Posts by Gareth Ward
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I wish more people would listen to Richard Simpson. He has genuinely visionary ideas.
And the best bit? He always seems to try and do them with a low-cost mentality.
- Need to build a billion-dollar Harbour Bridge replacement? Destroy the old one and sell up all that lovely St Mary's Bay land to pay for it.
- Need a new stadium that connects to the heart of the city? Upgrade existing Carlaw Park with travelator in existing Albert St tunnels
- Need an iconic public transport link from the city to the airport? Run ferries down Tamaki River and just canal the last bit.My optimism that any of it would happen is sorely tested though. Perhaps an Alex Sweny as mayor with Richard Simpson as his "running mate" deputy. Unfortunately C&R would probably paint them as "city woofters trying to spend all your money on Queen St" to the large swathes of the suburbs...
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I wholy agree with the gutting of local representation - I was really hoping to see a downwards strengthening of the local boards with all other "central" services subsumed up to a SuperCity. Something more akin to London's Borough model (although I'd have advocated for less operational authority at that level than London seems to have).
But I sincerely hope we don't baby/bathwater this. It's good to see Rodney et al stating similar concerns so perhaps we can still see the final model more akin to what I described above. Because single authority around public transport, regional-buildings-of-importance, water, rates etc is a very positive step for me.
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It seems to me that a quarter-century time limit is liable to de-incentivize them from making haste on their fifteen-year plan.
Very true, perhaps suggest an amended consent that is tied directly to the budgeted completion date of the Major Sewer Upgrade in order to continue the incentive on completing such an important piece of work etc etc...
Having read this page I'd actually get them to only have the consent to 2015 (i.e. 6 years) - looks to me like the Western Interceptor and Avon Upgrade projects are focussed on that issue and are both due for completion by then. If they want to keep discharging past that point then they should be explaining why it's necessary given the upgrade works...Sorry, but have been doing some work recently on these kinds of large scale public infrastructure works so got interested =)
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Oh for sure, but I really doubt work like that is going to magically happen in three years time. And while the consent wouldn't interfere with it, it would add complexity.
If you want to use a time-constrained consent to force them to a completion date then I'd agree with that as a good plan. But work out what is a reasonable timeframe so they don't just dismiss it as unworkable and against the existing asset plan.
I guess my point is that you want to worry about getting the upgrade done as fast as possible more than you want to worry about the consent wrapped around it.
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David, this is the page for their Wastewater strategy: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/WasteWater/MajorSewerUpgrade/
I'd focus on that, rather than the 25year consent - they're just trying to get that as a technical buffer to let them do the work above I imagine. What you want to be encouraging is the speedy completion of that upgrade.
Auckland's Central Interceptor project is similar, currently scheduled for 2020 completion I believe. -
Ick.
But do be aware that comments like "separating wastewater and stormwater infrastructure" WILL freak out councillors. Auckland's strategy to deal with similar issues runs out to about 2035 I believe (that's to stop ALL dry-weather overruns. Wet weather would still be an issue). -
Friend at work updated me from Cricinfo:
"Ryder's on 197, but it will take a while to hit 200 cause he's crawling. Or he'll get out hahahaha"
5 seconds later...
"4! There ya go, good work. Commentary says Focus. Concentration. Patience. Oodles of class."
5 seconds later...
"Wait, out..."=?
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Manners Mall today contains a billboard promoting Earth Hour, towed by an SUV that pours out 3.5 tonnes of CO2 each year.
Good eh!
I believe the common refrain is LOL.
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when are they turning analog off? Prime will have to jump eventually
2012 is target I believe. Wouldn't shock me if that got pushed though...
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Maybe all that pot I smoked made me 'noid. :)
I dunno. You know what the word on the street is - guess who REALLY owns TVNZ?
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THE GOVERNMENT! ZOMG!