Subscribe to RSSBanks Will Appoint Architect
He says the appointee will be someone who is able to provide the Mayor’s office with independent advice on design and architecture.
Banks will also appoint an independent art and culture policy advisor to the Mayoral office.
“This person will be tasked with overseeing the development of key cultural assets throughout Greater Auckland.
“I intend to take a region-wide approach to investment in visual arts, the mainstreets of Waiuku, Wellsford and Maraetai need to benefit just as much as the metropolitan centres.”
He says the city he leads will “be based around stunning architecture and design as well as a flourishing arts & culture sector.”
He has put his arts policy on his site
19 Comments
Sounds like he’s getting desperate for press releases in the dying days of his campaign.
Good idea (though of no effect) = Too late banksie
does sound like a desperate attempt to look inclusive and caring on whats most likely his last few days. this is a good idea that no one would argue with (just what may have helped him a few weeks ago)… bus as Good bye Banksie says- its too late.
I cant see how he can still believe ‘that strengthening our roading network’ is beneficial. Sure, the eastern motorway would decrease congestion significantly, but the price is massive- an extremely destructive project for both the eastern suburbs, the CBD and the waterfront. the focal point of our congestion, the CBD, can never have its roading capacity increased due to all the buildings- seems very clear to me that there is no way froward which involves cars playing the role they currently play. We are now too big and dense to keep pretending we are not a real city.
Roads work in the further suburbs, so projects like the Waterview connection are pretty important, but after that, they will not provide any further relief.
(continued from last comment)
The public seems to get this (see polls about what Aucklanders want most, the way they’re voting for Len ‘we need rail now’ Brown, and the way they’re flocking to public transport), but we do get the general impression that Banks is not quite there yet (although sometimes he pretends he is- another big issue with him).
This guy want advisers for everyone including youth, senior citizens and maoris. I don’t think he has a clue.
“the eastern motorway would decrease congestion significantly,”
Maybe for 2-3 years - i.e. for less time than it takes to build!
you’re right Karl… I had a slight lapse of logic. once induced demand kicks in (I think the central east is currently pretty good with PT… probably because there are no motorways) you would be back to normal (if not worse)- the CBD still wont be able to absorb the extra cars- and nor should it need to.
Did the southern motorway decrease congestion?
The main problem with the Southern was that it was built far in advance of congestion. Therefore it entrenched motorway oriented development.
The southern should have been reserved, but only built after PT improvements and major congestion occurred on local roads. This way the southern would have been built 20 years later and would be much more effective for moving freight and joe the plumber etc.
The Eastern on the other hand is just plain stupidity as it connects several areas that are already overwhelmed by cars with no though as to where the cars should go.
getting a bit desperate are you Banks? Not a chance that he’ll become our supermayor. Make way for Len Brown.
The guy lost it (head included)
He’s obviously deluded and probably going to appoint himself as a “honorary city mayor” when he loses the elections.
This idea, city architect, is all well and good, But it depends so much on who it is. What has the city planner, Ludo, been doing? Seems to me to have been getting a sore arse from sitting on too many fences. These are political roles and the city needs advocates in these areas. IF the City Architect and City Planner were to be outspoken and ready to fight for the changes we need to help us see what Auckland could be then, yeah bring on.
It’s a shame Banks didn’t appoint an architect during his last 6 years as Mayor and that it took Hubbarb to establish the Urban Design panel and tighten up Auckland’s urban planning rules. Banks just wants to put our PR releases with no substance.
@Patrick - what to know what Ludo has been doing? Take a look at the shared spaces for starters, none of that would have happened without him pushing it through council. Same goes for the proposed shared space on Federal street that he brokered with SkyCity. Ludo is one of the best things to happen to Auckland’s council in recent years, we should be happy we have him.
Ludo does have to work with a Banks’ Council, so don’t expect him to create a revolution on his own. He’s done well to convince that crowd of shared space.
I mean - when Ludo invited Jan Gehl, who is like the Steven Hawking of urban design, Banks did a three minutes opening speech to Gehl’s presentation, and then LEFT. He just doesn’t believe in frilly things like urban design. Honorary architect indeed.
Aw shucks, I ‘d vote for Banksie if it wasn’t for the fact that I live in Wellington and have already given my mayoral vote to Celia Wade-Brown.
The problem is Banks has lost allot of suport over the buslanes, because of my injury I’ve been taking Taxi’s to and from work, all the drivers say they are not voting for Banks because there shouldn’t be Bus lanes, they are voting Brown because of Manukau’s lack of Buslanes. Wish people were making the decision on better substance than that.
@Joshua How fascinating.. I know the council’s stand on bus lanes was a big issue with some people who live around Dominion Rd.
Taxi drivers only don’t like bus lanes because they can’t drive in them. Somehow they belive that they are a public transport provider and should be able to use them when really they aren’t doing anything to help congestion as most trips are just taking one person somewhere so are no different to someone getting in the car and driving (if they can of course).
I think the thing that most people got annoyed about with the bus lane issue was that the council were using it as a way to raise revenue. Of course if that revenue didn’t come in those same people would complain about rates increasing so it is a bit of a no win situation.
The other issue is that people only perceive a clogged up lane to be efficient and when they see a minute of clear space, they get annoyed that they can’t use it but forget that if they did both lanes would just clog up. They also don’t realise that while there are less vehicles using the bus lane, it is carrying more people. I don’t think these perceptions are something that would be easily overcome
Taxi drivers are pretty blinkered in terms of transport policy, which is only to be expected. Sadly, the general public is not much more progressive either.
In some ways, I think we should consult less - just build example sections (claim - with some justification - that it’s just a trial). Once people see something new, they won’t be as anti anymore.