Category: News

A Cluster—-?

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Someone Threw the Pipe Wrench into the Works

 

I saw Councillor Chris Fletcher’s comment that she was going to quit the Auckland Plan Committee workshops that are dealing with the Unitary Plan last night. I was going to look at that obstinate behaviour this morning however it seems to have caused a slight issue.

Then again with the barrow Orsman is pushing I am not particularly surprised this situation is floating around the Main Stream Media and social media realms this morning.

I will look at the consequences of Councillor Fletcher’s decision yesterday later on today. For the mean time apart from another issue that had me beavering away last I will take a look at Councillor Brewer’s piece on Campbell Live that should be giving Auckland Transport some necessary grief. Following that with some follow-up enquiries I have sent to Council on the workshops and what is going on there.

 

Honest reaction from me in regards to Councillor Fletcher committing the action she did yesterday? Okay sure I can understand the frustration she is venting. I did note last week that it was pointless to have the first workshop without the full information present (not due out until Friday) but, walking out? By definition if I give a presentation to the Auckland Plan Committee between now and formal notification in regards to the UP, if Councillor Fletcher asks me a question I would be inclined not to “recognise” her nor her question. This is owing to how can someone ask a question or give an answer if they have not being at the workshops to which I would be implying to on something (like Manukau).

So an interesting situation here folks, one that will be watched carefully.

 

GAME ON

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Palino Verse Brown

 

I just caught this across Facebook just now and is worth a share

Must have been a birthday present for John because we can confirm a comprehensive poll was recently completed which showed John Palino very favourably in a two horse race vs. Len Brown! #johnpalinoformayor
 

Now I have not seen the numbers yet personally (and may never will) but, I did comment this in return: “So where the MSM and Right Wing failed the rest of the city and this particular individual already knew. GAME ON!”

I had already warned both the Main Stream Media and Right Wing about their lack of “interest” and dismissive approach against those who are credible in standing again Len. It seems the city thinks differently and shows how offside our MSM and Right Wing are (that is Right Wing not the Centre Right Wing (two very different groups)). Offside owing to (and as I have mentioned before) to their last gasp clutching of the old system that dominated the old Auckland City Council arena for so many decades – yet has little relevance out in the South, West and even North. 

 

So it is game on folks for Mayor. You have two credible choices to make now in which direction you wish YOUR city – YOUR home to go. John Palino or Len Brown

 

 

From Yesterday’s Workshop

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Sorry Folks Have Not Got Much Here

 

Yesterday in my “The Next Steps for the Unitary Plan – Those Workshops” post I made mention that the Auckland Plan Committee and Local Board Chairs held their first workshop. The workshop was on “the principles of development” around our centres – in particular height (which is not being codified as a theme against from our feedback).

In the same post I also made mention that at the end of each workshop a public statement will be released for our consumption. Despite a small glitch from the Council I have that statement which reads the following:

Heights discussed at first Unitary Plan workshop
Today elected members of Auckland Council attended the first post-engagement workshop following feedback on the draft Unitary Plan.
 
Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse said the workshop brought together Local Board Chairs and the Auckland Plan Committee members to talk through the principles governing heights in centres and give interim direction on how changes will be made to the draft plan.
 
“The political direction that came out of today’s workshop is that, while we all agree we need a range of heights across our centres, we would like to see greater refinement to allow for variety within a centre where it is appropriate.”
 
The direction-setting workshops, which will be held over June and July, reflect the main topics in the 22,700 pieces of feedback Aucklanders gave over 11 weeks of engagement.
 
“We have started with centre heights as our first topic, as they set the framework for the level of development in other parts of Auckland. 
 
“Proposed height limits for Auckland’s metropolitan, town and local centres have been widely debated, with clear argument coming through from each side of the debate. Our challenge for heights is to get the balance right and I believe we can do that,” said the Deputy Mayor.
 
Work will now start to refine the principles relating to height in centres as directed. These will then be presented for discussion at the next Auckland Plan Committee.
 
For further details on the feedback and the next steps in the Unitary Plan process, please see the Shape Auckland site.

 

Sorry folks that is all we have right now. Unless a Councillor or Local Board Chair would like to make a further statement this is all we (the city) have to go with for now. And I am going to assume it will be like this until the July 2 Auckland Plan Committee where all the workings of the workshops reach the committee and are discussed in the “open.”

