Tag: Auckland Transport

It’s About the Jobs – Again

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Strong Economic Growth – Just not where it is needed

 

A release from Auckland Council‘s Chief Economist today on how the Auckland economy continues to do rather well:

Auckland’s housing market boosting wider economy
 
 
Strong house price growth across the Auckland region is boosting other parts of the economy including construction, finance and real estate industries, according to latest economic figures for the region in the first three months of this year.
 
Economic activity is now more sustained and broad based, with 17 out of 20 sectors recording gains in the quarter. Auckland grew at a rate of 3.2 per cent in the year to March; along with Christchurch, these two cities are underpinning growth across the country, said Geoff Cooper, Auckland Council’s chief economist. Mr Cooper said activity in Auckland’s construction, finance and property sectors will likely spill over into other parts of the region’s economy, and with time, other areas of New Zealand.
 
“Auckland house prices continue their upward march, which is buoying consumer confidence and further stimulating demand,” Mr Cooper wrote in the latest Auckland Economic Quarterly, released today.
 
“We’re already seeing a pick-up in activity across the finance, property and real estate and construction services sectors. As building work gathers pace, it will act as a catalyst for growth in various downstream sectors, particularly domestic manufacturing and retail.”
 
The median Auckland house price was $562,000 in March 2013, up 12.5 per cent from March last year. Signs that migration is rebounding, amid the slowing Australian economy, are likely to support house prices in the medium term.
 
Some 4,764 residential building consents were lodged with Auckland Council in the 12 months ended March 31 this year. While that’s down from the 10-year average of 6,631, it is up from the year-earlier figure of 3,976. This represents the early stages of a construction upswing in Auckland, which will need to continue before house prices ease.
 
Auckland’s consumers are among the most optimistic in New Zealand, spurred on by activity in the housing market. Westpac McDermott Miller reports a consumer confidence score of 119.0 for Auckland, well ahead of the national average of 110.8, and up 13.7 per cent from Q1 of last year. Retail sales rose 1.1 per cent from the final three months of 2012, and new car registrations increased again to just shy of the 10-year average.
 
Still, lack of job growth continues to weigh on Auckland’s recovery as unemployment remains high at 7.3 per cent. With business employment intentions in positive territory and economic activity looking more sustained, job seekers have more reason for optimism in the year ahead.

—–ends—–

 

Okay some renewed strength in the house building sector is good as that will get the supply up. Although still not fast enough for sustained Unitary Plan levels if the population growth remains to be high.

The issue though is emphasised in red although the rest in black could be good news if job growth increases..

However, this shows the crucial nature to which the Unitary Plan needs to get right on employment centres. Those main centres being our City Centre, (Super and) Metropolitan Centres, heavy and light industry, and supported by good Town Centres.

 

Forget focusing on you house and everything within 25 metres around it like our NIMBY‘s and shills are. Attention needs to focus on our higher end commercial and industrial centres to make sure the land and infrastructure is in position so that entrepreneurs like me can create jobs.

With the failure that was the Consensus Building Group just announcing their report on transport funding over the life of the current Integrated Transport Program; I believe emphasis will be placed on a more decentralised front with employment centres. Decentralised like running two CBD’s and multiple industrial centres so that people have the option live local and work local rather than cross city commute or funnel into one point as the mayor wants.

i will work up the plan and subsequent language around Manukau, Wiri and Southern Auckland and its potential development front through the life of the Unitary Plan as part of ongoing work in this area.

If we need jobs and our transport boffins are rather inept on getting Auckland moving (and no, Auckland Transport are absolved of this. They are the ones who need to carry this all out) the we better look for some alternatives quick

 

The CBG Final Report

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Informative Open Day from AT

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You Should Go to One

 

I went to the Auckland Transport Open Day this morning in Papakura (while Rebekka was at the library) to have a nosy and ask some questions. On the cards was:

  • Bus Routes 365 and 371
  • Te Mahia Station being closed (which I support)
  • The Manukau and Otahuhu Transport Interchanges

(Note this was different to the status I gave on Facebook)

So I rocked up, signed in, got the notebook, started taking some nots, and asked some questions to the very helpful attendants. Oh and I got a brochure too so I can pass it to someone else for a read.

