The poll in today's Dominion Post makes very interesting reading. The mayoral contest appearing to be closer than many people expected, so please - if you haven't yet voted, make sure you do so. Papers have to be with the council by noon next Saturday 9 October, and the recommended last day for posting is this coming Wednesday. If you miss that post, you can still hand-deliver your vote right up until Saturday morning.
Given the number of undecided voters and the margin of error, the poll's 33% to Kerry against 25% to Celia means that the race is still wide open. As I said at the Miramar candidates' meeting a couple of weeks ago I'm supporting Celia, and I hope that you will too - but whoever you support, please vote.
The only other polling is about the Indoor Community Sports Centre on Cobham Drive, with 45% opposed to the project and 34% supporting it (22% neutral or undecided). If you haven't already voted, when you do please remember that only one Eastern Ward candidate has stood up against the effects of that project on the community - me. I took the council to court (not an experience I recommend) and got significant concessions towards reducing the traffic effects - but it will still be an issue.
When questioned at the Evans Bay candidates' meeting about ICSC traffic, the mayor proudly pointed out the improved walking, cycling and public bus facilities incorporated in the project - but she forgot to mention that the only reason that those facilities will be there is because the Environment Court told them to, as a result of my appeal.
I'm all in favour of sport, and of projects that are fully thought through with all the consequences considered, but that didn't happen in the single-minded rush to get the ICSC approved. Not only were the effects on the local community largely ignored but other sports have suffered, with little money left over for such things as artificial turf pitches.
So if you want a councillor with a proven record of standing up for the community, and a council that thinks things through properly, put 1 against Mellor.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Boy Racers - response to Local Resident
I’ve received a long letter about boy racers, particularly in Ira St, Miramar. It’s a bit hard to respond to direct because the signature is just Local Resident, so I hope that the writer is reading this blog.
The letter suggests that a good way of tackling this problem is to slow traffic down, such as by putting trees and islands along the middle of wide streets.
Local Resident, I agree with you. Breaking up the width of wide streets with planting gives streets a much more human scale, encouraging slower traffic and making them easier to cross. Trees like in Broadway, or along Jervois Quay, are a great improvement: even just white paint, as along Miramar Avenue, Rongotai Rd or Park Rd, can make a significant difference.
So yes, I will be working towards making our streets more for people, less for racers.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
What I stand for: better transport choices
Traffic congestion and traffic are big issues in the eastern suburbs, and will get bigger with things like airport expansion and the sports centre, as well as population growth. So how will we cope?
The traditional approach has been to build roads, as both SH1 and SH2 from the bypass to the north of Wellington both demonstrate. But, cities round the world are now realising that you can't road-build your way out of congestion: all that happens is that extra traffic is created, and congestion points move. The major economic justification for road-building is almost invariably the value of anticipated time saved, but studies in places like Melbourne show that despite massive road building, average vehicle speeds have barely changed - time has no been saved, just traffic generated.
Studies also show that the greater the capacity and speed of public transport, the better all traffic moves.
So we need to look very carefully at multi-million dollar road schemes - particularly when they will cut into the town belt, create community severance, and take years to build. Instead, we should look at public transport, which can achieve better results more cheaply and faster.
As a first stage we should optimise the existing system. What makes Wellington's buses slow and unreliable is the tortuous grind along the Golden Mile, and the first thing to do is establish bus priority along the whole length between the railway station and Courtenay Place, and on to the hospital. That won't be that difficult or expensive, and will improve the reliability of nearly all bus routes at a stroke. Improved reliability means increased efficiency, with benefits all round, and a more attractive service all round. Market that service, eg by increasing the Miramar and Seatoun express bus frequency and providing similar facilities for Strathmore and Lyall Bay residents, and we would see bus patronage increase. At the same time speed up the Airport Flyer by running it direct rather than round the houses through Rongotai, and more airport users would find it attractive - after all, you can't take your car with you when you fly.
Having done this as a first stage, we then need to look further into the future. The way to move more people through the Golden Mile is to have higher capacity vehicles, and modern trams fit the bill. They can also run on existing railway lines, so a seamless inter-urban network throughout the region becomes a viable proposition. Extend this network from Courtenay Place and the hospital through to Kilbirnie and the airport, and we've got a world-class region-wide system for a cost that will probably compare well with the proposed four-laning between the Basin and Evans Bay. I'm not saying that we can do this tomorrow, but it deserves very careful study.
Walking and cycling are effective ways of tackling transport problems, too. Cycling is increasing in Wellington and worldwide, and most car journeys are short, short enough to be walkable if that option was more attractive. Improved facilities for walkers and cyclists are a must - and not expensive.
An area that often gets overlooked is freight traffic, including deliveries. Congestion is a great cost to business, and improving general traffic flow through public transport investment will reduce business costs.
And we mustn't forget road safety: the risk of injury for car users is ten times the risk faced by bus passengers, re swapping the car for the bus reduces risk by 90%! That's worth having.
We need to learn from the rest of the world how to travel more smartly: there's a lot to be gained.
The traditional approach has been to build roads, as both SH1 and SH2 from the bypass to the north of Wellington both demonstrate. But, cities round the world are now realising that you can't road-build your way out of congestion: all that happens is that extra traffic is created, and congestion points move. The major economic justification for road-building is almost invariably the value of anticipated time saved, but studies in places like Melbourne show that despite massive road building, average vehicle speeds have barely changed - time has no been saved, just traffic generated.
Studies also show that the greater the capacity and speed of public transport, the better all traffic moves.
So we need to look very carefully at multi-million dollar road schemes - particularly when they will cut into the town belt, create community severance, and take years to build. Instead, we should look at public transport, which can achieve better results more cheaply and faster.
As a first stage we should optimise the existing system. What makes Wellington's buses slow and unreliable is the tortuous grind along the Golden Mile, and the first thing to do is establish bus priority along the whole length between the railway station and Courtenay Place, and on to the hospital. That won't be that difficult or expensive, and will improve the reliability of nearly all bus routes at a stroke. Improved reliability means increased efficiency, with benefits all round, and a more attractive service all round. Market that service, eg by increasing the Miramar and Seatoun express bus frequency and providing similar facilities for Strathmore and Lyall Bay residents, and we would see bus patronage increase. At the same time speed up the Airport Flyer by running it direct rather than round the houses through Rongotai, and more airport users would find it attractive - after all, you can't take your car with you when you fly.
Having done this as a first stage, we then need to look further into the future. The way to move more people through the Golden Mile is to have higher capacity vehicles, and modern trams fit the bill. They can also run on existing railway lines, so a seamless inter-urban network throughout the region becomes a viable proposition. Extend this network from Courtenay Place and the hospital through to Kilbirnie and the airport, and we've got a world-class region-wide system for a cost that will probably compare well with the proposed four-laning between the Basin and Evans Bay. I'm not saying that we can do this tomorrow, but it deserves very careful study.
Walking and cycling are effective ways of tackling transport problems, too. Cycling is increasing in Wellington and worldwide, and most car journeys are short, short enough to be walkable if that option was more attractive. Improved facilities for walkers and cyclists are a must - and not expensive.
An area that often gets overlooked is freight traffic, including deliveries. Congestion is a great cost to business, and improving general traffic flow through public transport investment will reduce business costs.
And we mustn't forget road safety: the risk of injury for car users is ten times the risk faced by bus passengers, re swapping the car for the bus reduces risk by 90%! That's worth having.
We need to learn from the rest of the world how to travel more smartly: there's a lot to be gained.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Lion hunting - by no. 3 bus!
Since I last blogged life has been busy on the campaign trail, with candidates' meetings at Miramar, Kilbirnie and Evans Bay. Thanks to the Strathmore, Miramar, Kilbirnie, Hataitai and Roseneath residents' associations for organising them, and thanks to the many people who turned up - particularly on one of the few fine weekends in living memory!
Saturday also saw the Wellington Lion Hunt for mayoral and other council candidates, hunting the city for Amazing Race-type clues. The highlight for me was catching a no. 3 bus to the Basin Reserve with the Wellington Lions' Leo the Lion mascot - the bus driver said "No animals, please", and then took an on-board photo to show his mates! Fortunately for Leo, our bus wasn't taking him to the zoo...
And the result of the race? Well, the yellow t-shirt team was the overall winner, thanks to excellent teamwork from Anne, Liz, Paula, Pam, Lainey and Ellen. The prize was a framed signed Wellington Lions jersey, and all participants - Jack Yan, Celia Wade-Brown, Andy Foster and me - agreed to donate it to Mary Potter Hospice so that they could use it for fund-raising.
You can read more about the Lion Hunt at http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=27791, and thanks to Mynzeye (the organisers), the WRFU, Sir Michael Fowler for starting us off - and Leo the Lion. I think he enjoyed the bus trip!
Saturday also saw the Wellington Lion Hunt for mayoral and other council candidates, hunting the city for Amazing Race-type clues. The highlight for me was catching a no. 3 bus to the Basin Reserve with the Wellington Lions' Leo the Lion mascot - the bus driver said "No animals, please", and then took an on-board photo to show his mates! Fortunately for Leo, our bus wasn't taking him to the zoo...
And the result of the race? Well, the yellow t-shirt team was the overall winner, thanks to excellent teamwork from Anne, Liz, Paula, Pam, Lainey and Ellen. The prize was a framed signed Wellington Lions jersey, and all participants - Jack Yan, Celia Wade-Brown, Andy Foster and me - agreed to donate it to Mary Potter Hospice so that they could use it for fund-raising.
