TRAM Thread

[Svartmetall]

Originally Posted by buildemhigh

Id disagre insomuch as that the traffic rules clearly need to be reintroduced to give Trams the right of way, particularly if the network is to be increased.

Typical Herald, taking up much needed print space that could otherwise be given to the priority news items of the day such as Happyfeet...

Yeah I'd agree that trams should be given right of way, but then I also believe that a bus that is signalling to turn out from a bus stop should be given right of way too. That kind of legislation would solve a lot of problems where people in their impatience skirt around waiting trams/buses and risk collisions. At least fault could be more easily apportioned to the car driver rather than the PT vehicle.

Originally Posted by SYDNEY

Mike Lee has said that new tram tracks will be laid to Britomart starting in December and should be finished within a year - does this mean that the flash Te Wero Bridge is going to be built sooner rather than later ?

That soon?! Wow, why hasn't there been a big press release about this or have I missed it? Great news!

[SYDNEY]

Originally Posted by Svartmetall

That soon?! Wow, why hasn't there been a big press release about this or have I missed it? Great news!

In today's granny Herald

Here's an excerpt:

Mr Lee, who as chairman of the Auckland Regional Council championed the $8 million set-up costs of the Wynyard Loop, said he favoured another crossing for trams as close as possible to the new $3.7 million pedestrian and cycling bridge across the Viaduct Harbour. Work on laying tracks to Britomart could start at Christmas, and the project could be completed in about a year, he said.

[Svartmetall]

Cheers for that. I tend to avoid the Herald most of the time (except that excellent spread about Auckland's future) due to the tosh that is printed there and didn't see an announcement on MAXX or other such website so missed that.

[KiwiRob]

Originally Posted by buildemhigh

Typical Herald, taking up much needed print space that could otherwise be given to the priority news items of the day such as Happyfeet...

The Norwegian news agencies have even been following the story of Happyfeet, not a lot goes on in Norway.

[viinniie]

Originally Posted by KiwiRob

The Norwegian news agencies have even been following the story of Happyfeet, not a lot goes on in Norway.

we wasted a fuck load of $$$ on this stupid penguin someone said it was $80,000?? correct me if im wrong but flip... we have starving children in this country.. a bit off topic but yeah..

[nilut]

Originally Posted by viinniie

we wasted a fuck load of $$$ on this stupid penguin someone said it was $80,000?? correct me if im wrong but flip... we have starving children in this country.. a bit off topic but yeah..

Think it was like 25k all by donations apparently? I like penguins but man, talk about a waste of media space..

[Svartmetall]

Originally Posted by nilut

Think it was like 25k all by donations apparently? I like penguins but man, talk about a waste of media space..

Was even on BBC World.

To be honest, Happyfeet has worked in our favour. It boosted NZ's international recognition and may grab a few extra tourist dollars. Don't see it as a waste when NZ garners good international attention!

[buildemhigh]

Originally Posted by Svartmetall

Was even on BBC World.

To be honest, Happyfeet has worked in our favour. It boosted NZ's international recognition and may grab a few extra tourist dollars. Don't see it as a waste when NZ garners good international attention!

So are you saying that it'll be good for tourism... :-)

Feel good stories have their place, but we seem to go gaga over them..

As for starving kids in this country vinniie.. i dont believe for a second that there is poverty in the true sense of the word in this country. There are certainly people who live below what most would by comparison call comfortable standards, but there is simply no reason for "poverty" to exist in this country.. besides if they fattened that penguin up, they could have got a few packed lunches out of it.. tastes just like chicken apparantly.

[Brojoro]

Originally Posted by buildemhigh

As for starving kids in this country vinniie.. i dont believe for a second that there is poverty in the true sense of the word in this country. There are certainly people who live below what most would by comparison call comfortable standards, but there is simply no reason for "poverty" to exist in this country..

Could'nt agree more, in New Zealand you choose poverty, usually as result of over breeding when you can't afford to have children; and alcohol, drugs, gambling and cigarettes taking priorty over food and the necessities of life.

[buildemhigh]

Originally Posted by Brojoro

Could'nt agree more, in New Zealand you choose poverty, usually as result of over breeding when you can't afford to have children; and alcohol, drugs, gambling and cigarettes taking priorty over food and the necessities of life.

