Simon “Swampy” Marsh August 2012

Your Eastern Ward City Councillor

Hi there Wellington,

I hope you don’t mind me keeping in touch with some of the recent stuff from council:

The Basin Reserve roading plan is out. I liked the idea of a tunnel under the basin. However then I heard it would be like driving down the Ngauranga Gorge below the water table then straight back up again and would be built through soil prone to liquefaction. I thought no thanks. I can bike, walk or drive along the bridge in safety. The duplicate Mount Victoria tunnel is now more of a reality with a proposed start date of 2018. NZTA confirmed with me last week that they are already working with a number of affected property owners.

Would there be benefits from council amalgamation? A survey and consultation so far are probably slightly weighted in favour of the current council structure but with much better collaboration to provide services like water and waste management etc. A panel led by Sir Geoffrey Palmer is continuing to ask why and how we should make any changes.

How are we going to make Willis Street safer for pedestrians? What can we do down Willis Street to help pedestrians stop, look right, left and right again before crossing. I really would like council to try bollard and chain barriers as well as the multitude of seats, bike stands and rubbish bins proposed. For some reason the “experts” resist the barrier idea. Perhaps buses would be better not going through the Golden Mile?

The Airport through traffic issue justifiably has caused some angst. Every alternative option put forward by your local councillors has been studied by the Airport. Remembering that airport traffic will double by 2030 their proposed design seems to be what will work best, in fact Moa Point to Strathmore traffic will probably get through quicker at peak time than it currently does. The five minutes free time allowance will be reviewed; do you think this is long enough?

You may have noticed that the airport Caltex service station has closed up, it will open as a Z branded outlet with a Burger King attached later in the year.

A plan to ban taxis on CBD metered car parks will be made public shortly for comment. Have you had issues where taxis take up metered parking spaces beside taxi stands?

Kilbirnie Town Centre should see the start of its upgrade any day. In Miramar the town centre design concept will soon be out for discussion. When council does this would it be helpful to have a small billboard in the town centre showing what is planned?

Finally I have had some groups ask me to come and speak with them about council. If you would like me to come along and talk to your community group don’t hesitate to call or email me.

Simon “Swampy” Marsh

ENDS

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