My Account
Next month we have the start of improved bus services on the Hibiscus Coast; they’re designed to be simpler and more frequent and I am sure patronage will rise. People want more frequent services from where they board to where they leave – and services at the time they want.
The busway park and ride at Silverdale will see extensions to make 100 plus more spaces this summer (HM September 2). Not enough but nearly 300 more will follow in the following year – and earlier if I had my way. This compliments the increase in services. Also next month many ferry services around Auckland, including the Gulf Harbour run, go out for tender. Thanks to pushing and financial support from Fairway Bay (developers at Gulf Harbour) we have more ferry services – and more patronage. But we need more and faster, more reliable ferry services from Gulf Harbour into town. If we had a 35 minute trip (instead of 50 minutes) from a faster, better boat with additional sailing times in the morning and evening I believe many more people would use the ferry for trips to town.
Widening the congested stretch of Whangaparaoa Road from Red Beach to the Highway should have happened 10 years ago and remains a pressing issue. All the more so with the extra housing coming on in Red Beach and the Peninsula at Gulf Harbour. We need those extra lanes to speed the flow and also allow the buses a speedier trip with the possibility of a bus/T2 lane each way from the Highway through to Vipond Road – like those on the North Shore.
Breaking through the budget barriers to achieve improvements like these is an ongoing battle for myself and fellow Albany Ward councillor John Watson. We’re not talking about big money for these improvements. Even so, in a cash-strapped council with huge pressure to keep down rates and cap borrowing getting any project over the line requires continuous effort.
Pushing to get the very big-ticket projects like Penlink over the line is dependent on new funding sources. My preference is for a small regional fuel tax now later transitioning to a general tax on kilometres travelled using GPS and smart-phone technology – trials on this are already underway in the United States. The advantages are very small capital cost and operating cost, fairness and jumping to emerging technologies that offer additional benefits especially in terms of smart transport network management.
The other funding tool we could be applying is a capital tax on property values in city catchments arising from infrastructure improvements in specific targeted locations – like the city rail link project and light-rail proposals. Overseas cities like London use this tool to fund improvements for underground rail extensions that benefit specific catchments; with substantial community and business buy in; they are happy to pay.
A big focus all the time is making things happen now. Looking for any possible gains. Seizing opportunities to lever improvements, using the tendering, planning and budget reviews to keep pushing for local projects. Being creative and working with communities and people to support the business cases and the understanding by decision-makers. Feedback and suggestions are always welcome and incredibly helpful. Teamwork!
