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    <title>SH20 Extension </title>
    <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/index.php</link>
    <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
    <language>EN</language>
    <pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 09:35:54 +1200</pubDate>
    <lastBuildDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 09:35:54 +1200</lastBuildDate>
    <category>SH20 Extension </category>
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    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Re: Government considers private sector to build $2b tunnel</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,542,556#msg-556</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[The Transit Board will consider public, local authority and interest group comments in open session at the Mackay Room of the Heritage Hotel, corner Wyndham and Hobson Streets, at 3.30pm on Wednesday, 4 June 2008.


The sticky on this forum for Transits SH20 website is now 2 websites out of date.

http://www.sh20.co.nz

was replaced with 

http://www.waterviewconnection.co.nz

which has now been replaced by the following site which looks the same as the previous sites

http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/waterviewconnection/


The SH20 Mt Roskill site is  http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/mountroskill/
]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,542,556#msg-556</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 09:35:54 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Re: $2.3 billion toll tunnel tipped for M-way link</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,545,555#msg-555</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&amp;objectid=10509726]NZ Herald 13 May 08[/url]

SH20 Mt Roskill may open by end of 2008

Tunnels still not confirmed for Waterview.

No mention of the ARC's calls for 3 lane tunnels, which transit say will only cost an additional $200 million.]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,545,555#msg-555</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 10:21:35 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Have your say!] Submissions close April 11th</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,554,554#msg-554</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I just received an email from commonsense@pl.net[quote]Good Evening

Just reminder submissions on this close April 11th so please send an email to waterview.connection@transit.govt.nz ASAP if you haven’t already

Points you may like to include are

·   The money would be far  better spent on a first world automated ticketing public transport system

·   You are most concerned about the air quality that will be emitted from the smoke stacks and portals and this must be treated /cleaned using world class systems and  technology

·   The mitigation around the portals and the mouth of Oakley creek must be extremely well thought out and the effected  people consulted  to lessen the impacts on the environment , schools &amp; residents etc

·   The full driven  tunnels are the only acceptable method of construction as  the effect on Oakley Creek  the reserves and greenspace and community disruption is minimal

Thanks [/quote]]]></description>
      <category>Have your say!</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,554,554#msg-554</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:22:25 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Re: 160 homes will be lost to Transit motorway tunnels</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,546,553#msg-553</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Notes on the current SH20 waterview design:

Exhaust stacks would be located near the intersections of Oakley Ave &amp; Gt Nth Rd, and intersection of Richardson Rd &amp; Hendon Ave.

Exhaust stacks anticipated to be 15-20m high.  
(Brisbane tunnel stacks are 33 &amp; 36m high)

There is to be no filtration of particulate emmissions or treatment of gas pollution (Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulphur Dioxide).

One tunnel boring machine will build both tunnels.  
They would both be bored in the downhill direction.
Both tunnels must be complete before opening for evacuation safety reasons.

There will be no local access for Waterview residents.  
Nearest access will be St Lukes or Maorio St.

Existing roundabout for the Mt Roskill extension termination at Maorio St / Sandringham Rd would
go.  Motorway through the roundabout area will be lowered.
Eventual interchange would align with Maorio St &amp; connect with Stoddard Rd, 200m away from Sandringham Rd.

]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,546,553#msg-553</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:56:17 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Re: Motorway threat to 'beautiful community'</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,546,552#msg-552</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[quote]
[url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/4398351a6497.html]Creek saved by Transit tunnel[/url]
By HEATHER McCRACKEN - Central Leader | Wednesday, 13 February 2008

Ookley Creek campaigners are celebrating victory after a devastating motorway proposal was scrapped in favour of a 3.2km tunnel.


Transit’s preferred option to complete the western ring route leaves the urban waterway largely untouched.

Friends of Oakley Creek chairwoman Wendy John says it’s a huge win for the community.

&quot;Most of the creek will be saved and that’s great.

&quot;When you’ve got people like Michael Cullen saying it’s a sensitive environment, that’s huge progression from not many years ago when it was seen as a weed-ridden gully.

&quot;We can’t take all the credit but I think the work that we’ve been doing and the profile we’ve tried to give it has played a part.&quot;

But the group still hasconcerns, particularly about the mouth of the creek in Waterview, and want to be closely involved in planning.

Community board chairmen from Eden Albert and Avondale also welcomed the proposal.

Avondale chairman Duncan McDonald says the tunnel will spare fields and parks that would have been bulldozed.

&quot;It’s the best option for everybody. The bulk of Waterview is saved. The green space is saved.&quot;

Eden Albert chairman Chris Dempsey says it’s a win for people power.

&quot;This is communities we’re talking about.

&quot;We’re not talking about some nameless faceless amalgamation of people that can be dismissed with a wave of a hand so trucks can get from one side of the city to the other.&quot;

Transit begins consultation next week on the long-awaited plans for the Waterview connection, linking State Highway 20 with the northwestern motorway.

