From:
Councillor Diane Calvert
To:
"[email address]"; "[email address]"
Cc:
"[email address]";
Subject:
Concerns about WCC planning, delivery and funding of transport and water infrastructure projects including
transparent and effective decision making
Date:
Monday, 20 May 2024 3:23:00 pm
Attachments:
Draft For Comment August 2022 Memo - Thorndon Quay Hutt Road 3W Renewals Prioritisation (1).docx
Importance:
High
Kia ora Ministers
I know that you have both recently clearly expressed that Wellington City Council (WCC) work
better with businesses in respect of delivering the Golden Mile transport project (ex LGWM)
funded 51% through funding provided by NZTA.
However I and others (both public and elected members) continue to hold concerns about the
intention and capability of WCC to deliver this project amongst myriad other piecemeal
transport projects and in accordance with Government’s direction and funding via NZTA.
I say this because:
1. There is
no integrated plan for all transport routes through the CBD (despite LGWM
having this in their brief for seven years) which WCC has received in part or due to apply
for NZTA funding. The concern here is that ratepayer and tax payer funding may not be
allocated fairly leaving gold plated designs on one route and sub-optimal design on others.
A new plan for Wellington, post-Let’s Get Wellington Moving | The Spinoff
2. There has been
no active engagement with businesses by WCC along the Golden Mile
since the Government made its intentions known to Council in December 2023 and your
subsequent “please explain” letter Government vs Wellington council tensions laid bare in
Golden Mile stoush | The Post
3. WCC is
not intending to change its Golden Mile design in any way other than potentially
delay the Lambton Quay portion. It still retains the entire funding of $141 million in its
draft budget Pg 14.
4. WCC officers have recently claimed the
Golden Mile design cannot be altered because
the 51% funding by NZTA will be forfeited (despite potentially some of this funding could
be better applied to other CBD transport projects). This seems inconsistent with other
WCC advice given that WCC proposes not planning on proceeding with the Hutt Rd
portion of the Thorndon Quay/Hutt Rd transport project and seemingly able to adjust the
NZTA funding without loss of the entire allocated funding.
5. The construction of the Thorndon Quay/Hutt road multimillion dollar bike lane has been
bereft with issues for businesses facing disproportionate financial harm
6. Thorndon Quay businesses have recently expressed concerns on the lack of engagement
and support by WCC and its contractors despite undertakings made by WCC for the
construction phase.
7. At the time of both WCC and NZTA approval of the Golden Mile ($141 million) and
Thorndon Quay/Hutt Rd ($93.6 million) projects in June/July 2023,
there was no inclusion
or mention of the water infrastructure renewal costs for either routes. Note
subsequently the Golden Mile water infrastructure renewal work of an additional $30
million is now included in its long term plan-
Pg 33 and
to be funded solely by WCC
(removing funding from more critical water infrastructure renewal work elsewhere in the
city)
8. WCC officers recently admitted that they did not inform elected members or the public of
the
need to replace the water infrastructure under Thorndon Quay as part of the
construction. This renewal work (as at June 2020 the figure was $10.6 million) is not
planned or budgeted for in the Council’s draft 10 year plan despite officers admitting that
the work will likely need to be completed within five years of the plan (51% funded via
NZTA). The yet to be completed work will now need to be ripped up for the water
infrastructure renewal work in a few years because of lack of planning and information
provided by WCC officers. What a waste of ratepayers and taxpayers funding. Leaky pipes
buried under new $55m bus and cycle way that could be ripped up | The Post
9. WCC is proposing to
defer 25% of transport renewals yet still wants to proceed with new
transport projects costing ratepayers even more
Pg 27
A number of elected members including me are supporting both residents and business owners
by holding WCC to account for its continuing lack of engagement with impacted businesses,
reduced service levels to Wellingtonians and the less than adequate quality delivery of major
transport projects Seven Wellington City councillors sign notice to pause on Golden Mile | The
Post This is all against a backdrop of a very fragile overall financial situation facing the city and its
ratepayers.
Business owners are also attempting to hold WCC to account.
‘A disaster unfolding’: Businesses
face nine months of Thorndon Quay roadworks | The Post This is not helped by WCC officers
seemingly using their resources to minimise, deflect and discredit both business owners and
elected members’ concerns.
Wellington City councillors, staff clash over alleged meeting ban |
The Post
However we need support from Government to ensure the public’s broader concerns are
addressed and government agencies do not contribute to WCC undertaking projects it cannot
afford. This includes more active monitoring by NZTA of funds allocated and ensuring benefits
are real, improved monitoring by the Ministry of Transport of NZTA and improved monitoring by
Department of Internal Affairs (Local Government) ensuring WCC is acting in good faith in
accordance with the Local Government legislation.
In the meantime, both the Government and public would benefit from having an independent
observer to ensure information being provided by WCC is both accurate and is not misleading
through omission of facts or the timely access to information. The observer (supported by a
team) would give assurance to both the Government (including its respective agencies) and the
public (residents and business owners) on the quality and delivery of the WCC’s engagement
practices, its decision making (including the quality of advice provided by officers) and how
elected members are able to carry out their duties effectively and unhindered.
I am happy to meet with you along with small business owners to further discuss my concerns
and seek a reasonable solution to the issues facing the capital city, its citizens and businesses.
Regards
Diane
Councillor Diane Calvert
Wellington City Council | Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward
P
| E
[email address] | W Wellington.govt.nz | F dianecalvertnz | T dianecalvertnz | W
dianecalvert.nz
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intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
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From:
Councillor Diane Calvert
To:
Councillor Nicola Young; Councillor Ray Chung; "Simeon Brown (MIN)"
Subject:
RE: Financial Arson By Wellington City Council - 3m dollars borrowed per day this year..
Date:
Wednesday, 21 August 2024 1:02:00 pm
I thought it was around 1.5 million per day.
Diane
Councillor Diane Calvert
Wellington City Council | Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward
P
| E
[email address] | W Wellington.govt.nz | F dianecalvertnz | T dianecalvertnz | W
dianecalvert.nz
The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the
intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
If received in error, you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.
From:
<
>
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 12:04 PM
To: Councillor Diane Calvert <[email address]>; Councillor Nicola Young
<[email address]>; Councillor Ray Chung <[email address]>; Simeon Brown
(MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Financial Arson By Wellington City Council - 3m dollars borrowed per day this year..
Hi
Just for your information
It appears Wellington City Council are currently borrowing close to 3m dollars per day in this
financial year so far
If that was a private company directors would be locked up
What constitutes “fiscal management” under the borrowing and local government act?!
Document Outline
