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Christchurch Earthquake

The utter tragedy the people of Christchurch waken to every morning is heartbreaking. We, on the outskirts of Wellington, can only breathe a sigh of relief that it wasn't us this time. It is pleasing to note that both KCDC and MidCentral Health are sending their experts down to assist.

However I can only ponder, when the government announces the billions of dollars needed right now and justifiably so, to restore Christchurch's infrastructure, whether there will be anything available to build our own disputed motorway.

No Underpass for Waikanae

The news that there will not be an underpass to alleviate traffic congestion on SH1 at Elizabeth Street in Waikanae is a lost opportunity. Even today it is nearly impossible to cross the railway line at peak times, including school time. When double tracking and more frequent trains start it will be near impossible to manage traffic across the lines. We as a community have about a year to get the underpass built otherwise chaos will occur.

Mischievous Misinformation

Mischievous misinformation is how I would describe the latest advertisement from 'One Kapiti', the Turver ticket. That's kinder than saying it is ignorant.

The advertisment claims huge increases in rates over the next years as councillors spendup on their wishlist. Wrong.

The Long Term Community Plan is just that. A community plan which takes note of the community's wishes. It is what the community has identified, not council, not councillors.

Is the Turver Motorway extravagant?

Let's put the claim of Council's extravagance into perspective.

Our Annual Plan, soon to be public, will list 16 major areas of activity, from transport, water, sewerage and other hard infrastructural items to libraries, parks, economic development and community facilities. All of which are an essential (and not extravagant) part of the community's business.

?Culture of Extravagance????? - Really?

I had a sense of bemusement today when I read the claim by candidate Turver of a culture of extravagance by Council! I became aware of this claim while attending a meeting in which we were discuusing a report on social wellbeing and council's activities relating to this key focus of our Long Term Community Plan. This objective is a key part of our plan and supported during consultation periods for both the annual plan and the LTCCP.

Are some of these activities listed below what Turver means by 'extravagance'?

Guru's Challange!!!!!!!!!!

The challenge by Guru to Chris Turver is marvellously subtle. Here we have an experienced and knowledgeable journalist saying he will support Turver if he can fix the disaster of the Sandhills Expressway, knowing full well that we only have the disaster because of Turver! I would love to see this happen and the only way to solve the problems for our community is to abandon the Sandhills Expressway. Given that Turver and his ticket are either responsible for or supportive of the S.M., I doubt that this will happen.

 

Western Link

Today under the issues icon I have loaded an essay in defence of the Western Link and my dismay at the destruction the Sandhills Expressway will have on our community and ebvironment. Have a look. It is on the landing page for issues.

Come back the Western Link

Last night I attended a lively meeting called by ASK, the alliance for sustainable Kapiti, to discuss the proposed motorway. I call it a motorway, not the lesser term expressway because that is what it is - a motorway which will bisect Kapiti, taking traffic through our district and not to it.

It will traverse sensitive dune land, pass through or close by a waahi tapu area and uruapa. It will pass close to homes whoses residents had no expectation that they would now be living next to a motorway. 

A Shocking Lack of Action

There appears to be a shocking lack of planning and action on the Waikanae interchange heading into the start of the increased rail traffic at Waikanae next year. We will have more trains, more frequently, more cars to park, more confusion and potential safety issues next year. But what is happening to provide for safe entrance and egress across the railway to the eastern side of the rail? What is planned to resolve the difficulty of parents delivering and collecting their children to school? How long will they now have to wait when trains are more frequent? The wait now is unacceptable.

Let Justice be done though the heavens may fall!

This is one of favourite quotes from the latin 'Fiat justitia ruat caelum'. Not that I speak latin but this is a good mantra to live by. I try and be courageous in my decision making to make the best most informed decision possible for the whole community.

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