Author: galleryatstb

Wellingtonians love the Basin

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Valentine’s Day gave Wellingtonians an opportunity to share why they love the Basin Reserve precinct as it is, without a flyover. Attendees at the “Love the Basin” event wrote ‘love notes’ to the Basin Reserve and numerous passers-by waved and tooted to show their support for the cause to stop the proposed construction of a flyover at this iconic site.

Save the Basin Campaign spokesperson Tim Jones says: “Friday’s event at the Basin Reserve was a great illustration of the depth and breadth of opposition to the flyover. Wellingtonians do not want a flyover at the Basin Reserve and will not be steamrolled by the NZTA.”

Save the Basin Campaign were heartened by the number of supportive people driving past Friday’s event with bus drivers, taxi drivers, private vehicle owners and even a couple of people driving Wellington City Council vans tooting to show their support for the cause.

A selection of love notes written at the event are below, with the full listing posted on the Community Gallery page of Save the Basin’s website.

I love the Basin because…

“I had school sports here as a girl and played cricket and enjoyed attending marching girls and soccer.”

“It’s one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world and it deserves to stay that way.”

“It’s part of our heritage.”

“It’s a unique cricket ground. I hate the flyover because it’s a short-sighted solution and Wellington does not need it!”

“It’s a MASSIVE KIWI ICON.”

“It’s my one week away from Chch to enjoy cricket, sun, relaxing and views.”

“It’s been a home for cricket since I was a baby…”

“On my trips to Wellington I always take the time to get down to the Basin to have a wander around or take photos of the ground from outside the gates. The Basin holds a special place to me since I love cricket.”

A local’s take on the proposed flyover by Johan, age 9

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I think the Basin Reserve Flyover shouldn’t be built. There are lots of hazards about it like if we have a war it could get bombed and be not just a war a revolution too. Also there are affects and price problems too like on roads in NZ a hundred or more people get killed or are critically injured. And with the flyover an extra two thousand or more people getting killed or critically injured. It will also be really low (only as high as a power pole) and homeless people will live under it.

Graffiti and street art will be messed over it. Pets will die. They also call it “The Road of Significance”. I call it “The Road of Political P Brains”. Wellington will need bigger hospitals. To build it you need $100000000 and that’s impossible. Oil and cars will be more expensive. In a flood it could give way and have to be another $100000000 to take the rubbish away. What’s more is I don’t want to [see it] when I go out the door. I always see a great big ugly bridge to nowhere…until I die. Eventually Ellice St will be a ghost street because people won’t be able to sleep. There could be lots more car crashes too AND Wellington turning into a ghost town.Image

Grant Robertson asserts his opposition to the proposed flyover

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The following is an excerpt written by Grant Robertson for the November 2013 edition of the Mt Victoria Newsletter.

Basin flyover not a done deal

Residents in Mt Cook, Mt Victoria, Newtown and the whole Wellington area are justifiably concerned about the Basin Reserve flyover. The final decision to build a flyover at the Basin Reserve is currently with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), but the government and New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) seem determined to pursue spending $90 million despite 83% of submitters opposing it.

Both Annette King, MP for Rongotai, and I oppose the Basin flyover. It is a bad idea and not an answer to the frustration some people feel about traffic congestion at this one location in Wellington. 

NZTA appears to be following the instructions of the government that has no smart solutions for improving the way people and freight move around New Zealand.

The EPA is requiring that anyone who submitted attend meetings with the NZTA to “resolve concerns”, even if they noted in their submission that they don’t wish to be heard in person. The significance of these meetings on the final decision is unknown because they have never before happened in a Board of Inquiry process. 

The Board of Inquiry will begin the hearings on 22 January* and the decision is due by May 2014. Labour has promised that we will do whatever we can to stop the flyover, and support a transportation system within and around Wellington that is efficient, promotes public transport, and helps protect our environment.

My electorate office telephone is 801 8079 and I am always happy to hear your comments on this or any other issue affecting the Mt Victoria community. 

*The Board of Inquiry’s latest indicative timetable shows the hearings beginning on Monday 27 January.

Results updated: Local body election candidates state their positions on the proposed flyover

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Save the Basin sent the following question to all candidates standing for positions on Wellington City Council, Makara-Ohariu Community Board, Tawa Community Board, Greater Wellington Regional Council and Capital and Coast District Health Board.

