Chris Dudfield

Climate change adaption and impact mitigation requires serious forward planning that must begin now. We need to embed long term planning into short or medium term solutions.

Resistance to seismic and climatic events is an essential component of infrastructural planning and consultation. New earthquake resistant technology should be incorporated into proposed upgrades and construction of essential services.

The Dutch government has appointed an envoy with the required attributes to advise governments and councils around the world on water management. These so-called “Dutch Dialogues” are actually taking place in cities around the world and are something the WCC should become involved with as soon as possible.

We should explore construction of a movable barrier across the Wellington Heads for interim protection against tsunamis and storm or tidal surges. Later, this barrier could be extended to provide a permanent sealed land bridge protecting the entire harbour from likely sea level rises.

Landscaped barriers or dykes around a number of the southern bays will be needed too and planning for such work would likely occur at an earlier stage than the Heads Barrier. The technology is evolving and dykes in the Netherlands are now often multi-use – incorporating car parking or commercial activities.

LGWM options vary from inadequate to bizarre and the recent central government proposal is a half baked plan that does not address the needs of Wellington motorists.

The 2018 Census shows that only 4% of Wellington commuters travel to work on cycles (and that is probably on good days). In contrast, 20% walk to work, 17% use public transport, while 42% travel to work in a private or company vehicle.

The Terrace Tunnel has been missing one lane for decades and installation of a 4th lane is work that must be completed without delay.

A second 4 lane Mt Victoria Tunnel must be completed as soon as possible to ensure the efficient movement of vehicular traffic from the motorway and Terrace Tunnel to the airport and eastern suburbs.

An Arras Tunnel extension should be constructed from the existing tunnel through to the motorway. This would remove existing intersections and provide much improved north-south movement of vehicular, pedestrian and cycle traffic along Willis, Victoria, Cuba and Taranaki Streets.

The “Golden Mile” proposals make the term “Wellington Moving” an oxymoron. It is a proposal that is probably untenable for local businesses and turns an iconic part of our city into nothing more than an exclusion zone for those who rely on cars to get around and a glorified picnic area for the rest of us.

There must be a moratorium on cycleways until there has been full and targeted consultation with all affected parties. The ascension of cycleways should necessarily be a slow and well planned process that involves integration with the widening, extension or improvement of existing roads.

I will seek to revoke Council’s decision to proceed with the $226M Bike Network Plan. Council staff and consultants responsible for these flawed and dangerous designs should also be interviewed and debriefed.

Traffic lights should be better sequenced and extra pick-up loops installed in key areas so as to ensure minimal traffic delays and enhanced traffic flow, thereby reducing emissions.

The government, local list MPs and “endorsed” candidates should stop pushing their political or personal agendas and await an informed consensus from Wellington ratepayers.

Fiscal responsibility and efficiency. This current City Council treats Wellington ratepayers as a bottomless monetary resource that can be tapped without due accountability or recourse. Wasteful, ill-considered or excessive spending, unconditional grants or stipends, high consultancy or legal fees and budget over-runs have become the unquestioned norm. Ratepayers have the right to expect high fiscal responsibility from our City Council and spending that prioritises the reinstatement and upgrading of essential services and infrastructure.

Private contracting has been problematic. Inefficiencies, cost over-runs and budget blow-outs are best avoided by adopting a real time, hands-on approach that is not guided by profitability alone. To this end, repairs and maintenance operations (including upgrade work) should once again be in-house.

A direct interface between the public and Council must now be restored and greater public accessibility to Council staff and services reinstated.

Council housing stock needs to be properly managed, maintained and expanded. It is difficult to believe that Council rental income doesn’t at least match expenditure and that central government offers income related rent subsidies to private tenants but not Council tenants. I’ll be visiting government ministers.

We need to reverse the trend toward increased outsourcing of work and establishment of Council Controlled Organisations as a way for Council to contract their way out of obligations under the Local Government Act.

• Liaise with GWRC to ensure implementation of pollution standards – including clean air, clean water and the elimination of plastics contamination. A moratorium on approvals for new solid fuel fireplaces or wood burners within the CBD and inner suburbs should be implemented, pending public consultation

 

All urban planning should begin with the following premise: “The strongest solutions come from those who know their communities best – The Residents.”

The “Golden Mile” is another half baked “feel good” proposal that will reduce the pace and pulse of the CBD. It will turn the area into an exclusion zone for those who need cars and a glorified picnic area for the rest of us. The rationale behind removing cars, laying pavers and planting trees all over the beating heart of the CBD is problematic. If, as is prudent, we begin to plan for a phase of urban consolidation, we can expect to see a steady increase in mixed-use high rise developments within the existing inner city commercial and residential zones. This will bring about an increase in population densities, service industries and commercial intensification – together with associated pressures on essential infrastructure. Contrary to the simplistic logic of the “green agenda” many or most apartment dwellers will own cars for excursions, holidays, out of town travel and normal mobility. Although underground car parking can accommodate anticipated car ownership, these car parks will require accessibility. It is also important to ensure accessibility for service vehicles, trade vehicles and emergency services throughout the CBD.

Urban design is multi-faceted and any redevelopment of existing areas requires careful, considered planning, consultation and collaboration – as well as future proofing, together with the integration of services, infrastructure and the wide ranging needs of the public and commercial sectors.