Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Message

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  • George Darroch, in reply to Sacha,

    pools across the whole region are now free to children

    Most people are not children.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    They even have their own supposedly-libertarian MP, going by the name of David Seymour.

    I've asked this question before, but if a Manhattan-style apartment was planned for Epsom, would David Seymour use the RMA that he wants watered down to block it?

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

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    I think in Seymourland both property owners would square off in civil court on the extent to which the apartment block was impairing others property-rights, probably leaving neither satisfied but their lawyers enriched.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Couple of comments on the Orsman scare-story.

    Point Chevalier, where I live, is the first suburb named. But if it's solely a matter of some "single housing" being rezoned to "mixed housing suburban", it's going to make virtually no difference.

    If you look at the map in the notified plan, you'll see there's relatively little zoned single housing anyway and what there is seems pretty arbitrary.

    We're already mixed housing suburban like most of the neighbourhood. Should I be hyperventilating with fear?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Glenn Pearce, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Ummm.... I think that's wrong, the proposal in 2013 was for most of Point Chev to be re-zoned Mixed Housing Urban but that was revised back in the formal submisson to mostly being left as Single Housing zone.

    Sounds like behind closed doors they are reverting back to the 2013 proposal ?

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to George Darroch,

    Most people are not children.

    It's estimated that about 20% of Auckland's population is under the age of 16. That is a not-inconsiderable number of people, and they are also the portion of the population least likely to have an independent income.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    if a Manhattan-style apartment was planned for Epsom, would David Seymour use the RMA that he wants watered down to block it?

    Probably. He has supported the burghers of Epsom and Mt Eden in their fight against re-zoning for higher densities.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    I’ve asked this question before, but if a Manhattan-style apartment was planned for Epsom, would David Seymour use the RMA that he wants watered down to block it?

    I know David Seymour and Epsom is the cheap shot that never stops giving around here, but what does he actually have to do with Auckland City zoning or resource consent issues?

    We’re already mixed housing suburban like most of the neighbourhood. Should I be hyperventilating with fear?

    Yes, then again you’re smart enough to be a tad skeptical about anything on this topic from someone with a track record of running claims under his byline that turn out to be… somewhat economical with the easily checked fact.

    I know it would take real political courage, but Goff would do everyone a solid if he started calling out the Herald (and the rest of the media) on flat out lies that are damaging a grown-up debate Auckland can’t keep dodging.

    And here’s a modest proposal: Perhaps more people would know the intricacies of the of the Unitary Plan if the only local government issue The Herald has really cared about for years is slut-shaming Len Brown?

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

  • Julie Fairey, in reply to Glenn Pearce,

    I haven't seen the Pt Chev maps specifically (and I couldn't tell you if I could because it was all in confidential) but two points

    1. Mixed Housing Suburban is 2 stories, same as Single House, Mixed Housing Urban is 3 stories. Moving around the isthmus I have started actively looking for 3 storey houses and there are a lot more of them than you would think and many are pretty pricey too so there must be some demand, the Invisible Hand tells me.

    2. What is being decided is Council's position to go back to the Independent Commissioners on the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan. It's not necessarily what will come out at the end of the panel process, which then in turn needs to go to Governing Body in July and August 2016. (Good timing don't you think?!)

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report

  • Julie Fairey, in reply to Kevin McCready,

    Sadly Dr Asquith didn't entirely take his own advice on that opinion piece in the Herald recently, equating City Vision with Labour. On the Waitemata Local Board, which has a CV majority, there are actually more Green party members than Labour. And the only CV councillor, Cathy Casey, is staunchly not Labour. (Mike Lee stands as an independent, which is frustrating to me, but anyway). Puketapapa LB (I'm chair) has a local CV ticket called Roskill Community Voice of which 2/4 are Labour. We're not the Labour party in disguise, we are a coalition of centre-left and lefties, and there's nothing wrong with that.

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    veto rights to those with the money and connections

    always

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Julie Fairey,

    Vernon Tava's letter to the Herald editor today was quite measured given the scale of Asquith's misrepresentation. Not much of a local govt 'expert' if ignorant of basics like that. Still, if they asked their local govt reporter to fact-check ..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I know David Seymour and Epsom is the cheap shot that never stops giving around here, but what does he actually have to do with Auckland City zoning or resource consent issues?

    what does he have to do with anything, and why do media clamour to give the sap oxygen?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    at t'other end of the political continuum, Minto aint impressed.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Julie Fairey,

    haven’t seen the Pt Chev maps specifically (and I couldn’t tell you if I could because it was all in confidential) but two points

    I was going on the notified plan from 2013. Is that the wrong one to be looking at?