Overall I was there for 30mins and was worth it. I highly recommend rocking up to one and going yourself. These are the open days for the Southern Network:

From the AT Website

Open Days

To give Aucklanders the opportunity to ask any further questions in person and learn more about what the New Network will involve, we’re holding Open Days across South Auckland during the consultation period. Come along to an Open Day near you.

  • Saturday 13 July at Papakura Crossroads Church, 25 Broadway from 10am to 5pm
  • Monday 15 July at Manurewa Library, 7 Hill Road from 10am to 7pm
  • Tuesday 16 July at Mangere-Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Leisure Centre, 14 Waddon Place from 12pm to 7.30pm
  • Wednesday 17 July at Papatoetoe Town Hall, 5 St George St from 10am to 8pm
  • Thursday 18 July in the Manukau Room, Auckland Council Civic Building, 31 Manukau Station Road from 10.30 to 8pm
  • Saturday 20 July at the Otara Market (community centre), Newbury St from 7am to 4pm
  • Thursday 25 July at the Otahuhu Recreation Centre, Fairburn Reserve, 30 Mason Ave from 10am to 7.30pm
  • Saturday 27 July at the Onehunga Community Centre, Jackson & Yates Rooms, 83 Church St from 10am to 5pm

…..

 

Before I sign off I will repost AT’s FAQ around this as it should be compulsory reading before going along – it does answer some of the obvious

From AT again

New Network for the SouthQ&A with Anthony Cross, Auckland Transport’s Public Transport Network Manager

Q: How is the submission process going?

A: We’re tracking well with more than 500 submissions already received. Overall feedback has been favourable of the change. There are of course some routes and proposals that have captured people’s interest, which is fine and what we have been expecting.

We’re aiming to create a network that is both useful and convenient for more people in South Auckland. We hope to improve on it with the public’s input.

Q: Do you have any advice for people sending in submissions?

A: Yes, please be as detailed as possible to ensure we can identify your desired changes. For example, changing the XX route to go down XX road is more helpful than saying don’t like the new route. Or the XX connection point is not a suitable location because of X and Y.

If you have questions or disagree with something, attending an Open Day would be helpful. Staff will be on hand to speak with you and go over the proposals to help inform your submission.

Please tell us what you like as well as what you don’t like. And of course don’t leave it too late to send it in.

Q: The southern consultation closes in August 2013 but won’t be implemented until early 2015. Why does implementation take so long?

A: We understand it can be viewed as a lengthy process, but there are many elements involved when making changes of this scale. After consultation is the analysis of submissions. Are there routes and areas that need changing? This kind of fine tuning is needed before we can confirm the final southern network.

Because we are changing existing services, all new services will be contracted through a competitive tendering process. The successful operator will then require time to set up their operation (buses, drivers) to deliver these services.

Also, there need to be some infrastructure changes. For example, we need to build interchanges at Otahuhu and Manukau and to improve bus stops at many locations.

Q: What are the main changes proposed in the New Network for South Auckland?

A: For the full details on how South Auckland’s public transport network will change under the New Network, I suggest people look through all the information available on our website, but one example is the introduction of a new Frequent Network. This Frequent Network will have trains and buses timetabled at least every 15 minutes, from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week. It will be supported by a network of Connector routes timetabled at least every 30 minutes, along with Local and Peak services, to ensure South Aucklanders continue to have good access to public transport.

Q: What are the benefits of the New Network?

A: The most significant benefits are that the New Network is easy to understand, and operates frequently over a larger part of the day, all week including weekends. The frequency and increased service hours mean people can consider using public transport for a greater range of purposes, such as shopping and leisure activities, not just their regular work-home commuter trips.

