A pedestrian’s view of the world

A lot of heat is coming from citizens, and now businesses, over the manners st debacle.

An $11 million debacle, that had 74% opposition from 722 submissions during consultation.

Did our council listen? No. It rubbished dissent as a “a pedestrian’s view of the world.” And did its own survey that spun the line that 68% were in favour (how many participated in that survey is unknown, but I bet it wasn’t  nearly as large or representative). So much for transport policies that seek to get more people walking to work. Instead we are left with an open wound. One wonders what fate awaits the basin reserve.

So in accordance with transparency and full disclosure, you can find out who voted for this (list in the comments below the article), and make your own mind up about the wisdom of spending $11 million on it, rather than more pressing priorities – like reducing water leakage or removing the sewerage stink.

In 2-months time you get to hold them accountable.

http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/2009/12/manners-mall-the-council-knows-best, http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/2010/07/the-misery-of-manners-street-and-willis-street-and-taranaki-street, http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/2010/06/mind-your-manners-the-upheaval-begins/

Pooling our resources

Another u-turn from our council. This time swimming pools get more funding (but not other important resources like libraries). Perhaps that’s another u–turn yet to come, as the election gets closer? Funny how councils listening abilities heighten as elections begin to appear on the horizon.

Whether you agree with this extra funding or not, of real concern is the decision making that is being made in our council. Does our council really know what they are doing? Because their decision making is looking more and more irrational. A bit like the mayors comment that she supports the golden mile being a pedestrian area, while at the same time ripping up manners mall?

Right now our councils decision making abilities looks more like “speed” – a bus, hurtling around the streets of Wellington without a qualified driver and waiting for the debt to explode. Although you might be forgiven for thinking it was based on something else?

But at least some sanity has arrived. Albeit forced upon our council. It now appears perhaps its a good idea to partner with schools over our pools. Goodness me, are we now seeing some signs of collaboration and co-operation, that we have not seen with the carnival fiasco?

Although, I must put a caveat here. It’s not clear how this partnership fund is suppose to work for the benefit of both parties. Are we rationalising pool resources in the city, or just helping schools fund their own pools?

So how did we get to this u-turn (or back-down, as some are calling it)? Well actually, there have been 2 u-turns. Talk about well reasoned and thought out decision-making? Not on this council.

The first u-turn was before the draft annual plan was finalised. Apparently the mayor and a councillor decided at the very last minute to reduce the original proposal to help fund refurbishing of school pools from $2 million to $500k (spread over 2 years). At the time, the mayor clearly thought this reduction in funding was a good idea and other councillors supported it. The justification being that it was better to spend the money on a new 25-metre, 10-lane pool (in Kilbirnie), at the same time that the hydrotherapy pool was being built (a $500k saving). Hence in the draft annual plan, funding was set at $500k.

However, last week, the council approved a different plan? In a second u-turn it decided to increase the planned $500k funding for school pools back to the original $2 million (although this time spread over 3 years: 500k now, $1 million net year, and $500k the following year). So much for the mayor’s earlier justification for not funding the carnival on the basis Wellington cannot afford it? Where this now leaves  Kilbirnie pool is also unclear?

And what brought about this change of heart? Well, apparently councillor Helene Ritchie wrote to 43 schools in Wellington that had originally indicated that they were interested in a partnership with the council, and urged them to make submissions to the council to change their mind. It seems it takes 43 voices of discontent to change council’s decision making. An interesting precedent when you consider there are over 3,000 Wellingtonian’s on facebook calling for the axed cuba street carnival to be brought back.

And what do I think about council funds for school pools. Well, as I suggested above, it has to be for the benefit of both parties for it be a real partnership. Otherwise council is just funding activities that ought to be funded by the Ministry of Education. I’m not sure that is council’s function?

Don’t get me wrong, I think its important for kids to learn to swim. I take my own son regularly to Kilbirnie pool, as does the Brooklyn school he attends. But I think we need real partnership in funding Wellington’s pool resources, under a coherent and well thought out strategy. Perhaps its in the detail? But I’m not seeing it here.

Perhaps council should be collaborating with the Ministry of Education and local schools to see if a more coherent swimming pool strategy for the benefit of wider Wellington region is possible. After all, as our mayor keeps reminding us we’re in a recession. Perhaps a strategy that saves schools and the council money. That’s real partnership.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/the-wellingtonian/3791275/Public-pressure-forces-council-backdown, http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/the-wellingtonian/3791286/Editorial-Read-the-writing-on-the-wall

Let them eat cake

The Mayor has called for cars to be banned from Wellington’s golden mile … after the Manners Mall redevelopment, Basin Reserve motorway, and Mt Victoria Tunnel have been constructed. This should be around 10 to 20 years time.

Talk about hot air and mixed messages. As Sue Kedgley has pointed out, “we don’t need to wait 20 years to make the city people-friendly” adding “there needs to be some logic to our transportation projects”. I agree.

Although not sure we can afford light rail yet (and then there is integration with existing public transport to consider). Enhancing our bus service is probably more realistic, and would deliver more immediate benefits for residents and tourists. Its good to have aspirations. But we need action, and now, not in 20 years time.

At the same time, another trade delegation from Wellington heads to china. Fantastic. But why is the Mayor of Wellington going? Isn’t this the domain of the Minister of Trade or embassy people – people with real clout? That’s why we have embassy’s, right? Can we afford this?

I thought the council was telling us that local services will have to be pruned back. Surely, now is the time for the Mayor to be at the office, doing the hard yards, leading by example – and saving money.

Perhaps talking to the Mayor of our sister city in China on the phone (or skype),  and inviting them to look after our cities delegation of business people? Or working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure our business people have all the support they need. Or perhaps this trip sums up the state of our council – give them dreams while we eat cake.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3756104/Mayor-and-business-group-head-to-China, http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/light-rail-golden-mile-should-come-first