The proposal announced last week will see the twin 3.2km tunnels from Hendon Park in Owairaka to Cowley St in Waterview.

Earlier proposals for a surface or covered trench motorway would have largely followed Oakley Creek, destroying much of the waterway and surrounding bush.

Plans were put on hold a year ago while Transit investigated tunnelling at the urging of local residents.

Project manager Clive Fuhr says Transit has bowed to community concerns, and expects a smoother passage through resource consent.

It now wants to hear residents’ reaction to the $1.89 billion plan.

[/quote]]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,546,552#msg-552</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:26:54 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Re: Motorway threat to 'beautiful community'</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,546,551#msg-551</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[quote][url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/4398355a6497.html]Tunnel sparks concerns for families[/url]
By LISA SLOAN &amp; HEATHER McCRACKEN - Autocar | Wednesday, 13 February 2008

A school principal says Transit’s proposed motorway tunnel could devastate the school community.


Waterview Primary principal Brett Skeen says bulldozing homes to make way for the 3.2km tunnel would force children and families out.

The preferred plan for the Waterview connection completing the western ring route, announced on Friday, would see 160 homes in Owairaka and Waterview demolished.

Mr Skeen says families will be forced to move, reducing the school’s small roll even further.

&quot;There will be no more children in the community,&quot; he says. &quot;I can understand why they need to develop it but we have overall concerns about what it will mean for the children’s education.&quot;

Mr Skeen says noise and pollution from the tunnel will disrupt the children’s education and health.

&quot;I am concerned as to how it will encroach on our school and how it will affect our community,&quot; he says.

Worst affected are residents in Cowley St, near the northwestern motorway on-ramp.

Peter McCurdy lives next to the site of the old star mill, built in 1859.

He and partner Robin Mason have been campaigning for Transit to preserve the site, featuring an original stone wall, water wheel and boiler.

Mr McCurdy says it’s unclear how much the proposed tunnel will affect the mill site, but it’s under threat.

&quot;There is just nothing this age left in Auckland.&quot;

He says the site is too precious to be desecrated for another motorway.

&quot;It’s a ludicrous plan and the money would be infinitely better spent on rail links,&quot; Mr McCurdy says.

Resident Noel Bramley has lived in the street for eight years and is devastated by the plans.

&quot;No matter how much we complain about it, we’ve got to accept it – whether we like it or not,&quot; he says.

&quot;I have an established, award-winning garden and I’m going to lose all that.&quot;

Earlier plans for a covered trench or surface motorway would have seen at least 500 houses affected.

Transit project manager Clive Fuhr says the new proposal is a response to &quot;increasing calls from the community to come to an underground solution.&quot;

Twin tunnels 40m to 50m deep will be bored by a $50 million tunneling machine commissioned for the job.

Those above the route will be unaffected but will feel some vibration during construction.

Housing New Zealand regional manager Angela Pearce says staff began hand-delivering letters to 103 affected tenants in Waterview and Owairaka on Friday morning.

She says no one is likely to have to move out until late 2009, and all will be rehoused.

Transit staff were also delivering letters on Friday and visited affected homes in the evening.

Communications manager Carol Greensmith says brochures are also being printed to go to about 4000 homes.

The official consultation process begins on February 18 and runs until April.

&quot;As part of that process we’ll be holding open days and information days where the community can come along and talk to people,&quot; she says.

For more information see: www.waterviewconnection.co.nz
[/quote]]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,546,551#msg-551</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:23:05 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Re: Tolls almost inevitable if private sector gets tunnel role</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,548,550#msg-550</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[OK, thanks, I'll look into it :)]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,548,550#msg-550</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:48:49 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Re: Tolls almost inevitable if private sector gets tunnel role</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,548,549#msg-549</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[The closed thread on this forum listing the transit website needs updating.  It shows the old sh20.co.nz website that hasn't been updated.

http://www.waterviewconnection.co.nz/
http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/waterviewconnection/

Map of route 
http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/waterviewconnection/gallery/maps/070208-Waterview-Connection-tunnel-alignment.jsp]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,548,549#msg-549</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:24:58 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Tolls almost inevitable if private sector gets tunnel role</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,548,548#msg-548</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Source: [url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=250&amp;objectid=10491692]NZ Herald[/url][quote][b][i]Brian Rudman[/i]: Tolls almost inevitable if private sector gets tunnel role[/b]

Act leader Rodney Hide is right when he calls the new steering committee looking into the role of the private sector in completing the Waterview section of the western ring route &quot;more dithering&quot;.

&quot;Rather than announcing some kind of progress, the minister instead announced that his Government would be consulting, investigating and studying the feasibility of involving the private sector in the project,&quot; he said.

Mr Hide might also have added that creating a committee top heavy with pro-road, private-sector lobbyists hardly makes the process independent.

One can only presume it's a devilishly cunning plan by Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Transport Minister Annette King to neutralise three of their most voluble critics in the run-up to November's general election. Instead of constantly nagging the Government, Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett and his counterparts at Business New Zealand (Phil O'Reilly) and the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development (Stephen Selwood) now have to come up with a workable scheme.

