A News Post on something that has happened
Removal of slip lanes to protect both cars and pedestrians From Auckland Council: Step forward for safer walking in the city centre Pedestrian safety and access in the city centre … Continue reading Stepping Forward for a Safer Auckland City Centre #BetterAuckland
Goal? To have the home price to income ratio down to 5:1 by 2030 Yesterday a report was released called Housing supply, choice and affordability with it outlining measures to get … Continue reading Housing Affordability Report from Council Chief Economist Out
I present this without comment from Auckland Council:
Auckland Council has applied to have Penny Bright’s defamation proceedings struck out, with the matter to be heard by the High Court at a hearing on 5 November.
The council is seeking to recover unpaid rates of $38,372.22 from Ms Bright which date back eight years.
Separately, Ms Bright has initiated defamation proceedings in relation to comments concerning her unpaid rates made by the council in a press statement last year, which the council is defending against.
Ms Bright has refused repeated offers from council to resolve the outstanding rates, in a manner which would avoid her incurring financial hardship or the sale of her house.
Auckland Council’s General Manager Finance Kevin Ramsay says: “Auckland Council did not initiate these defamation proceedings but clearly we need to respond to the claims Ms Bright has made. As we have said previously, we believe the views expressed about Ms Bright were fair and accurate, and we completely reject the accusations she has made.
“We have given Ms Bright every opportunity to resolve her outstanding rates bill in a way that would avoid financial hardship, including the option of deferment. That option remains open to her.”
“Ms Bright’s offer to settle the defamation case with an apology and a payment to her of $10,000 was unacceptable from our perspective. It is open to Ms Bright to stop the court action at any time without further unnecessary costs to ratepayers.”
The courts have discretion, but routinely award costs to successful parties. Costs will be sought if the application succeeds.
Further Information: Background to Defamation proceedings
The proceedings were brought by Ms Bright following this statement, issued by Auckland Council, in October last year.
The statement followed comments made by her in this Herald interview and other media reports prior to 10 October.
Background to Ms Bright’s outstanding rates
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Strong support for bus way extension and accompanying bus station to Albany From NZTA The NZ Transport Agency would like to thank the public for their involvement and feedback for … Continue reading NZTA: Great community Feedback Received On Next Stage of Northern Corridor Improvements Project
From Auckland Transport:
In April, Auckland Transport short-listed three companies, Transdev Auckland, KiwiRail and Serco NZ, to tender to operate rail passenger services from July 2016.
General Manager AT Metro Mark Lambert says the decision to postpone the release of the request for tender is being made due to a number of contributing factors.
“Since the decision to tender for a new contract, the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) between Auckland Council and the Government has commenced that will consider strategic transport opportunities, which is likely to include rail services and infrastructure. The significant City Rail Link (CRL) infrastructure project will also commence enabling works in the next few months bringing the delivery of this project closer. With these key strategic considerations in mind it would be prudent to wait for any outputs that may impact the scope of future rail service delivery before we go to tender”.
Another key factor relates to the recent transition to full electric train operations (other than between Papakura and Pukekohe) from 20 July and achieving a stable period of high rail punctuality and reliability performance prior to release of the request for tender.
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One to watch and one to research I saw this from The NBR this morning as The Warehouse adapts to both the Downtown Auckland redevelopment as well as trialling something … Continue reading Warehouse Online Pickup Could Test Our Planning Regimes #AKLPols
I prodded the Council yesterday after seeing the Herald report on complaints of gaseous smells in the area as well as Manukau that drew complaints for the last six months prior to Wednesday’s explosion (see: Smells reported before deadly explosion).
This from the Council:
Following the tragic incident at Salter’s Cartage yesterday afternoon, Auckland Council is providing assistance to WorkSafe NZ and other agencies to ascertain the cause of the explosion.
Staff are visiting the area today to check whether there are any contaminants discharging into the estuary that need to be contained as a result of the explosion.
On 6 August 2015, Auckland Council staff visited Salter’s Cartage for a routine compliance inspection and subsequently an abatement notice was issued for concerns with certain ducting and internal processes.
Salter’s Cartage was asked to provide an action plan to remedy issues by the end of September.
“Until WorkSafe NZ has completed its investigation we are unable to comment on the matter further,” says Auckland Council’s General Manager Resource Consents, Ian Smallburn.
Following yesterday’s incident the council has received queries regarding previous odour complaints recorded in the area.
Auckland Council has received approximately 60 complaints regarding gas odours in the general Wiri and Manukau areas since August 2014.
“Staff investigate each complaint thoroughly, and at this stage we have no conclusive evidence to associate these with any particular source,” says Mr Smallburn.
“Typically the odours were experienced over a short duration and have been reported in isolated pockets over a wide area, which makes investigating a source of origin very difficult,” he says.
Auckland Council has no evidence to suggest that either of the two issues outlined above are in any way associated with yesterday’s tragedy.
Auckland Council set up an oil recovery scheme with Salter’s Cartage, which was handed over to another organisation in 2012.
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Believe me when that smell lingered in Manukau (even causing fire alarms to be triggered and/or buildings to be evacuated as people thought natural gas was leaking) was potent, potent enough I could even smell it on the Southern Motorway more than once passing by Manukau.
So then what was the cause of that smell that did make people sick?
As for the abatement notice that does raise an eye brow as well.
Ummmm someone forgot about the needed station? It seems the Resource Consent for the Wesley College Special Housing Area (the largest of all SHAs at 4,500 homes) is to be … Continue reading Wesley College SHA Advanced But No Mention of Paerata Station? #AKLPols
Today (and what is it with Agenda’s coming out at very short notice) Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board will conduct its montly meeting where I see a Notice of Motion has come up. You can read the web version of the agenda HERE.