You can read more about the Lion Hunt at http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=27791, and thanks to Mynzeye (the organisers), the WRFU, Sir Michael Fowler for starting us off - and Leo the Lion. I think he enjoyed the bus trip!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sustainable transport
Sustainable Wellington Region Transport, a coalition of groups and individuals advocating a greater role for public transport, walking, cycling, and sustainable urban and transport infrastructure in the Wellington region, has asked the following questions of candidates in the Wellington region.
Declaration of interest: I am a member of this group, but I have taken no part in any aspect of this questionnaire since being nominated as a candidate.
1. What proportion of the transport funding in the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) of the Council you are standing for would you want to see devoted to:
a. Public transport? 40%
b. Walking (facilities and promotion)? 20%
c. Cycling (facilities and promotion)? 5%
Please explain these choices.
Public transport is the lifeblood of a successful city; walking is universal and economically and environmentally effiicient; cycling starts from a very low base (barely on the Long-Term Council Community Plan expenditure radar) and needs boosting for its environmental and economic benefits. This still leaves a substantial amount to be spent on roads, for safety measures and because they are used by public transport and active modes.
2. Do you support the following transport projects, where applicable:
Note: Options a-c are mutually exclusive. Each assumes that essential service vehicles would have limited access.
a. Turning the Golden Mile into a public transport corridor
b. Turning the Golden Mile into a pedestrian corridor
c. Turning the Golden Mile into a dedicated public transport/pedestrian space Yes
d. Extending the rail system through the Wellington CBD, by developing modern trams as a priority for the short term Yes
e. A Basin Reserve flyover No
f. Doubling the Terrace Tunnel No
g. Doubling the Mt Victoria Tunnel No
h. The Kapiti Expressway No
3. Do you support the creation of an integrated public transport system across the region? If so, what changes would you propose making to bring this about?
Yes - uniform Metlink branding (any operator branding should be subsidiary); fully integrated fares; fully integrated timetables
4. What do you consider should be the top transport priorities of the Council for which you are standing?
Full public transport priority along the Golden Mile;
improving/eliminating the Wellington Railway Station inter-modal interchange;
bus priority to the eastern suburbs;
inegrating the Cable Car with other public transport;
trolleybus wiring through the Miramar Cutting to speed up journeys to/from Miramar;
improved wharves for ferry services.
5. What are your own top transport priorities for the region?
Integated PT fares & services;
public transport priority along the Golden Mile;
rail penetration into the region's CBDs;
modern trams between the airport and destinations on the region's railway network;
and in the wider region:
eliminating North-South Junction single-track rail bottleneck between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki;
enabling passenger trains to pass on the Wairarapa Corridor north of Upper Hutt.
Declaration of interest: I am a member of this group, but I have taken no part in any aspect of this questionnaire since being nominated as a candidate.
1. What proportion of the transport funding in the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) of the Council you are standing for would you want to see devoted to:
a. Public transport? 40%
b. Walking (facilities and promotion)? 20%
c. Cycling (facilities and promotion)? 5%
Please explain these choices.
Public transport is the lifeblood of a successful city; walking is universal and economically and environmentally effiicient; cycling starts from a very low base (barely on the Long-Term Council Community Plan expenditure radar) and needs boosting for its environmental and economic benefits. This still leaves a substantial amount to be spent on roads, for safety measures and because they are used by public transport and active modes.
2. Do you support the following transport projects, where applicable:
Note: Options a-c are mutually exclusive. Each assumes that essential service vehicles would have limited access.
a. Turning the Golden Mile into a public transport corridor
b. Turning the Golden Mile into a pedestrian corridor
c. Turning the Golden Mile into a dedicated public transport/pedestrian space Yes
d. Extending the rail system through the Wellington CBD, by developing modern trams as a priority for the short term Yes
e. A Basin Reserve flyover No
f. Doubling the Terrace Tunnel No
g. Doubling the Mt Victoria Tunnel No
h. The Kapiti Expressway No
3. Do you support the creation of an integrated public transport system across the region? If so, what changes would you propose making to bring this about?
Yes - uniform Metlink branding (any operator branding should be subsidiary); fully integrated fares; fully integrated timetables
4. What do you consider should be the top transport priorities of the Council for which you are standing?
Full public transport priority along the Golden Mile;
improving/eliminating the Wellington Railway Station inter-modal interchange;
bus priority to the eastern suburbs;
inegrating the Cable Car with other public transport;
trolleybus wiring through the Miramar Cutting to speed up journeys to/from Miramar;
improved wharves for ferry services.
5. What are your own top transport priorities for the region?
Integated PT fares & services;
public transport priority along the Golden Mile;
rail penetration into the region's CBDs;
modern trams between the airport and destinations on the region's railway network;
and in the wider region:
eliminating North-South Junction single-track rail bottleneck between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki;
enabling passenger trains to pass on the Wairarapa Corridor north of Upper Hutt.
Fluoridation of water
Fluoridation Action Network New Zealand has asked candidates about their views on fluoridation of water, and here are their questions and my answers.
Do you support fluoridation?
I do not in general support the principle of mass medication, but there appears to be considerable evidence that fluoridation has improved dental health. I would need to take a detailed look at independent peer-reviewed scientific evidence.
If not, what definite steps would you take, if you are elected, to stop fluoridation in this area?
If I came to the conclusion that continuing fluoridation was undesirable, I would use council procedures to try and stop it.
If you do support fluoridation, do you believe that it is acceptable for councillors to rely on the advice by the Ministry of Health and disregard the opinion of the people who pay for and drink the water?
The Ministry of Health is a major source of scientific and professional advice, and I am not aware of any great groundswell of public opinion in this matter. I don't see this as an "either/or" question since it's not clear to me that there are major differences here - but I'm willing to be educated!
If you are not sure, would you support a referendum or some sort of consultative process?
A consulative process would be a good idea, based on independent scientifically-verified and peer-reviewed evidence.
Do you support fluoridation?
I do not in general support the principle of mass medication, but there appears to be considerable evidence that fluoridation has improved dental health. I would need to take a detailed look at independent peer-reviewed scientific evidence.
If not, what definite steps would you take, if you are elected, to stop fluoridation in this area?
If I came to the conclusion that continuing fluoridation was undesirable, I would use council procedures to try and stop it.
If you do support fluoridation, do you believe that it is acceptable for councillors to rely on the advice by the Ministry of Health and disregard the opinion of the people who pay for and drink the water?
The Ministry of Health is a major source of scientific and professional advice, and I am not aware of any great groundswell of public opinion in this matter. I don't see this as an "either/or" question since it's not clear to me that there are major differences here - but I'm willing to be educated!
If you are not sure, would you support a referendum or some sort of consultative process?
A consulative process would be a good idea, based on independent scientifically-verified and peer-reviewed evidence.
What the Chamber of Commerce is asking
The Wellington Employers' Chamber of Commerce has asked the following of candidates for the city council:
The Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce believes the calibre of the candidates is an important issue in the coming local government elections. We want to identify candidates who support and acknowledge actions and policies which will enhance Wellington as a good city to do business in. Responses to the following questions will be used by the Chamber to represent our members’ interests.
These are their questions, with my responses.
1. Please outline your vision for Wellington city in 2015?
A thriving, sustainable city that is a place of choice for people to live, work and play
2. Outline the specific initiatives you will support to ensure that Wellington has a business friendly environment.
• Create pedestrian-friendly environments in the CBD and suburban centres, to make them great places to work, shop and visit
• Create an efficient and effective public transport system, reflecting expert opinion worldwide that public transport is the lifeblood of the city
• Minimise non-productive transport costs by increase agglomeration and densification along major transport routes, and encouraging networking through such initiatives as high-speed broadband
3. Name five key priorities you see for infrastructural investment in Wellington over the next five-years.
• High-speed broadband
• Ensure basic services (eg water) are resilient and efficient
• Implement Ngauranga to Airport public transport solutions, including along the Golden Mile
• Fix major constraints to the rail system, eg North-South junction & lack of penetration into city centres
• Focus road expenditure on safety improvements and business and freight traffic, eg TDM, loading zones, possibly truck lanes, recognising that it is impossible to road-build out of congestion, and that international experience shows that expenditure on public transport and freight facilities is a greater stimulant for economic growth than road building for private cars
4. Please identify three courses of action you would want to promote to ensure a vibrant inner central city.
• Increase pedestrian-friendliness and access by public transport
• Divert the subsidy for parking at weekends to a similar subsidy for public transport, noting that parking is just one of the facilities that attracts shoppers, and is of lesser importance in the CBD than in suburban malls because of the CBD’s nature and structure.
• Encourage businesses and others to adopt and beautify public areas, increasing the attractiveness of the CBD
5. Name three actions that you will take to ensure Wellington delivers better service and value to rate payers and residents.
• Listen to ratepayers and residents, and respond
• Investigate properly the effects of major projects, rather than spending millions of dollars of ratepayer money only to have them overturned by the Environment Court (eg Hilton Hotel, moving the Free Ambulance building, the Marine Education Centre), the owner (eg turning the Johnsonville Line into a busway), or simple practical considerations (eg V8 car race). I took WCC to court over the Indoor Community Sports Centre because of its lack of compliance with WCC’s own rules, another elementary and expensive WCC oversight.
