Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A solution in search of somebody else's problem

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  • David Slack,

    dressed with finest mongolian truffle-hog droppings or somesuch.

    That's the only kind they sell in Devonport now that it's full of snooty drunken Poms and South Africans. Andre will back me up on this.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Love the idea of diverting funds into the staging of music, events and hospitality for fans. Surrounding retailers might not like the free barbie idea much though.

    Which is where the idea of using the Viaduct falls down a bit.

    Also, the wealthy apartment owners have made the "public" areas of the Viaduct Basin hard to to use since 2000 -- testament to the folly of surrounding new public spaces with expensive accommodation. When you think of what the old Turners & Growers site could have been and look at the ugly-ass place it is now, you have to despair.

    The most recent fairs with food -- like the Diwali celebrations -- have been held on the other size from the plaza, by the actual Viaduct, which is bloody cramped.

    So yeah, I do think there's a role for an open Queen's Wharf with barbecues and entertainment.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    the only kind they sell in Devonport

    Pickled in fine malts could be welcome

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    the folly of surrounding new public spaces with expensive accommodation.

    Tank farm plans too..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Tank farm plans too..

    Quite. It happens every fucking time.

    How hard is it for architects and planners to grasp that that sort of residential building doesn't bring life to a space, it kills it?

    Imagine if there was a place where, say, everything -- not just bars, but some shops and services -- stayed open really late? That would be nice.

    Or a bitchin' food plaza.

    Or even just a place with really big lawns and trees.

    Just ... anything.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Frankly, Tell me this. Why the hell did these twits move down to the inner city if they don't want the noise of an inner city. Why don't they fuck off back to their lifestyle blocks? Jesus you just can't please some of the people all of the time,or all of the people some of the time. It's not like they need beauty sleep, hello! it's called plastic surgery!

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Party Centra would make all the profit while the rest of the city has to pay for it.
    A public space (quarentine area) would be cool, but if the city is to profit from the RWC it should go to the existing businesses or we'll have that boom & bust cycle, just quicker.

    And please Sideshow Bob, keep the street names the same and not change them for a one off event. He is seriously talking of changing street names for theRWC. We didn't do this when in fear of Japanese invasion, a tactic used to slow down invading troops.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Or even just a place with really big lawns and trees.

    My Dad submitted a plan to rejuvenate the Quay area to the Council way back in the day of Les Mills. He put trees and seating and grass onto the waterfront. no one else had. We got The Viaduct.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    People's Independent Republic of Devonport

    I have been thinking about sneaking out one moonless night and building some sort of 'iron curtain' across the peninsular somewhere around narrowneck to keep the plebs out, especially at weekends. Stick a tollgate on Lake road and it'll more than pay for itself.

    I'm more worried about the deluge of snooty, drunken South Africans and Englishfolk who will be travelling across via ferry to swarm my lovely subu...on second thoughts, too late.

    Or do what we're possibly planning on doing, which is to rent out the house for a couple of months while this cup business plays out, and piss off to Europe on the proceeds.

    Although we'll probaby get back to find the walls smeared with mongolian truffle-hog droppings and the floors awash with fine malt.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Regarding Tank Farm, have you seen the newer, & bigger proposal?

    Sofie, alot of the problem was no double glazing and sound proofing of inner city apartments. Now substandard, but just inside at the time of building.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    That's the only kind they sell in Devonport now that it's full of snooty drunken Poms and South Africans. Andre will back me up on this.

    This man knows his coarse-yet-humorous stereotypes. Trust him. Preferably with your money.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Hmmm ... just got this from someone I know who didn't want me to use their name.

    don't forget the 35-50 million dollar bill for IT systems for Day 1 which, several ministers were told, won't actually deliver much....they weren't happy! (And that is just the cost of the IT systems)

    While people argue about the wharf everyone is forgetting about the millions of dollars (really is that now) being spent every month by the ATA - debt that will be loaded onto the Auckland ratepayers. The mounting costs of the supercity are occurring with no public transparency but we will end up paying!

    I think this is quite alarming -- especially in the light of the role Ford is playing in the Queen's Wharf argument. Does anyone actually know what the ATA is doing?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    What - a kick-around at Christmas, that sort of thing?

