Category: Planning

Looking at all things planning.
Check the Sub Categories for more specific forms of planning

Changes to the City Rail Link [updated with video from Auckland Transport]

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LGOMIA request to go in for Post-CRL Operational Plan

 

Bit of activity around the changes to the City Rail Link this morning in order to scale back costs.

From the Office of the Mayor

Mayor announces 20 percent cut in cost of City Rail Link

Auckland Mayor Len Brown has announced a significant reduction in the cost of the City Rail Link (CRL) from $2.86 billion to less than $2.4 billion lowering the price of Auckland’s number one transport infrastructure priority by about 20 per cent.

A significant part of that cost reduction is an Auckland Transport (AT) decision to redevelop the existing Mt Eden Station and connect it to the CRL rather than build a new underground station at Newton.

That design change will save more than $150 million, improve the reliability and journey time of train services, minimise construction disruption and reduce property purchase requirements.

The other significant saving is a decision that additional electric trains will not be required as part of the core CRL project, saving more than $330 million.

Len Brown says the ongoing review of the design and costs for the project shows we can get the CRL operational using the existing fleet. It is expected new units will be required for the CRL’s future developments, as the network expands.

“This is an exciting development and makes a 2016 start date for the construction of the CRL even more realistic, especially at a time when more and more people are choosing to get out of their cars and travel by rail*,” says Mayor Brown.

“Aucklanders are behind this, the business and investment community are behind this, we just need to get on and get it done.”

Mayor Brown said he expects more good news on the cost of the project to come as optimisation, value engineering and advances in tunnelling technology are taken into account.

*The year to June 2014 saw a 13.9% increase in Auckland rail patronage, to 11.4 million trips.

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More coverage can be seen at the following:

Auckland transport project overhauled

AT drops Newton Station for cheaper CRL

And from Todd Niall at Radio NZ this morning

The text version can be seen here: $500m cost cut in Auckland rail plans

 

More on this later today including sending in a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request on the post CRL operating plan

 

UPDATE: Auckland Transport has a video on the Mt Eden Station Changes

 

Have You Submitted on your Local Board’s Plan Yet?

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August 6 is when submission close

 

From Auckland Council

Still time to help shape your Local Board Plan

 

Aucklanders are reminded that they have until 5pm on Wednesday 6 August to make a submission on their draft Local Board Plan. 

Each board, from Great Barrier, to Franklin in the south and Rodney in the north, has produced a draft Local Board Plan which provides a framework that will guide its decision-making, actions and priorities over the next three years.

Common themes from the draft plans include:

  • protecting, enhancing and restoring the natural environment, with a particular emphasis on improving waterways and harbours
  • a well-connected transport system offering real choice, plus the development of cycleways and walkways for recreation and to get around
  • providing community facilities and  parks, open spaces and sports facilities to encourage active and healthy lifestyles and places for play and relaxation
  • fostering strong local economies which offer a range of local employment opportunities.

 

Board members were out and about in their communities in February and March talking about the ideas that helped shape the draft plans and during July have been seeking formal submissions at consultation meetings around the region.

Aucklanders can still make a submission on their draft Local Board Plan either by filling out the freepost form that was sent with a summary document to every household during July or by going online at shapeauckland.co.nz.

People can read the draft plan in full at the shapeauckland website or by going to selected libraries and Auckland Council service centres.

Once the submission period ends on 6 August, hearings to consider all feedback will be held between August and September, with the Local Board Plans due to be adopted in October.

For more information or additional submission forms, people should call 09 301 0101.

Public feedback will help each board decide what its priorities are. These will then be considered through the process now underway for the next draft Long-term Plan (LTP) for 2015-2025.

 

About local boards

Local boards have a significant and wide-ranging role that spans most local government services and activities. Local boards make decisions on local matters, provide local leadership and support strong local communities. Local boards provide important local input into region-wide strategies and plans including those of the council-controlled organisations (CCOs). Details of each local board can be found at the ‘About Council’ page at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Each local boards’ budget for each year is subject to agreement with the governing body as part of the discussion on the annual local board agreement.

Local boards are responsible for:

  • making decisions about non-regulatory local matters, including negotiating the standards of services delivered locally
  • identifying and communicating the views of local people on regional strategies, policies, plans and bylaws to the governing body
  • developing local board plans every three years and negotiating local board agreements with the governing body
  • providing local leadership and developing relationships with the governing body, the community, community organisations and special interest groups in the local area
  • providing input to CCO plans and initiatives
  • identifying and developing bylaws for the local board area and proposing them to the governing body
  • monitoring and reporting on the implementation of local board agreements
  • any additional responsibilities delegated by the governing body, such as decisions within regional bylaws.

 

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At the moment I am finishing up both the Papakura Local Board, and the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board draft plan submissions. After that it will be onto the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board Area Plan