• Address residents’ dissatisfaction with current Annual Plan & LTCCP processes, and introduce meaningful performance measures
6. Would you support a rates target so that council’s rates income does not exceed the combined rate of inflation and population growth per year?
No – that’s far too simplistic an approach for a business the size and complexity of WCC. But there does need to be a strategic funding approach, ensuring WCC delivers value for money
7. Do you support the use of differential rates whereby business rate payers pay more than residential rate payers per dollar of rateable land? If so, why?
Where there is a difference in the level of services provided and where business ratepayers have the ability to recover such legitimate costs from their customers, yes.
8. What are your views on Council ownership of non-core assets including trading enterprises of Council i.e. those assets that are not essential to run local government? What do you define as core or strategic assets and why?
Council ownership of non-core assets is justified when it compensates for market failure, avoids monopolistic behaviour or provides a better return than other investments.
Council ownership of non-core land is justified when the land may become core in the future, eg a potential transport corridor
9. What are your views on the council’s use of debt to fund projects? Do you think the council has an appropriate level of debt?
It is normal for a business of WCC’s size to fund some projects through debt, particularly when benefits will accrue to future generations and the same should apply to costs.
I have seen no credible evidence that the current level of debt is unsustainable.
10. What are your views on council use of fees and charges?
WCC consults on this through the Annual Plan and the LTCCP, and the process seems reasonable.
11. Do you think the community should pay for its own water on a user pays basis?
Yes No
Comment
A mixture of the two. Water is a scarce commodity, and should be priced accordingly in order to maximise the economic benefit from its use. But it is also an essential of life and a social commodity, and as such price should not be a barrier to its use for basic needs. I favour user-pays above a basic level, and reducing the pressure on future water supply through such measures as rainwater tanks and grey water usage
12. What role should the council take on climate change and do you support the goal of carbon neutrality?
WCC needs to take steps to minimise its own and the city’s contribution to climate change and to mitigate the effects of such change. It needs to become carbon neutral in its own operations, and to have policies that encourage carbon neutrality in others’ activities. Done correctly, these initiatives will have positive effects both environmentally and economically.
13. What are your views on combining local authority service delivery, and amalgamations with neighbouring authorities? Should we have a super city in Wellington?
We don’t need a super city – there is no major problem that requires such an expensive and disruptive solution. Existing TAs co-operating over particular areas of service delivery is something that is worth exploring.
14. Do you think Councillors should be paid in proportion to the number of meetings they attend, or through a fixed annual fee, or in some other way?
Viewing councillors as purely attenders at official meetings would show a lack of understanding of the extent of their role, and would distort their activities if this were the sole basis of payment. Payment according to responsibility is more appropriate, with the ultimate arbiter being the electorate every three years.
A possible approach would be to carry out an annual formal public review of councillors’ performance, and use that as a basis for remuneration. The reviews done by The Wellingtonian show what could be done, but clearly the process would need a lot of development.
15. Do you think Wellington City Council should open a trade office in China?
No. I see no point in duplicating activities for which MFAT is responsible
16. List five keys issues that you consider need addressing by the Council in the next three-years
• Council decision-making processes re projects (see Q5 above)
• Poor economic and environmental performance of the Golden Mile as the region’s (and hence probably the country’s) busiest public transport corridor, in addition to its other roles
• Lack of public transport integration and lack of provision for freight transport and deliveries, both of these imposing avoidable costs on businesses and residents
• Carbon neutrality and climate change
• Inconsistent and sometimes contradictory WCC policies and behaviours
The Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce believes the calibre of the candidates is an important issue in the coming local government elections. We want to identify candidates who support and acknowledge actions and policies which will enhance Wellington as a good city to do business in. Responses to the following questions will be used by the Chamber to represent our members’ interests.
These are their questions, with my responses.
1. Please outline your vision for Wellington city in 2015?
A thriving, sustainable city that is a place of choice for people to live, work and play
2. Outline the specific initiatives you will support to ensure that Wellington has a business friendly environment.
• Create pedestrian-friendly environments in the CBD and suburban centres, to make them great places to work, shop and visit
• Create an efficient and effective public transport system, reflecting expert opinion worldwide that public transport is the lifeblood of the city
• Minimise non-productive transport costs by increase agglomeration and densification along major transport routes, and encouraging networking through such initiatives as high-speed broadband
3. Name five key priorities you see for infrastructural investment in Wellington over the next five-years.
• High-speed broadband
• Ensure basic services (eg water) are resilient and efficient
• Implement Ngauranga to Airport public transport solutions, including along the Golden Mile
• Fix major constraints to the rail system, eg North-South junction & lack of penetration into city centres
• Focus road expenditure on safety improvements and business and freight traffic, eg TDM, loading zones, possibly truck lanes, recognising that it is impossible to road-build out of congestion, and that international experience shows that expenditure on public transport and freight facilities is a greater stimulant for economic growth than road building for private cars
4. Please identify three courses of action you would want to promote to ensure a vibrant inner central city.
• Increase pedestrian-friendliness and access by public transport
• Divert the subsidy for parking at weekends to a similar subsidy for public transport, noting that parking is just one of the facilities that attracts shoppers, and is of lesser importance in the CBD than in suburban malls because of the CBD’s nature and structure.
• Encourage businesses and others to adopt and beautify public areas, increasing the attractiveness of the CBD
5. Name three actions that you will take to ensure Wellington delivers better service and value to rate payers and residents.
• Listen to ratepayers and residents, and respond
• Investigate properly the effects of major projects, rather than spending millions of dollars of ratepayer money only to have them overturned by the Environment Court (eg Hilton Hotel, moving the Free Ambulance building, the Marine Education Centre), the owner (eg turning the Johnsonville Line into a busway), or simple practical considerations (eg V8 car race). I took WCC to court over the Indoor Community Sports Centre because of its lack of compliance with WCC’s own rules, another elementary and expensive WCC oversight.
• Address residents’ dissatisfaction with current Annual Plan & LTCCP processes, and introduce meaningful performance measures
6. Would you support a rates target so that council’s rates income does not exceed the combined rate of inflation and population growth per year?
No – that’s far too simplistic an approach for a business the size and complexity of WCC. But there does need to be a strategic funding approach, ensuring WCC delivers value for money
7. Do you support the use of differential rates whereby business rate payers pay more than residential rate payers per dollar of rateable land? If so, why?
Where there is a difference in the level of services provided and where business ratepayers have the ability to recover such legitimate costs from their customers, yes.
8. What are your views on Council ownership of non-core assets including trading enterprises of Council i.e. those assets that are not essential to run local government? What do you define as core or strategic assets and why?
Council ownership of non-core assets is justified when it compensates for market failure, avoids monopolistic behaviour or provides a better return than other investments.
Council ownership of non-core land is justified when the land may become core in the future, eg a potential transport corridor
9. What are your views on the council’s use of debt to fund projects? Do you think the council has an appropriate level of debt?
It is normal for a business of WCC’s size to fund some projects through debt, particularly when benefits will accrue to future generations and the same should apply to costs.
I have seen no credible evidence that the current level of debt is unsustainable.
10. What are your views on council use of fees and charges?
WCC consults on this through the Annual Plan and the LTCCP, and the process seems reasonable.
11. Do you think the community should pay for its own water on a user pays basis?
Yes No
Comment
A mixture of the two. Water is a scarce commodity, and should be priced accordingly in order to maximise the economic benefit from its use. But it is also an essential of life and a social commodity, and as such price should not be a barrier to its use for basic needs. I favour user-pays above a basic level, and reducing the pressure on future water supply through such measures as rainwater tanks and grey water usage
12. What role should the council take on climate change and do you support the goal of carbon neutrality?
WCC needs to take steps to minimise its own and the city’s contribution to climate change and to mitigate the effects of such change. It needs to become carbon neutral in its own operations, and to have policies that encourage carbon neutrality in others’ activities. Done correctly, these initiatives will have positive effects both environmentally and economically.
13. What are your views on combining local authority service delivery, and amalgamations with neighbouring authorities? Should we have a super city in Wellington?
We don’t need a super city – there is no major problem that requires such an expensive and disruptive solution. Existing TAs co-operating over particular areas of service delivery is something that is worth exploring.
14. Do you think Councillors should be paid in proportion to the number of meetings they attend, or through a fixed annual fee, or in some other way?
Viewing councillors as purely attenders at official meetings would show a lack of understanding of the extent of their role, and would distort their activities if this were the sole basis of payment. Payment according to responsibility is more appropriate, with the ultimate arbiter being the electorate every three years.
A possible approach would be to carry out an annual formal public review of councillors’ performance, and use that as a basis for remuneration. The reviews done by The Wellingtonian show what could be done, but clearly the process would need a lot of development.
15. Do you think Wellington City Council should open a trade office in China?
No. I see no point in duplicating activities for which MFAT is responsible
16. List five keys issues that you consider need addressing by the Council in the next three-years
• Council decision-making processes re projects (see Q5 above)
• Poor economic and environmental performance of the Golden Mile as the region’s (and hence probably the country’s) busiest public transport corridor, in addition to its other roles
• Lack of public transport integration and lack of provision for freight transport and deliveries, both of these imposing avoidable costs on businesses and residents
• Carbon neutrality and climate change
• Inconsistent and sometimes contradictory WCC policies and behaviours
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Water, and the environment
Out and about today, the most common question I was asked was where I stood in relation to water. My answer is unequivocal: water supply must be kept in public ownership, no question.
