My election form candidate profile

Mark GREENING (LLB, BA, Lawyer).

I stand as your independent advocate on council, not for a party or single agenda. You get to select 3 representatives for your community, but you only have one chance to make council accountable.

If you are tired of councilors who fail to listen, or fail to persuade council to listen, then use your vote to be heard. Make council listen to you after this election by electing a fresh new voice.

I stand for:

(1) Sensible spending, no more rugby monuments or Manners Mall debacles;

(2) Improving our water supply, not metering it;

(3) Investing in all our libraries;

(4) A waterfront for people, not buildings;

(5) Protecting the Basin, no flyovers;

(6) Making Cuba Carnival happen, no excuses;

(7) A city bike−hire scheme;

(8) Supporting free Wi−Fi;

(9) Youth engagement, to banish graffiti;

(10) Listening to you.

If you want change, join me at: [this blog]

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And I’d add my facebook page (greeningwellingtoncity) as well (but we only had 150 words).

I think it also shows I can cut to the chase and get to the point.

Transport questions

As I promised, I will be posting answers to questions that have been asked of me when they are published.

This time its on transport. The full report and answers from other candidates can be found on http://wellingtontransport.wordpress.com/2010/09/18/wellington-city-council-candidates-respond-to-our-transport-questionnaire/

Here’s what I said.

1. What proportion of the transport funding in the Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) of the Council you are standing for would you want to see devoted to:
a. Public transport?
b. Walking (facilities and promotion)?
c. Cycling (facilities and promotion)?

Please explain these choices.

Without having received costings on a bike hire scheme (something I’d like to see put on the agenda) and the councils ability to influence the revised bus fares, as well as being able to rank projects already approved by council that could be suspended or deferred – this would seem hard to provide any meaningful answer to this question. However, what I think I can say is that the over-arching focus should be on improving public transport utilising all 3 mediums in the best possible mix, that reduces dependence on other transport mediums, for the dollars spent. For example, if lighting was provided through central park, how many more people would walk between Brooklyn and the city, rather than use other transport modes. Such a project would also improve public safety. So why hasn’t council already done it as part of the central parks recent revamp? I would like to see these type of initiatives explored and undertaken.

2. Do you support the following transport projects, where applicable:

Note: Options a-c are mutually exclusive. Each assumes that essential service vehicles would have limited access.

a. Turning the Golden Mile into a public transport corridor Y/N

b. Turning the Golden Mile into a pedestrian corridor Y/N

c. Turning the Golden Mile into a dedicated public transport/pedestrian space Yes/N.

d. Extending the rail system through the Wellington CBD, by developing modern trams as a priority for the short term Y/No – $140+ million is unaffordable in the short-term given the impending water supply crisis (we may need the $140 million for a dam) and the fact council have already incurred substantial debt – and now we have to accommodate the leaky homes bail-out. Water has to come before transport – and I’m not sure if the public want another rates increase. That said, there are other alternatives in the short-term that can be done to improve public transport – see below. Best we can do now is explore costings and implementation plan for rail extension – and put out to public for feedback with alternative options.

e. A Basin Reserve flyover Y/No. There are much better alternatives that also provide greener spaces and safer access to nearby schools. I’ve cited these on my blog. The recent use of the traffic warden camera cars would seem to suggest the council are also concerned over safety around schools? So a flyover should logically not get much support if any. However, voting history on transport issues would suggest otherwise.

f. Doubling the Terrace Tunnel Y/No – Not in the short term. Poor decision making by existing councilors in locating the new indoor stadium in Cobham Drive will put pressure on this tunnel to be expanded. An outcome every councilor who voted for it knew would happen. Make sure you publish the names of those councilors who voted for it. And make sure they do not get in again. They had their chance to show their support for reducing unsustainable transport systems – and failed. Unfortunately we have more pressing short term pressure on the public fund – our water supply. We cannot afford to fund a $176 million dollar tunnel expansion project until we have sorted out our water supply.

g. Doubling the Mt Victoria Tunnel Y/No – Not in the short term. See comments above.

h. The Kapiti Expressway Y/NA – Not a city or ward issue. But it does appear to divide that region in two. Is that desirable? What are the alternatives?

