Tag: southern initiative

All About Auckland

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I talk Transport and The Southern Initiative

 

It has been a busy week for me as I conduct some TV interviews over some hot button issues in Auckland.

On Tuesday I was with Transport Blog’s Patrick Reynolds talking Auckland’s Transport (and Auckland Transport as well) especially in light of the Day Passes now available and Auckland Transport facing budget reductions in light of the Long Term Plan rejection by Council. You can see Dr Levy’s reaction to the Budget situation here: All About Auckland Show Episode 23 – Dr Levy gives a lesson on Tectonic Budgeting. 

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Today I will be back at the studio talking about the Southern Initiative which has again become a hot button issue especially with the Councillors. Those who follow Talking Auckland know that in November last year I delivered a public critique against the Southern Initiative. In May this year the Councillors initially rejected more funding towards the Southern Initiative until a few issues were cleared up first. Now my critique against The Southern Initiative has not been against the Initiative itself nor its place in the Auckland Plan. My critique has been on lack of publicly available information and a portal like Facebook and Twitter so we can see and interact with the Initiative. For heavens sake The Southern Initiative affects all of South Auckland. It would be nice if we could see some clear information (that is not in job vacancy descriptions), a chance to interact on the Initiative like we can with Shape Auckland and the regular updates that we get with the City Centre (see A Story of Downtown Auckland [Updated] for the latest).

 

So where and when is this show?

It is here:

All About Auckland Show

Episode 24

SkyTV Channel 83 FACETV

Monday at 7.30pm – Repeats Tuesday 12.30pm

On This Week’s Show:

  • Special Housing Areas and Housing New Zealand
  • The 10 Year Budget Rebuild and Development Pressures in the South East

As for the Transportation chat:

Next Week

Transport Matters

A New Series looking at current transport issues around Auckland.

Next week Auckland Commentator Ben Ross and TransportBlog.co.nz Patrick Reynolds joins me in the studio.

 

 

I shall update you on the Southern Initiative shoot and when that will screen.

 

A Letter from A Councillor

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Councillor George Wood Writes to Manukau Courier

 

While checking my Facebook feed in the morning (as you do) I noticed a comment from former Manurewa Local Board Chair:

 

That got me looking and I discovered this:

 

Basically Councillor George Wood spelling it out as it is with public transport issues down here in South Auckland – especially with buses (an area admittedly I am not paying much issue to but should very well be).

I agree with the entire letter from the Councillor to the point I will be throwing more resources or rather effort here at BR:AKL on our bus issues and getting them sorted.

 

However Newman was “fuming” because the Southern Initiative got mentioned and the bad onus around that. Yes the Southern Initiative has had its rather ugly moments in either rough-shodding over the Local Boards or budget re-routing away from Local Boards to Southern Initiative projects that are overseen by the main governing body.

The focus from the letter should be on our transport here in South Auckland, not dragging the Southern Initiative into this as that is another debate along with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.

Also I have seen no oppositional Councillor nor mayoral candidate state they would overthrow the Southern Initiative after the 2013 elections and put in place an alternative. I believe it is the case of we are lugged with it – let’s try and make this work best we can – as rough-shodding by Council Officers, CCOs, and the Governing Body happens right across the spectrum – not just the Southern Initiative.

My comment to Newman makes somewhat that point:

Ben Ross

Burnt from the Budget (which burnt the entire city any how) I still see.

That aside – well something must being going on as 2012 was a mixed year for success and failures in dealing with the Governing Body from personal experience (that is the Governing Body not the CCOs).

Failures: The Auckland Plan in part but more so the Long Term Plan. The new Rubbish Policy.

Successes: Irony would have it this has been down the transport division:- Manukau South Link, Pukekohe Electrification Extension, cant comment with the RPTP yet as the hearing is still coming up, slow progress with the bus situation down south – but least its moving.

Next Challenge: Again transport, however Alcohol Policies with the new Act in position

So “bringing them to the Governing Body” has had its moments of success and failures -( for a scrappy little ratepayer  ) – but that is to be expected. 2013 is going to bring?…

 

A case of win-some, you lose-some. But you continue to battle on in pushing or lobbying for what you want to see to make Auckland a better place – the purpose behind this blog from day one.

 

BEN ROSS : AUCKLAND

Shining The Light – To a Better Papakura (OUR home)
AND
To a Better Auckland – (OUR City)

Auckland 2013: YOUR CITY – YOUR CALL