Wellington.Scoop
The Environment Court today dismissed an appeal against the city council’s plan to redevelop Frank Kitts Park, and to add a Chinese garden on the waterfront site. The appeal by Waterfront Watch with the Civic Trust, and Michael Gibson raised concerns about safety, loss of green space, and loss of views. But the court has ruled that work can go ahead. Read more »
by Bill Sheat
It is comforting to know that Wellington Electricity is to spend $31million to prepare the city’s network for earthquakes. Read more »
by Kerry Wood
Justin Lester’s statement that things are “looking good” for light rail comes only a few days after I wrote why light rail is affordable for Wellington. But affordable isn’t enough. Another essential is good integration with buses, difficult in Wellington because of the ‘pinch-point’ between the Old Bank and the waterfront. Read more »
by Lindsay Shelton
Confusing messages about two of the Wellington City Council’s biggest projects. Construction of its long-delayed Movie Museum with a Convention Centre on top has not yet started, though the project has a contractor. Down the road at the Town Hall, long-delayed work has begun at last, though no contractor has been chosen. Read more »
by Ian Apperley
As I wrote last time, I think that Wellington transport solutions are lacking. I’d go as far to say they are unimaginative, stuck in the 20th century, and boring. So, what does Smart Transport look like? Read more »
by Kerry Wood
The Global Research report commissioned by LGWM notes that some respondents “…think that Wellington is too small and lacks population density for [light rail] to be economically viable.” The obvious reason is costly rail tracks. However, overseas experience shows that, on busier routes, light rail is usually cheaper than buses, all things considered. The reason is lower operating costs. Read more »
by Wendy Armitage
Inner City Wellington questions the rationale behind the WCC’s 10-year Plan pre-consultation questionnaire that has been posted on their website. Completing the questionnaire becomes an increasingly frustrating experience with restrictive and slanted questioning. Read more »
by Lindsay Shelton
Another big decision from the Regional Council. The people who decided to get rid of the trolley buses have now decided that we’ll be allowed to take dogs on their trains and buses. Read more »
by Lindsay Shelton
Wellington regained its “capital of culture” title at the weekend, when Te Papa re-opened its art gallery. For too many weeks it’s been embarrassingly impossible to explain to visitors why the city’s two biggest art galleries have both been closed. Read more »
by Ian Apperley
Over the past few weeks we’ve been subjected to the City Council Spin Machine pumping out PR press releases that coat tail on the achievements of others, are propaganda for the Long-Term Plan “consultation” and are worded to ensure no negative publicity is generated. Read more »
