Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Going Underground

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  • Leopold,

    Hear, hear, Mr Beard - one of the problems in becoming an habitual cyclist is the apparent necessity to not only blow heaps of moolah on the latest mountain-cum-racing bike with a zillion gears and epilepsy-inducing lights, but to dress in hideous and unflattering lycra.
    One of the charming things about Amsterdam was the sight every Tom Dick and Harriet cycling merrily around on non-state-of-the-art bikes, dressed in normal clothes...

    Since Jan 2007 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    The present Trustees are Don Brash (Chairman)

    Good God.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Leopold,

    You didn't really think that The Resource Management Studies Trust was about Resource management or even trust?

    Since Jan 2007 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    PS Rich: all the pubs we have discussed apparently make $5k per year off the same tangible assets, and in fact we've stipulated that they are identical. So if we were considering buying them, on what basis would we pay more goodwill for one than another? If we're trying to assess what we want to pay for the pubs as pubs, if we want to understand value as anything other than the last price paid, we need some measure that isn't the last price paid, but is based on the resources employed in the business - and that's what I think's relevant.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    it'd be absolutely vile to go through (as the Mt Vic tunnel is

    Spot on, Jack. I'd rather dodge taxis and drunk drivers in the bus tunnel that travel the seven and a half minutes on foot through that echo chamber of noxious fumes.

    Russell, ta for the links to what's up with the motorway plans. I really pity you Aucklanders with the mess ahead.

    Just one other worry. Any engineering problems arising from a tunnel so close to the water table? The same issue bugs me about the Victoria Park bore. Are they tsunami proof? Try funneling that through a tunnel. It would be a hell of a squirt.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I really pity you Aucklanders with the mess ahead.

    Bear in mind there has been construction in this area for several years already and it has been relatively well managed and completed in and around parts of Mt Roskill. It would seem now we are waiting on Steven Joyce. Otherwise what has been finished may end up as the new cycleway.

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

  • Stuart Coats,

    And when cyclists or pedestrians are in a tunnel they have no easy escape route from crazed drivers who delight in driving into them, or even from potential kidnappers or molesters.

    Sorry I'm late, I was just playing Grand Theft Auto.....

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report Reply

  • Logan O'Callahan,

    Mr McShane has had a serious bug in his bonnet about the RMA from when he was trying to develop his Kaiwaka lifestyle block.

    I once owned a block nearby. Nice area, great views, pleasant climate.

    I'd like to say that proximity to Owen was one of the reasons we sold up. But that was only a beneficial side effect.

    And notice the hypocrisy: the local families are only a fly spec in time relative to this motorway, but the present generation should have the unconstrained right to exploit the worlds resources without regard to future generations.

    Since Apr 2008 • 70 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    And notice the hypocrisy: the local families are only a fly spec in time relative to this motorway, but the present generation should have the unconstrained right to exploit the worlds resources without regard to future generations.

    A visit to Nauru & Easter Island would be a good start for these "Exploit or Perish" types.

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

  • ScottY,

    I have always dismissed everything Owen McShane writes as nonsense. But I had no idea he was so traumatised by the death of Princess Di. Maybe he just needs a hug. (gag...)

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Maybe it's the exotic Arabian consort angle?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    I couldn't think of anywhere to put this, but could someone find the National Party an irony bone for them to use?

    Agriculture Minister David Carter has rejected a call to ban pesticides which put bees in jeopardy.

    Green MP Sue Kedgley yesterday urged the Government to follow the European Union in phasing out pesticides that kill bees. But that would be impractical, Mr Carter said.

    "Prohibiting all pesticides capable of killing bees would expose farmers and growers to the risk of significant crop losses," he said.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    Ok, sticking my official Eden Albert Community Board Chair hat on, the following comments are from that perspective (note, this is a potted version of events).

    The SH20 route runs at the far western edge of the ward bordering Avondale ward.

    When SH20 was being mooted several years ago, the Board worked in the background to argue for tunnels, rather than a surface option. Fortunately, at the time, technology was around that meant tunnels could be considered, which were selected as the best option.

    For reasons unknown, the current government has decided to revisit this decision. The Board has written to the PM, pointing out that surface motorways cost more when you include the costs to human populations of air, noise and light pollution (there is a raft of international studies that demonstrate such pollution), that those costs falls on local residents, and that building a motorway through an urban area and over one of Auckland's jewels, Te Auaunga Oakley Creek, is problematic at best.

    Mr McShane's pronouncements are indeed written from a lifestyle block in Northland.

    Even the "overground" options call for cut-and-cover underground sections. If you ignore Joyce's fiddly maths and take out the SH16 upgrade, the tunnel isn't that much more expensive than other reasonable options. There is no cheap way of doing this.

    There really isn't any cheap way. Federated Farmers are dreaming pie in the sky stuff if they think building a 4 lane motorway in an urban area only spews out perfume.

    Jesus... am I the only person who gets the shits at lobbyists (and that's what Cam is) who talk about hundreds of millions of dollars like its petty cash? Russell, you're quite right that there's no Warehouse option here, but I just cringe at how tone-deaf these people are.