They'll have to justify their starry-eyed belief in public/private partnerships with facts and figures and, most importantly, the names of willing participants, or back off gracefully and, more to the point, silently.

Public/private partnership (PPP) is one of those now old, new right mantras that try to entice public bodies into thinking they can buy now and pay later in easy on-going instalments. Anyone who has bought a car or fridge like this knows it's only a bargain as long as you ignore the extra hidden costs involved.

Same goes for a PPP scheme. We're told the favoured Waterview Connection deep-bore tunnel is going to cost $2 billion, give or take a few million. If the Government doesn't have the cash to pay up front, then money will have to be borrowed, then paid back, out of tolls or petrol taxes or general taxation.

Governments can borrow money at a cheaper rate than anyone else, so why would you enter into a PPP scheme which has the private contractor borrowing the money at a higher rate of interest? Why would you also bring in a commercial partner who then sits and clips the income ticket for up to 35 years?

One of the members of the steering committee, Mr Selwood, was showing his colours the moment his appointment was announced.

&quot;One would expect that a public/ private partnership will enable this essential road link to be completed earlier and delivered and maintained to a higher standard than would otherwise be possible,&quot; he said. &quot;The injection of additional private sector finance will enable the public purse to stretch further to other major transport projects.&quot;

Mr Selwood seems to miss the point that governments can borrow private sector finance as well. And more cheaply.

Of course, a PPP scheme almost inevitably means tolling. Dr Cullen admitted as much last week when he said it would be &quot;quite difficult&quot; to complete all Auckland's transport projects by 2015 from fuel taxes alone.

Transit New Zealand has already consulted Aucklanders on tolling and got the thumbs-down. Only last November, the Auckland Regional Council's transport policy committee rejected tolls for this very stretch of road.

This was soon after Transit NZ had confessed that administration costs associated with collecting $2 billion to pay off the loan associated with completing the ring route by 2015 would be $800 million over 35 years.

Among those on the committee was Mr Barnett, now the ARC deputy chairman, who attacked Transit &quot;for holding Auckland over a barrel&quot; by starting the route then saying it was short of cash. As a member of the steering committee, will he feel bound by the ARC's opposition to tolls?

Following the privatisation of the Ministry of Works and local body works departments, the private sector already builds most of our public infrastructure. As Fletcher Construction chief executive Mark Binns wrote at the time of the Eastern Highway furore in November 2002, the PPP concept &quot;is not the panacea for the country's significant infrastructure requirements&quot;.

He pointed to sky-rocketing costs involved in bidding for and pinning down all the legal niceties of such schemes and added that &quot;while the private sector is incurring costs as a result of these complexities, the public sector also needs to gear up its resources, usually through the employment of private sector consultants&quot;.

Maybe they should have put Mr Binns on the committee as well. He's someone who can separate the facts from the mantras.[/quote]]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,548,548#msg-548</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:21:05 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Motorway threat to 'beautiful community'</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,546,547#msg-547</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Source: [url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=250&amp;objectid=10491696]NZ Herald[/url][quote][b]Motorway threat to 'beautiful community'[/b]

Pani Taiapa moved to her Waterview home from Henderson four years ago because it was just across the road from a school and kindergarten for her two young children - and handy to Auckland's Northwestern Motorway.

She became part of a close-knit community of Housing NZ tenants, and immersed herself in the life of the kindergarten and Waterview Primary School as Brodie and Anita - now aged 6 and 4 - joined their junior classes.

But the trio have found themselves casualties of Aucklanders' appetite for more motorways, as their home is one of 160 that Transit NZ announced on Friday are likely to be demolished if it digs a $1.89 billion set of twin two-lane tunnels between Mt Roskill and Waterview.

Transit and the Government say the bored tunnels - running for 3.2km, and 20m to 40m deep - will cause far less social and environmental disruption than an earlier proposal to run a covered trench for up to 90,000 vehicles a day through the sensitive Oakley Creek catchment.

They say a trench would have meant destroying at least 300 more homes, while costing between $1.7 billion and $2 billion, once a new 4.5km motorway section opens in 2015 as the final link in Auckland's 48km western bypass.

But their words are little comfort to Ms Taiapa and her neighbours in Herdman St off Great North Rd.

They face eviction next year if Transit confirms its route preference in April, before seeking a notice of requirement giving it compulsory property acquisition rights.

Although Housing NZ has promised to try to find new homes suitable for all residents of the more than 100 of its properties likely to be demolished around the tunnel's two portals, both in Waterview and near the intersection of Richardson and Stoddard Rds in Owairaka, she is dreading having to make a fresh start elsewhere.

&quot;Nobody is happy about it - we have got a beautiful community - some people are pretty emotional,&quot; Ms Taiapa said.

&quot;We are a small community and we all look after each other. Our kids can ride down the road and every second house knows them and keeps an eye on them.

