Parnell tunnel deserves every consideration

After attending the press conference today where the ETC recommendations were laid down , Hobson Community Board member Aaron Bhatnagar declared the Parnell tunnel option to be a viable contender for the ETC.

“We know that it will cost more. However, the environmental impact is far less, in terms of noise, in terms of visual pollution and how it will impact on local residents. A tunnel from Grafton Gully through to Orakei may end up being the best option for the ETC”, said Mr Bhatnagar.

“Residents have told me that they are concerned about traffic noise. They are worried that their views over Hobson Bay may be ruined, and that Hobson Bay might suffer environmentally with an “at grade” corridor. I share those concerns. That’s why the ETC expected costs include substantial mitigation against environmental impact”, said Mr Bhatnagar.

“But a tunnel that runs under Parnell would remove many concerns about noise and visual pollution. That’s why I think it deserves every consideration when the final route for the ETC is planned”, said Mr Bhatnagar.

“One thing is for sure, I know that many residents will be pleased to know that one day we can get the heavy trucks off our residential streets. This problem was going from being a noise nuisance to a threat to safe living. We owe it to families and neighbourhoods that we get the heavy trucks off our streets and onto designated heavy transport roads,” said Mr Bhatnagar.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>