In saying that I will go and ask about the situation that arose to this comment yesterday:

  • Oddly, height (which doesn’t need speech marks because you know what it means) is not a theme submissions are being coded against….

Follow up to that bullet point and my Part Three post will come up later today.

 

 

Tamaki Redevelopment

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Seems It is Finally Going?

 

I picked up this particular article in the Herald this morning in regards to Tamaki.

From the NZH

Leg up on cards for low-income areas

By Simon Collins 5:30 AM Tuesday Jun 18, 2013

Intensive housing project of 6000 homes and ideas for attracting new businesses and training organisations will help revitalise eastern suburbs around Tamaki estuary.

 

Auckland‘s low-income suburbs of Glen Innes, Pt England and Panmure will roughly double in population under a draft plan for more intensive housing to be unveiled today.

The urban “regeneration” project, which could add up to 6000 new homes to an existing 5050, is expected to be one of the first “special housing areas” with fast-tracked resource consent processes under a housing accord signed last month by Housing Minister Nick Smith and Auckland Mayor Len Brown.

 

The target of 6000, included in the accord, makes it the biggest housing development scheduled in Auckland and twice as big as the 3000-unit Hobsonville development.

It covers the area between West Tamaki Rd in the north and the Panmure Basin in the south, including 2880 Housing NZ homes, about 1160 owner-occupied houses and just over 1000 private rental properties.

Unlike other developments, the draft Tamaki strategy also includes 11 other social, economic and environmental elements, as well as housing, designed to make the area more liveable despite doubling the population density.

 

The area is among Auckland’s most deprived, with a 2006 median income of only $20,000 and an employment rate of only 52 per cent, compared with 65 per cent across Auckland. Sole parents make up almost half the area’s families.

But the strategy sees opportunities for more jobs and training by attracting new businesses, redeveloping under-used land along the existing railway and encouraging training agencies such as Manukau Institute of Technology, Unitec and Te Wananga o Aotearoa to take over parts of Auckland University‘s Tamaki campus, which the university plans to sell as it develops a new campus in Newmarket.

 

…

 

Aims of the project

1. Cultural identity
Work with iwi and heritage groups to protect cultural landmarks; run community events; facilitate a weekend or night market; include public art in all major projects.

2. Healthy, happy children
Support early childhood education through Tamaki Learning Champions; support e-learning and driver’s licence training; promote child-friendly parks.

3. Health and recreation
Support sports clubs to increase sporting participation; support an integrated family health centre; support watersports facility at Panmure wharf and multi-sports facilities at Dunkirk Reserve.

4. Safety
Support Maori wardens and Maori and Pacific youth groups.

5. Education
Work to keep educational courses when Auckland University sells its Tamaki campus.

6. Employment
Support services for beneficiaries returning to work, eg, CVs, financial literacy; use Tamaki Redevelopment Company jobs as stepping stones to other work.

7. Economic development
Attract new businesses; use housing developments to foster construction industry businesses.

8. Innovation
Develop affordable housing; support social finance initiatives for social enterprise and small business.

9. Urban environment
Work with council to redevelop Glen Innes town centre, including shared spaces for pedestrians and cars; also to redevelop Panmure town centre.

10. Housing
Work with Housing NZ to decide which houses to keep or redevelop; build or promote a range of housing types, including affordable housing; buy or sell land to create development parcels.

11. Natural environment
Use environmentally sustainable practices, eg, solar power, collected rainwater, sustainable materials; develop paths along Tamaki River and connecting green spaces; support community gardens.

12. Transport
Work with private investors to reopen former Tamaki railway station and develop park-and-ride facilities.

Have your say

*Celebrating Community Day, Glen Innes town centre, this Saturday, 11am-2pm.
*Panmure flea market, Sunday June 30, 9am-noon.
*Glen Innes Kulture and Kai market, Saturday July 6, 8am-1pm.
*Online: tamakimakingithappen.co.nz

…

You can read the article over at the Herald site itself

But it seems after years if not decades of procrastination this large brownfield redevelopment project is slowly getting under way. Not without controversy mind you in regards to the relocation of state houses in the area.