    Lobbyists such as Connor English, Tony Riley, Roger Kerr, Tony Friedlander for example?

    And as for the new road network being around for hundreds of years, well, I would have thought future proofing said network by incorporating rail would have made sense. But that's another story.

    Actually, that is part of the story. The original SH20 route through Mt Albert was and still is a designation for a rail line. The old Transit brought that designation from Ontrack or whoever. The designation has not been changed to my knowledge.

    Any engineering problems arising from a tunnel so close to the water table?

    The 'dirt' to be tunnelled through is actually solidified lava flows, orginiating, not surprisingly, from Owairaka (Auckland isthumus, with it's multitude of volcanic cones, has a lot of lava around).

    End of official hat wearing.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Lobbyists such as Connor English, Tony Riley, Roger Kerr, Tony Friedlander for example?

    All of you dumb fucks, Christopher -- plague on all your houses, and I hope it hurts. Sorry, the next time anyone wants to talk about several hundred million dollars like its petty cash sod off to the nearest school, hospice or women's refuge and cash the reality check.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    End of official hat wearing.

    Plus also the primary school was another consideration being so close to the new motorway. Christopher, quickly whilst I'm here, just wanted to say good on you for fighting on behalf of the elderly and the disabled with regards to the Sandringham Kiwibank. Could you not try get a mobile service for these people?I imagine the difficulty for the Focus 2000 group and all those wheelchairs getting across St Lukes road.Maybe a "Campbell Live" could bring the difficulties to the attention of someone other than the Kiwibank rep the other day on Bfm.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Plus also the primary school was another consideration being so close to the new motorway. Christopher, quickly whilst I'm here, just wanted to say good on you for fighting on behalf of the elderly and the disabled with regards to the Sandringham Kiwibank.

    And from me. I confess to feeling a twinge of PA Pride when I saw the story in the local paper.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    All of you dumb fucks, Christopher -- plague on all your houses, and I hope it hurts. Sorry, the next time anyone wants to talk about several hundred million dollars like its petty cash sod off to the nearest school, hospice or women's refuge and cash the reality check.

    Steady on. I think Christopher regards himself as backing the option that costs less in the long run.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    That's a bit harsh Craig. Look forward to the next motorway coming through your backyard.See how you feel then. Look forward to Steven Joyce not fudging the costs of current motorway also.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I confess to feeling a twinge of PA Pride

    A hat you should continue to wear. :)

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Pop down to Stoddard road and you can get a general idea of how much money has already been spent on the Tunnel option.It will cost millions to change this if it changes to surface so can't see any saving anyway.

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

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    Official hat wearing begins here...

    Plus also the primary school was another consideration being so close to the new motorway.

    The primary school is very problematic in either option; the tunnel portals would exit at a point just north of there, while the surface option would see a 'spagetti' junction around the same spot.

    I note that Auckland Public Health are refusing childcare / pre-school licences for locations that are close to main roads / motorways; international research has shown a link between air pollution and the adverse effect on children's growing bodies.

    In this instance, the best option would be to move the school, for the sake of the children's health.

    Again, building a motorway through an urban area is problematic, and yes,

    I think Christopher regards himself as backing the option that costs less in the long run.

    , I'm playing the long game here.

    Christopher, quickly whilst I'm here, just wanted to say good on you for fighting on behalf of the elderly and the disabled with regards to the Sandringham Kiwibank. Could you not try get a mobile service for these people?I imagine the difficulty for the Focus 2000 group and all those wheelchairs getting across St Lukes road.

    Not a problem - that's what we do. Advocate for local communities. I can suggest a mobile service, but I suspect that the Focus 2000 community would welcome the chance to wander down to the local village to do their banking and posting.

    St Lukes Rd is such a barrier to alot of people in the area, so much so that many state that they avoid going to the mall. The intersection there continues to tax the brains of Council's traffic engineers,has done so for many a year, and I can't see any improvement soon. If Kiwibank closes at Sandringham then I imagine Focus 2000 people will reluctantly go to the St Lukes Mall Kiwibank outlet.

    My best option, now and in the future, is to encourage the local shopping centre, to encourage companies such as NZ Post / Kiwibank to stay and to work on making the village an attractive place for locals.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    whoops - offical hat wearing ends there

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Gosh. Brian Rudman's not pussyfooting around this morning:

    If the Government comes out with an el cheapo, neighbourhood-ruining, overland solution for the Waterview Connection in the next week or so, it will suggest National's market research shows they haven't a chance of winning the Mt Albert byelection.

    And that being so, then a plague on this Labour-voting backwater, we'll give them the motorway from hell and divert the money to more National-friendly places.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    whoops - offical hat wearing ends there

    But it's such a nice hat ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Is there a plan for where it would go overground? Because having just looked on Google Maps to see if the Mt Roskill extension will help my currently daily trip from the airport to Grey Lynn (it won't), I can't see any obvious line for a new 4-lane motorway to reach the Northwestern from Richardson Rd? Well, without removing all public park space or bulldozing a serious number of houses in what looks like a pretty dense suburban area.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

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