&quot;We are all very close-knit and I am involved with the school and kindy, and coach the t-ball team.&quot;

One man called over her fence: &quot;If they kick us out of our houses, we'll have to sleep in the tunnel.&quot;

Waterview Primary principal Brett Skeen expects to lose up to 22 of his 140 pupils from homes in the path of the motorway, and he is worried about noise and air pollution from tunnel portals just across Herdman St from the school grounds.

He said the kindergarten was only about 200m from where traffic would enter and emerge from the tunnels in the middle of Waterview Reserve and its well-used sports ground.

Although Transit principal project manager Clive Fuhr says venting towers at each end of the tunnels will pump vehicle exhaust fumes high into the atmosphere, Mr Skeen is waiting for the agency to spell out other mitigation measures.

Peter McCurdy and his partner Robyn Mason, facing eviction with their son from a home overlooking bush and the remnants of a 19th century flour mill around the mouth of Oakley Creek in Cowley St, are furious Transit is claiming environmental credit for tunnels.

&quot;They say they will protect the creek but there will be four road crossings coming through here,&quot; said Mr McCurdy, pointing to a dense stand of bush above which motorway ramps will converge from two directions between the tunnels and the Northwestern Motorway.

Ms Mason said rising oil costs and global warming would make such a project &quot;an environmental outrage and egregious waste of money&quot; when funds were sorely needed for public transport.[/quote]]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,546,547#msg-547</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:54:00 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] 160 homes will be lost to Transit motorway tunnels</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,546,546#msg-546</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Source: [url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=309&amp;objectid=10491502]NZ Herald[/url][quote][b]160 homes will be lost to Transit motorway tunnels[/b]

Transit NZ plans to demolish about 160 homes - including just over 100 Housing NZ properties - if it digs a $1.89 billion set of twin motorway tunnels along Auckland's western bypass.

It will also negotiate underground strata titles beneath about 150 other properties, which will account for 3.2km of a 4.5km section of bypass to be completed by 2015 between Maioro St in New Windsor and the Northwestern Motorway at Waterview.

But the agency said yesterday that bored tunnels up to 40m deep would avoid the &quot;potentially significant social and environment upheaval&quot; of an earlier covered-trench proposal, which would have required the demolition of about 500 homes and careful measures to protect Oakley Creek.

A giant boring machine will gobble through 10m to 15m of sub-strata a day, producing what Transit acknowledges will be some surface vibration, and possibly minor ground settlement.

Subject to Transit's confirmation of the plan after consultations to run until April, 105 homes face demolition at the northern end of the tunnels at Waterview and 55 near their southern portals in Hendon Park, just west of the intersection of Richardson and Stoddard Rds.[/quote]]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,546,546#msg-546</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:49:12 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] $2.3 billion toll tunnel tipped for M-way link</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,545,545#msg-545</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Source: [url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&amp;objectid=10491037]NZ Herald[/url][quote][b]$2.3 billion toll tunnel tipped for M-way link[/b] [img]http://www.sh20extension.com/images/tunnel11.jpg[/img]

Details of the country's most expensive transport project by far will be announced by Finance Minister Michael Cullen today.

The Government is poised to reveal plans for a long and deep motorway toll tunnel costing up to $2.3 billion.

But although a bore tunnel stretching 5km beneath Mt Albert in Auckland is Transit NZ's preferred option for completing Auckland's western bypass, the Government is understood to be about to put the project under a steering group of public- and private-sector officials.

Sources indicated last night that Transit, soon to be merged with Land Transport NZ, was about to be sidelined on the &quot;Waterview Connection&quot; project in favour of a six-member committee of two Government and three private-sector representatives with an independent chairman.

Although Transit is understood to have political backing for a full tunnel, to limit social and environmental upheaval along a route running mainly through Prime Minister Helen Clark's Mt Albert electorate, it fears a 2015 deadline for completing the project may be missed if the new body chooses to re-examine all alternatives.

These range from a $1.1 billion covered trench through the sensitive Oakley Creek catchment to Waterview, to a $2.5 billion extended route through the industrialised Rosebank Peninsula - an option ditched by Transit but favoured by the Auckland Regional Council, although at a lower cost.

A full tunnel to Waterview, with capacity for three traffic lanes each way, would cost up to $2.3 billion. It could be up to 50m deep.

Although Transit had yet to complete tunnelling investigations before designating land for the project, its estimate of design costs alone has soared from $50 million last year to $79.4 million in its latest draft highways programme.

It also emerged yesterday that Transit was considering road tolls to help pay for the project, even though public opposition last year forced it to back away from a wider proposal to charge motorists to use the ring route along most sectors between Manukau City and Albany.

The agency would not answer queries from the Herald on Tuesday about tolls, but has described these to Auckland local body officials as critical to the project.

Although Beehive staff would not discuss the project ahead of an announcement expected from Dr Cullen at an Auckland Chamber of Commerce lunch today, Transport Minister Annette King is understood to favour a bore tunnel.

