A Public Notice from Auckland Council. There was no press release for this yet but a “Public Notice” did land in my email box. The public notice is … Continue reading Notification Summary of Decisions Requested to Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan Released
MIT, Manukau Station, Davis Avenue Boulevard looking good I was in Manukau City Centre this afternoon tending to some business. After that and in despite of our miserable weather … Continue reading Manukau Projects Nearing Completion
The Auckland Development Committee for June 12 is up and should prove to be a cracker of a meeting. The Committee is looking at discussing (or reviewing) the following:
No doubt the parking issue will be a lively debate. I can already take a good guess on which way the debate will fall and which of our more “vocal” Councillors will be at the “forefront” of any discussion around parking.
The Auckland Development Committee – June 2014 Agenda
The Auckland Development Committee – June 2014 Addendum Agenda
The Auckland Transport Draft Parking Discussion Document can be seen below
As always I will be at the Auckland Development Committee on Thursday with my usual blogging and Live Tweeting service.
Also my submission to the Draft Parking Discussion Document is currently under way.
CEO states this will be done through the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan processes This just in from Auckland Council Council returns cheque Auckland Council is returning a $7.5 million deposit … Continue reading Council Turns Down $75m Offer for AT’s Downtown Car Parking Building
Question is do you want a Private Development, a Public-Private Partnership Development, or a case of Council-led Public Works? On Friday it was picked up that Tournament Parking … Continue reading Should Auckland Council (and Transport) Sell Off the AT Downtown Car-Park
Lets try more proper and formal processes first for an idea – please Recently I had written a post about the Mayor “floating” an idea around light rail … Continue reading A Ratepayer’s ‘Suggestion’ to the Mayor
I have noticed quite strong and often knee-jerk reaction to what has become the “Ashes” debate here in Auckland. The debate has been in response to the “Proposed Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw” processes being currently working its way through Auckland Council.
A typical some-what knee-jerk response can be seen here (and the last place I expect it too):
Council told to think again on ash scattering
PHIL GOFF | 6 JUN 2014
Plans to make grieving families seek permission before scattering the ashes of loved ones and charge them for the privilege need to be reconsidered, Labour’s Ethnic Affairs spokesperson Phil Goff says.
“Auckland Council’s proposals seem heavy handed, unnecessary and bureaucratic.
“There has been insufficient consultation with the public and in particular with ethnic communities before proposing the restrictions. Nor has the council made a solid case for why the restrictions are necessary.
“There are no health considerations because cremations are carried out at 800 degree temperatures and families almost always conduct the scattering of their loved ones ashes with care and consideration.
“The last thing we want to impose on grieving families are bureaucratic procedures, long time delays and additional expenses.
“I understand that in former Council areas like Waitakere, Papakura and Frankton there were no restrictions imposed for the scattering of ashes and I have yet to see any evidence of this causing any widespread problem.
“The Council also seems unaware of Hindu customs about the importance of scattering ashes within a time period after cremation and the impact such restrictions would have on their community.
“I have also been made aware of another important and unnecessary restriction of preventing more than two people attending the placing of the casket in the cremator. This cuts across Indian Hindu cultural tradition where all the deceased’s male children are normally involved.
“I have written to the Mayor asking for the Council to think again. At the very least the Council should consult widely with the public, ethnic organisations and religious and cultural groups before they make any final decision. The present Council decision is more likely to create problems than resolve any,” Phil Goff says.
—ends—
Source: https://www.labour.org.nz/media/council-told-think-again-ash-scattering
I would like to remind Phil Goff on the following comment below I picked up from Councillor Cathy Casey’s thread about the ashes debate:
Might want to read what was put in Councillor Cathy Casey’s comments before knee jerk reacting in here.
Here I’ll copy paste the actual problem here:
Qiane Matata-Sipu: We have a problem with people scattering ashes in the sea by Ihumatao. It is mostly Hindu ceremonies when this occurs, not only is this an area for Kai gathering and so is an innapropriate place to scatter the ashes of a dead person where we would gather food, but there is also a significant amount of mess left behind, streamers, flowers, other foods (citrus foods) etc… That just causes extra problems. A non-resident of ihumatao once visited me after cleaning and filling 4 rubbish bags of ceremony “left-overs” from an area of the beach he often visits and takes overseas visitors. I was disgusted by the mess – not to mention the tapu nature/effect on our Moana and awa. I support the notion we must treat the deceased with respect an dignity but we also need to remember that we must treat the living with respect too, and the particular cases that happen in our area are very disrespectful to us.
Especially those rights and culturally sensitive areas of an indigenous population – which for our international readers is the Maori people.
A reminder that yes you can commit the ashes of your loved ones back to the Earth (and what your particular belief system is around committing those ashes) but let’s be fair and respective towards others – especially the indigenous people who live here. You would ask the same respect back in your ancestral lands so what was quoted above is fair and a very important reminder.
I will go back over the Council processes and see where this might have gone wrong. That said while Wellington already has a similar policy to what Auckland is proposing in place (which causes minimal fuss in Wellington) I hope Council is not causing extra grief from unnecessary bureaucracy and “fees.” It is the last thing anyone needs when saying their final good byes to a loved one or loved ones.
Note: Comments will be closely monitored and moderated as required
Where I found it though I could say is rather ironic You will have to forgive me if I find the following a bit ironic today. If … Continue reading Investigation: Some Information of The Southern Initiative
I saw this come up from Stuff earlier this morning:
Council offered $75m for car park
ELLEN READ Last updated 09:00 06/06/2014
Auckland Council has been offered $75 million by two businessmen keen to snap up one of its inner city car park buildings.
James Brown and Simon Rowntree, who run Tournament Parking, said their offer for the multilevel 890-space Downtown building on Customs Street would give the council funds to fast track rail-link plans without having to consider selling two other high profile CBD sites.
Recent reports have suggested the council might sell a section of Queen Elizabeth Square and privatise sections of Queens Wharf.
Brown and Rowntree said the offer was unconditional. They visited council authorities this morning with a $7.5m deposit cheque this morning and said their proposed settlement date for the remaining $67.5m was July 1.
The Council has yet to respond to the offer.
The pair said they were prompted to make the offer after proposals were made to privatise inner city public space including Queen’s Wharf and Queen Elizabeth Square.
“The rail link is essential for Auckland but it’s wrong for the council to sell public space to fund it,” their spokesman said.
“This offer would keep Queen’s Wharf and Queen Elizabeth Square in public ownership while providing $75m cash to kick-start Mayor Len Brown’s vision for long-awaited first-world public transport.”
They say the $75m offer was a significant premium on the carpark’s value and included clauses preventing them from increasing casual parking rates, presently $3 an hour at the Council-owned site, above the rate of inflation for at least five years.
Tournament Parking casual rates for some Auckland sites are $4 for half an hour
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/10126538/Council-offered-75m-for-car-park
A rather interesting development this morning that no doubt will have Auckland Transport, Council, and the wider city debating over the offer and whether to accept it or not.
I suppose the questions I have over this offer would be the following:
We all await a reply from Council and Auckland Transport on the offer.
Radio New Zealand’s Todd Niall delivers latest report into the much plagued Southern Initiative The Auckland Development Committee is not due to meet until around June 12 (the … Continue reading The Southern Initiative Back in the Media – Again
Talking Southern Auckland 