My Account
Three Waters muddied
It is disappointing that a Member of Parliament, as experienced as Mark Mitchell would regress into misinformation mode. His latest Viewpoint in your newspaper entitled “Three waters plan an asset grab” (HM January 24), from the headline onwards, distils several pieces of misinformation. He says that the current Government has used the review into the Havelock North water contamination … “as a compulsory, centralised, expensive, asset seizure.” To put the record straight, this is not an asset grab. Let me quote from the Department of Internal Affairs official website on 3 Waters: “Councils will collectively own the water services entities providing services for their district, on behalf of their communities.” He further claims that the Government is driving wedges into the partnerships needed to deliver clean, safe water. In fact what 3 Waters is trying to do is deliver the capital needed to fix a vital infrastructure that has lacked investment for many years and to do that through partnerships between councils, communities, and local iwi. Again I quote from the DIA website on 3 Waters; “Each entity will be required to engage with communities in a meaningful and effective manner on all key documents and report on how consumer and community feedback was incorporated into decision-making.” Hopefully Hibiscus Matters will put the record straight on this issue, which Mr Mitchell has chosen to muddy with misinformation.
Neil Anderson, Algies Bay
Editor’s note: Hibiscus Matters has been covering this issue from all sides of the debate. And will continue to do so. Viewpoint is an opportunity for columnists to express their opinions.
Poor planning
I am not a regular correspondent to the media but simply cannot let an opportunity like the Penlink planning pass.
1. A third toll road in the neglected North. As tax payers in the North, we have contributed to the wonderful road infrastructure in South, East, West and Central Auckland, yet the tax payers of South, East, West and Central Auckland do not contribute to the same level to the long neglected North. By delivering a third toll road in the North, after the Orewa bypass, the proposed Warkworth bypass and now Penlink, NZ Transport Agency do us no favours and serves to illustrate their discriminatory planning. To suggest that any tolled facility brings benefits to a community is self serving nonsense and transparent propaganda, it is the non-tolled facility that brings real benefits! Does “Penlink Now” really support a toll as claimed by Ms Fitzgerald in your recent article??? I doubt that the majority of Whangaparaoa residents do.
2. The proposed interchange at Beverly Road has single lanes in both directions at the bottom of a steep hill with no road verge, bus stops on both sides of the road with no pedestrian crossing (go figure), a limited sidewalk on the one side only, a 90 degree road turn into a busy shopping centre and with Beverley Road and Cedar Terrace both feedering into Whangaparaoa Road all concentrated within a few meters of the proposed (but already decided) Penlink access. Inadequate planning and thought has been given to this, in fact by NZTA’s own admission there has been no planning for this part of the project (yet). Forgive the public for their decided lack of confidence.
3. A two lane Penlink is not future proofed. With a shared cycle and pedestrian lane! Whatever for? Who in their eternal wisdom decided to commit funds to potential cyclists and pedestrians who would even contemplate a walk or a cycle to SH1 and then what? Such a feature is being provided at no small cost with no discernable benefit. It may sound a little silly to NZ Transport Agency but forget about the cyclist and the pedestrian lanes in this case and rather future proof a four lane road way for motorists.
Incidentally, in a communication to me, NZTA justify a pedestrian and cycle way by “… younger generations now see more needs to get out and remain healthy. They are also proactively looking into how to deal with climate issues.” And further “…. As a crown entity, we need to respond to these current and future needs so that our future generations have the transport options and choices that they want and help them maximise their lifestyle.” Really?
4. I am not even going to comment on the cost blow out. Probably needed to pay the salaries of their bloated “communications” team! Increased last year by 72!!! new appointees.
I can do no better than share with you a brief extract from the Tax Payers Union report in this regard …..