So is Helen Clark, who a fortnight ago foreshadowed &quot;an important announcement soon about progress on the Waterview Connection&quot;.

Although a bored tunnel would cause less community and environmental disruption than Transit's initial $1.15 billion &quot;cut-and-cover&quot; trenching proposal for the Waterview link, Green MP Keith Locke said his party would oppose any extension of the State Highway 20 motorway if it gained the balance of power in this year's election.

&quot;We should complete Auckland's public transport network first, and then see if we still need it when peak oil goes through the roof.&quot;

But Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief Michael Barnett, who is also the regional council deputy chairman, said on Tuesday there was little point having a &quot;ring route&quot; with a missing middle section.

Regardless of whether the Waterview link was tolled, he saw it as an ideal candidate for funding through a public-private partnership.

HOW IT COMPARES

* Waterview Connection - proposed - up to $2.3 billion
* Auckland-Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative - proposed - $1.33b
* Transmission Gully motorway (Wellington) - proposed - $950m
* Auckland Northern Busway - completed - $300m[/quote]]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,545,545#msg-545</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:47:18 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Re: Drivers could pay $2bn tunnel bill in tolls</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,543,544#msg-544</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Source: [url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=214&amp;objectid=10491270]NZ Herald[/url][quote][b]Road tolls may fund Govt's $2b motorway tunnel[/b]

The Labour-led Government is looking to hefty private-sector funding - possibly meaning road tolls - for a 5km Auckland motorway tunnel unlikely to leave much change from $2 billion.

Confirming the Government's preference for a deep bored tunnel between Mt Roskill and the Northwestern Motorway, via Waterview, Finance Minister Michael Cullen told Auckland business leaders it would &quot;actively investigate&quot; digging it as the country's first public-private partnership for major infrastructure.

&quot;This is a huge project, with a potential cost of $2 billion or so,&quot; he said in an address to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce on the state of the economy.

&quot;We believe the private sector has much to gain from Waterview and that the entire community - and the taxpayer - could have much to gain from involving the private sector in its construction.&quot;

His comments came as Transport Minister Annette King confirmed plans to appoint a six-member steering group, with three private-sector representatives and former Chief Ombudsman Sir Brian Elworthy as its independent chairman, to investigate the feasibility of such an arrangement.

Transit NZ's board also yesterday followed the political lead in confirming its preference for a deep tunnel ahead of other more disruptive - and not necessarily cheaper - trenching options through the Waterview route.

Although the agency is not disclosing details until today, it is understood a bore tunnel about 35m deep could cost around $1.8 billion, compared with covered-trench options ranging from $1.1 billion to $2.3 billion.

Dr Cullen did not believe bringing the steering group into the project would lose any &quot;significant time&quot; towards meeting a deadline of 2015 for completion, which will be the final link in Auckland's 48km Western Motorway bypass. He believed planning for a deep tunnel - for which Transit's design estimate alone has soared to almost $80 million - would reduce the time spent gaining consents because of its lesser impact on homes and the environment.

A deep tunnel would reduce property purchase costs and run beneath rocks from an ancient lava flow around the sensitive Oakley Creek catchment.

&quot;Because tunnelling technologies have improved very considerably in recent years, it is both less intrusive and possibly a bit cheaper than the cut-and-fill option.&quot;

Dr Cullen said that while the steering group determined the feasibility of a public-private partnership, Transit would retain overall accountability for the project.

Asked whether private investment meant the imposition of road tolls, a concept which Transit is understood to be revisiting for the Waterview link despite abandoning an earlier proposal after public opposition, he said: &quot;Obviously if there's a PPP then there's an issue around whether there's tolling as well.&quot;

He said it would be &quot;quite difficult&quot; to complete the link as well as other Auckland transport projects by 2015 from fuel taxes alone.

Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett, an appointee to the steering group, said he expected strong interest from the private sector as the Waterview link was expected to siphon 100,000 vehicles a day away from Spaghetti Junction and would return $4.50 in economic benefit from each $1 invested.

But Green MP Keith Locke said the money would be better spent on public transport, including a $1 billion inner-Auckland rail loop through Britomart and trains to the airport.

&quot;It's a pity that a week after the North Shore Busway came on stream, which gets Aucklanders out of their cars, the Government wants to waste $2 billion on a new motorway which will only encourage them to hop back in.&quot;[/quote]]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,543,544#msg-544</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:40:41 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Drivers could pay $2bn tunnel bill in tolls</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,543,543#msg-543</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Source: [url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&amp;objectid=10491173]NZ Herald[/url][quote][b]Drivers could pay $2bn tunnel bill in tolls[/b][img]http://www.sh20extension.com/images/tunnel11.jpg[/img]

Finance Minister Michael Cullen says tolls will have to be considered if a public-private partnership is used to build New Zealand's largest roading project - a $2 billion tunnel to complete Auckland's Western Ring Route.

Finance Minister Michael Cullen confirmed today that a steering group had been set up to look at the feasibility of private sector involvement in building a 5km tunnel largely under Prime Minister Helen Clark's Mt Albert electorate.