Water isn't an unlimited resource, and we do need to conserve it. There are simple things that I think we should be looking at, like rainwater tanks and using grey water in the garden, which will help reduce the need for new dams. And it just doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money purifying water just to use it in the toilet or pour it on the garden - we need to have smarter thinking about our resources.
Talking of resources, as I mentioned the other day the regional council held a workshop on the environment at Rongotai College on Thursday night. It was an opportunity for the public to contribute to the way the regional council undertakes its important roles in protecting the environment, and I felt that the participants had a good opportunity to be involved and to be heard.
One remarkable thing, though, was the level of involvement from our current elected representatives and candidates. There were three current regional councillors there and one candidate, but for the city council the entire representation was just one candidate. I think that the health is far too important to be ignored, but I seem to be in a minority of one. I suggest that you remember that when you vote.
Water isn't an unlimited resource, and we do need to conserve it. There are simple things that I think we should be looking at, like rainwater tanks and using grey water in the garden, which will help reduce the need for new dams. And it just doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money purifying water just to use it in the toilet or pour it on the garden - we need to have smarter thinking about our resources.
Talking of resources, as I mentioned the other day the regional council held a workshop on the environment at Rongotai College on Thursday night. It was an opportunity for the public to contribute to the way the regional council undertakes its important roles in protecting the environment, and I felt that the participants had a good opportunity to be involved and to be heard.
One remarkable thing, though, was the level of involvement from our current elected representatives and candidates. There were three current regional councillors there and one candidate, but for the city council the entire representation was just one candidate. I think that the health is far too important to be ignored, but I seem to be in a minority of one. I suggest that you remember that when you vote.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
On Ruahine St, and the regional environment
This morning I spent a very interesting couple of hours standing alongside Ruahine St with one of my hoardings Many thanks to all of you who smiled, waved, tooted, gave me a thumbs-up - very much appreciated!
Tomorrow (Thursday) night at 7pm Greater Wellington Regional Council is hosting a community workshop on the environment at Rongotai College - details at http://www.gw.govt.nz/what-s-your-view-about-our-environment-community-workshop-wellington-east/ . I hope to see many of you there.
Tomorrow (Thursday) night at 7pm Greater Wellington Regional Council is hosting a community workshop on the environment at Rongotai College - details at http://www.gw.govt.nz/what-s-your-view-about-our-environment-community-workshop-wellington-east/ . I hope to see many of you there.
Monday, September 6, 2010
The campaign steps up...
I've now got hoardings up at the Otaki St/Ira St/Devonshire Rd intersection in Miramar, at Miramar Cutting, at the eastern end of Seatoun Tunnel, and on Evans Bay Parade at the Treasure Grove intersection - many thanks to Andy, Murray, Brenda, Sandy and Anne for helping with this. I didn't realise how big a job it would be!
And many thanks to the people I met at the Strathmore shops bus stop this morning for allowing me to steal a bit of your time and for accepting a copy of my flyer. I'm committed to improving the lot of the bus passenger, unfortunately not about to be helped by Go Wellington's drastic fare increases. A vote for me is a vote for a city council that will make sure that its voice is heard and its influence is brought to bear when people are penalised like this - a situation that I will work hard to avoid in future.
And many thanks to the people I met at the Strathmore shops bus stop this morning for allowing me to steal a bit of your time and for accepting a copy of my flyer. I'm committed to improving the lot of the bus passenger, unfortunately not about to be helped by Go Wellington's drastic fare increases. A vote for me is a vote for a city council that will make sure that its voice is heard and its influence is brought to bear when people are penalised like this - a situation that I will work hard to avoid in future.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
What I stand for: fresh thinking
The first of my top 5 issues on the Elections2010 website at http://www.elections2010.co.nz/2010/candidates/mike-mellor is a revitalised city council:
•Councillors with energy, fresh ideas and independent minds who listen and respond
I think that it's time for a change in the Eastern Ward. We need fresh faces and fresh ideas, and councillors who think and act independently and constructively. The Eastern Ward is growing and vibrant, and needs councillors to match.
The time is ripe for fresh ideas around transport, heritage, environment and communities, and I'll look at each of these areas in later posts.
•A council that is fair, transparent and open
Sometimes the council moves in mysterious ways. An example this week is that on Tuesday the mayor psented Forest & Bird with an award for their Places for Penguins programme, protecting little blue penguin habitats (many of them in the Eastern Ward); the next day she led the Strategy & Policy Committee into selling off a piece of council-owned land on the South Coast, threatening just the sort of habitat that Forest & Bird have worked so hard to protect.
Very odd, but not that unusual. In the case of the Indoor Community Sports Centre on Cobham Drive (of which more in a later posting) a council that ostensibly supports cycling and walking and promotes public transport on the Growth Spine along SH1, designed a facility where 95% of patrons are assumed to come by car, with no safe way of getting to the Evans Bay walkway & cycleway just metres away because it's the other side of four-lane 70 km/h Cobham Drive. (It required the Environment Court to make them see some sense in this.)
There are other examples, and that's no way to run a council.
•A council that is in touch with its communities
This is a very mixed bag. I was a member of the group that assisted the council produce the Kilbirnie Town Centre Revitalisation Plan, an excellent exercise that involved a whole cross-section of people who live, work, shop and play in Kilbirnie, many of whom gave substantial amounts of time. The plan that emerged, while it had many good points, in my opinion missed some major targets. For instance, the only public transport initiative was to improve the bus shelters, failing to acknowledge the point that Kilbirnie is the hub of the eastern suburbs public transport network, and needs a lot more than shelter improvements to reflect that fact. Fortunately, support for facilities for buses and their users was that strong (92% in favour!) that the council has improved the plan. They listened to the community - eventually.
So what will be different with me as a councillor?
You'll have a fresh face, committed to listening and to a council that's consistent and sticks to its own principles. You'll have someone who's lived here for nearly 20 years, who has been involved in lots of local and city-wide community issues, who has worked with the council from outside for many years, making many submissions and attending many meetings. You'll have someone who is not afraid to take things to the line when necessary, when principles and community issues need to be stood up for.
I look forward to your putting me no.1 on your Eastern Ward ballot paper!
•Councillors with energy, fresh ideas and independent minds who listen and respond
I think that it's time for a change in the Eastern Ward. We need fresh faces and fresh ideas, and councillors who think and act independently and constructively. The Eastern Ward is growing and vibrant, and needs councillors to match.
The time is ripe for fresh ideas around transport, heritage, environment and communities, and I'll look at each of these areas in later posts.
•A council that is fair, transparent and open
Sometimes the council moves in mysterious ways. An example this week is that on Tuesday the mayor psented Forest & Bird with an award for their Places for Penguins programme, protecting little blue penguin habitats (many of them in the Eastern Ward); the next day she led the Strategy & Policy Committee into selling off a piece of council-owned land on the South Coast, threatening just the sort of habitat that Forest & Bird have worked so hard to protect.
Very odd, but not that unusual. In the case of the Indoor Community Sports Centre on Cobham Drive (of which more in a later posting) a council that ostensibly supports cycling and walking and promotes public transport on the Growth Spine along SH1, designed a facility where 95% of patrons are assumed to come by car, with no safe way of getting to the Evans Bay walkway & cycleway just metres away because it's the other side of four-lane 70 km/h Cobham Drive. (It required the Environment Court to make them see some sense in this.)
There are other examples, and that's no way to run a council.
•A council that is in touch with its communities
This is a very mixed bag. I was a member of the group that assisted the council produce the Kilbirnie Town Centre Revitalisation Plan, an excellent exercise that involved a whole cross-section of people who live, work, shop and play in Kilbirnie, many of whom gave substantial amounts of time. The plan that emerged, while it had many good points, in my opinion missed some major targets. For instance, the only public transport initiative was to improve the bus shelters, failing to acknowledge the point that Kilbirnie is the hub of the eastern suburbs public transport network, and needs a lot more than shelter improvements to reflect that fact. Fortunately, support for facilities for buses and their users was that strong (92% in favour!) that the council has improved the plan. They listened to the community - eventually.
So what will be different with me as a councillor?
You'll have a fresh face, committed to listening and to a council that's consistent and sticks to its own principles. You'll have someone who's lived here for nearly 20 years, who has been involved in lots of local and city-wide community issues, who has worked with the council from outside for many years, making many submissions and attending many meetings. You'll have someone who is not afraid to take things to the line when necessary, when principles and community issues need to be stood up for.
I look forward to your putting me no.1 on your Eastern Ward ballot paper!
Another candidates' meeting
There's another candidates' meeting, jointly organised by Hataitai & Roseneath Residents' Associations, on Sunday 19 September at TSS Amokura, the Sea Cadets' building at Cog Park on Evans Bay Parade. It starts at 1000 with Mayoral candidates, 1130 for Eastern Ward candidates.
And the Wellington Residents' Coalition is organising a meeting on public transport at 1.30 this Sunday 5 September in the mezzanine flor room at the Central Library, with representation scheduled from Cycle Aware, Public Transport Voice, Trans-action, Living Streets Aotearoa, the regional and city councils, and Labour and the Greens. More information from Ron Oliver on 934 2816.
