Challengers lash Auckland Transport, Mayor Phil Goff over 'excessive' St Heliers traffic changes

Wednesday, 17 April 2019

A video overview of AT's original plan which would have created 13 new pedestrian crossings and removed 40 car parking spaces in the St Heliers town centre (Video first published April 10, 2019).

Mayoral hopefuls John Tamihere and John Palino have attacked incumbent Phil Goff and Auckland Transport over wholesale roading changes in St Heliers.

The contentious redesign has caused an uproar in the seaside suburb, with residents last week telling Stuff the plans were 'excessive' and 'over the top'.

Thirteen raised zebra crossings would be built in St Heliers as part of a city-wide road safety initiative. A new traffic island would be added, as well as a widened path between The Parade and Vale Rd.

Auckland mayoral candidate John Tamihere has attacked Auckland Mayor Phil Goff for losing control of Auckland Transport after senior officials failed to front a packed-out St Heliers community meeting.

Forty car parks would also be removed around the busy Tamaki Drive to make way for the changes.

**READ MORE:

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has batted away suggestions he halt appointments to Auckland Transport.

* Auckland Transport's proposal for St Heliers and Mission Bay 'over the top'

* Auckland speed limit cut to cost ratepayers $24m

Auckland mayoral candidate John Palino says the removal of car parks is a 'blunt and lazy tool' to make people try and use public transport.

* Nearly 800 Auckland roads could have speed limits lowered

* Speed limit cuts would be a 'band aid', says husband of Auckland road crash victim**

Tamihere on Wednesday said Goff was losing control of Auckland Transport (AT), after transport officials failed to front a St Heliers community meeting attended by hundreds of residents on Monday.

While Goff subsequently said AT should have fronted the meeting, Tamihere called AT's absence and a purported 'lack of leadership' from Goff's office disgraceful.

'After two-and-a-half years the mayor finally realises he has lost control of the city – especially the Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) which are clearly out of control,' Tamihere said.

'I will be writing to the mayor's office today to request that no new appointments be made – whether they be as a director or chair to the CCOs – until after the election.

'In light of the non-appearance and non-performance of AT, that includes the appointment of a new chair.'

A spokesman for the mayor's office sent a one-line statement in response to Tamihere's comments.

'Council business doesn't stop in an election year,' it read.

Tamihere claimed there was a 'clear lack of confidence across the city with Auckland Transport'.

'Where was Goff when AT acquired a non-notified consent from the council to create massive congestion in Auckland's CBD by cutting Quay St traffic from four lanes to two?' he asked.

'Where has Goff been hiding while Auckland Transport wants to reduce some of our main thoroughfares in the city down to 30kmh?'

Meanwhile, Palino, making his attempt to win the Auckland mayoralty, slammed car park removals as a 'blunt and lazy tool' used to force people onto public transport.

He pledged a region-wide moratorium on the removal of car parks.

'I'm a small business owner and I know how important car parking is to small business,' he said.

'Auckland Transport's practice of removing car parks is killing small business owners across Auckland who rely on the flexibility and convenience of local parking.

'The Auckland Council I lead will dial back the stick and make much greater use of the carrot.'

But a spokeswoman said AT was simply delivering on its own and the Government's priorities.

'They include providing a range of transport options to give Aucklanders more choice,' she said.

'This means improving public transport and giving people safer spaces to walk and ride bikes, so more car parks are available for those who need them most.

'Space on our public roads is a valuable public asset and as the city grows we need ensure we use this space in a way that gets maximum benefits for the public.'