We’ve also made improvements to travel between key locations within South Auckland, for example the route that connects Mangere to the airport.

Looking at the New Network map, it’s noticeable how much we have simplified the network – and a simple network gives people more confidence to navigate it. Right now people might only stick to the journeys they’re familiar with; we hope the New Network will offer Aucklanders flexibility and spontaneity in getting around Auckland for work or play.
Go to the New Network project page on the Auckland Transport website

Please do note the part I have put in red. One thing I notice with submissions and this was apparent with the Unitary Plan is that the residents will sit there cross armed and go “No don’t like it” but, never give an alternative. Those folks are your ultra NIMBY‘s – in the road of progress.

If you don’t like something in particular with a bus route, then write something meaningful as an alternative.

I went through the process on pointing out some meaningful changes to the proposed 365 and 371 routes in East Papakura. It can be seen here below:

19. Is there anything about the New Network you would change to better meet your travel needs? Please be specific e.g. change the xx route to go down xx road increase frequency of xx route because… xx connection point should be moved 100m south down xx road xx connection environment should be improved with a shelter xx connection point is not a suitable location because…. Please be as precise as possible to ensure we can identify your desired changes.

Text Response
Route 365 to terminate at Manurewa rather than Manukau (from Papakura). Have the proposed 365 route from Manurewa to Manukau dropped back to a Local Service rather than a connector service and renumbered.This is due to the proposed 365 route being too long, windy and redundant with the proposed Manukau South Rail Link in the pipeline that would allow direct fast train travel from Pukekohe and Papakura to Manukau Station instead of clumsy transfers at Puhinui

Route 365 (Papakura to Manurewa) should be having a stop 100 metres to the west – meaning it takes a detour along Walters Road, Arion Road and Willow Camp Road before rejoining Porchester Road to allow direct feeding to the large Takanini Village and proposed Glenora Road Station

Route 371: (Papakura to Takanini) should be having stops 100 metres to the west – meaning it takes a detour along Walters Road, Arion Road and Willow Camp Road before rejoining Porchester Road to allow direct feeding to the large Takanini Village and proposed Glenora Road Station until the “extended section” of Route 371 takes effect

To which it should take its proposed “extended” path 20 minute off peak frequencies between 9-4 seven days a week with it extended to 11pm Fridays and Saturdays for Routes 371 and 365

Yes I had the map open when writing all that up. No it does not have to be as long and as complex as what I came up with either. But, the above does serve as an example on what AT would be looking for if you were promoting a route change.

So if you catch public transport or want to with gas hitting well over $2.22/litre (still $2.10 – $2.19 where I live) then I’d suggest getting along to an open day and both learn something as well as give suggestions back. It will be YOUR public transport in YOUR city after all

totarim transport poster png mode

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Submission sent on New P/T Network (Southern Auckland)

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Submission Sent to AT for Southern P/T Network

 

I finally wrote up and sent my feedback to Auckland Transport using the Online Feedback Form (no need for a 104 page monster this time round) today.

You can see what I exactly submitted on in the PDF embed below

I made no mention around the Te Mahia Station closing issue (which I support in closing) as that I will bring up at the Papakura Open Day this Saturday with the transport planners.

My primary feedback was around the good quality of the work drafted up by Auckland Transport on the Southern Public Transport Network proposal, and around the 365 and 371 bus routes which I would use once on stream.

I did suggest some changes to Routes 371 and 365 so that it takes into account Takanini Village and the proposed Glenora Road Station as potential stops. Some other changes and mention around off-peak frequencies were mentioned as well.