I remember back in 2010 when I was a University of Auckland Master of Planning Practice student in my second semester having to trot out to Glen Innes and “research” the area. The purpose behind that being that as the second urban design paper of the course (there were two at the time) I/we (the class) had to produce a redevelopment paper for Tamaki and present it to the residents and businesses.

I still have that final development paper gathering dust and cobwebs stored away along with other “mothballed” urban design work I wrote as a student back then.

In the end the paper scored an ‘A-‘ and received favourable reviews. Again like my previous Wynyard Quarter urban design piece (which also go a ‘A-‘) it was deemed controversial but, only because I went macro (rather than micro like the class did) in the design work (so take the whole area rather than a set small area) and did something entirely different to what the rest of the class did.

It also showed my natural knack for urban and transport design rather than the Resource Management Act based stuff (that the bulk of the Masters was) which I found incredibly boring and mundane. And before someone pipes up, yes I just did a 104 page submission to the Unitary Plan which owes its life to the RMA itself (being an RMA based document). However, while I did make mention of Section 4 – the rules; the bulk of the submission had very close links to urban and transport design and management (the zones and the centres). I think I could put this all down to two decades of Sim City for my urban and transport design and management knack – thanks Maxis.

But, back to the paper: After the paper was marked it was intentioned that communication links between Tamaki and myself would be kept open. It never happened after one meeting when communications went cold at the other end. More to the point I was no longer fussed with the developments in Tamaki after 2010 despite an A-grade paper that was ahead of its time gathering the dust in some draw somewhere in the house. 

 

So I see this article crop up about Tamaki and go read it. Afterwards I go brush the cobwebs off the Urban Design piece I wrote three years ago. I suppose I still give a fuss about Tamaki even if the Council and Government apparatus are treated in suspicion.

Good news is that I have a digital copy of my Tamaki Redevelopment Project paper from 2010. You can have a read on what I proposed three years ago and compare to what is being proposed and built today. It does make interesting comparisons.

 

Unitary Plan Coverage Running Hot Again

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Feedback Closed yet the Commentary runs Hot

 

There must be a report due out (which there is) in regards to the Unitary Plan looking at five (now six) different Chrome tabs I have open at the moment in regards to media coverage. The MSM coverage is pretty wide-ranging from support of the UP to some impending changes towards The Clunker as well. Some of the more “interesting” pieces I will look at an individual level later on today and tomorrow.

But first some links into the chatter today around the draft Unitary Plan:

There is also a segment from Morning Report on how kiwi’s might be needing to let go of the 1/4 acre dream as well and be more pragmatic as Auckland grows

Quite the reading for your start of the week…

 

 

Legitimate Concerns with the Unitary Plan?

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What Do you Think?

 

With the Unitary Plan feedback due to close on Friday, we are still getting rumblings on the Unitary Plan popping up in the media. This particular one came up in the Herald this morning – and was not written by Orsman (meaning I will pay attention):

Support for draft plan ‘fading fast’

By Wayne Thompson

Local boards urge mayor to slow things down as ‘enhanced engagement process’ causing confusion.

 

Mayor Len Brown was urged to slow down the process. Photo / NZPA

EXPAND
Mayor Len Brown was urged to slow down the process. Photo / NZPA

Support for the draft Unitary Plan is “melting faster than snow in sunshine” amid widespread anxiety over intensive housing proposals, say the leaders of three local boards from Orakei, Manurewa and Hibiscus & Bays.

In a joint statement, the leaders say the 11-week so-called “enhanced engagement process” for the pre-notified new rule book for growth has confused the public and lacks credible evidence of the effects of higher-density zoning.

Public comments on the draft plan will be accepted up to 5pm on Friday and so far 3000 individual comments have come in.

However, Orakei Local Board chairwoman Desley Simpson predicted a low response from the usually outspoken eastern suburbs people.

Most people were “in the dark” about the council’s disclosure, after nine weeks of presentations, that 70 per cent of the area was proposed for a mixed housing zone, with a maximum height of three storeys instead of two.

They would have wanted a say if they had known that was the case, she said, and urged Mayor Len Brown to slow down the process, which is scheduled to produce a final draft version for public consultation in September.

Manurewa Local Board chairwoman Angela Dalton called on the council to show its evidence in favour of planning for 7000 extra houses in the area. The board’s own market research – presented to the council – showed it was unlikely to happen.

