I'd really like to vote for Labour because of their courage on 3 waters, management of Covid and some other issues, but boy are they making it a hard sell with some of these stunt policies!
"Hipkins portrayed the projects yesterday as a way to improve congestion and to spread the cost out over decades".
He's right about spreading the cost out. Our children's children will pay the biggest price. And congestion...for sure that will improve, but probably not for the reasons that Hipkins has in mind.
I'm not worried that the tunnels with cost $65B I'm worried they will cost us ecological stability.
Hi Bernard. I have seen nowhere over the years a cost comparison of a new "high" bridge over the Waitemata and a relatively low bridge. A "low" bridge leaving enough space underneath for ferries to Northcote, Birkenhead and Hobsonville but not ships carrying sugar to Chelsea, would seem to have significant cost advantages, but over the years it does not seem to be considered. As a long time north shore resident, the harbour bridge was built in the days when Sunderland flying boats were part of the harbour scene and things have much changed since then.
Quite the juxtaposition on the news yesterday to see these eye-watering sums followed by coverage of the Greens dental policy, $1.9 billion per year, which TVNZ turned into a piece about the wealth tax needed to pay for it.
Just wanted to say thanks Lynn for the photo at the top of today's piece. Almost comical in appearance with heads cocked to one side. I had to laugh, imagining that they didn't understand what was being asked. Wrong language?
Yes this morning in the thread you said 'sometime in the vague and unfunded future' it seems like both National and Labour are presenting ideas that will only exist there. Somewhere separate and distinct from the reality we'll find ourselves in but the pressure is such that anything goes right now.
This stuff is fiction - severe climate change events will suck away all the $ and the tunnels will never be built; ditto for National’s super highway proposals.
Add electric regional rail passenger services and the need for cars to get to Auckland to help clog it up reduces further.
And upgraded rail network for a world class passenger service benefits rail freight = moar trucks off the road. Maybe we could then get the harbour bridge down to one general traffic lane each way and add a two lane light rail service across the bridge.
The "immediate steps" you suggest would make a difference, are doable right now and are low cost. Thank you for including such pragmatic solutions. They make for refreshing reading amongst the expensive policy madness.
all of which is only necessary because these idiots want to keep the rest of us subsidising the migration and housing supply crisis driven excuse for an economy they have created - and completely disregarding the fact that our balance of payments ie where our real wealth is made (or not) has just taken a severe turn for the worse with the recent dairy price crash. At some point the idiots in charge will need to confront the fact that Auckland is a cost centre not a profit centre. It is dragging the rest of the economy down.
Publicly funded dental care? No, can't, too expensive.
Guaranteed 30 years state housing build programme? No, can't do it, we will have to burden wealthy people with some more tax (or some such lame excuse).
Paying nurse, doctors, teachers more so they wouldn't move to Australia? No, too expensive, can't do it.
Oh, look, roads! In a tunnel! Yeah, sweet as, no problem sure we can fund it.
How $45b of tunnels could actually cost $65b+
Please share Bernard
I'd really like to vote for Labour because of their courage on 3 waters, management of Covid and some other issues, but boy are they making it a hard sell with some of these stunt policies!
"Hipkins portrayed the projects yesterday as a way to improve congestion and to spread the cost out over decades".
He's right about spreading the cost out. Our children's children will pay the biggest price. And congestion...for sure that will improve, but probably not for the reasons that Hipkins has in mind.
I'm not worried that the tunnels with cost $65B I'm worried they will cost us ecological stability.
Cities need affordable and efficient mobility or they become...Wellington?
The anti-road/car zealots mostly argue from an identity group concept, and thus are doomed to both failure and a huge opportunity cost.
Hi Bernard. I have seen nowhere over the years a cost comparison of a new "high" bridge over the Waitemata and a relatively low bridge. A "low" bridge leaving enough space underneath for ferries to Northcote, Birkenhead and Hobsonville but not ships carrying sugar to Chelsea, would seem to have significant cost advantages, but over the years it does not seem to be considered. As a long time north shore resident, the harbour bridge was built in the days when Sunderland flying boats were part of the harbour scene and things have much changed since then.
Quite the juxtaposition on the news yesterday to see these eye-watering sums followed by coverage of the Greens dental policy, $1.9 billion per year, which TVNZ turned into a piece about the wealth tax needed to pay for it.
Just wanted to say thanks Lynn for the photo at the top of today's piece. Almost comical in appearance with heads cocked to one side. I had to laugh, imagining that they didn't understand what was being asked. Wrong language?
Don't speak climate sorry
Cheers
Infrastructure announcements are amazing for politicking, they get headlines without needing details. This is just like high-speed rail in Australia 😆
Yes this morning in the thread you said 'sometime in the vague and unfunded future' it seems like both National and Labour are presenting ideas that will only exist there. Somewhere separate and distinct from the reality we'll find ourselves in but the pressure is such that anything goes right now.
This stuff is fiction - severe climate change events will suck away all the $ and the tunnels will never be built; ditto for National’s super highway proposals.
Please share. The more reason and rationality shining on stuff like this the better
Like your immediate actions Bernard.
Add electric regional rail passenger services and the need for cars to get to Auckland to help clog it up reduces further.
And upgraded rail network for a world class passenger service benefits rail freight = moar trucks off the road. Maybe we could then get the harbour bridge down to one general traffic lane each way and add a two lane light rail service across the bridge.
The "immediate steps" you suggest would make a difference, are doable right now and are low cost. Thank you for including such pragmatic solutions. They make for refreshing reading amongst the expensive policy madness.
all of which is only necessary because these idiots want to keep the rest of us subsidising the migration and housing supply crisis driven excuse for an economy they have created - and completely disregarding the fact that our balance of payments ie where our real wealth is made (or not) has just taken a severe turn for the worse with the recent dairy price crash. At some point the idiots in charge will need to confront the fact that Auckland is a cost centre not a profit centre. It is dragging the rest of the economy down.
Publicly funded dental care? No, can't, too expensive.
Guaranteed 30 years state housing build programme? No, can't do it, we will have to burden wealthy people with some more tax (or some such lame excuse).
Paying nurse, doctors, teachers more so they wouldn't move to Australia? No, too expensive, can't do it.
Oh, look, roads! In a tunnel! Yeah, sweet as, no problem sure we can fund it.