Coming Soon on BR:AKL

 

South and Counties Auckland – Development to and for the Future

 

 

I am going to be writing up a series of posts looking at one way South and Counties Auckland (so Southern Auckland) could evolve urban and transport fabric wise through the life of the Auckland Plan

It’s Sim City meets Auckland Planner

Here at BR:AKL

 

 

Southern Auckland and the lower Eastern Suburbs – my home and all under the watchful gaze of BR:AKL.

 

The entire area I will try to “simulate” out a planning exercise showing that evolution of the urban and transport fabric wise through the life of the Auckland Plan here in Southern Auckland – my and for some YOUR home (and/or business).

 

Let’s see what I can come up with while the Auckland Council Unitary Plan is further refined – AND STILL THICKER THAN A BIBLE!