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You can read the rest of the article over at the Herald.

There are several messages cropping up here:

  1. Participation in the Unitary Plan process thus far
  2. Evidence on Council’s methodology behind aspects some zoning like Mixed Housing Zones and the Centres (especially in Town and Local Centres)
  3. The next round of engagement with the Unitary Plan

 

In the case the of participation, the best way to hear the rumblings is listen to this (it is free but you do need to register first) http://www.allaboutauckland.com/video/2253/cr-wood—unitary-plan-notification-delay/1

After that I would recommend reading my “Skewing of the Unitary Plan” in regard to the demographic skewering of Unitary Participation to see where we are at (and the imbalance as well)

With regards to “Evidence on Council’s methodology behind aspects some zoning like Mixed Housing Zones and the Centres (especially in Town and Local Centres);” I have seen a post from Phil McDermott that covers aspects of this and will repost his thoughts later today.

In regards to the next round of engagement with the Unitary Plan; it will be with Local Boards and Key Stakeholders (I got ranked as a Key Stakeholder by Council in regards to the UP – whether I participate in this next round is yet to be seen) around June-July. This is per the resolution moved by the Auckland Plan Committee this month. What this next round with entail and how much effect it will have in reshaping the Unitary Plan is yet to be seen.

 

So legitimate concerns with the Unitary Plan or full of wind? Comments below. My own opinion currently is; allow the May 31 deadline to pass. However, I am interested to see what this next round with Local Boards and Key Stakeholders will entail. More to the point will that particular round have any real grunt in getting changes through in reshaping the UP…

Time will tell

 

Rail Services South of Otahuhu Alert

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Rail Buses Replaces services

Auckland Transport has sent out a flyer alerting passengers of rail buses replaces rail services south of Otahuhu Station every Sunday to Thursday from now until to further notice. This allows Kiwi Rail continue much-needed electrification works that have fallen behind.

Here is the timetable

 

Lets see if Kiwi Rail can get the work done. Be a bit of a bugger if the Onehunga and Western Lines were complete but no wires in operation to the EMU depot further south in Wiri. Ooops

 

Dr Smith and the NIMBY’s

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So a Fish Hook?

 

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I am getting the Herald delivered free on a five-week trial thanks to the AA. You can comment on the irony of the situation later but the word free and word worm-food have relevance here.

So upon reading the A-Section of the Herald (was looking for Orsman after a menacing Facebook remark he made last night on his page) I found this about Dr Nick Smith:

I wonder what he means “lower quality developments” for Auckland and affordable housing.

Would it be the quality like my ex-army house made of treated wood and brick built in the 70’s. It is basic with basic fittings provided in the house but huge potential to upgrade as the resident saves up and upgrades the dwelling (like what we are doing with our home).

Or (and most likely) something like the quality of the Hobson Street rabbit hunches that the NIMBY‘s bark on about that leak like a sponge and are of poor quality (forcing off an expensive virtual rebuild). History (and this hurts when it spells the truth) I believe tells us those rabbit hunches were “signed off” by the C&R dominated former Auckland City Council in 2004 (while the Mayor at the time – Banks wanted a stop to it before he got chucked out because of the Eastern Highway). Oh dear I see irony abound here folks…

For further irony I need not remind Auckland that it was the then National Government of the 1990s that removed the requirement of treated wood for new houses (saving costs to the consumer apparently) and now most of them leak worse than a sponge and have rotted away to such an extent that if your repair bill was not sky-high, your house was basically condemned. As for the old Auckland City and Manukau City Councils that signed off on these disasters as well, I believe both were Centre Right dominated as well in most of that period. If you want me to drive a further boot in the situation who do our conservatives (and NIMBY’s) vote for traditionally.

And before someone sends a flaming comment right back I ask you reflect upon yourself and remember you get what you either ask/vote for or deserve (to the point my generation have to pick up the can from your mistakes).

 

Now the onus is on the Minister Dr Nick Smith to clearly define what he means by “lower quality development.” Because unless you plan to return to building leakers and crap like those Hobson Street apartments, then under the current situation with constructions costs artificially high building a quality basic house like mine would be near impossible for under $300k all up (including land).

Hmm with Northern Regional National Party Conference this weekend, I wonder what is being schemed or parroted in the hallways and theatre rooms…