My Account
Alternative facts
It is disappointing to have to respond to inaccurate statements by Colin Smith in his recent Viewpoint column (MM August 19). As a member of the Local Board for almost four years, he has been provided with the correct information. It is mystifying why he would create “alternative facts”. To clarify …
- Wellsford toilets replacement work proceeds this year with $80,000 budgeted to complete planning and a further $1m budgeted for construction, commencing in 2022.
- The sewerage and water systems are not paid for from general rates. Watercare is user-pays so this is only funded by residents using this service. Currently the water treatment plant is being upgraded ($15m), 80 per cent of pipes have been tested and maintenance is ongoing, and dealing with legacy issues around stormwater flowing into the wastewater system are planned for 2021.
- It is incorrect that Auckland Transport told the Local Board the bus services were “not sustainable”. The current usage and subsidy of the Wellsford service is on par with the Auckland Transport operated services in Warkworth. We expect, given the services are meeting targets, they will be taken over by Auckland Transport in 2022.
- The 131 carparks are for the Warkworth Community Transport Hub, not for the Warkworth Showgrounds.
- The two toilets provided in the Community Transport Hub are being paid for by Auckland Transport, they do not come from the Rodney Transport Targeted Rate.
- The Rodney Transport Targeted Rate is not being used for a “luxury path”. I assume Mr Smith is referring to the Kowhai Park track, which links the showgrounds to the township, and is part of the Greenways Plan. This is not due to be built until 2023 and is primarily funded by Development Contributions paid in Warkworth.
- Mr Smith refers to a “tarseal targeted rate”. I am unaware of such a thing. Auckland Transport has a budget line of $121 million for sealing gravel roads over 10 years. That is $3600 per Rodney household, most of which are not on unsealed roads. It is an unprecedented amount of funding for this issue. We are all deeply disappointed that there is only $1 million allocated from that budget for this year, but the decision on that budget spend lies with Councillors, not the Local Board. The question Mr Smith needs to ask is why Councillors did not direct Auckland Transport to spend more of that budget this year.
Phelan Pirrie, Chair, Rodney Local Board
National hypocrisy
I read the report of the Puhoi to Warkworth tolling meeting (MM August 5) with some bemusement. The charge appeared to be led by two National MPs, Matt King and Chris Penk. This road, aka the Holiday Highway, was commissioned under the National Government of the day. The final business case for this Public Private Partnership-based (PPP) initiative published on April 28, 2015 is quite clear in stating that it would be subject to a tolling consultation and recommendation. In addition, it is clearly stated National Party policy that new roads and tunnels proposed under their recent infrastructure announcements will also be subject to tolls. Turning up at a meeting advocating against tolling in this context feels hypocritical and a lot like populism, rather than genuine concern for our local citizenry and our significant tax burdens. My personal view is that tolls should not be applied for a range of pragmatic reasons, but the business case assumptions will make non-tolling difficult. The real discussion should be around the future total cost of this initiative as it is based on the same flawed PPP contractual model as Transmission Gully.
Tim Armitage, Warkworth