The Government wants the motorway tunnel, which it has called the Waterview Connection, to be completed by 2015 .

Dr Cullen said the deep tunnel option was much less disruptive and not more much expensive than a tunnel built by cutting into the earth and then covering it back up again.

&quot;Once you take into account the cost of acquiring property... It is probably no cheaper and possibly more expensive than the deep tunnel option,&quot; Dr Cullen said.

Transport Minister Annette King said Sir Brian Elwood would chair a steering group to see whether the private sector should be involved and, if so, in what way.

It will report on options in June.

Material released by the minister said the completed project could be leased to a private sector company for up to 35 years and raised the possibility of tolls being charged.

The Waterview Connection is a proposed state highway extension in Auckland running from Mt Roskill to the Northwestern Motorway.

Once finished the Western Ring Route will be a single 48 kilometre motorway, bypassing the city and linking Manukau, Auckland, Waitakere and North Shore.

Ms King said Transit New Zealand would continue working on other aspects of the ring route while consideration was given to a private-public partnership for the Waterview Connection.

The Government has already passed legislation allowing the private sector to get involved in large infrastructure projects, but has never given one the go ahead.

Overseas the arrangement usually involved a private company building the project and then charging the Government or public for its use.

Dr Cullen said there would be an &quot;issue&quot; around whether tolling was used if the project was built.

Dr Cullen said one of the advantages of a public-private partnership was that much of the money to build the tunnel would come from the private sector.

&quot;It reduces the pressure on other roading projects not just in Auckland but around the country.&quot;

The Government's announcement received a mix reaction.

National Leader John Key said it represented a &quot;massive flip-flop&quot; after years of opposing private sector involvement in roading.

The Greens believed it showed muddled thinking and the money would be better spent on public transport projects.

Newmarket Business Association General Manager Cameron Brewer said the Government was very keen to spend $2 billion to reduce social and environmental disruption in Miss Clark's electorate, but not elsewhere in Auckland.

- NZPA[/quote]]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,543,543#msg-543</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:30:06 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Government considers private sector to build $2b tunnel</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,542,542#msg-542</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Source: [url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&amp;objectid=10491105]NZ Herald[/url][quote][b]Government considers private sector to build $2b tunnel[/b]

The Government has confirmed it is considering using a public-private partnership to build the largest roading project undertaken in New Zealand to complete Auckland's Western Ring Route.

Finance Minister Michael Cullen said the Government preferred a &quot;deep tunnel option&quot; at a cost of $2 billion to minimise disruption.

The 5km tunnel to be built largely under Prime Minister Helen Clark's Mt Albert electorate should be completed by 2015 and would be called the Waterview Connection.

Dr Cullen said in a speech to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce the project could have significant benefits for the Auckland economy.

&quot;We believe that the private sector has much to gain from Waterview and that the entire community - and the taxpayer - could have much to gain from involving the private sector in its construction.

Transport Minister Annette King said Sir Brian Elwood would chair a steering group to see whether the private sector should be involved and, if so, in what way.

Ms King said any partnership would not entail privatisation of the stretch of road to be built and the group would report back on options in June.

Material released by the minister said the completed project could be leased to a private sector company for up to 35 years and raised the possibility of tolls being charged.

The Waterview Connection is a proposed state highway extension in Auckland running from Mt Roskill to the Northwestern Motorway.

Once finished the Western Ring Route will be a single 48 kilometre motorway, bypassing the city and linking Manukau, Auckland, Waitakere and North Shore.

Ms King said Transit New Zealand would continue working on other aspects of the ring route while consideration was given to a private-public partnership for the Waterview Connection.

The Government has already passed legislation allowing the private sector to get involved in large infrastructure projects, but has never given one the go ahead.

Overseas the arrangement usually a private company building the project and then charging the Government or public for its use.

- NZPA[/quote]]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,542,542#msg-542</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:24:23 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Have your say!] Re: Cycleways</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,541#msg-541</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I've been using the cycleways and they seem to be good. Cars have a clearer idea of where we are going to be.

Now we just need to educate folks not to throw glass bottles on the road :(]]></description>
      <category>Have your say!</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,541#msg-541</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:15:39 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Have your say!] 3rd Auckland Harbour crossing</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,540,540#msg-540</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[url=http://www.transit.govt.nz/news/MediaReleaseView.do?MediaReleaseId=nz.govt.transit.transweb.content.news.MediaRelease-12700]Transit - options for additional crossing, 3 Dec 07[/url] 

[url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&amp;objectid=10479725]New harbour crossing - it's down to Plan A or B, NZ Herald, 3 Dec 07[/url]

[url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&amp;objectid=10479702]'X' marks the spot for new harbour crossing, NZ Herald, 3 Dec 07[/url]

