Transfering Blog

Upgrade Time

View of Auckland is busy transfering over to a new and improved domain. Come follow us over at http://voakl.net/ for your commentary, discussion and, debates and analysis on (planning) issues that affect an average (rate paying) Aucklander.

Looking forward to seeing you there

Ben

Admin, VOAKL

From Australia

Article from Macro-Business Super Blog

One of the blogs and academic material sites I keep myself up to date with is the Australian Macro-Business Super Blog. In short, the site provides interesting analysis of all sorts of issues in Australia and around the world. Issues such as (and most certainly not limited too), economics, finance, global politics and urban planning/economics are all discussed in depth with plenty of links to external sources for those who wish to go exploring.

One article that caught my attention day was this PIECE from the super-blog site. The blog author was providing a basic summary to an academic paper recently published in the UK on the links between planning and economic performance.

The article from Spatial Economics Research Centre at the Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics (had to mention that as I am a Geography graduate at the University of Auckland  and hold the that Department in very high regards) I will link up below and I do recommend as a very good read.

A Good Bye to a Blogger

A Sad Goodbye to an Influential Blogger



Yip blogs come and go as time continues its march on, however I was surprised when one particular blog announced it was signing off for the very last time.


Jon C, admin and owner of the AKT Blog had decided after four years that it was time to sign off for the very last time. His final post titled FAMOUS LAST WORDS gave light to the history of AKT over the last four years and its achievements for better Auckland Transport (and Urban Design too).

AKT Title Bar, all rights belonging to AKT Owner

Seasons Greetings

Seasons Greetings to all


Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful Summer Holiday.

For me (and Rebekka) we are going away to Tauranga to unwind, refresh and enjoy some annual leave before 2012 and the challenges it brings with it (moving into our first house next month)

In the mean time, View of Auckland takes a wee break until I return from leave January 4th and then again in late January as we move house.



I am honestly excited here, 2012 will be a great year for many reasons. Both mine and Rebekka's careers' with Veolia Transdev Auckland (metro rail) continue to progress with Rebekka taking her promotion up as Customer Information Officer (The Red Coats) at Britomart; while I continue exploring new opportunities with the company and other things.

Away from work, I will be focused intensely on the Auckland Council as the Draft Auckland Spatial Plan become finalised and realised as well as the first Long Term Plan for the Super City. Through this Blog I will be delivering commentary and discussion on issues in Auckland, bringing in external academic information to provide a balanced approach to the major debate out there (Sprawl or Compact). This blog is in its infancy, but I am confident it will grow and debates and discussions will get going.


So Merry Christmas to all
And be seeing you soon in 2012

-Ben-

The Port of Auckland and The Spatial Plan

We Need to Answer a Question


That question is: What is the future for the Port of Auckland.

I threw a per-verbal bomb amongst the pigeons today and posted on my Facebook to Councillors George Wood and Cameron Brewer this:

George and Cameron : I am going to throw a per-verbal bomb amongst the pigeons here. I think we need to come to an absolute FULL STOP on the Spatial Plan (The Draft Auckland Plan) until a question has been answered first: that being the Port of Auckland.I think an enquiry needs to be held into port on where to next with it. Do we: 1) Status Quo, 2) Relocate to Tauranga or Marsden Point, 3) Rebuild in South East Auckland.
This I believe needs to be done in order to best serve the city and New Zealand. Any recommendation and decision on the port will have major implications for Auckland and could even force a rewrite of The Spatial Plan. What we can not do is go on business as usual. The Port is sick and she needs a doctorThis I believe needs to be done in order to best serve the city and New Zealand. Any recommendation and decision on the port will have major implications for Auckland and could even force a rewrite of The Spatial Plan. What we can not do is go on business as usual. The Port is sick and she needs a doctor

It is a question that has to be answered sooner rather than later for the sake of Auckland and New Zealand

The Draft Auckland Plan (Serial) (Intro)

The Draft Auckland Plan Series


Over the next two to three years up until just after the 2013 Local Election (where Auckland elects its second council and mayor), I will be writing a series on issues that will be or are affecting Auckland.

The Draft Auckland Plan Serial

The first in my series will be looking at The Draft Auckland (Spatial) Plan - the visionary document setting out Auckland's goals and visions until 2040 and my submission on the Plan.

The Draft Auckland Plan can be found HERE with accompanying information on dates and the process of the plan through to implementation early 2012. The combined length of all the documents that make up the Auckland Draft Plan is over 800 pages long, however a simple basic Executive Summary can be found HERE and is more manageable at 36 pages long. Have a quick glance through it when you have a spare moment, the upcoming Long Term Plan (draft) which also sets the rates ratepayers pay (amongst other things) will "action" the ideas from the final version of The Auckland Plan, so you might might like to know what you are in for.

First House and Me

Leading into the first series of this Blog

Over the last six months, Rebekka and I went through the motions of looking for our very first house. After considering the options (budget, location, type, etc..) we began looking around Papakura for a house we can call home. Surprisingly the house we ended up came about after turning down one house that needed doing up and a vendor that would not move on price and trying another real estate by chance while checking out a cottage.

Rebekka and I met up with the real estate agents and we checked out two houses (within 5 minutes of each other) that were both within our maximum budget range. Irony would have it that these two houses both had a trade off against one another for things we liked and did not like. One house had a heat pump connected to a multi-ducted HRV system, an alarm and generous section - however NO GARAGE. The other house had a heat pump but not HRV, no alarm BUT a garage. In the end we went with the one with the garage and began the bidding process. Long story short we ended up with the house (Brick and Tile, three bedroom, double garage with workshop, medium size yard, heat pump etc..) for a good price of $283,000. We go unconditional within 48 hours of me writing this blog and we get the keys 4pm Friday 20th January.


Now I thank you for the congratulations and well done's here and in advanced, but you must be wondering where I am going with this. It is the fact Rebekka and I are now (well will be on settlement day) proud (first) home owners means we now have a mortgage and pay rates to the Auckland Council. Simply put: WE ARE RATEPAYERS!