CBT September Newsletter
In this newsletter:
- Beyond Onehunga
- Onehunga Enhancement Society Meeting 11th September
- Local Body Elections
Beyond Onehunga
You may be aware that Transit NZ is planning to build a duplicate Manukau Harbour motorway bridge, between Mangere and Onehunga, and is currently in the process of obtaining resource consents for this.
You may also have read recently that the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) is working with Transit to “future-proof” the bridge to accommodate passenger rail.
This is great news. Given that Onehunga station is due to open to passenger rail in December 2009, the Campaign for Better Transport believes that rail services to Mangere could quickly follow as the next step towards Auckland Airport.
However, at this stage it is not clear how any future railway line will progress south to the airport and on to Manukau , and also northwest to Avondale from Onehunga.
These questions are due to be answered in December, from a study commissioned by ARTA.
In the meantime the CBT is working to ensure that the duplicate Manukau Harbour motorway proposed by Transit NZ does not prevent the future expansion of Auckland’s rail network beyond Onehunga. We see the expansion of the rail network as a vital for a number of reasons:
- South Auckland is poorly served by public transport, and rail has proven to be a popular high capacity choice for Auckland’s commuting public
- Transport alternatives are needed that reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and car ownership
- Rail has the potential to significantly reduce transport related CO2 emissions, particularly when electrification takes place.
- If we don’t plan the rail network now, it will only become more expensive and difficult to achieve in the future
We think that rail and any motorway development should be done in an integrated manner. We are planning a public meeting about rail beyond Onehunga very soon, some time after the coming local body elections. We will keep you posted on this.
Onehunga Enhancement Society Meeting: Tuesday 11th September
In the mean time the CBT is not the only organisation concerned with Transit’s plans. The Onehunga Enhancement Society has been formed to repair the damage to the original Onehunga shoreline, and promote a transformation of Onehunga from a motorway corridor to a gateway landscape. And like the CBT, one of their objectives is to ensure that the rail and airport transport links are fully integrated into SH20 planning. You can read more about TOES at their website: www.toesociety.org.nz
At their next public meeting, you will get a chance to hear about the latest SH20 developments, as well as meet a few interested politicians.
- Where: Onehunga RSA, 57 Princes Street
- When: Tuesday September 11th, 6:45pm for a 7:00pm start
Local Body Elections
The CBT strives to remain politically independent, but with local body elections looming it is appropriate for us to at least thank the key local body politicians that have helped us with our campaigns to reopen the Onehunga branch line and for electrification of our rail network.
Current ARC Chair Mike Lee was instrumental in getting the Onehunga branch line included in Ontrack’s programme of work, and has had a long involvement in our campaign to extend rail to the airport and beyond.
The current Maungakiekie Community Board, headed by Bridget Graham, helped significantly with the funding of our petition to reopen the Onehunga branch line.
We also have a couple of our own CBT members contesting the elections. We wish CBT spokesperson Graeme Easte all the best in his bid for election to Auckland City Council. I’ve always been able to rely on Graeme to provide level-headed, thoughtful replies to questions from the media, and I’m sure that he will bring the same insight to the table at the Auckland City Council.
Finally, founding CBT member Maire Leadbeater is also contesting one of four seats available in the Auckland constituency of the ARC. Maire is an experienced former ARC and Auckland City councillor and has always been a strong advocate for better transport in the Auckland region.