    Historical precedent tells us it will end in tears when Graham Henry threatens to have the participants shot. Especially the ones with the soccer ball.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Other stuff I'm concerned about -- the role of former NZRU chairman and Eden Park board member Rob Fisher, who seems to be Ford's wingman on the Queen's Wharf push.

    I'm a rugby fan. I wanted the stadium built in the waterfront. But I'm not wild about having an unelected senior official with strong ties to rugby engaged in what looks like a promotion for the luxury plan for the wharf.

    There is an ATA website, but it's a bit like looking a some consultant's PowerPoint show. Laila Harre "joined" the ATA but it looks like her role is fairly tightly circumscribed in HR project work.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    if the city is to profit from the RWC it should go to the existing businesses

    That's what I was trying to get at really. They've also been paying extra rates to do up the CBD.

    Night markets now out for tender, possibly capitalising on new shared space streetscape developments.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    millions of dollars (really is that now) being spent every month by the ATA - debt that will be loaded onto the Auckland ratepayers.

    Yes, been going on silently since day one - govt dictates change, but Aucklanders get to pay for it. Costs for similar exercises overseas are 9 figure ones. Slack fcking journos largely not addressing this story.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    How hard is it for architects and planners to grasp that that sort of residential building doesn't bring life to a space, it kills it?

    But, but, for years architects and planners argued for the sort of spaces you want. It was the politicians who handed the Viaduct to the rich.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    The present plans rely heavily on a walking-bus operation along Great North Road and over Bond Street. That's a hell of a long way to be walking without shelter if the skies open the way they sometimes do in September.

    Imagine the parched fans after drinking their way up Queen St and K Rd, meeting the desert of caryards and small industry along Gt North Rd and Bond St. I'd be applying for a bar license along that stretch..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    govt dictates change, but Aucklanders get to pay for it

    Auckland's paying for a hell of a lot at the moment. Like doing up Eden Park, if McCully has anything to do with it. As I put it to a friend, fuck McCully and fuck Central Government. Auckland's not going to benefit from a do-up of Eden Park, why should ratepayers' money be spent on it? It wasn't Auckland that bid for the RWC, after all.

    All this in-secret back-room spending on Megatropolis' tab is distinctly odoriferous, in a "state of Denmark" way rather than a "Chanel Number 5" way.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Didn't notice anyone post it, so here's Paul's comment that's been gracing the Herald site's front page all afternoon:

    This city needs a long-term plan for its waterfront, not a fairground for some sport tourists.

    On ya.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Imagine the parched fans after drinking their way up Queen St and K Rd, meeting the desert of caryards and small industry along Gt North Rd and Bond St. I'd be applying for a bar license along that stretch..

    You are not the only one saying such things.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    It was the politicians who handed the Viaduct to the rich.

    The problem with Auckland is that the politicians are the Rich.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Wellington's council, for all its faults, has gotten it right far more often than its Auckland counterpart in regards to waterfront development.

    Things will likely get more interesting if Len Brown takes the AKL mayoralty and does a Ken Livingstone in the Beehive's direction. Would the Sheriff of Epsom do a GLC-style de-merger out of spite if that came to pass?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Auckland's not going to benefit from a do-up of Eden Park, why should ratepayers' money be spent on it? It wasn't Auckland that bid for the RWC, after all.

    Trouble is that this very attitude cost us the V8's to name but one thing "We" didn't want to pay for. No wonder the rest of the Country think Aucklanders are tossers. We may be paying the Lions share, possibly a bad metaphor there, but we will get the thick end of the spinnoff while the rest of the country gets diddly squat.
    Well, apart from most of the games I guess.
    Now, what did we need a stadium for?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    All this in-secret back-room spending on Megatropolis' tab

    And about half the new city's spending - on transport - is currently proposed to be kept secret from the public if significant pressure is not applied now for Nact cronies to get their hand out of the cookie jar.

    Hence the rather forceful tone Len Brown is taking about it.

    One of my first priorities, if elected, will be to appoint new directors to Auckland Transport, and to rewrite its statement of intent. I would insist on there being a direct report into the Mayor’s office, and a close relationship with the new Council’s transport committee. As Mayor, I will expect to be seeing all reports and all board papers.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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