Comments on: Basins http://eyeofthefish.org/basins/ A wide-angle view of architecture, urban design and life in Wellington Tue, 22 May 2012 00:15:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Philip http://eyeofthefish.org/basins/#comment-15640 Philip Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:15:36 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=1524#comment-15640 Great new post from save the basin: http://savethebasin.org.nz/?q=node/84 Great new post from save the basin: http://savethebasin.org.nz/?q=node/84

]]> By: Ash http://eyeofthefish.org/basins/#comment-15618 Ash Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:21:54 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=1524#comment-15618 I don't see why they have to waste time & $$$ on lowering the roads for tunnels. Whatever is done will be a major disruption to the area until it is finished. So, just rebuild to the new requirements, then fill in over the top and raise the Basin playing ground to a new level eg that of Sussex Street. New underground layout could be a "diamond" ring road, or even a cross intersection (though anything to help avoid accidents underground would be preferable). A further option could be two levels of road (east-west Vic tunnel to Buckle street link above the Adelaide Road-Kent/Cambridge Tce link) and raise the Basin even higher to the level of Tasman Street. And where will the fill come from? ... ... ... why, the new Vic tunnel(s) of course; Start drilling the tunnel soon after the basics of the "Basin roads" are done - save money on transporting all that fill etc etc. I don’t see why they have to waste time & $$$ on lowering the roads for tunnels. Whatever is done will be a major disruption to the area until it is finished. So, just rebuild to the new requirements, then fill in over the top and raise the Basin playing ground to a new level eg that of Sussex Street.
New underground layout could be a “diamond” ring road, or even a cross intersection (though anything to help avoid accidents underground would be preferable).
A further option could be two levels of road (east-west Vic tunnel to Buckle street link above the Adelaide Road-Kent/Cambridge Tce link) and raise the Basin even higher to the level of Tasman Street.
And where will the fill come from? … … … why, the new Vic tunnel(s) of course; Start drilling the tunnel soon after the basics of the “Basin roads” are done – save money on transporting all that fill etc etc.

]]> By: erentz http://eyeofthefish.org/basins/#comment-15547 erentz Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:29:35 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=1524#comment-15547 It's a little unrealistic, and all those tunnel portals would be pretty ugly. I think one tunnel portal is enough, on the NW side into the Memorial Park Tunnel, just keep it a four-lane, 2-way boulevard on the northern side. Plenty of bigger roads around the world manage not to screw up the urban environment. North/South connectivity in a two-way link around a widened Sussex St and over the portal down to Cambridge/Kent makes sense, get rid of all these underpasses/curvey one way bits that are planned. South/east side becomes parkland. Provide a nice architectural sweeping pedestrian bridge to connect the duffering st side over the boulevard. Kent, why spend more on it? Nobody else in the region cares because they don't live there, and anyone else who raises opposition tends to do so in a non-negotiable way. People need to do what they did in auckland and push for a tunnel, or some other compromise, rather than push an outright do nothing philosophy. It’s a little unrealistic, and all those tunnel portals would be pretty ugly. I think one tunnel portal is enough, on the NW side into the Memorial Park Tunnel, just keep it a four-lane, 2-way boulevard on the northern side. Plenty of bigger roads around the world manage not to screw up the urban environment. North/South connectivity in a two-way link around a widened Sussex St and over the portal down to Cambridge/Kent makes sense, get rid of all these underpasses/curvey one way bits that are planned. South/east side becomes parkland. Provide a nice architectural sweeping pedestrian bridge to connect the duffering st side over the boulevard.

Kent, why spend more on it? Nobody else in the region cares because they don’t live there, and anyone else who raises opposition tends to do so in a non-negotiable way. People need to do what they did in auckland and push for a tunnel, or some other compromise, rather than push an outright do nothing philosophy.

