Get your submission in for or against the project From Auckland Transport Upgrade of key southern transport link open for comment A planned upgrade of a key transport link in … Continue reading Submissions to Mill Road Project Open
The Ovation of the Seas is part of a new breed of mega-cruise ship. Currently being built in Germany, its sister ship the Quantum of the Seas is shown here. Source: NZ HeraldOne of the new generation of billion dollar plus mega cruise ships is heading for New Zealand.
Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas will cruise in New Zealand and Australian waters next year and will be the biggest cruise ship to ever visit.
Its arrival is a coup for the fast-growing cruise industry in this country – one of the most rapidly expanding in the world – and the tourism sector which has targeted the industry as a source of high numbers of increasingly wealthy visitors.
Ovation is still being built at a shipyard in Germany and when finished will be 348m long and 168,666 gross registered tonnes.
The biggest cruise ship to enter New Zealand so far is the Queen Mary 2 at 148,528 gross tonnes and 345m in length. Another Royal Caribbean ship, Voyager of the Seas regularly calls here and is 311m and 137,276 tonnes although has to date been the biggest by the number of passengers.
Good to see that the 348 metre long mega ship is coming to visit Auckland next year. That said the irony has not been lost on me either that the ship will technically only be able to fit on Bledisole or Wnyard Wharf (see below).
Berths along water front including length
For the ship to fit on Bledisole without the wharf extensions the Marsden Wharf would need to go which is touted in the Central Wharves Strategy. Fail that Bledisole would need to be extended. The other option which is a more long term option is for the Waterfront Auckland owned Wynyard Wharf to be converted from a liquid bulk terminal as current to a passenger terminal. Now with the tank farm on Wynyard Point going within the next 15 years utilising a converted Wynyard Wharf would be ideal.
Why?
Passengers disembark into a high end retail, commercial, residential, hotel, hospitality area that is more dispersed than the Quay Street area
Public transport links as buses, light rail and eventually the North Shore Line come on stream
Takes 5,000 passengers and supporting buses or trucks (for supplies) away from the busy Quay Street which handles people, traffic and freight
No blocking those views from Queens Wharf if the ship was docked at Bledisole
So yes the irony of this big mega ship has not been lost on me in the port debate at all.
Growth keeps coming, Auckland Transport acknowledges issues with Rail From Auckland Transport Auckland’s public transport numbers keep going up There’s been another big jump in the numbers using public transport … Continue reading Public Transport especially Rail Patronage Surges
Public Notification and Submission Period to also be opened This Saturday and Sunday in Manukau City Centre Auckland Transport is having two open days on the controversial Redoubt Road-Mill Road … Continue reading Open Days for Redoubt Mill Road Corridor
A Pukekohe commuter has been left alone at night and in tears over delays involving Auckland Transport.
Kristie Weeks travels the Southern Line from Pukekohe to Britomart fives days a week. On Friday March 13th, Kristie caught her usual 5.18pm service home to Pukekohe.
After further delays the train reached Takanini and passengers were told the train would be terminating at Papakura and taxi vans would be arranged to take them rest of the way to Pukekohe.
Only two taxi vans had been arranged and Kristie was left in tears, alone in an unfamiliar place at night. With no seats left she was told she would need to make her own way home.
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The same incident happened the following Monday, fortunately, Kristie was able to get a seat on the taxi van that night. More train delays and terminations continued throughout the week, leaving Kristie and other passengers sitting at a standstill for more than two hours due to broken trains ahead.
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Media Relations Manager for Auckland Transport, Mark Hannan, told We Love Pukekohe that this is unacceptable.
“There should have been replacement transport available for all passengers, and we apologise if this wasn’t the case. Transdev (Auckland) is investigating and are now contacting staff who worked those shifts.”
There has been no response since from Transdev to We Love Pukekohe’s request for comment.
That just strengthens my call for Auckland Council to conduct a full and open public inquiry into our metro rail network. Do the inquiry of confidence and faith grounds especially as patronage grows but that growth is at risk from confidence issues.
The last four weeks with rail failures are unacceptable and both Transdev insofar as their management and control room, and Auckland Transport need to lift their game. We do not need “accidents” owing to their respective failures like Pukekohe.
Today Auckland Council CEO, Stephen Town, announced the appointment of Jim Quinn as the new Chief of Strategy.
Mr Quinn is an experienced CEO and executive manager. As the inaugural CEO of KiwiRail he led the integration of New Zealand’s rail assets and created the plan to turn the business around.
Stephen Town says “This is a pivotal role in the refreshed executive leadership team and will take the lead in translating Auckland’s big plans into action and building a unified region.”
“Jim is joining us at a time when Auckland is growing and changing rapidly. His knowledge of infrastructure, transport and the technology industry will be a great asset to Auckland Council and Aucklanders.”
Jim has previous experience in General Management roles with New Zealand Post, Advantage Group, WEL Energy, QED Software and New Zealand Couriers. He was Chair of MCom for nine years and is currently a director at Lyttleton Port, Payments New Zealand, Halls Group and Go Bus.
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Further Information
Mr Quinn replaces Roger Blakely who completed his fixed term as Chief Planning Officer.
The Chief Planning Office (CPO) is the policy and planning division of Auckland Council which was established in November 2010.
The Chief Planning Office has been responsible for the preparation of several of the plans and strategies developed in the first term of the Auckland Council, including:
SFO to investigate previous “Conflict of Interest” claims
In 2013 it was revealed that there were issues relating to Auckland Transport’s roading unit (see: NOTICED AND NOT REALLY SURPRISED)
On Thursday and rather quietly given that we have just gone through the Easter Weekend, the Serious Fraud Office confirmed it would begin investigating Auckland Transport into the roading contract saga back in 2013.
From Radio NZ:
Auckland Transport charges laid
Updated at 9:32 am on 3 April 2015
The Serious Fraud Office has confirmed it has laid charges following an investigation into fraud allegations involving individuals connected to Auckland Transport.
Auckland Transport said the claims related to its road corridor maintenance business, which looks after more than 700 kilometres of roading in the region.
The Serious Fraud Office began its investigation, independent of Auckland Transport’s internal investigation, in October 2013.
Yesterday, it laid charges against an unspecified number of individuals linked to the council-controlled agency. No court dates have yet been set.
In a statement, Auckland Transport said a thorough review of processes and documentation was undertaken throughout 2012 and 2013.
It said it had since brought in more robust procurement processes and introduced new levels of contract oversight.
Something tells me this might be only the tip of the iceberg if a full investigation into Auckland Transport was to be done. That is turning everything right over upside down to make sure all is kosher in an organisation that can consume upwards of 54% of our Rates.
Engineers from Spain out to investigate Well after the issues plaguing the Rail Network (both Electric and Diesel fleet) over the last three weeks Auckland Transport finally seems to be … Continue reading Electric Train Issue Wider Than First Thought
Talking Southern Auckland 