And the Wellington Residents' Coalition is organising a meeting on public transport at 1.30 this Sunday 5 September in the mezzanine flor room at the Central Library, with representation scheduled from Cycle Aware, Public Transport Voice, Trans-action, Living Streets Aotearoa, the regional and city councils, and Labour and the Greens. More information from Ron Oliver on 934 2816.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Meet the Eastern Ward candidates
Candidates' meetings are scheduled for:
Tuesday 14 September, Miramar Baptist Church Hall, 33 Park Rd, 7.30pm;
Saturday 18 September, Kilbirnie-Lyall Bay Community Centre, 56 Bay Rd, 2.30pm for Eastern Ward candidates, 4pm for mayoral candidates
There's also a meeting planned for the morning of Sunday 19 September in Hataitai or Roseneath, details to be confirmed.
Tuesday 14 September, Miramar Baptist Church Hall, 33 Park Rd, 7.30pm;
Saturday 18 September, Kilbirnie-Lyall Bay Community Centre, 56 Bay Rd, 2.30pm for Eastern Ward candidates, 4pm for mayoral candidates
There's also a meeting planned for the morning of Sunday 19 September in Hataitai or Roseneath, details to be confirmed.
Draft water policy
The city council has started consulting on a Draft Water Efficiency and Conservation Plan - see http://www.wellington.govt.nz/haveyoursay/publicinput/2010-10-draftwater.html .
There are public meetings in Kilbirnie library on Monday 20 September at noon and 6pm, and I'll certainly be attending. Water is too important a topic not to have your say!
There are public meetings in Kilbirnie library on Monday 20 September at noon and 6pm, and I'll certainly be attending. Water is too important a topic not to have your say!
WCC's approach to affordable public transport
One of Wellington City Council's Community Outcomes is that the city's public transport system will be affordable for all. While the city council doesn't control the cost of bus fares, it can certainly make its opinions heard - if it wants to.
Bus fares go up on 1 October, with Snapper fares going up by about 2.5% for most individual journeys between the eastern suburbs and the city centre, just a bit more than the Government's GST increase (that equates to about 2.2%). But many eastern suburbs passengers use GoWellington's $99 Gold Pass, and the bad news for them is that the nearest equivalent pass, the Getabout 30-day Pass, will cost $185 - that's about a 90% increase. Admittedly the new pass will also allow travel to and in the Hutt Valley, but I suspect that that is a facility that not that many easterners would take advantage of.
So the only real option will be to use Snapper, which for three zones (most of the Eastern Ward is in zone 3) will equate to about $137 a month - that's nearly a 40% increase (and the new cost would be about $250 if you used your Snapper on the Airport Flyer!).
And daily passengers will be affected, too. The $6 Daytripper is being replaced by the BusAbout Day Pass at $9 (and also valid in the Hutt Valley) - a 50% increase for journeys with Wellington city.
Clearly these large increases will make bus travel a lot less affordable - so where's the outcry from our elected representatives?
I protested against these increases to Greater Wellington Regional Council, but our transport system is that messy that passes are outside their control, so responsibility sits squarely with Infratil's Go Wellington. My commitment is to work on behalf of the many people who contribute to the city by catching the bus and not driving, and I guarantee that at least one council voice would have been heard if I had been sitting round the council table.
Bus fares go up on 1 October, with Snapper fares going up by about 2.5% for most individual journeys between the eastern suburbs and the city centre, just a bit more than the Government's GST increase (that equates to about 2.2%). But many eastern suburbs passengers use GoWellington's $99 Gold Pass, and the bad news for them is that the nearest equivalent pass, the Getabout 30-day Pass, will cost $185 - that's about a 90% increase. Admittedly the new pass will also allow travel to and in the Hutt Valley, but I suspect that that is a facility that not that many easterners would take advantage of.
So the only real option will be to use Snapper, which for three zones (most of the Eastern Ward is in zone 3) will equate to about $137 a month - that's nearly a 40% increase (and the new cost would be about $250 if you used your Snapper on the Airport Flyer!).
And daily passengers will be affected, too. The $6 Daytripper is being replaced by the BusAbout Day Pass at $9 (and also valid in the Hutt Valley) - a 50% increase for journeys with Wellington city.
Clearly these large increases will make bus travel a lot less affordable - so where's the outcry from our elected representatives?
I protested against these increases to Greater Wellington Regional Council, but our transport system is that messy that passes are outside their control, so responsibility sits squarely with Infratil's Go Wellington. My commitment is to work on behalf of the many people who contribute to the city by catching the bus and not driving, and I guarantee that at least one council voice would have been heard if I had been sitting round the council table.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Green light for tunnel?
There's rather an odd front-page lead in this week's Wellingtonin http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/the-wellingtonian/4059978/Green-light-for-second-Mt-Vic-tunnel, with the mayor claiming that it's "fantastic news for the eastern suburbs" that a new tunnel will be built.
It's odd, because nothing has changed since the Government announced their RONS scheme before Christmas; that NZTA haven't even started designing a new tunnel; that the best estimate is that it won't open for another 15 years; and that part of the justification for the tunnel is apparently traffic created by the new Indoor Community Sports Centre (famously once labelled a "mayoral vanity project") and by the airport exapansion.
If the mayor thinks that it's good news for the taxpayer (that's us) to be spending $175m on a project that will destroy part of the Town Belt, induce more traffic and generate more congestion in the city centre, all in order to offset her council's expensive blunder in the location of the sports centre, perhaps we need a new mayor?
If the council wasn't planning for 95% of sports centre users to arrive by private car, and if it gave some thought as to how to get airport passengers out of the huge number of taxis and into public transport, it would realise that traffic problems don't need expensive and long-drawn-out solutions, particularly when SH1 traffic volumes have barely increased over the last five years. Invest much less money in public transport, walking and cycling now, and we can avoid spending our hard-earned cash on a project that the government's own figures show barely makes any sense economically, let alone in any other way.
It's odd, because nothing has changed since the Government announced their RONS scheme before Christmas; that NZTA haven't even started designing a new tunnel; that the best estimate is that it won't open for another 15 years; and that part of the justification for the tunnel is apparently traffic created by the new Indoor Community Sports Centre (famously once labelled a "mayoral vanity project") and by the airport exapansion.
If the mayor thinks that it's good news for the taxpayer (that's us) to be spending $175m on a project that will destroy part of the Town Belt, induce more traffic and generate more congestion in the city centre, all in order to offset her council's expensive blunder in the location of the sports centre, perhaps we need a new mayor?
If the council wasn't planning for 95% of sports centre users to arrive by private car, and if it gave some thought as to how to get airport passengers out of the huge number of taxis and into public transport, it would realise that traffic problems don't need expensive and long-drawn-out solutions, particularly when SH1 traffic volumes have barely increased over the last five years. Invest much less money in public transport, walking and cycling now, and we can avoid spending our hard-earned cash on a project that the government's own figures show barely makes any sense economically, let alone in any other way.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
How do we fix Wellington Eastern Suburbs traffic?
On the http://www.elections2010.co.nz/ website Margot asked the following question of all Eastern Ward candidates:
If elected as Eastern councillor what do you plan to do about the traffic issues in the Eastern Suburbs? Please comment on the traffic exiting Hataitai towards the Mt Victoria tunnel, traffic flow at, the roundabout where the new stadium is being built (there is already congestion in this area now) and the traffic coming out from the road to the netball courts on Saturdays. Margot
This is my reply:
First, I think some background may be helpful.
The agencies
Transport in Wellington is split between several different bodies. The New Zealand Transport Agency is responsible for State Highway 1, from the airport along Cobham Drive and through the Mt Victoria tunnel; the Greater Wellington Regional Council plans and supports bus operation (except commercial services, the relevant one here being the Airport Flyer, run independently by NZ Bus); and Wellington City Council provides local roads, the bus tunnel, bus stops and shelters, and the trolleybus overhead. So any approach to traffic issues requires a lot of co-operation – WCC on its own can’t do a lot.
Current plans
Transport improvements for the route to the airport are in the Ngauranga to Airport Corridor Plan (http://www.gw.govt.nz/ngauranga-to-wellington-airport/) jointly prepared by NZTA’s predecessor Transit NZ, GWRC and WCC. That plan includes, within 10 years,
• Investigating duplicating the Mt Victoria tunnel and four-laning Ruahine St and Wellington Rd;
• Investigating improvements to walking and cycling through Mt Victoria tunnel;
• Investigating ferries to Miramar wharf;
• Improving the Cobham Drive/Troy St roundabout;
• Undertake feasibility study on high-quality public transport system in the CBD;
• And smaller improvements to public transport, walking and cycling.
And after 10 years,
• Duplicating Mt Victoria tunnel and four-laning Ruahine St and Wellington Rd;
• Implementing a step-change in public transport in the CBD.
In addition, WCC has had plans to install traffic lights at the Ruahine St/Goa St intersection, which would of course have to be implemented jointly with NZTA.
Subsequent to the Ngauranga to Airport plan being agreed, NZTA announced unilaterally the Government’s plan to skip the investigation stage and go straight into the Mt Victoria tunnel, Ruahine St and Wellington Rd changes, but as the last phase of the massive Wellington Road of National Significance scheme (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/network/projects/wellington-northern-corridor/). There are no proposed changes to other parts of the plan, so the balanced approach of its proposals has been lost.
