Should Len Brown be elected mayor of the future Auckland Council (and the polls for him generally look pretty good) it looks like we can expect a giant battle between the Auckland Council and the unaccountable “Auckland Transport” over matters of who controls transport in the Auckland region. Mr Brown has made a press release saying that the Mayor and Council should drive transport policy, whereas the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill states that, unless Auckland Transport lets the council do something in terms of transport matters, it will be the “CCO” that decides transport matters.
Here’s the press release in full:
Auckland transport will be driven by Mayor and Council, not ‘CCO’
Manukau Mayor Len Brown says Auckland transport decisions will be driven by the Mayor and Council, not an unelected, appointed board of the transport agency being established by the government, if he becomes the new Mayor of Auckland City.
“Transport is a key issue for Aucklanders. I am campaigning on a strong commitment to public transport, a second harbour crossing, and completing the roading network. Auckland needs need a 21st century transportation system. The Mayor has a statutory responsibility to provide a vision for transport, and Aucklanders will expect the Mayor to deliver on that.
“One of my first priorities, if elected, will be to appoint new directors t Auckland Transport, and to rewrite its statement of intent. I would insist on there being a direct report into the Mayor’s office, and a close relationship with the new Council’s transport committee. As Mayor, I will expect to be seeing all reports and all board papers.
“Transport in Auckland has long suffered from a lack of funding and a lack of long-term planning and commitment. We have the opportunity to make decisions which will result in a transport system worthy of New Zealand’s largest city.
“Auckland’s ratepayers will be holding the new mayor and council to account for the commitments which will be made around transport. If the mayor and council are going to make good on the commitments they make, they will need direct oversight.”
Ensuring there is a strong link of accountability between the Auckland Council and Auckland Transport makes a lot of sense The fact that the mayor and council might potentially have such little control over what happens to transport – when it’s such a high priority for those making the choice of who to vote for as their mayor and councillors – is utterly illogical.
Now if we had the kind of situation that Len Brown’s proposing – with Auckland Transport still being separate to Auckland Council but having very very strong links of accountability – then it could be an OK outcome.
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This is exactly what I have been saying I think will happen. As soon as Auckland Transport start making some stupid decisions that the council doesn’t like they will be replaced by people who will agree to these kinds of conditions
Good to see he’s come out strongly on this. There must be accountability. It’s absurd to think the people funding transport in the region wont get input into how the money is spent. It’s also absurd that the person elected by the people of the city wont have ultimate control over what happens with transport.
It will be interesting to see what stance John Banks takes on this.
Also the only problem I see is if the act is changed at the last minute to stop this kind of thing from happening and no mention of a CBD rail tunnel 🙁
Yes definitely Len Brown is not as clued up on transport matters as would be ideal. In fact I find myself agreeing with John Banks on transport issues scarily frequently.
You will get a double dip into this issue in 2011 when the Federal Election occurs. I’d find it hard to believe Labour won’t campaign strongly on Supercity reform. If Brown wins with a left council, the heat will really be on Hide and Key.
“and no mention of a CBD rail tunnel”
Well, he WAS making the point of talking about the Auckland Transport, not about specific projects.
“This is exactly what I have been saying I think will happen. As soon as Auckland Transport start making some stupid decisions that the council doesn’t like they will be replaced by people who will agree to these kinds of conditions”
I am not too happy with the phrasing of Len Brown’s comments either. Sure, he is asking for Auckland Transport to be accountable to the Auckland Council – but does that mean we (the public) ever get to see anything? Council may be as tempted to keep stuff under wraps once they have it in their hands.
@Jarbs – that is going to create a tough decision for you, the candidate you don’t want having better policies in an area you are passionate about than the one you do.
@ingolfson – he has clearly mentioned some projects he thinks are important “I am campaigning on a strong commitment to public transport, a second harbour crossing, and completing the roading network.”
With the Herald starting to join in on this issue it would be mighty stupid of the government to try and ram it through in its current form. Based on a few incidents we have had so far if it gets big enough attention Key will step in make the ministers change it.
Joshua,
Have you not forgotten Banks’ and Curtis’ ludicrous AMETI motorway project? Talk is cheap, but its what the candidates have done or are doing that counts.
Oh I certainly can’t see myself voting for Banks. However, I certainly appreciate him being “on-side” when it comes to transport matters – the CBD tunnel in particular.
Len Brown could be a great PT advocate. He probably just needs to understand the situation better.
I also suspect that transport (rightly or not) wasn’t nearly as much an issue on the political scene in Manukau City as it is in Auckland City or Auckland as a whole.
One thing Len Brown talked about when he met with the CBT was about how the initial planning documents for our newish local councils (i.e. Waitakere and Manukau) have driven their development ever since and how it was then really important he was elected and ensured PT was at the heart of those initial transport documents, which I agree with, I shall be voting for him…