Month: February 2015

No Bridge at the Basin – What Now? Invitation to a Pizza & Panel Evening, Thursday 12 March

Posted on by stb_nyltr0
Basin Reserve rainbow. Photo: Patrick Morgan.
Basin Reserve rainbow. Photo: Patrick Morgan.

What: A Panel Discussion on the future of the Basin Reserve – plus tasty pizza!

When: Thursday 12 March, 6-8pm

Where: New Crossways, 6 Roxburgh St, Mt Victoria (off Majoribanks St) (see map)

How much: $20/$10 concessions, payable at the door

Who: You, your friends, neighbours, colleagues and networks! In fact, anyone interested in the future of the Basin Reserve and of Wellington’s transport system.

Why: Because our local authorities, given the opportunity by the Board of Inquiry decision to take a fresh look at the Basin, have chosen to hide behind NZTA’s appeal process instead. So it’s time we, the people of Wellington, took the lead.

The Pizzas: We’ll be taking orders at the start of the event and having pizzas delivered during the event. BYO beverages.

The Panel: We have an excellent panel lined up, including three speakers (Julie Anne Genter, Michael Kelly and Sarah Poff) who appeared as expert witnesses at the Board of Inquiry:

  • Mary Varnham (moderator): Managing Director Awa Press, former Wellington City Councillor.
  • Julie Anne Genter: Transportation Planner, MP, Green Party spokesperson on Transport
  • Russell Tregonning: Orthopedic Surgeon, Senior Clinical Lecturer at University of Otago, Wellington. Executive Member Ora Taiao: The NZ Climate and Health Council. Committee member, Fair Intelligent Transport Wellington (FIT Wellington).
  • Sarah Poff: Landscape Architect, SPK Landscape Architecture.
  • Michael Kelly: Heritage Consultant, writer – “The Lung of the Capital: The Basin Reserve,” in Heartlands, Penguin Books (2006).

(Note: Some panel members are listed subject to final confirmation of availability.)

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/767473170010976/

Please share this widely and invite your friends and networks. It’s going to be a good night.

Make a Quick and Easy Submission on Wellington’s Draft Regional Land Transport Plan – Submissions close on Friday 20 February

Posted on by stb_nyltr0

In an earlier post, we told you about the importance of submitting on Wellington’s Draft Regional Land Transport Plan, which local body politicians use to set transport priorities for the city. Submissions close at 4pm on Friday 20 February.

Now there’s a quick and easy online form you can use to make your submission, prepared by the good folks at Generation Zero in conjunction with FIT Wellington. Here’s all you need to do:

Go to http://www.generationzero.org/wellingtonrltp and fill in the quick submission form as follows:

– Enter your name

– Enter your email address

– Tick the four boxes that follow

– Enter any comments you want to make.

– Answer the question: Do you want to make an oral presentation?  Tick yes or no

– Send it.

One thing we’d really like you to say: it’s time to take any prospect of a Basin Reserve flyover off the table, and focus on developing better, more sustainable solutions!

Oral submissions will be heard by the Regional Transport Committee on 9/10 March. We encourage you to make an oral submission if you’re available to do so.

Basin Reserve Flyover Decision Has Positive Consequences In Auckland

Posted on by stb_nyltr0

The Basin Reserve Flyover may be primarily a Wellington issue, but the Board of Inquiry’s decision to decline resource consent for a Basin Reserve flyover has led to flyover plans being delayed, and public transport improvements brought forward, in Auckland.

An Auckland Transport article, Southeastern Busway To Open Sooner, explains [added emphasis is mine]:

Major new public transport improvements will arrive earlier for people in Auckland’s south east.

Auckland Transport is aiming to open the full Southeastern Busway to Botany sooner than the 2028 completion date earlier proposed, and AT is investigating extending bus lanes to Highland Park.

SE Busway Botany

Recent work on the Auckland Manukau Transport Initiative (AMETI) has identified that the busway can operate through Pakuranga town centre without the need to build Reeves Road flyover first.

and goes on to quote AMETI programme director Peter King as saying:

“The recent decision on the Basin Reserve flyover in Wellington shows the challenges of consenting a flyover that has impacts on an urban area and the potential for long delays. This decision allows us to extend the AMETI transport improvements made in Panmure to Pakuranga and Botany as soon as possible while continuing to build the case for the flyover.”

Three thoughts:

  1. It appears that Auckland transport decision-makers are taking steps towards a more modern and sustainable approach towards transport thinking. When will NZTA’s Wellington transport decision-makers start to do likewise?
  2. It’s great to see that all the work that Save the Basin and other groups have put in opposing a Basin Reserve flyover is having positive consequences elsewhere.
  3. If any Aucklanders want to show their gratitude by donating to help us fund our response to NZTA’s High Court appeal of its Basin Reserve flyover defeat, that would be much appreciated!

 

 

Have Your Say on the Draft Wellington Regional Land Transport Plan 2015

Posted on by stb_nyltr0

The Regional Transport Committee’s Draft Regional Land Transport Plan is currently open for submissions. It lists and prioritises what the Regional Transport Committee considers to be Wellington’s transport priorities. Submissions close at 4pm on Friday 20 February.

We’re pleased to see that a Basin Reserve Flyover isn’t included on that list, but we’ve heard through the grapevine that the Regional Transport Committee plans to reinstate a flyover in their plans if NZTA wins their High Court appeal – and the various references to the Basin Reserve in the Draft Plan strongly suggest that the Regional Transport Committee is hoping NZTA does win.

We suggest you take the opportunity to submit on the Draft Regional Land Transport Plan, supporting the exclusion of a Basin Reserve Flyover from their list of priorities, asking them to seriously consider at-grade alternatives rather than keep pining for a Basin flyover, and asking for a guarantee that a flyover will not be retroactively included – plus, of course, commenting on their plans in general!

New lobby group Fair, Intelligent Transport Wellington (FIT Wellington) is concerned that the questions on the official submissions form are biased. So, although we’ve provided the official submission information below, FIT Wellington suggests that you avoid using the GW Online submission form and use the email option or postal method instead. 

If you’d like a copy of FIT Wellington’s submission, or to get involved in that group, please contact mbarnett@paradise.net.nz.

Here is the official word on how to submit:

“Your views are invited on the draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2015.

The draft Plan is a statutory document that the Regional Transport Committee must prepare under the Land Transport Management Act 2003.

The draft Plan outlines the proposed strategic approach for development of the region’s land transport network over the next 10 to 30 years and includes all of the land transport activities proposed for funding over the next six years and the regional priority to be given to the large new transport projects.

How to view the draft Plan

  • The full draft Plan can be viewed online at www.gw.govt.nz/RLTPlan
  • A hard copy can be viewed at libraries and council offices throughout the region.
  • Alternatively, you can order a copy by calling Greater Wellington Regional Council on 0800 496 734 or by emailing info@gw.govt.nz.

How to provide feedback

  • An online submission form can be completed at www.gw.govt.nz/RLTPlan
  • Alternatively, submissions can be emailed to info@gw.govt.nz or posted to Draft RLTP Submissions, Freepost 3156, Greater Wellington Regional Council, PO Box 11646, Wellington 6142

Submissions close at 4pm on Friday 20 February 2015.

Feedback from the submissions will be considered before the draft Plan is finalised in April 2015.

If you would like to speak in support of your submission at a hearing in early March, please indicate this clearly in your submission.”