Whangaparaoa Future of the ferry Please have your say Option 3
Update from John Watson - Auckland Councillor
This month AT are surveying every single household on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula as part of their Whangaparaoa Public Transport Study.
This time around AT have put up 3 scenarios for the Coast’s public transport future they want people to choose from (along with a host of other questions). Scenario 1 has the existing buses and ferry but running more often, Scenario 2 has the NX2 bus via Penlink to city and a new 99 bus service (but importantly no ferry service) while Scenario 3 has the Gulf Harbour ferry service and the new 99 bus service.
On the face of it option 3 looks like the scenario that would benefit most parts of the Coast – the ferry service is retained, a new frequent bus service (99) runs along the peninsula while the NX2 is retained at the HBC Station (ensuring other Coast commuters don’t have to transfer further down the busway just to catch it).
Some of the assertions relating to travel times and the so-called 'viability' of a future Whangaparaoa bus terminal need to be challenged through this process as they don't bear scrutiny. For most people a combination of bus, ferry and utilisation of the $835m Penlink connection will resonate with all modes working together as part of an integrated network.
People using the ferry from the eastern half of Whangaparaoa reduce pressure on both the internal roading system and the connection point where Penlink will merge with the northern motorway. People off the road in one part of the network inevitably aids the overall network...especially when there are no plans to widen the northern motorway or add designated bus lanes over the next 30 years (meaning travel times as a consequence of ongoing development north of Silverdale will inevitably increase).
For those wanting to support the ferry service there are 4 specific questions you can respond to including the introduction of weekend sailings (but be aware that scenario 2 has no ferry service). Finally it should be noted there's an opportunity here for AT to create a more resilient network (with modest investment) but that will only occur if all the travel options Whangaparaoa Peninsula is fortunate enough to possess, are utilised
haveyoursay.at.govt.nz...
Auckland SH1 holiday maintenance
Prepare for delays at SH1 Spaghetti Junction and the Harbour Bridge from Boxing Day evening until early January. Our crew will be carrying out essential maintenance during this time.
Consider taking the SH16/SH18 Western Ring Route and SH20 if you’re travelling south. Our summer works will continue on SH16 The Strand from January until March.
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️