    That features an expansion of mixed housing urban and very little single house, but, away from the main road, nearly all mixed housing suburban.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Ben Ross, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Russell check here: http://acmaps.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/unitaryplan/FlexViewer/index.html

    Updated as of 26th June this year

    Auckland • Since Jan 2014 • 32 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Attachment

    Here’s Point Chev in the current Unitary Plan. Nearly all mixed housing suburban, a bit of mixed housing urban creep. The light-coloured properties at the bottom left are single housing – the subject of the Herald’s zoning-panic story today. Some of them might be rezoned to the same as nearly all the other houses in the suburb. That's about it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Orsman has a follow-up story today that is somewhat more accurate:

    Auckland councillors are going behind closed doors today to propose rezoning thousands more houses in the city's leafy suburbs for multiple townhouses and apartments.

    The eastern suburbs of Pakuranga and Howick; Glenfield, Birkenhead and Takapuna on the North Shore; Whangaparaoa Peninsula; and Mangere Bridge in South Auckland are among the areas councillors will consider for intensification. All up, tens of thousands of traditional house and garden properties are being rezoned for the council's latest position to put forward to the independent hearings panel considering the Unitary Plan. The panel will make final recommendations to the council next year.

    Point Chev has gone :-)

    And the "secret" thing has been dialled down:

    Maps showing the proposed changes are expected to be made public next month, but homeowners will not be individually notified.

    But remember what I wrote in the post about about Phil Goff needing to be careful about writing Unitary Plan cheques he can't cash?

    Mayoral candidate and Labour MP Phil Goff said the issue needed to be handled with sensitivity. He said he supported intensification in the city and along arterial routes, but the council had to leave aside areas where there were strong objections to townhouses, studios and apartments of up to three storeys.

    The council "has to" prevent the future building of townhouses and studios?

    Careful not to dig yourself a hole, Phil.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And the “secret” thing has been dialled down

    It shouldn't be "dialed down", it should be retracted and apologized for because it's just a lie. Sorry for being a broken record, but this is a tiresome habit with The Herald and Orsman in particular and it's just not good enough. No local government ever sends individual notifications to everyone who might conceivably be affected by every decision it makes, and trying to frame that as some vast conspiracy on behalf of property developers is flat out dishonest.

    The council “has to” prevent the future building of townhouses and studios?

    Careful not to dig yourself a hole, Phil.

    And while he's still a Member of Parliament (and, as far as I'm aware, still his party's "spokesman for Auckland issues"), he might want to think very carefully about whether it's wise to start laying down the law.

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

  • Glenn Pearce, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Point Chev has gone :-)

    And the “secret” thing has been dialled down:

    If you re-read yesterdays article it is actually accurate.

    Tomorrow, the Unitary Plan committee will meet behind closed doors to approve changes to the single house zone in north, south and east Auckland.

    This follows a decision by the 11-member committee on November 10 to approve changes to the zone on the Auckland central isthmus and West Auckland.

    So Pt Chev has not gone, just already been dealt with on Nov 10th

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    but the council had to leave aside areas where there were strong objections

    yes, bow to the mouthy property owners, Phil.
    Tug that forelock.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Keir Leslie, in reply to Julie Fairey,

    Yes! This is a minor point of annoyance for me - because local government in Auckland and Christchurch is FPP, it makes sense for the left to contest elections together to avoid vote splitting, and if you look at the rise of formations like City Vision and Christchurch 2021 they follow on from the fracturing of the left in the late 80's / early 90s.

    (Sure, some of it is about being "Labour in drag" but the need to co-ordinate a broad left front is an important and under-discussed factor.)

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    I wish the left could work together at a national level as well as they do in local govt.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Transportblog has some photos of 3-storey skyscrapers. Someone bring Orsman the salts.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Ethan Tucker,

    ...it would be better to work with him than to have to deal with a political neophyte, or worse, a flaming nutbar.

    Flaming nutbar: boom, Whittaker's next chocolate range.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 119 posts Report

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