TT Pt Chev - Minutes Monthly Meeting November 5, 2010

Transition Pt Chevalier

Minutes November 5, 2010

Present – Bruce (chair), Niki (minutes), Ruth, Geoff, Ellen, Jenny, Francisco, Viviana, Keith, Gareth Hughes (special guest)

Apologies – Yolanda, Deryn

Gareth Hughes (Green MP) - Presentation on the CBD rail loop

Key points:

1.       Unbalanced spending on transport at the moment - $6 on roads for every $1 on alternative means of transport.

2.       Borrowing billions of dollars for 7 motorways “roads of national significance”.

3.       One of the few cities in the world to have motorways running through the CBD.

4.       People aren’t very motivated by climate change, but they are motivated by the idea of pleasant ways to get around.

5.       Rail is much more effective in terms of moving large numbers of people – 20,000+ people per hour, as opposed to 2,400 people an hour on a single lane of the motorway.

6.       We are going through a rail renaissance – 9 million trips per year, surveys show 45% of Aucklanders would pay extra rates for a CBD rail loop.

7.       The CBD rail loop would run underground and link Britomart with the Mt Eden railway line with 3 extra stations in the inner city. It is also important to expand the capacity of Britomart. Both would help “unlock the network” and give the inner city a more vibrant place to be.

8.       There is urgency for this to happen as it will take 5 years to build and Britomart is already at capacity.

9.       Every car you take off the road each year equates to $24,000 in savings (calculated via time lost and other inputs)

10.   Other issues include climate change and our emissions problem, as well as peak oil.

11.   There are some very expensive transport decisions being made now (e.g. Puhoi to Wellsford highway $1.7 billion). This money could go into future proofing transport. The large National Land Transport Fund currently can only be spent on roads (according to government policy).

CBD loop action

1.       Jenny will check the Green Party website and see if there is a letter that could be put on our website and used as a template for people who want to send a message to the PM etc urging the CBD rail loop be given top priority.

2.       Everyone at the meeting also took petitions regarding the loop to get signed.

3.       A double-sided public message is needed to stop spending on the highways and to start spending on rail and other forms of transport.

4.       Bruce to do an email indicating support to Len Brown on this issue, that he will circulate to TPC members who can then also send it to Len Brown. This to include our support for improving the walking and cycling opportunities in our suburbs.

Purchasing discussion

We looked at the document Niki had prepared inviting people to join the purchasing network, and people had suggestions as to what to add to it. Niki to make the various changes and to send it to Ellen for adding images and formatting. It will then be delivered to all the people on the TPC list – some people may wish to knock on the door of those they deliver to.

Venue for next year

Niki to follow up on Organic World. If this doesn’t work out, the community centre was seen as a good place to meet, Geoff will follow up if they are available on the second Tuesday of every month.

Garden group

Regular meetings going on, with the next one at the Old Homestead.

Christmas gathering

Pot luck gathering down at Pt Chevalier beach, 3rd December from 6pm onwards. The south end off Harbour View Rd.

Treasure hunt at Henderson .

Will be funded at $2,000 an event by Community Waitakere. This was inspired by our Treasure Hunt. Geoff stressed how good our event was and that it is eagerly being taken up by other communities.

Solar panels

Bruce showed people pamphlets on the possibility of solar panels for producing your own electricity and selling electricity back to the grid.

<back to TPC home page>