Friday 9 November 2012

Council approves Carr’s Road pedestrian/cycle bridge concept design

A proposed concept design for a pedestrian/cycleway bridge at Carr’s Road will go forward for detailed design after Councillors endorsed it yesterday.

The bridge which will provide an important connection across the newly constructed Southern Motorway along the alignment of Carr's Road for cyclists and pedestrians and will support the communities planned for the area either side of the new Southern motorway.

The bridge will also form part of the walking and cycleway network proposed in the South West Area plan, which supports the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy and integrates with the wider pedestrian and cycle networks included in the Christchurch Transport Plan.

In the earlier planning stages of the Southern motorway, there was a desire to create a ‘land mark or gateway bridge’ to mark the entrance to Christchurch. Councillors agreed yesterday that, given there is now the potential to locate a landmark structure in a suitable position closer to the City boundary within the planned second stage of the motorway, and the costs involved, the proposals for the bridge recommended by Council officers was the preferred option.

The estimated cost of the bridge is $3,333,523.

Councillors also requested staff to investigate incorporating additional design elements that fit within the budgeted amount at a later date if funding support from the New Zealand Transport Agency is provided .

At yesterday’s Council meeting, Councillors also agreed to write a letter to the Minister of Education in view of the widespread and deep community concern and interest in the recent education proposals. The letter will ask the Minister to extend the period of consultation beyond December 7 for those schools that desire an extension and ask her to allow the wider community to have an opportunity to consider these and other options in the context of the overall vision and plans for the future growth and development of our city.

- ends -

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage