Proposed GW Annual Plan 2010/11

Submissions close 4pm Friday 23rd April, and oral submissions will be heard 12th to 14th May.

Areas of interest:

1: Public transport fare increase of 3% (plus amount GST increase) for upgrade improvements

My suggestion:  This increase be applied evenly over the network, while using the WCC downtown business levy to provide free public transport services during weekends for the CBD sections. A free CBD fare will allow those arriving by public transport to the city to move about the city without having to pay for an additional fare. Note that the rail fare terminates at Wellington railway station not Courtenay Place.  The integration of fares between services is making very slow progress, and this would be a step in the right direction.

2: Refurbishment program of the Ganz Mavag rail fleet at an estimated cost of $8 million (page 25 on full report)

My suggestion: Proceed no further with refurbishment of these units which will not match the quality of the new Matangi trains.  Instead investigate the purchase of modern light rail units for travel through the city CBD.

3: Water Supply

Expenditure of over $ 7 million on upgrades to infrastructure.

My suggestion: Extend the clean heat (also referred to as Warm Greater Wellington) rating financial expenditure program to domestic rain water collection tanks as an additional item.

Proposed Wellington Regional Land Transport Strategy 2010-2040

The Wellington Regional Land Transport Committee is seeking public feedback on its proposed Regional Land Transport Strategy, which is an update on the current strategy adopted in 2007.  Submissions must reach Greater Wellington by 5pm on Friday 23 April 2010.

The RLTS document contains a vision that few would disagree with.  It also advocates modal shift to public transport and active travel, and transfer of freight to rail, as a response to climate change, rising fuel prices, health, safety and security.

However, one of the key outcomes listed -  Reduced severe road congestion (6.4.1), and the related outcomes -  Maintained vehicle travel times between communities and regional destinations, and Improved reliability of the strategic roading network, allow the inclusion of the Transmission Gully project (8.1r, 10.2.1), the “Road of National Significance” (8.5d, 10.2.1), and Ngauranga to Wellington Airport Corridor (10.2.4) .  The timing of the Mt Victoria and Terrace Tunnel duplications and the widening of Ruahine Street have been brought forward in response to the inclusion of the Road of National Significance.

A small portion of the $2.4 billion allocated to road upgrades would provide for double tracking and tunneling of the main truck rail line,  light rail, safe cycle paths, and consequent increase in resiliency of region to price increases, storms and earthquakes.

The incompatibility of this outcome with the other outcomes and the Proposed Regional Policy Statement 2009 (Appendix 4.1), needs to be highlighted.

My suggestions:

1. Faster movement towards integrated public transport services
2. Inclusion of light rail in the Ngauranga to Wellington Airport corridor to address limitations on capacity
3. Fast track construction of the Petone to Nguaranga cycle/walk way as an essential part of the regional network
4. Cycle racks on buses (note new amendment to the road rules)
5. Introduction of road pricing or congestion charges (Appendix 3.1.6)

For more information

Contact Regional Councillor Paul Bruce
paul.bruce@greens.org.nz
phone: 04 9728699 cellphone:021 02719370

Water is the single most important substance we need. It is vital for our health and well being and the region’s natural ecosystems depend on water resources.

Who manages water locally?

Greater Wellington Regional Council is responsible for sustainably managing the region’s water resources. The Regional Freshwater Plan sets out the rules for water allocation and managing water quality.

Greater Wellington makes bulk water supply available to Wellington City Council and the Hutt Valley through the Council trading organisation capacity.

Water storage

Last year there was a period when no rain fell for 4 weeks, and a relatively dry period lasted for over 3 months. GW recommended mandatory water restrictions on use. Luckily a major front moved in and broke the drought.

Wellington has relatively little storage and relies heavily on the run of flow of Hutt River. Hutt river levels went below the lower limit with stored water at Te Marua used for supply.

Population has been increasing at the rate of 3% per year and has led Council officers to make plans for new supply and water meters.

New supplies, or more efficient use

We need to question the call for new water supplies, in spite of shortfall last year. How will additional take off affect the ecology of our rivers? What green house emissions will result from new dams?

We can already do more, and better, with water already available.

Planners can look at better ways to harvest natural water sources, and utilise technologies and practices that promote efficient use and collection of rain water.

At the same time we must restore wetlands, natural water courses and floodplains.

Collection tanks

Wellington’s annual rainfall is around 1200mm/year – 4mm per day.
Water collection tanks can harvest this rain for our own use.

When we harvest rain water, we can reduce the water bill, demands placed on mains water supply, on wastewater and storm water systems, while still maintaining the option of using treated water for kitchen use.

With dual water systems, we can have the best of both options. Remember that we drink only 5 per cent of our highly refined drinking water, yet pay for the other 95 per cent to be treated to the highest drinking standards … We flush treated water down the toilet, we wash with it and do the laundry.

With rainwater collection tanks we are more resilient.

A major earthquake will disrupt water supplies for the whole region, and it will take months or years to restore water. Without your own supply, you will most likely need to leave the region while lengthy repairs are made to the supply system.

An average roof area will capture enough water for daily needs, and a 3500 litre tank will store enough for up to several weeks supply. A tank that size can be bought for $1200 to $3000, and those tanks can be made of recycled plastic! As well as extra security to you, there are considerable operating cost savings to Council, as well as savings of electricity and chemicals.

Water tanks will reduce the amount of storm water and overload in heavy downpours. Present operating costs are $28m/year, with the cost of electricity to pump water and chemicals to treat amount to about $4m.

Demonstrated benefits of rain water collection tanks

• reduced initial storm water surges
• improved water security with increased storage on site
• resilience following major earthquake with continued storage and ability to collect water
• long term cost benefits
• Awareness of water usage and in control of own supply
• Reduced chemical usage (bulk supply)
• Reduced electricity and GHE (bulk supply)

What other councils are doing

Kapiti District Council has made dual and waste water systems mandatory on new houses. Waitakere City Council subsidies rain water tanks up to $500 per unit (see also Massey University research on rain water collection).

What you can do

Greater Wellington is developing a regional water strategy at the moment, with water highlighted as one of the key issues in its proposed ten year plan (2009-19).

A new issue coming out of local government reform is how a Regional Water administrative structure could be developed with regional representation in partnership with local iwi.

Contact Fran Wilde or Paul Bruce for more information.

For more information

Contact Regional Councillor Paul Bruce
paul.bruce@greens.org.nz
phone: 04 9728699
cellphone:021 02719370