In addition, the transport situation was changed significantly by WCC’s decision to add to the traffic problems by building the new sports centre on Cobham Drive, with 95% of its users planned to arrive by car. (I took WCC to court to get improvements to this.)
So the only definite physical changes planned for the next few years are the Cobham Drive/Troy St roundabout (required to be completed before the sports centre opens), and perhaps Goa St lights.
The SH1 plans are probably some years away from being designed, let alone built, and will be very disruptive and expensive when they do happen, and Ruahine St and the adjacent Town Belt and Wellington Rd will be very different places. They are also likely to generate more traffic, so we will probably end up where we started (or worse). Most cities around the world have learned that trying to road-build your way out of traffic congestion is generally futile and expensive.
What I will work towards, in conjunction with the other agencies
I’d put in the Goa St lights, the Cobham Drive roundabout changes and the walking, cycling and public transport improvements listed above, but otherwise I’d take a different – faster, cheaper and effective - approach. Experience round the world shows that where there are public transport and general roads along the same corridor, speeding up public transport improves speed for all users; trying to speed up general roads without doing at least the same for public transport makes the situation worse for all concerned.
In conjunction with GWRC, I’d improve public transport between the eastern suburbs and the CBD, with faster, more direct and more frequent buses on a simplified route structure with good transfer facilities. That would reduce much of the pressure, particularly at commuter times. The CBD public transport improvements in the Ngauranga to Airport plan are an essential part of this.
Second, I’d talk to the airport about reducing the large number of taxis on this route. Improvements to the Airport Flyer have helped, and need to go further.
Third, I’d encourage walking and cycling, by means such as improving the Mt Victoria tunnel environment (Hataitai has a lower rate of commuting on foot or by bike than suburbs a similar distance from the CBD, largely because of the unpleasantness of the Mt Victoria tunnel), and better cycle tracks.
Fourth, I’d recognise that people want to cross SH1 as well as travel along it, and seek ways to reduce the significant barrier it creates for pedestrians and cyclists. Otherwise, it encourages car use for short journeys, something which most people are agreed should be avoided. As things stand the only safe way to get the short distance from Miramar to the centre or Kilbirnie is to drive or catch a bus, which is ridiculous.
And last, I’d look at ferries from Miramar wharf – the current ferry from Seatoun is an excellent way to travel, but offers a very limited service.
And in the longer term, modern trams connecting the eastern suburbs with the CBD and the region’s railway network will definitely be the way to go.
Your questions
So, to go back to your specific questions:
Exiting from Hataitai towards the Mt Victoria tunnel:
Reduce traffic along SH1 by making the bus service more attractive in speed and frequency, and by improving facilities for walking and cycling – the CBD is not that far away. Goa St lights would help break up the traffic flow to help Hataitai users get into the tunnel – but any changes to the Basin Reserve to smooth the flow of eastbound traffic, as envisaged by NZTA, could have just the opposite effect.
The roundabout by the sports centre:
This will be improved before the centre opens, and improved public transport will ease the congestion – particularly with the sustainable transport initiatives agreed by WCC as part of the Environment Court settlement.
Traffic to the netball courts:
Reduced traffic by the initiatives outlined above and traffic lights at Goa St will ease the situation.
Sorry that this is such a long answer, but I hope it helps explain the situation.
If elected as Eastern councillor what do you plan to do about the traffic issues in the Eastern Suburbs? Please comment on the traffic exiting Hataitai towards the Mt Victoria tunnel, traffic flow at, the roundabout where the new stadium is being built (there is already congestion in this area now) and the traffic coming out from the road to the netball courts on Saturdays. Margot
This is my reply:
First, I think some background may be helpful.
The agencies
Transport in Wellington is split between several different bodies. The New Zealand Transport Agency is responsible for State Highway 1, from the airport along Cobham Drive and through the Mt Victoria tunnel; the Greater Wellington Regional Council plans and supports bus operation (except commercial services, the relevant one here being the Airport Flyer, run independently by NZ Bus); and Wellington City Council provides local roads, the bus tunnel, bus stops and shelters, and the trolleybus overhead. So any approach to traffic issues requires a lot of co-operation – WCC on its own can’t do a lot.
Current plans
Transport improvements for the route to the airport are in the Ngauranga to Airport Corridor Plan (http://www.gw.govt.nz/ngauranga-to-wellington-airport/) jointly prepared by NZTA’s predecessor Transit NZ, GWRC and WCC. That plan includes, within 10 years,
• Investigating duplicating the Mt Victoria tunnel and four-laning Ruahine St and Wellington Rd;
• Investigating improvements to walking and cycling through Mt Victoria tunnel;
• Investigating ferries to Miramar wharf;
• Improving the Cobham Drive/Troy St roundabout;
• Undertake feasibility study on high-quality public transport system in the CBD;
• And smaller improvements to public transport, walking and cycling.
And after 10 years,
• Duplicating Mt Victoria tunnel and four-laning Ruahine St and Wellington Rd;
• Implementing a step-change in public transport in the CBD.
In addition, WCC has had plans to install traffic lights at the Ruahine St/Goa St intersection, which would of course have to be implemented jointly with NZTA.
Subsequent to the Ngauranga to Airport plan being agreed, NZTA announced unilaterally the Government’s plan to skip the investigation stage and go straight into the Mt Victoria tunnel, Ruahine St and Wellington Rd changes, but as the last phase of the massive Wellington Road of National Significance scheme (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/network/projects/wellington-northern-corridor/). There are no proposed changes to other parts of the plan, so the balanced approach of its proposals has been lost.
In addition, the transport situation was changed significantly by WCC’s decision to add to the traffic problems by building the new sports centre on Cobham Drive, with 95% of its users planned to arrive by car. (I took WCC to court to get improvements to this.)
So the only definite physical changes planned for the next few years are the Cobham Drive/Troy St roundabout (required to be completed before the sports centre opens), and perhaps Goa St lights.
The SH1 plans are probably some years away from being designed, let alone built, and will be very disruptive and expensive when they do happen, and Ruahine St and the adjacent Town Belt and Wellington Rd will be very different places. They are also likely to generate more traffic, so we will probably end up where we started (or worse). Most cities around the world have learned that trying to road-build your way out of traffic congestion is generally futile and expensive.
What I will work towards, in conjunction with the other agencies
I’d put in the Goa St lights, the Cobham Drive roundabout changes and the walking, cycling and public transport improvements listed above, but otherwise I’d take a different – faster, cheaper and effective - approach. Experience round the world shows that where there are public transport and general roads along the same corridor, speeding up public transport improves speed for all users; trying to speed up general roads without doing at least the same for public transport makes the situation worse for all concerned.
In conjunction with GWRC, I’d improve public transport between the eastern suburbs and the CBD, with faster, more direct and more frequent buses on a simplified route structure with good transfer facilities. That would reduce much of the pressure, particularly at commuter times. The CBD public transport improvements in the Ngauranga to Airport plan are an essential part of this.
Second, I’d talk to the airport about reducing the large number of taxis on this route. Improvements to the Airport Flyer have helped, and need to go further.
Third, I’d encourage walking and cycling, by means such as improving the Mt Victoria tunnel environment (Hataitai has a lower rate of commuting on foot or by bike than suburbs a similar distance from the CBD, largely because of the unpleasantness of the Mt Victoria tunnel), and better cycle tracks.
Fourth, I’d recognise that people want to cross SH1 as well as travel along it, and seek ways to reduce the significant barrier it creates for pedestrians and cyclists. Otherwise, it encourages car use for short journeys, something which most people are agreed should be avoided. As things stand the only safe way to get the short distance from Miramar to the centre or Kilbirnie is to drive or catch a bus, which is ridiculous.
And last, I’d look at ferries from Miramar wharf – the current ferry from Seatoun is an excellent way to travel, but offers a very limited service.
And in the longer term, modern trams connecting the eastern suburbs with the CBD and the region’s railway network will definitely be the way to go.
Your questions
So, to go back to your specific questions:
Exiting from Hataitai towards the Mt Victoria tunnel:
Reduce traffic along SH1 by making the bus service more attractive in speed and frequency, and by improving facilities for walking and cycling – the CBD is not that far away. Goa St lights would help break up the traffic flow to help Hataitai users get into the tunnel – but any changes to the Basin Reserve to smooth the flow of eastbound traffic, as envisaged by NZTA, could have just the opposite effect.
The roundabout by the sports centre:
This will be improved before the centre opens, and improved public transport will ease the congestion – particularly with the sustainable transport initiatives agreed by WCC as part of the Environment Court settlement.
Traffic to the netball courts:
Reduced traffic by the initiatives outlined above and traffic lights at Goa St will ease the situation.
Sorry that this is such a long answer, but I hope it helps explain the situation.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Eastern ward: time for change?
The Wellingtonian's views on the Eastern Ward:
Eastern ward: time for change?
By JIM CHIPP - The Wellingtonian
Last updated 05:00 05/08/2010
The Wellingtonian continues its local body election countdown with a look at the Eastern ward, which has been the field of the bitterest battle of this triennium – the indoor sports centre.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer was the highest polling councillor in the ward in 2007, followed closely by Labour councillor Leonie Gill, with Rob Goulden a distant third.
All are long-serving councillors and Mr Ahipene-Mercer and Mr Goulden also stood for the mayoralty.
The ward election will be livened by the entry of Miramar vet Allan Probert, Taima Fagaloa of the Labour Party and radio announcer Simon (Swampy) Marsh.