Sadly I think it isnt about affordibility of having children which is the issue, it is the commodification of children where there are issues.. Typically I am against anything Nanny state, in this instance there is clearly an issue and am all for the state being as intrusive as possible to effect the results that the children deserve.

Dont wish to derail the thread... excuse the pun..

[viinniie]

Originally Posted by Brojoro

Could'nt agree more, in New Zealand you choose poverty, usually as result of over breeding when you can't afford to have children; and alcohol, drugs, gambling and cigarettes taking priorty over food and the necessities of life.

i didnt make that up if thats what your intending .. it has been said in the headlines all the time hahahahahah overbreeding..i think the penguins are the ones overbreeding. stop nit picking and spend penguin money on something useful

[viinniie]

now stop acting like little bitches

[KiwiRob]

Originally Posted by viinniie

we wasted a fuck load of $$$ on this stupid penguin someone said it was $80,000?? correct me if im wrong but flip... we have starving children in this country.. a bit off topic but yeah..

Spending money on the penguin gives people the warm fuzzies, spending money on starving kids is something we don't want to think about.

[Svartmetall]

Originally Posted by viinniie

i didnt make that up if thats what your intending .. it has been said in the headlines all the time hahahahahah overbreeding..i think the penguins are the ones overbreeding. stop nit picking and spend penguin money on something useful

This isn't me having a go, but I think it is important to distinguish between relative poverty and actual poverty. Relative poverty is what exists in developed nations. This labels people as "impoverished" if they earn under a certain percentage of the average salary for the country.

Perhaps (and I can't be bothered searching on this one) NZ does have a relatively high level of relative childhood poverty when compared to the rest of the OEDC, however, if these families still have a house, have food and can still afford to buy basic goods then really it's hard to call it poverty, more correct to call them underprivilaged.

But really we should take this to the general chit chat thread and keep this to the tram.

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

image hosted on flickr

Trams by craigsydnz, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

Trams by craigsydnz, on Flickr

[SYDNEY]

To wait another 2 years isn't that bad .... at least it hasn't been cancelled.

Brown takes knife to capital spend

Aucklanders will have to wait longer to catch a tram from Britomart to Wynyard Quarter to help trim rates next year. Waterfront Auckland is proposing to delay extending the tram to Britomart until the 2014-2015 year as part of a review of the council's $1.8 billion capital programme next year. Auckland Mayor Len Brown has instructed the council and council-controlled organisations (CCOs) to look at deferring and reducing the cost of projects to further reduce rates in his election-year budget. Mr Brown has already proposed a rates rise of 2.9 per cent and is seeking to get the figure nearer 2 per cent. As well as the $8.2 million tram project, other projects to be deferred include the Quay St boulevard ($25 million), the $28 million Onehunga foreshore project and $20.4 million of works this year and next year in West Auckland, including Massey North's town square and street upgrades. The full spend on a superyacht facility at Wynyard Quarter has also been put back years after Waterfront Auckland's request for a $16 million ratepayer contribution was cut to $7.2 million in the long-term budget. Councillor Mike Lee, who has championed the tram extension, was disappointed the project was getting it in the neck when "sacred cows" like the council's new $500 million computer system was untouched. The tram loop extension to cross the Wynyard Quarter bridge to Britomart, making Quay St a boulevard, and the superyacht facility have been opposed by right-leaning councillors. A report for today's strategy and finance committee meeting said the proposed deferrals would cut capital spending by $55 million over the current and 2013-2014 financial years. Council officers did not know how much that would reduce rates next year, but in May said savings of $250 million would reduce the rates increase to 2 per cent. The capital budgets of the two biggest CCOs, Auckland Transport and Watercare, are yet to be reviewed.

Deferred savings

* $8.2m tram extension to Britomart
* $25m Quay St boulevard
* $28m Onehunga foreshore improvements
* $7.2m superyacht facility.

[Bealzebubbles]

And yet he will still cop flak for being fiscally irresponsible. Until the council can provide full services and not charge rates at all or maybe give each rate payer money people will complain.

[SYDNEY]

Originally Posted by Bealzebubbles

And yet he will still cop flak for being fiscally irresponsible. Until the council can provide full services and not charge rates at all or maybe give each rate payer money people will complain.

And continue spending more on alcohol

[drosophila]

That's very disappointing, there are quite a few roading projects that could have been deferred, instead pretty much only projects for public amenity were delayed.