Councils Holding the Country to Ransom

[Davo36]

The gains from these things are always overstated.

The money goes to a few people. Most people in Auckland won't notice a difference.

But I still think we should have it, it's a great event.

I'd rather see money spent on this sort of thing than the other wasteful spending.

[eri]

the rugby world cup

the commonwealth games

1 hit wonders requiring HUGELY expensive infrastructure

that then bleeds money for years due to underuse

eden park case in point

the viaduct though has gone from strength to strength

returning much more to the city that it cost

and that's before the technological boom that has bootstrapped our marine industry into bespoke production of custom carbon fibre equal to the world's best

its usefulness is much further reaching than America's Cup boats. Already it has milled tools for campervans and superyachts - even a disco ball and a full-size replica of a MIG29 to be used in a flight simulator.

Core Builders Composites general manager, Tim Smyth, says the company has contracted for work to help build a railway overbridge, huge water-pipe junctions and "a two-metre teddy bear for the movie industry." He can see major opportunities in the energy industry.

"Larry Ellison could have 'tooled up' in the United States, but the main reason we're tooling up here is the labour - the people.
There's a level of expertise here that's only recently been recognised worldwide," says Coutts.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/boating/6621231/Oracle-unveil-1-million-milling-machine

etnz's last boat was lighter + stronger that the others due to 'secret" cooking recipes of the carbon, produced by southern spars (viaduct)
same tech can be used for cars, bikes, bridges, turbines

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Americas-Cup---Southern-Spars-AC50-build-for-Emirates-Team-NZ--Video/153414?source=google.co.nz

labour + the greens always on about moving away from low value primary produce to high tech, smart growth, green industries, etc

this is good as it gets

[Davo36]

Yes I agree.

I wonder if we'll get as much value, or more as we did last time? Like will it be as good or better for the economy as it was last time. Time will tell I guess.

[Davo36]

Seems this whole Vic Inglis thing was helped along by the CEO of Gore District Council, the tenant's daddy:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/99136747/council-chief-executive-denies-advising-daughter-over-10000-tenancy-dispute

[Wayne]

Seems this whole Vic Inglis thing was helped along by the CEO of Gore District Council, the tenant's daddy:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/991...enancy-dispute

I do think the fact that her Dad is CEO is a red herring.
The information is public record - he didn't create it.
May have helped that her support person was actually a lawyer.

[Perry]

Business owners furious at $16 million cycleway on Auckland's North Shore
22 Nov 2017

Roadworks for a council $16 million-dollar cycleway are hitting businesses hard in a historic Auckland suburb for the sake of a handful of cyclists, outraged owners say. Auckland Transport's project has resulted in traffic being diverted, and business entrances being blocked off, along Northcote Pt's main road, Queen St.

"It's millions of dollars for a cycleway that is useless, because no one can cycle over the [Auckland Harbour] bridge," Bridgeway cinema general manager Steve Christodoulou said.

The item refers to consultation . . .

Auckland Transport said that there two rounds of public consultation were done in 2014 and 2016.

. . . but we know how that works, don't we?

Northcote Pt resident Jeremy Richards said 1600 people signed saying AT shouldn't go ahead with the construction.

[Perry]

Poor Things (It's the media & Councillors at fault!)

Presuming the one-in-four figure has some basis in reality, it's interesting to speculate on what's really the cause. To also ponder - if things are that tough - why don't they find another job? Maybe some of the difficulties Ratepayers experience are directly co-related to the problems? That's as opposed to Ratepayers daily dealings with bureaucrats, some of whom readily exhibit Hitleresque tendencies. But all councils have those sorts.

Civil servants suffering symptoms of depression at Auckland Council

The expression civil servant can be deceptive, too. They are there to serve the Councillors, not the Ratepayers. Whether or not they're civil, probably depends on the day.

[Davo36]

I don't go looking for these stories nowadays but someone on FB posted this:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/99399971/business-owner-fears-roadworks-will-drive-him-into-bankruptcy

A couple of quotes:

Auckland Council has confirmed the initial completion date of February 2018 will be pushed back indefinitely.

The project's initial completion date was February 2018, however, Auckland Council decided to expand the scope of the project to include a number of extra improvements.

The cost of repairing the culvert was estimated at $3.7 million, but with added improvements the total bill is now $15 million, with Auckland Transport (AT) footing half the bill.

So you know, why spend $3.7 million and get the job done quickly when you can spend $15 million and take an indefinite amount of time?

[Perry]

And bugger a business in the process!

[Davo36]

And bugger a business in the process!

Several businesses, who ironically will be paying rates to the council whilst they do this.

[Bob Kane]

I have seen this happen in a few different towns recently.
The council gets contractors in to spruce up footpaths, gutters, seating etc along main streets of retail shopping.
The contractors give the work no priority, it takes 3 times longer than planned and all the retail shops suffer badly.
The council says it's disappointed in the length of time the work takes.
But that's all that happens - the council actually doesn't give a stuff.
No penalties on the contractors.

[Perry]

But that's all that happens - the council actually doesn't give a stuff.
No penalties on the contractors.

Nor on the council people involved.

Performance standards? Whazzat?

[Davo36]

There's just no downside for them. They get the rates no matter what.

If the business goes bust, the owner pays.

[Perry]

The Joys of Infill

Who do you side with in this saga?

---

The neighbour's wall fell over her fence.
It symbolised four years of hell
7 Dec 2017

I called council and WorkSafe because one wall of the house fell over on to our property. There was broken glass everywhere and the wall narrowly missed our house. The demolisher hadn't removed the windows or put safety barriers in place. Council said it would send someone out, but never did until after the demolition was well finished. Two weeks later there were men in space suits on the site. I found out by asking them what was going on, that there was asbestos contamination.

Walker and her family spent about three weeks stuck inside in the height of summer, worried for their safety. Eventually, we were given the all clear, but the site itself was not deemed safe for about four months.

Hhhmmmmmmmmmmmm . . .

Some immediate neighbours have reportedly been paid thousands of dollars not to object to the noise, road damage and hazards on the roads.

[Perry]

Red Tape & Bureaucracy Wins Again

Who does it worse than a Council?

Two councils together.

Four times the obfuscation.

Christchurch boat hire business left high and dry for the summer