Indoor sports centre: `Public policy by utu'
The most contentious issue of the council term was the $50 million indoor sports centre project at Cobham Park in Rongotai.
Some argued the 12-court building would be too small, and that the extra traffic between the city and the centre would overwhelm the Mt Victoria tunnel.
A councillor, Andy Foster, and a resident, Mike Mellor, appealed against the project's resource consent in the Environment Court, on grounds of choice of location, traffic congestion and pedestrian access.
Mr Foster's appeal made him unpopular with his fellow councillors, and when a council decision to extend the Golden Mile bus lanes into Courtenay Place was overturned while he was transport portfolio leader, it was seen by some as payback.
"It's public policy by utu," said Southern ward councillor Bryan Pepperell.
Mr Foster agreed to withdraw his appeal on condition of an independent review and Mr Mellor's objections were settled in mediation.
The centre is under construction and expected to open next August.
Sport Wellington chief executive Paul Cameron, who is also an Eastern ward resident, welcomed the centre, and said it would have caused traffic issues wherever it was located.
"From a Sport Wellington point of view, they appear to be doing extremely well. I am comfortable with the way they are handling things. It's going to be superb."
Mr Mellor withdrew his appeal when concessions were made to make it easier for people to access the centre on foot.
"They [council] didn't take into account the things they had to do according to their own District Plan," he said.
"It took me taking them to court. Once they realised that I was serious they took me seriously.
"It was unfortunate from everybody's point of view, particularly the ratepayers who had to pay out tens of thousands of dollars."
He said he had received some support from Mr Goulden, but had no contact with the other two councillors.
Taking the slow road
A traffic report on the probable effects of the indoor sports centre pointed out that Mt Victoria tunnel was already fully loaded, carrying 3600 vehicles an hour at peak times, and appeared to be the busiest two-lane road in New Zealand.
It projected an extra 139 vehicles per hour heading to and from the indoor sports centre.
"This amount of additional traffic using Mt Victoria tunnel equates to four years of traffic growth in one big hit," it said.
The same report said the average queue length on Cobham Drive east on a Saturday could extend from 166 metres to 260m once the indoor sports centre was built, and the maximum queue length could be two to three times bigger.
The opening of the centre may be the last straw in its effect on traffic congestion in the area, which was part of the subject of the Ngauranga to Airport transport corridor consultation and plan.
Wellington city and regional councils, and what is now New Zealand Transport Agency joined forces to consult the public on long-term transport issues and come up with a plan, which seems likely to help drivers more than public transport.
It includes a flyover at the Basin Reserve and a second Mt Victoria tunnel.
Charles Finny, Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive at the time, made submissions.
"I was very pleased with the outcome but I wonder why it took so long to focus on some aspects of this roading, particularly between the airport and the central business district," he said.
"It really is one of the most congested pieces of road in New Zealand and it's a great shame. It seemed to be Wellington City Council that was delaying it."
Mt Victoria Residents' Association chairman Kent Duston was also involved in the consultation.
As part of State Highway 1, the road is under the control of the transport agency which, he said, was "strongly focused on roads and ripping into the fabric of the city".
"From my point of view the sensible solution would have been the light rail system proposed by councillor Wade-Brown."
He said some of the council's decisions in terms of improving public transport in the eastern suburbs "haven't been particularly helpful".
"An example is Ray Ahipene-Mercer voting against bus lanes in Courtenay Place. Given that he is also the climate change portfolio leader it is disappointing."
Eastern ward: time for change?
By JIM CHIPP - The Wellingtonian
Last updated 05:00 05/08/2010
The Wellingtonian continues its local body election countdown with a look at the Eastern ward, which has been the field of the bitterest battle of this triennium – the indoor sports centre.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer was the highest polling councillor in the ward in 2007, followed closely by Labour councillor Leonie Gill, with Rob Goulden a distant third.
All are long-serving councillors and Mr Ahipene-Mercer and Mr Goulden also stood for the mayoralty.
The ward election will be livened by the entry of Miramar vet Allan Probert, Taima Fagaloa of the Labour Party and radio announcer Simon (Swampy) Marsh.
Indoor sports centre: `Public policy by utu'
The most contentious issue of the council term was the $50 million indoor sports centre project at Cobham Park in Rongotai.
Some argued the 12-court building would be too small, and that the extra traffic between the city and the centre would overwhelm the Mt Victoria tunnel.
A councillor, Andy Foster, and a resident, Mike Mellor, appealed against the project's resource consent in the Environment Court, on grounds of choice of location, traffic congestion and pedestrian access.
Mr Foster's appeal made him unpopular with his fellow councillors, and when a council decision to extend the Golden Mile bus lanes into Courtenay Place was overturned while he was transport portfolio leader, it was seen by some as payback.
"It's public policy by utu," said Southern ward councillor Bryan Pepperell.
Mr Foster agreed to withdraw his appeal on condition of an independent review and Mr Mellor's objections were settled in mediation.
The centre is under construction and expected to open next August.
Sport Wellington chief executive Paul Cameron, who is also an Eastern ward resident, welcomed the centre, and said it would have caused traffic issues wherever it was located.
"From a Sport Wellington point of view, they appear to be doing extremely well. I am comfortable with the way they are handling things. It's going to be superb."
Mr Mellor withdrew his appeal when concessions were made to make it easier for people to access the centre on foot.
"They [council] didn't take into account the things they had to do according to their own District Plan," he said.
"It took me taking them to court. Once they realised that I was serious they took me seriously.
"It was unfortunate from everybody's point of view, particularly the ratepayers who had to pay out tens of thousands of dollars."
He said he had received some support from Mr Goulden, but had no contact with the other two councillors.
Taking the slow road
A traffic report on the probable effects of the indoor sports centre pointed out that Mt Victoria tunnel was already fully loaded, carrying 3600 vehicles an hour at peak times, and appeared to be the busiest two-lane road in New Zealand.
It projected an extra 139 vehicles per hour heading to and from the indoor sports centre.
"This amount of additional traffic using Mt Victoria tunnel equates to four years of traffic growth in one big hit," it said.
The same report said the average queue length on Cobham Drive east on a Saturday could extend from 166 metres to 260m once the indoor sports centre was built, and the maximum queue length could be two to three times bigger.
The opening of the centre may be the last straw in its effect on traffic congestion in the area, which was part of the subject of the Ngauranga to Airport transport corridor consultation and plan.
Wellington city and regional councils, and what is now New Zealand Transport Agency joined forces to consult the public on long-term transport issues and come up with a plan, which seems likely to help drivers more than public transport.
It includes a flyover at the Basin Reserve and a second Mt Victoria tunnel.
Charles Finny, Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive at the time, made submissions.
"I was very pleased with the outcome but I wonder why it took so long to focus on some aspects of this roading, particularly between the airport and the central business district," he said.
"It really is one of the most congested pieces of road in New Zealand and it's a great shame. It seemed to be Wellington City Council that was delaying it."
Mt Victoria Residents' Association chairman Kent Duston was also involved in the consultation.
As part of State Highway 1, the road is under the control of the transport agency which, he said, was "strongly focused on roads and ripping into the fabric of the city".
"From my point of view the sensible solution would have been the light rail system proposed by councillor Wade-Brown."
He said some of the council's decisions in terms of improving public transport in the eastern suburbs "haven't been particularly helpful".
"An example is Ray Ahipene-Mercer voting against bus lanes in Courtenay Place. Given that he is also the climate change portfolio leader it is disappointing."
The French show the way?
From the New Zealand Herald: just imagine Wellington like this!
Toulouse: French role model paves the way
By Peter Bills
New Zealand Herald, 12:00 PM Tuesday Aug 17, 2010
Toulouse is showing the rest of Europe how it can clean up its cities and go green, writes Peter Bills.
The pavements on bridges in Toulouse have been widened to include cycle and pedestrian lanes. Photo / Creative CommonsOK, OK. Maybe it was the temperature, 32C by day and a scarcely cooler 25C in the evenings, that so beguiled.
Maybe it was the demonstration of the quintessential south of France summer night: Hot, still, filled with melancholy, chilled red or rose wine.
But maybe, just maybe it was neither. Perhaps Toulouse, capital of the Haute-Garonne region at the centre of the south of France, looked so resplendent, seemed so elegant last weekend because modern technology has come to define the place.
This town, population about 450,000 which makes it the fourth largest French town, is offering Europe a role model of how to make progress in the ecological field.
On a summer's day, a line of bicycles stands where once stood the taxi rank, its polluting cars waiting for their customers. The first half hour's hire is free; you pay about one euro an hour thereafter.
You enter your credit card as a guarantee against theft, remove a receipt and pull your bike out of the rack. Then off you go.
But where Toulouse is superior to so many other towns and cities across Europe where bike use is encouraged, is it has multiple cycle lanes. Pavements have been specially widened over several of the bridges that cross the Garonne River leading into the city - half the width for pedestrians, half for cyclists.
You can cycle in specially designated cycling lanes through most of the city which means you feel relatively safe from the traffic, even if you have to use the roads. And on a warm, sunny weekend day what could be nicer than to stop at the city's open air market, buy some luscious local cherries or apricots and cycle off into one of the parks, where you can find a shady tree, park your bike and relax.