3. Do you support the creation of an integrated public transport system across the region? If so, what changes would you propose making to bring this about?

Yes, an integrated system would be desirable. How? For a start, getting all the different parties and stakeholders together to agree on such a vision. And then making it happen through an agreed plan. Definitely part of a long term vision plan that the public are aware of – which is something we do not appear to have at present.

4. What do you consider should be the top transport priorities of the Council for which you are standing?

Short term – ensuring all council actions reinforce the message to use public transport. At present, council are sending mixed messages. Why are we increasing fares for public transport, if we want to reduce congestion? Why didn’t our council do something to prevent this before it went public? Why did our council support the indoor sports facility at Cobham Drive – knowing full well it would put pressure on traffic congestion. A tunnel expansion could have been avoided. We also need to improve our bus system, improve flow management and shift it to sustainable energy. Our buses can be made a more appealing option over the next 3 years. If light rail can have a dedicated corridor, why can’t buses? What other improvements can we make to our bus services to make them more appealing. Finally council need to clearly communicate a long term vision for public transport and be responsive to public feedback. Unfortunately, the council have not been very good in listening to its communities. Clearly there is support for light rail – so we need to sound this out and put in place costings and if this would be rolled out in an affordable manner – as well as offer alternatives (improved bus electrification and design). It might be more transport hubs are the way of the future (eg an integrated mixed solution)? We need to be re-examining all those reports comissioned by the council some time ago that are gathering dust.

5. What are your own top transport priorities for the region?

(1) Better decisions that do not put pressure on our existing transport system. The existing council have put unnecessary pressure on the Mt Vic tunnel and the wider basin area by locating the new Indoor Sports Facility in Cobham Drive. The facility should have been located next to the stadium to maximise the existing public transport hub and to enable broader use by the local business community. Any councilor who voted for Cobham Drive should be held accountable and not receive your vote if good transport systems are important to you.

(2) Improving our bus service through better flow management. Light rail proposals will require a dedicated corridor – why can’t we provide this for buses? There are a number of small improvements we could make to our bus system in the short-term.

(3) How are council incentivising car pooling? Not much action here either.

(4) I’d also like to see a bike-hire scheme (already in Paris and London) considered. This would require more consideration for providing space for cycle use in the city.

(5) Better co-ordinated infrastructural maintenance that reduces traffic congestion.

(6) We need to have a long-term plan, and be heading towards it. Something that has been seriously lacking.

(7) All my thoughts on transport issues can be found by clicking “transport” on the tag cloud of my blog.

A simple message

My message for you is a simple one.

If you want your council to listen to you, now and in the future – hold them accountable.

Show them the consequences of failing to listening to you, of failing to respond to you, of failing to prioritise spending sensibly, of failing to keep rates under control, of failing to protect the things you value.

If you show you are willing to vote people off council.

Council will listen.

Council will consult.

Now and in the future.

It’s a tough lesson. But its one our council needs if we want sensible decision making in the future.

Over this election you will hear from two types of candidates.

Those you are prepared to vote out.

And those you may want to vote in.

And remember, every incumbent councilor was once a new candidate.

Fortunately in this election there are a number of very capable new candidates – some even smarter than the incumbent councilors. And they come without any of the personal baggage or personal in-fighting that has derailed sensible decision making in this city over the last 3 years. They also come with fresh new ideas – and values that more closely reflect the aspirations of our city.

Its time for change. Because you and our city deserves better.

50 posts

This is post number 50.

I’ve written about a lot of issues over the last 4+ months – and these have been tagged with a topic theme.

As you can see in the tag cloud (to the right) some issues have received more discussion than others – which explains why some words are larger than others.

So if you want to see where I stand or my opinion on a particular topic – click the tag cloud to display everything I have said on that topic. For example, clicking “library” in the tag cloud will bring up articles about libraries, or have referred to libraries.

Enjoy and be informed.

Question time

I thought I’d post the original response to questions asked of the new candidates and published in Capital Times.

We only had 20 words per question. Understandably (and with consent) I got edited back a little. Hopefully each candidate will also get a more detailed  review of their positions in forthcoming editions.

Only 6 Questions.