“Do you support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve”

The question was sent by email on Thursday 12 September and candidates were given until 5pm on Wednesday 18 September to submit their answer. Candidates who did not respond by this deadline were then given a further opportunity to respond, and the results have now been updated with these responses.

The question was worded to be a yes / no answer and the email stated that this was the format in which candidates were required to answer. For those candidates that did not answer yes / no, they were offered another opportunity to do so. For those candidates that did not feel they could answer the question in this way (after having been given another opportunity to do so), they were advised that they would be noted as having not answered the question.

Here are the results, broken down by ward / board / council.

Wellington Mayoral Candidates

NO I do not support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Celia Wade-Brown, Jack Yan.

YES I do support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Rob Goulden (note that although Mr Goulden responded “No” to our survey, he has since changed his mind to ‘Yes’ he does support the flyover as published in the Dominion Post on 2/10/13) John Morrison, Nicola Young.

Did not answer the question: Karunanidhi Muthu.

Lambton Ward Candidates

NO I do not support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Milton Hollard, Iona Pannett, Mark Peck, Steve Preston, Mark Wilson, John Woolf.

YES I do support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Rex Nicholls, Nicola Young.

Did not answer the question: Michael Appleby, John Dow, Jennifer Steven.

Eastern Ward Candidates

NO I do not support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Rob Goulden, Va’ai Va’a Potoi.

YES I do support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: John Coleman, Peter Kennedy.

Did not answer the question: Ray Ahipene-Mercer, Sarah Free, Leonie Gill, Graham McCready, Simon Marsh, Karunanidhi Muthu.

Southern Ward Candidates

NO I do not support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Paul Eagle, David Lee, Will Moore, Bryan Pepperell, Brent Pierson.

YES I do support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: No candidates.

Did not answer the question: Don McDonald, Ginette McDonald.

Onslow-Western Ward Candidates

NO I do not support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Malcolm Aitken, Sridhar Ekambaram, Hayley Robinson, Martin Wilson.

YES I do support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Jo Coughlan.

Did not answer the question: Dan Coffey, Andy Foster, Gill Holmes, Phil Howison, Arie Ketel, Emma MacRae, Simon Woolf.

Northern Ward Candidates

NO I do not support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Peter Gilberd, Justin Lester, Helene Ritchie.

YES I do support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: No candidates.

Did not answer the question: Reagan Cutting, Malcolm Sparrow, Jacob Toner.

Makara-Ohariu Community Board Candidates

NO I do not support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: No candidates.

YES I do support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: No candidates.

Did not answer the question: Murray Burden, Christine Grace, Judy Liddell, Wayne Rudd, Margie Scotts, Hamish Todd.

Tawa Community Board Candidates

NO I do not support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: No candidates.

YES I do support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Richard Herbert.

Did not answer the question: Sally Dunbar, Graeme Hansen, Margaret Lucas, Jack Marshall, Alistair Sutton, Robert Tredger.

Greater Wellington Regional Council Candidates

NO I do not support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Paul Bruce, David Ogden, Sue Kedgley, Ariana Paretutanganui-Tamati, Daran Ponter.

YES I do support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Barbara Donaldson, Ken Laban, Chris Turver, Fran Wilde.

Did not answer the question: Jenny Brash, Nigel Wilson, Mike Fleming, Chris Laidlaw, Judith Aitken, Sandra Greig, John Terris, Prue Lamason, Paul Swain, Gary McPhee, Andrew Stewart, John Dalziell.

Capital and Coast District Health Board Candidates

NO I do not support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Camilia Chin, Sue Kedgley, Helene Ritchie, Tony Simpson.

YES I do support the construction of a flyover at the Basin Reserve: Nick Leggett.

Did not answer the question: Judith Aitken, Grant Brookes, Marianne Bishop, David Carter, David Choat, Allie Crombie, Sally Dunbar, Russell Franklin, John Hayes, Virginia Hope, Keith Johnson, Chris Laidlaw, Chris Lipscombe, Ian Murphy, Kiri Rikihana, David Talbot, Megan Williams, Nigel Wilson.