France cannot boast a city in the top nine of Europe's greenest cities ... Paris is best at 10th. But the three leading cities, headed by Copenhagen, with Stockholm second and Oslo third, all have two things in common: They are all by the sea and they all greatly encourage transport by bicycle. So too does Amsterdam, which came fifth.
Another method used increasingly by European city councils to reign in polluting cars and heavy vehicles is by closing major thoroughfares to traffic, turning them into pedestrian only zones. In Toulouse, the huge Rue d'Alsace Lorraine is no longer accessible to public vehicles. It has meant shoppers visiting major stores such as Galerie Lafayette and accessing the world famous Place du Capitole with the imposing Hotel de Ville at its centre, can stroll in peace and not be victims of traffic fumes.
In the nearby Place Saint Georges, one of the prettiest squares in the city, Toulousains sit out at night, sharing a drink before dinner or eating at one of the many restaurants or little cafes. It is an exquisite site. Swooping swallows fly in formation around the square, like RAF fighters from World War II.
And through the square come only a very few vehicles. The most important, the bus powered by electricity, offering the same service yet much cleaner and less polluting.
The difference with another European city, Bath, in the UK, is significant. The Georgian centre of Bath is a World Heritage site, revered and treasured by visitors from every continent. Yet the local council continues to allow lumbering, old, heavily polluting tourist buses as well as private cars to pour through the centre of the city.
Credit goes to the approach of the Toulouse city council which has taken active and meaningful steps to fight back against polluting transport.
Many tours are available in Toulouse, but the majority are on foot, or bike.
I was reminded midway through an exquisite south of France afternoon that gently riding a bike frees the mind. On a lovely summer's day, the pleasures are endless.
Toulouse: French role model paves the way
By Peter Bills
New Zealand Herald, 12:00 PM Tuesday Aug 17, 2010
Toulouse is showing the rest of Europe how it can clean up its cities and go green, writes Peter Bills.
The pavements on bridges in Toulouse have been widened to include cycle and pedestrian lanes. Photo / Creative CommonsOK, OK. Maybe it was the temperature, 32C by day and a scarcely cooler 25C in the evenings, that so beguiled.
Maybe it was the demonstration of the quintessential south of France summer night: Hot, still, filled with melancholy, chilled red or rose wine.
But maybe, just maybe it was neither. Perhaps Toulouse, capital of the Haute-Garonne region at the centre of the south of France, looked so resplendent, seemed so elegant last weekend because modern technology has come to define the place.
This town, population about 450,000 which makes it the fourth largest French town, is offering Europe a role model of how to make progress in the ecological field.
On a summer's day, a line of bicycles stands where once stood the taxi rank, its polluting cars waiting for their customers. The first half hour's hire is free; you pay about one euro an hour thereafter.
You enter your credit card as a guarantee against theft, remove a receipt and pull your bike out of the rack. Then off you go.
But where Toulouse is superior to so many other towns and cities across Europe where bike use is encouraged, is it has multiple cycle lanes. Pavements have been specially widened over several of the bridges that cross the Garonne River leading into the city - half the width for pedestrians, half for cyclists.
You can cycle in specially designated cycling lanes through most of the city which means you feel relatively safe from the traffic, even if you have to use the roads. And on a warm, sunny weekend day what could be nicer than to stop at the city's open air market, buy some luscious local cherries or apricots and cycle off into one of the parks, where you can find a shady tree, park your bike and relax.
France cannot boast a city in the top nine of Europe's greenest cities ... Paris is best at 10th. But the three leading cities, headed by Copenhagen, with Stockholm second and Oslo third, all have two things in common: They are all by the sea and they all greatly encourage transport by bicycle. So too does Amsterdam, which came fifth.
Another method used increasingly by European city councils to reign in polluting cars and heavy vehicles is by closing major thoroughfares to traffic, turning them into pedestrian only zones. In Toulouse, the huge Rue d'Alsace Lorraine is no longer accessible to public vehicles. It has meant shoppers visiting major stores such as Galerie Lafayette and accessing the world famous Place du Capitole with the imposing Hotel de Ville at its centre, can stroll in peace and not be victims of traffic fumes.
In the nearby Place Saint Georges, one of the prettiest squares in the city, Toulousains sit out at night, sharing a drink before dinner or eating at one of the many restaurants or little cafes. It is an exquisite site. Swooping swallows fly in formation around the square, like RAF fighters from World War II.
And through the square come only a very few vehicles. The most important, the bus powered by electricity, offering the same service yet much cleaner and less polluting.
The difference with another European city, Bath, in the UK, is significant. The Georgian centre of Bath is a World Heritage site, revered and treasured by visitors from every continent. Yet the local council continues to allow lumbering, old, heavily polluting tourist buses as well as private cars to pour through the centre of the city.
Credit goes to the approach of the Toulouse city council which has taken active and meaningful steps to fight back against polluting transport.
Many tours are available in Toulouse, but the majority are on foot, or bike.
I was reminded midway through an exquisite south of France afternoon that gently riding a bike frees the mind. On a lovely summer's day, the pleasures are endless.
Why vote for me?
Wellington is great, but it could be better. It needs a revitalised council with new councillors who have experience in both business and the voluntary sector, and who listen and respond.
A recent editorial in the New Zealand Herald said that Auckland deserves “candidates with ideas, vigour and independence”, but then it lamented “It is a shame that, in the main, they will have to settle for less."
Wellingtonians in the Eastern Ward don't have to settle for less, and here's your chance!
My top five points:
1. A revitalised council
• Councillors with energy, fresh ideas and independent minds who listen and respond
• A council that is fair, transparent and open
• A council that is in touch with its communities
2. Better transport options
• Improve accessibility by encouraging walking, cycling and public transport (buses, ferries, and modern trams), rather than expensive, destructive and long-drawn-out road “improvements”
• Speeding up bus journeys with an uncongested route along the whole of the Golden Mile
• Providing better bus interchanges at Kilbirnie, Miramar and the hospital
• Making it safe for pedestrians and cyclists to cross Cobham Drive & Calabar Road
• Developing a modern tram system to link the eastern suburbs right through to the region’s railway network
• Supporting the Great Harbour Way walking and cycling route around the region’s coastline
3. A fully sustainable city
• Proper assessment of the environmental and social effects of major projects, such as the Kilbirnie bus barns redevelopment, the Marine Education Centre and transport changes. (The poor location of the Indoor Community Sports Centre on Cobham Drive shows the consequences if this assessment doesn’t happen!)
• Climate change action plan implementation and carbon neutrality
• City Council leadership in sustainability strategies
• Analysis of the effects of peak oil on the city and the eastern suburbs
• Supporting sustainable urban form and urban growth
• Ensuring that the city is financially sustainable, including the level of rates
4. Environment and heritage
• Safeguarding beaches, parks and reserves
• Extending the Eastern Walkway through Fort Dorset to Seatoun beach
• Opening up the Miramar Peninsula’s heritage sites to the public
• Building on the possum-free status of the Miramar Peninsula as a “mainland island”
• Respecting the area’s built and natural heritage
• Establishing a recreational walkway along Kilbirnie’s drainage reserve
5. Local communities
• Safeguarding local council facilities such as libraries, community centres and sports fields
• Supporting the revitalisation of Kilbirnie and Miramar town centres
• Helping local community initiatives such as community gardens
A recent editorial in the New Zealand Herald said that Auckland deserves “candidates with ideas, vigour and independence”, but then it lamented “It is a shame that, in the main, they will have to settle for less."
Wellingtonians in the Eastern Ward don't have to settle for less, and here's your chance!
My top five points:
1. A revitalised council
• Councillors with energy, fresh ideas and independent minds who listen and respond
• A council that is fair, transparent and open
• A council that is in touch with its communities
2. Better transport options
• Improve accessibility by encouraging walking, cycling and public transport (buses, ferries, and modern trams), rather than expensive, destructive and long-drawn-out road “improvements”
• Speeding up bus journeys with an uncongested route along the whole of the Golden Mile
• Providing better bus interchanges at Kilbirnie, Miramar and the hospital
• Making it safe for pedestrians and cyclists to cross Cobham Drive & Calabar Road
• Developing a modern tram system to link the eastern suburbs right through to the region’s railway network
• Supporting the Great Harbour Way walking and cycling route around the region’s coastline
3. A fully sustainable city
• Proper assessment of the environmental and social effects of major projects, such as the Kilbirnie bus barns redevelopment, the Marine Education Centre and transport changes. (The poor location of the Indoor Community Sports Centre on Cobham Drive shows the consequences if this assessment doesn’t happen!)
• Climate change action plan implementation and carbon neutrality
• City Council leadership in sustainability strategies
• Analysis of the effects of peak oil on the city and the eastern suburbs
• Supporting sustainable urban form and urban growth
• Ensuring that the city is financially sustainable, including the level of rates
4. Environment and heritage
• Safeguarding beaches, parks and reserves
• Extending the Eastern Walkway through Fort Dorset to Seatoun beach
• Opening up the Miramar Peninsula’s heritage sites to the public
• Building on the possum-free status of the Miramar Peninsula as a “mainland island”
• Respecting the area’s built and natural heritage
• Establishing a recreational walkway along Kilbirnie’s drainage reserve
5. Local communities
• Safeguarding local council facilities such as libraries, community centres and sports fields
• Supporting the revitalisation of Kilbirnie and Miramar town centres
• Helping local community initiatives such as community gardens
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