That Notice of Motion:
Notices of Motion
| 11.1 Notice of Motion: Request for the NRL 9’s opening to be hosted in South Auckland |
| In accordance with Standing Order 3.11.1, the following Notice of Motion has been received from Nick Bakulich for inclusion on the agenda for the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board meeting being held on day, Wednesday, 16 September 2015.
Purpose 1. The purpose of this Notice of Motion is to seek the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board’s support for the 2016 National Rugby League (NRL) Nines opening to be held at a venue in South Auckland and to request that the Southern Local Board Chairs consider recommending this to ATEED. |
| Recommendation/s
That the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board: a) Receives the notice of motion b) Supports the opening of the 2016 National Rugby League (NRL) Nines at a venue in South Auckland. c) Asks the Local Board Chair, Lemauga Lydia Sosene, to raise this matter with the Southern Local Board Chairs Forum to seek their joint support for a request to ATEED to arrange the hosting of the opening of the 2016 NRL Nines at a venue in one of the southern local board areas. |
…….
Okay given the size of Eden Park (60,000) and the amount of people the 9’s pull I am wondering if we have anything available of size in South Auckland to hold such an opening.
That said I am wary of this given the opening probably should be at Eden Park given this is where the 9’s will be held.
Will see what comes about from this.
Transport
| Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board – 16 September 2015 |
Auckland Transport Update – September 2015
File No.: CP2015/19141
Purpose
Executive Summary
| Recommendation/s
That the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board: a) Receives the Auckland Transport Update – September 2015 b) Supports the removal of all on-street car parking on both Mascot and Friesian Avenues required to deliver the ‘Future Streets’ project c) Supports any removal and replacement of street trees as part of the ‘Future Streets’ project. d) Supports ‘blocking’ Windrush Close in order to stop its use as a circuit by street racers and to create a gateway into the new walkway linking this street with Waddon Place. |
Responding to Resolutions
Discussion
Security at Mangere Town Centre
Regional Land Transport Programme
Berm Planting Policy
Rail Update – City Rail Link Appeals Process Completed
Fig 1 – Artist’s Impression of the Proposed New Aotea Station – Deep under the Aotea Centre
Future Streets
Even after considerable work with the community and MOLB, the proposal is very ‘progressive’, in that, it gives priority to pedestrians and cyclists over cars. The project team has therefore requested a strong signal of the MOLB’s support, preferably by resolution. A draft resolution has been included above for consideration by the MOLB.
The resolution will be used to demonstrate the MOLB’s support for the project when it is reviewed by Auckland Council and by Auckland Transport’s Traffic Control Committee.
Figure 1 – Pictures of the Proposed Road Layout on Mascot Ave.
The reasons for removing the trees include ensuring the new road layouts have good visibility, replacing trees that are not growing well and making sure that criminals do not have places to hide near walkways.
The MOLB has requested that any trees removed that are usable are made available for re-use and the project team has agreed to this request in principle.
A draft resolution has been included above for consideration by the MOLB.
This is another ‘progressive’ proposal that the project team would feel more comfortable about pursuing through the consenting and Traffic Control Committee process if the MOLB has clearly expressed strong support for it by resolution.
A draft resolution has been included above for consideration by the MOLB.
Figure 2 – Picture of the Type of Closure Proposed on Windrush Close
Figure 3 – Location of the Proposed Closure on Windrush Close
Local Board Transport Capital Fund (LBTCF):
Attachments
| No. | Title | Page |
| AView | RTPL presentation | 35 |
| BView | Summary of Engagement | 45 |
| CView | Capital Fund Projects | 51 |
| DView | Issues Report | 59 |
| EView | Summary of Consultation | 61 |
Signatories
…………
Pictures and full agenda HERE.
Just waiting on the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board’s agenda now given they have outstanding Resolutions concerning Manukau City Centre.
From the Office of the Mayor Len Brown:
Auckland Mayor Len Brown has endorsed the government’s review of investor migrant rules and hopes it will see more funds directed into startups and growth companies.
The Mayor’s comments follow the release of a paper from Auckland business incubator Icehouse which proposes changing New Zealand’s Investor Migrant Policy to channel a portion of wealthy migrant investment into New Zealand’s strategic capital needs which include providing capital for emerging growth companies.
“Auckland is creating an innovation city,” says Len Brown.
“We have seen the emergence of companies like Orion Health, PowerbyProxi, Adherium and Wherescape. We are also the location for a number of venture capital and private equity funds, and some of New Zealand’s most active angel investors. About half of all angel investment in New Zealand goes into Auckland-based startups.
“The key constraint for many technology companies, however, remains investment capital.
“An initiative which deepens the pool of capital available to be invested into growth companies will help shift our economy to one based on technology and innovation. And if that means these companies can grow while maintaining their New Zealand base that will be positive for the economy.
“The Icehouse idea has merit. If we can attract migrants who want to invest into growth companies and opportunities in Auckland and New Zealand, it can only be good.
“I hope the government gives it careful thought as it undertakes the review.”
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Sounds good although I hope the idea is not going to be Government handled thus picking winners like Minister Steven Joyce likes to do (and fails).
The idea would benefit Auckland especially as like-type business and industries clump together naturally (rather than having a public authority do it via innovation hubs) for agglomeration bonus effects that start kicking in.
In Southern Auckland’s case that would be:
Talking Southern Auckland 