30 November 2012

Environment Canterbury endorses transport statement

At a council meeting today Environment Canterbury became the second of the Urban Development Strategy partners to endorse the Greater Christchurch Transport Statement with Commissioners agreeing to sign the statement of intent.

“By endorsing the GCTS we are signalling our commitment to a collaborative ‘one network’ approach to the transport system across greater Christchurch,” says Environment Canterbury Commissioner Rex Williams.

“It is not designed to replace any existing plans or programmes but is there to bridge the gap between the higher level Regional Land Transport Strategy and the local transport plans, including our own Regional Public Transport Plan.”

Along with the UDS partners, KiwiRail, Christchurch International Airport Ltd, Lyttelton Port of Christchurch, CERA and the Ministry of Transport are also involved in providing a consistent and integrated approach to planning, implementing and managing transport needs across the greater Christchurch area.

Mr Williams explains that a key point of difference of the GCTS, and where it has added the greatest value, is that for the first time it reflects the local issues and priorities of KiwiRail, the airport and Lyttleton port.

“The involvement of all GCTS partners is important to achieve an efficient and reliable transport network that addresses the changed needs of people and businesses since the earthquakes as well as supporting the recovery and growth of Canterbury.

“For Environment Canterbury it means our top priorities within the GCTS are around the operation of a suitable public transport network that has room for growth, such as the soon-to-be launched Metro hubs and spokes model.”

ENDS

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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>>

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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>>

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