No talk of connecting SH20 directly by continuing a tunnel under the harbour or a previous proposal of connecting a tunnel from SH16 near Western Springs / Arch Hill.]]></description>
      <category>Have your say!</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,540,540#msg-540</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:56:25 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Have your say!] Re: Cycleways</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,539#msg-539</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&amp;objectid=10474376]Mt Albert Rd Cyclelane starts going in today, NZ Herald, 7 Nov 07[/url]]]></description>
      <category>Have your say!</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,539#msg-539</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:15:07 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Have your say!] Newmarket Viaduct</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,538,538#msg-538</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0710/S00211.htm]Newmarket Viaduct construction ready for start, Scoop 17 Oct 07[/url]

An early construction start would mean the project would be completed early in 2011 and well before the Rugby World Cup.]]></description>
      <category>Have your say!</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,538,538#msg-538</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:58:19 +1300</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Have your say!] Re: Cycleways</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,537#msg-537</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[At the moment Auckland City is investigating cycling improvements along Blockhouse Bay Road and Great North Road in Avondale. 
Consultation on these has not begun. 
This is likely to be at the end of this year or early next year.
]]></description>
      <category>Have your say!</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,537#msg-537</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:26:14 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Re: Transit's Western Ring Route Newsletter #11</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,503,536#msg-536</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Announcement about SH20 tunnelling investigation has been delayed until after the local body elections.
So that would be mid-october, earliest.
]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,503,536#msg-536</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:28:04 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Two Thumbs Up For Newest Cycleway</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,535,535#msg-535</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[From Scoop: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0709/S00185.htm
[quote][b]Two thumbs up for newest cycleway[/b]

Auckland's newest cycleway, the Waikaraka cycleway, was officially opened by Mayor of Auckland city Dick Hubbard, along with 32 local children who rode along the cycleway this morning.

The Waikaraka cycleway is a 12km cycleway planned to link Pikes Point in Onehunga with SH20 in Wesley when completed. The first 4km between Pikes Point and Onehunga Harbour Road is complete.

&quot;I am impressed with the quality of the new cycleway and am proud to be marking this achievement by the council and getting to see some of the enjoyment it will bring,&quot; says Mr Hubbard.

&quot;The Waikaraka cycleway forms a key part of Auckland's cycle network and will link over 20 schools, parks and community centres in the area.&quot;

Chloe King, 8, is keen to visit the cycleway again after testing it out the new cycleway with her Onehunga Primary School mates.

&quot;I like that there are no bumps. I am going to come back with my mum and dad to ride in the weekends,&quot; says Chloe.

Mr Hubbard signed an international walking charter on behalf of the council, at the launch of the Waikaraka cycleway, confirming the council's commitment to fostering walking.

Councillor Glenda Fryer, the council's Transport and Urban Linkages Committee deputy chairperson, says, &quot;The cycleway forms a strategic link between the south and north-west, and is a critical step towards becoming a city with more sustainable transport choices.&quot;

&quot;The Waikaraka cycleway will help make cycling a viable choice for people in a growing area of Auckland.&quot;

&quot;There's no doubt cycling is growing in popularity and we must continue to encourage others to jump on bikes and leave their cars at home.&quot;

Several key walking and cycling initiatives led by Auckland City Council were discussed at the Transport and Urban Linkages Committee this week.

The initiatives included:

adopting the council's revised walking and cycling framework, which sets clear walking and cycling targets to achieve for the next ten years. supporting a bike rental proposal that will see existing bike stands used for renting bikes by summer this year.

ENDS [/quote]As keen cyclists we would have loved to have been at the opening but didn't know it was happening. Who was behind the PR for this?]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,535,535#msg-535</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:52:46 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Have your say!] Transit NZ Survey</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,534,534#msg-534</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[from my emails[quote]Dear Stakeholder
Thank you to those of you who have already responded to our online survey. Over 300 of you replied within the first few days.

If you have not yet replied, we would appreciate your response as soon as you can set aside some time to provide your (confidential) feedback.
The survey takes as little as 5 minutes to provide the ratings of Transit's performance although we would appreciate you taking extra time to also provide comments and suggestions : [url=http://transit.insitesurvey.co.nz/?cat=list]click here for the survey[/url].
Should you have any queries, or be unable to complete the survey online, please contact the Research Consultant, Deborah Burns, on 027 457 5962, or email info@insitesurvey.co.nz

Thank you
Rick van Barneveld
Chief Executive[/quote]]]></description>
      <category>Have your say!</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,534,534#msg-534</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:54:20 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Other Campaigns, Other Issues] Re: Pokies in Waitakere City</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?4,526,533#msg-533</link>
      <author>admin</author>
      <description><![CDATA[It's always fun looking at the underlying motives! I wouldn't be surprised at all if the supermarket theory was right.

