The period for people to object to their 2014 rating valuation has been extended until 5pm Tuesday 23 December 2014.
Acting CFO Kevin Ramsay says website issues have meant some people had difficulty accessing new values online when they were made available on Monday 10 November 2014.
“Early in the week we had unprecedented demand on our website, which meant there was intermittent service for users trying to access new values.”
“We were able to help many people over the phone to find out their value and we are still encouraging people to call 0508 000 021 for assistance”.
By now most property owners should have received their new values in the mail.
Council property valuations – key facts
Valuations, which are completed every three years, will be used to help determine the share of rates for each property for year beginning 1 July 2015, but have no impact on the amount of rates council collects overall.
This year’s property revaluation showed an average capital value increase of 29 per cent since 2011.
The average residential capital value increase was 34.8 per cent.
What Has Happened In this podcast I go through the motions of what came out of the Auckland Council Budget Committee that had sparked a debate about Rates rises … Continue reading Budget Committee Walk Through
This is what happens when Auckland Transport Comms (yes you Wally) either mixes a message up or the managers responsible in overseeing a project do not reply to emails on a given project: ABSOLUTE CONFUSION.
I was updated earlier today that rather than Otahuhu Transport Interchange being delayed it has in fact being brought forward to start construction on Wednesday as noted below:
From Auckland Transport
Otahuhu bus train interchange
Auckland Transport plans to build a new bus train interchange next to the existing Otahuhu Railway Station to contribute to a better connected and more frequent service.
Project status: Design
Project zone: South
Project purpose
Auckland Transport is moving to a simpler and more integrated public transport network as part of the Public Transport Network Plan.
A new network of buses and trains will change the way people travel – including the need for some passengers to transfer at key interchanges.
The new Otāhuhu bus/train interchange will be a key transfer station connecting bus users from the region to the rail network.
Helping to serve as a catalyst for growth for Otāhuhu, the new interchange is also expected to attract more people to live and work in the area.
Benefits
Better connectivity between bus and rail networks.
Will use increased capacity of new electric trains.
Improved pedestrian connections in Otāhuhu.
Bus services will be more frequent and bus and train timetables will be aligned.
New infrastructure provides a catalyst for growth and rejuvenation in Otāhuhu.
Milestones
August 2014 – Public open days.
September 2014 – Completion of detailed design.
November 2014 – Construction begins.
July 2015 – Completion of the bus interchange and concourse (stage one).
December 2015 – Completion of the train platform canopies and upgrade (stage two).
Project details
Upgrade of existing Otāhuhu Train Station to a bus and train interchange.
The bus component of the interchange will be built on land adjacent to the existing Otāhuhu Train Station.
The interchange will incorporate the existing Otāhuhu Train Station, linking the rail platform with two new bus platforms and a terminal building via an elevated concourse.
Vehicles will access the site via a new signalised western approach to the Walmsley Rd / Saleyards Rd / Station Rd signalised intersection.
The total cost, including investigation, design, construction and land purchase, will be around $25 million.
The new bus interchange will be located next to the existing Otāhuhu Rail Station with construction expected to get underway in December 2014.
So the update that went up from Auckland Transport this morning (thanks for the Presser – not) illustrates phase one starts this week.
This now raises a few more questions around the entire mess owing to Auckland Transport’s comm’s not being the best I can think of across the wider Council organisation.
Of course questions around AT comm’s is one thing but when having a search through the Tender/Procurement page of the Auckland Transport website to see what might be going on something went amiss.
Let’s start with the Forward Work Program which I can an eye on to see where things are going, and most likely where Councillor Wood started looking last week.
So the Forward Working Document (August) states the Tender should be out and closing at the end of the month. Now with construction starting ahead of time I still checked the ‘Current Tender’ page which showed nothing, and finally the Contracts Awarded page which also shows nothing for a $20m approximate project. Granted the contract could have been awarded this month and the PDF not updated as of yet (last updated 31 October).
So I am at a total loss here and am wondering what is going on with:
Councillor George Wood was right to draw the conclusion that they have been pushed back to 2021 based on the LTP documents (as I also concluded as well.
There hasn’t been any tenders released as noted above.
So how come AT is starting construction in two days?
At least the Interchange is going ahead. Now to see what is going with Manukau.
Funding Constraints Delay Needed Interchanges Yesterday I was alerted through Facebook by Councillor George Wood that the Manukau and Otahuhu Bus Interchanges that were due to be built next … Continue reading Manukau and Otahuhu Bus Interchanges Delayed
Still facing issues – and now a phone number From Auckland Council: Update: Auckland Council website – 3.45pm Auckland Council says an unprecedented level of activity on its … Continue reading Council Website Updates
Auckland Council apologises for difficulties accessing property valuations online
Auckland Council has apologised for difficulties accessing the new 2014 property valuations published on its website today.
Acting Chief Finance Officer Kevin Ramsay says council is working to resolve the issue but said that some people may still experience intermittent delays or difficulties accessing property valuations.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused,” Mr Ramsay said. “We are working to resolve this issue with our website as quickly as possible. We know there is huge interest in this year’s property valuations and had planned for a user-friendly experience, so it is regrettable these problems occurred.”
The valuations, which are completed every three years, will be used to help determine the share of rates for each property for year beginning 1 July 2015, but have no impact on the amount of rates council collects overall
Council property valuations – key facts:
Property valuations help determine the share of rates people pay but have no impact on the amount of rates money the council collects
This year’s property revaluation showed an average capital value increase of 29 per cent since 2011
The average residential capital value increase was 34.8 per cent
All property owners will also receive a notice in the mail in mid-November
All property owners have the right to object to their values and the objections process is now open.
Note: the Residential Average I used for the base formula in my previous post is at 34.8% not 34% as I stated. I means I am up for a Rates rise of 7.1% not 7.9% as mentioned earlier. None the less it is still looking down the barrel of a stiff Rates rise on these approximates!
Basic Summary in Supplement to Council’s Information If you are lucky like me you have your valuations with you by now (I got mine first thing before the crashes) … Continue reading Run Through The Valuations
Talking Southern Auckland 