BEGINS: The New Zealand Transport Agency “Waka Kotahi” now pays 72 spin doctors in its communications team. Annual communications salaries have leapt from $2.2 million to $4.6 million in a single year. ENDS
Peter Odendaal, Manly
Park plan ‘superb’
We recently moved into Millwater and have observed at the top of the street where we live, a large green area running from Butler Stoney Creek and following Bridal Place up the slope. We as newcomers to the area have been highly concerned that this delightful area might develop into just another overdeveloped housing suburb with excessive cars and associated noise levels. To our delight, we have been advised that the Council proposes to develop the entire hillside as a community park involving walkways and tree plantings, plus an amphitheatre. This development aspect might cause locals some concern as the noise factor associated with most modern bands would encroach upon the wellbeing of local households. An amphitheatre used as a venue for local theatre would indeed add another dimension to the district and would have our full support. The council is to be commended upon many aspects of this superb proposal.
Claude and Robin Buchanan, Millwater (abridged)
Editor’s note: The park referred to is Butler Stoney Park (formerly known as Metro Park West) – a multi-million dollar project which has been the subject of a number of stories in this paper. The Hibiscus and Bays Local Board approved the final concept design of the park in February 2019. The design includes a playground, parking, fruit trees and native plantings. Provision has been made for events to take place in the park. This plan was followed by detailed design work including civil and structural engineering, traffic engineering, architectural and landscape design in 2019 and 2020. The latest information (from last October) is that construction of the first stage, which Council had hoped could start this year (subject to funding and resource consent) was put back to the 2024 financial year. The deferral was due to Council’s Covid-19 Emergency Budget. The next steps are lodging the resource consent application, getting power connected to the site and completing the design documents ready for tendering once funding is available. To date, $435,000 has been spent on the development including project management, site and geotechnical investigations and consenting requirements. The budget is $9.1m, but more could be needed to complete the entire concept.
Share & share alike
Re the article “Pressure on local beaches stuns residents” (HM January 24). Covid-19 restrictions changed life for many families, restricting places they could take their children to escape small backyards and often unsuitable rentals. Instead of places of entertainment and shopping malls they chose parks and beaches to enjoy the summer. Hordes of families discovered the reason so many of us have chosen to live on the Coast – our wonderful wide open beaches. Good on them for bringing their families, setting up their tents and introducing their kids to what we take for granted – the freedom, the fresh air and the and wonder of our outdoors. When I had a look at the people on the beach, yes they were set up for all day at the beach, but most were not there for the night. What a pity that our council services were so inadequate, and unable to cope with families using these wonderful facilities that nature has gifted us for free. Wake up! Covid is changing the way we need to use and access nature’s services, not only for our spare time and entertainment, but also for our mental health, and the good people that enjoy these all the time because they are lucky enough to live next door – build your empathy. Complain to council instead about inadequate rubbish and recycling bins, toilets and parking facilities, and imagine what it must have been like when we travelled overseas and descended on “holiday spots” overwhelming the people who lived there as well. When I lived in British Columbia as a child we were lucky to have 10 -20 acres of waterfrontage property and when the hordes of people from Vancouver decamped for holidays my parents let them camp on beach areas and we set up long drops. In those days there was very little packaged food and so much of the rubbish was buried or burned or taken home or fed to the chickens! I guess my parents came from an old breed who shared their “natural wealth” and were not stunned that people wanted to escape from living conditions in cities. I actually think we should be lessening laws about overnight family camping and not making it more difficult for those with little resources to be able to have their kids experience the outdoors – safely!
Dee Pigneguy, Manly (abridged)
Statue issues
It is unbelievable that the water part of the Ōrewa sculpture does not work (HM December 20). I thought it was an element that had to be there because it replaced a water feature – or do I have that wrong? How much will repairs cost? This has been a joke from start to finish.
Sue Roberts, Ōrewa
An Auckland Council spokesperson responds: “We are investigating ways to limit the drift of water from the fountain across the road into the surrounding cafes when the easterly wind is blowing. Our contractors are working with the artist to come up with possible solutions. It is our intention to turn the water feature back on when we have resolved the situation.”