I was working in town when I was hugely pregnant with my son and parking in Sky City. I needed to use the cashpoint one day to pay for the parking and as I came down in the lifts one old dear censored me with a &quot;hope you haven't spent all the rent money&quot;.
It was only lunchtime (I was working a half day) and it broke my heart to think that there might be anyone blowing the rent money on the pokies and leaving their families without the security of a home and everything else!]]></description>
      <category>Other Campaigns, Other Issues</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?4,526,533#msg-533</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:52:31 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Have your say!] Re: Cycleways</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,532#msg-532</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Cycling projects for Waterview straight and Blockhouse Bay Road are likely to be ready for consultation early in the financial year beginning July 2007 
[url=http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/transport/transit/avondale.asp#April%202007]Auckland City Council, Political liaison group, Meeting summary April 2007[/url]]]></description>
      <category>Have your say!</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,532#msg-532</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:55:37 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[News: SH20 Western Ring Road] Re: Transit's Western Ring Route Newsletter #11</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,503,531#msg-531</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[url=http://www.sh20.co.nz]www.sh20.co.nz[/url] 
The site apparently has just been updated (03 September 2007) 
I cannot see any update. It all looks the same to me, i.e. the same as it did after the Nov 2006 update. 

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE:
Under programme, future milestones it says:
Lodging the NOR: 2008
Lodging Resource Consents: 2008
Hearings: 2008-09
Construction complete by 2015

Under maps, the most recent entry is the expanded study area for bored tunnels released Nov 2006.  August/September 2007 is the due date (that has publisised elsewhere) for the bored tunnel investigation.  I can't see anything about that anywhere on this site.

Consultation &amp; Programme Update both only refer to the latest newsletter being Nov 2006.

FAQ says:

What investigations are being undertaken in the additional area of investigation?  
The investigations being undertaken to enable Transit to better understand the complex ground conditions in the current study area include:
Boreholes; 
Stormwater and groundwater assessments; 
Construction method assessment; 
Air quality assessments.

When will a decision be made on tunnelling the AW1 route? 
Transit intends to confirm the construction option and final alignment of the AW1 route in late 2007.

How will the project affect local roads?
The following table lists the results of traffic modelling of daily traffic volumes (vehicles per day - vpd) and shows traffic volumes for 2026 without the project  and with the project.*
{shows table of local roads}
{e.g. Blockhouse Bay Rd (south of GNR intersection), No WRR / Do min (2026)* 15,800, WRR – Waterview Connection (2026)* 10,700.}
{e.g. GNR (east of Portage Rd), No WRR / Do min (2026)* 29,300, WRR – Waterview Connection (2026)* 32,600.}
With note *Based on a draft alignment which includes a full diamond interchanges at Maioro St and Great North Road.


For reference to the traffic figures above, from the [url=http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/transport/flow/default.asp]Auckland City Council website[/url]:
GREAT NORTH ROAD,EAST OF WHAU RIVER BRIDGE, 7 Day Average, 9 Mar 2007, Eastbound + Westbound = 25,238
]]></description>
      <category>News: SH20 Western Ring Road</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?1,503,531#msg-531</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:38:46 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Have your say!] Re: Cycleways</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,530#msg-530</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[[url=http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/auckland/transport/bikes/docs/cyclenetwork.pdf]
Map of Auckland City Cycle Network 20 year plan[/url]]]></description>
      <category>Have your say!</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,530#msg-530</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:56:46 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Have your say!] Cycleways</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,529#msg-529</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[From Mt Roskill community board meeting 17 July 2007

Updating the Mt Roskill Community Board on the proposed walking and cycling upgrades to be constructed in conjunction with Transits SH20 Manukau Harbour Crossing Project.

[url=http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/members/boardmeetings/roskill/20070717_1800/ROSK%2D17072007%2DOPN%2DAGD%2D%239.pdf]Aerial photo with route overlay, Glouster Park to Queenstown Rd[/url]]]></description>
      <category>Have your say!</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?2,529,529#msg-529</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:32:22 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Other Campaigns, Other Issues] Re: Pokies in Waitakere City</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?4,526,528#msg-528</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I get phone polled regularly about Pokies &amp; the Portage liciencing trust.
I think it's push polling by the supermarkets to try &amp; get rid of the liciencing trusts so they can sell alcohol.
I won't be changing my mind thou.
I would like to see an end to the pokies.]]></description>
      <category>Other Campaigns, Other Issues</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?4,526,528#msg-528</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:10:11 +1200</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>[Other Campaigns, Other Issues] Re: Pt Chevalier Broadband Issues</title>
      <link>http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?4,525,527#msg-527</link>
      <author>1890villa</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Figure for Pt Chev = 0
The distance from house to exchange is too far for ADSL to work.
Even dial up does not work well, connection speed about 30kbps on average.

This was caused by a botch up job done 20 years ago when the exchange connection was changed.  It's more than 2km longer than it needs to be.  Instead of running directly from Mt Albert to Pt Chev via Carrington Rd, it goes via NNth Rd &amp; St Lukes Rd.

Telecom was supposed to be rujning new a new copper cable down Carrington Rd a long time ago.  What's really needed is a fibre optic connection directly into Pt Chev.]]></description>
      <category>Other Campaigns, Other Issues</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.sh20extension.com/read.php?4,525,527#msg-527</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:56:01 +1200</pubDate>
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