I did make a push for the Manukau South Rail Link again as part of the frequent transit network from Pukekohe and Papakura so that Southern Auckland gets a dedicated rapid and direct service to our biggest employment centre (in the south). The reasoning around that was a train from Pukekohe to Papakura to Manukau via the south link is faster than buses which would get caught in bottlenecks along the Great South Road (as well as stuck with 50km/h limits to the train’s 90-110km/h limits) and as hinted with speed limits actually faster than the bus. That also means faster than going to Puhinui Station by train and going through a clumsy transfer onto a Manukau Train from Britomart on a cold winter’s morning 😛

So let’s see where this feedback goes once AT starts its considerations on it all post August 2 (when the feedback closes)

You can see the Southern P/T Network over at AT’s webpage: New Public Transport Network

 

 

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Auckland Updates

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All Quiet (on the Western Front) at the Moment

 

All is quiet at the moment in regards to the Unitary Plan and transport issues in Auckland after some recent fanfare in both departments recently. Needless to say there is still quite a bit of activity going on behind the scenes.

Unitary Plan

There is a workshop today around: Universal Design, GMO‘s and noise (wonder if we can file a noise complaint against grandstanding councillors wasting our time); with the RUB workshop held on Monday gone.

I have heard word that the Councillors and Local Boards now have access to ALL of our submissions ranging from pro-forma to 104 page monsters along with comments from the Planners in them (red pen anyone). Those submissions have not been released into the public domain as of yet.

Rather than idly speculator I have sent an enquiry back to Council on the updates in getting the submission released. Will know more as soon as it comes through.

Further updates or happenings with the UP

  • Still waiting on enquiry into the RUB workshop and interim direction setting given from it back to the Auckland Plan Committee (July 25)
  • Active consideration being given around Manukau
  • Active consideration in having two workshops open to the media (in some shape or form)

Transport

Pretty much quiet here too along this front. In saying that we do have the Auckland Transport consultation period under way for the Southern Auckland New Public Transport Network – which is pretty good.

At the same time all eyes are watching ATB’s launch of their Congestion Free Network which I commented on here: “ATB’s Congestion Free Network” yesterday.

This piece from Radio NZ‘s Morning report sums up the situation. Listen especially towards the end of Todd Nial’s piece on the hurdles ATB and Generation Zero face at this point in time with their proposal:

Alternative public transport plan proposes more for less

 

Again and still, all eyes front to see where this goes.

 

And as always anything else that comes my way I will publish up ASAP.

 

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Still Coming Up – News Overload

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What Will Auckland Exactly Get Today?

 

Today the Prime Minister will announce to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce a transport package for Auckland. Already the City Rail Link has been confirmed with a start date around the 2020 mark – although that could be brought forward to 2017-2018. Owing to the fact that the Western Ring Route is meant to be complete and the fact that there is a national election in 2017 (whether it is National seeking a fourth term or seeking a new term after being 3-years in opposition), I do wonder if the 2017-2018 start date will actually happen. Already the construction resources would be present from Waterview (the WRR) so why not just transplant them straight over to the CRL instead of starting from scratch three years later?

Back to the PM’s speech today; so the CRL is announced but what else does Santa have in his bag of goodies. Auckland Transport Blog listed a few already in their “What else will the Government announce? the Good, the Bad and the Ugly” post along with the consequences of each one.

Since that particular post there has been leaks and hints that the Second Harbour Crossing is also a go (in what form is unknown), PENLINK might be a go (finally), something with AMETI (please be the Eastern Highway and the start of the Botany Line), or if not AMETI then this damned East-West Link in the Onehunga/Penrose/Highbrook industrial area.

So all eyes front as we await today’s announcement from the Prime Minister.

What would I like to see and would have done if I the Prime Minister today making the announcement? Probably something like this:

  1. City Rail Link
  2. PENLINK (tolled)
  3. North Shore Line (as far as Takapuna for now)
  4. Eastern Highway and Botany Line
  5. Half the money needed for the Electrification to Pukekohe

And yep I know Point-4 is going to cause some “controversy” amongst some readers here this morning.

 

With the Unitary Plan and Manukau

Posts are still coming to these hot topics and I will do my best to get these up today if not tomorrow depending on today’s transport info overload.

So again all eyes are front as we await the major announcement from the Prime Minister

 

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.