1. Why are you standing for council?

I care about our city. Council are either over spending or funding the wrong things. When communities attempt to tell them this, they are ignored. At a high level, this election for me is about priorities and listening to our communities. Something we have not had. 74% of submissions opposed the Manners mall redevelopment and council ignored them. It’s time for change. We need to revitalise our council with fresh ideas and new perspectives. The great news for voters is they can send a message to council that failing to listen has consequences – due to the high quality of new candidates that are standing. I think this election is going to be about accountability.

2. What is one thing you would like to have achieved by the end of your three year term?

A council that listens to all the communities it’s supposed to represent. If you achieve that you will get better decision-making and use of our money. People go to a lot of effort to make submissions, and they need to be given a little more weight than they are currently. We should be supporting public engagement, not turning people off.

3. What one issue concerns you about the waterfront that you would like to change?

Repeal Variation 11 and start again with some collaborate dialogue. I do not believe council should allow the development of taller buildings on the waterfront edge without open consultation. It’s important not to feel suffocated by buildings, which is something our green belts do well. The waterfront is no different. We have a beautiful village wrapped inside wonderful green belts and a stunning waterfront. It’s the envy of nearly every Aucklander I have met. We need to make sure we don’t lose it.

4. What is your number one issue regarding transport in Wellington? Explain.

The Basin reserve redevelopment has the potential to be a real scar on our landscape. We need to ensure any roading development around the basin is sympathetic to its environment and provides a higher level of safety for schools nearby, while improving traffic flow for public transport. I’m not in favour of a flyover hidden by an even larger Grandstand? One scar, hidden by a larger scar, doesn’t sound very hidden to me? But that’s the type of logic that exists on our council. Time for a change? I think so.

5. Would you prefer to fly or breathe underwater? Explain.

I blame watching the tv program “The Man From Atlantis”, but breathing underwater would be pretty cool.

6. It’s your birthday and you get to choose a special meal, what do you want to eat?

I would want to eat at el Bulli or Noma.* But I’d settle for a woodfire pizza and a cold beer along our wonderful waterfront (can we still do that)? Simple pleasures are always the best.

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I will be publishing more questions and answers from other organisations and resident associations as they are published.

* I blame my brother (a former chef at Restaurant 290, The Wellington club, and Shed 5 here in Wellington, and who has since worked at Pier in Australia and Bibbendium and Pont de la Tour in the UK) for wanting to dine at these places. I do enjoy good food and Wellington is richly served with a wide variety of eateries, bakeries, and cafes. We are so lucky, and long may it continue!

Its about our buses

Recently we have heard a lot about light rail, as part of a long term public transport vision.

But what we really need to be focusing on NOW, are our buses.

Why?

Because if we continue to send the wrong messages, we are going to end up with even more congestion in our city. And we have certainly been getting a lot of mixed messages from our council.

We need better incentives to use public transport. We need improved flow management and travel times. We don’t need more cars passing though our city, which is exactly what the Cobham Drive Sports Centre development will do.

Take the recent bus fare increases.

For the vast majority of people who use buses to travel to work, they subsribe to the “Monthly” bus pass. And if you are a zone 3 user, that amounts to $99 per month (unlimited travel). A great incentive to use public transport.

Well, from 1 October, the price of a monthly bus ticket increases from $99 to $185.

How? Well, the monthly pass has been terminated and not replaced. So bus users will either have to use the new $185 “Get About” pass or use snapper.

A snapper zone 3 user will pay $3.23 per trip (20% discount on normal fare). If you are travelling twice a day, 7 days a week, for 4 weeks (eg, “monthly”) you will pay around $180.88. And this is not unlimited travel.

For unlimited travel (as per the old monthly pass) you wil need to pay an extra $4 for the $185 “Get About” pass. Which will let you travel outside of zone 3, as far as the Hut Valley.

A price increase of nearly 90%. So much for promoting affordable bus travel in our city.

And has our council made any noise about this? None. Absolutely zip.

We need to be subsidizing our buses, not parties.

We need to be sending the right messages, not mixed messages.

We need change.

http://www.metlink.org.nz/assets/Home-Page/Publications/J0099WRCFares-Leafletweb.pdf, http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/4090106/Fare-rises-will-nearly-double-cost-of-monthly-bus-passes