]]> By: Kent Duston http://eyeofthefish.org/basins/#comment-15529 Kent Duston Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:07:16 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=1524#comment-15529 Isn't it interesting how NZTA has billions of dollars to spend on roading projects that don't make economic sense - such as Transmission Gully and the new Puhoi to Wellsford link - but no money to improve the liveability of the communities they run these roads through. It's a pretty clear message from NZTA - cars are more valuable than people. Isn’t it interesting how NZTA has billions of dollars to spend on roading projects that don’t make economic sense – such as Transmission Gully and the new Puhoi to Wellsford link – but no money to improve the liveability of the communities they run these roads through.

It’s a pretty clear message from NZTA – cars are more valuable than people.

]]> By: Honeywood http://eyeofthefish.org/basins/#comment-15511 Honeywood Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:21:50 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=1524#comment-15511 That's a great drawing of the greening of the basin and environs. Not sure how to get to Wellington College and Government House though - do you have to go through the lower tunnel to Hataitai and come back through the higher one? Love the tsunami coming over the hill from Houghton Bay! That’s a great drawing of the greening of the basin and environs. Not sure how to get to Wellington College and Government House though – do you have to go through the lower tunnel to Hataitai and come back through the higher one?

Love the tsunami coming over the hill from Houghton Bay!

]]> By: Maximus http://eyeofthefish.org/basins/#comment-15499 Maximus Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:17:38 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=1524#comment-15499 The Arch Centre’s idea for the Basin has been picked up by the Capital Times this week – there is a picture of the Basin Reserve part of the Wellington 2040 scheme, and a small article. Good work you lot!
http://www.capitaltimes.co.nz/page/32/News.html?n=2749&

NZTA of course, is quick to dismiss it all as impossible.
“It would be a major engineering challenge to build a tunnel under the Basin Reserve – the ground conditions are very difficult and the water table is high. It would also be a expensive solution, and the necessary funding is not available,” says Rob Whight, Wellington state highways manager.”

However, Council Spokesman Richard MacLean is a lot more optimistic: he “says the design incorporates quite a few ideas that have been discussed over the last hundred years. But one of the things that is unusual is having another tunnel under the existing one,” he says. “Consultation [over the Flyover] is starting this month, so we’d hope people like the Architectural Centre would be a part of that.”
A six-week public consultation for the Basin Reserve will start on February 22 and finish on April 2. The preferred option will be made public by mid-year.

]]> By: Kent Duston http://eyeofthefish.org/basins/#comment-15337 Kent Duston Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:07:31 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=1524#comment-15337 Have you seen the Architecture Centre proposals - http://architecture.org.nz/2009/12/18/architecture-of-the-basin/ Their approach with multiple tunnels and improved green space around the Basin are really great. And Guy has left a comment on the Save The Basin site that explains in a bit more detail how the scheme would work - http://savethebasin.org.nz/?q=node/83#comment-75 This is the kind of integrated and enlightened thinking the Basin Reserve needs, rather than the dumb-ass car-centric approaches of traffic engineers. (Well, IMHO!) Have you seen the Architecture Centre proposals – http://architecture.org.nz/2009/12/18/architecture-of-the-basin/

Their approach with multiple tunnels and improved green space around the Basin are really great. And Guy has left a comment on the Save The Basin site that explains in a bit more detail how the scheme would work – http://savethebasin.org.nz/?q=node/83#comment-75

This is the kind of integrated and enlightened thinking the Basin Reserve needs, rather than the dumb-ass car-centric approaches of traffic engineers. (Well, IMHO!)

]]> By: Maximus http://eyeofthefish.org/basins/#comment-15309 Maximus Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:59:26 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=1524#comment-15309 Kent, that's a great piece of work. I'd recommend you all follow that link and check out the 'actual' answers provided to NZTA's questions. And I'd invite the NZTA to respond asap.... As an example: 5. How much will it cost? NZTA Answer Detailed costs will be developed for each option as they are designed. The Regional Land Transport Strategy has provided for a budget of $51 million. Actual Answer NZTA's budget estimates for this project have been disastrously incompetent. Back in late 2007 this project was slated to cost a mere $27 million; by mid 2009 it had risen to $38 million; by early 2010 some $51 million was being quoted. Costs on the project are exploding about five to ten times faster than the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and yet some of the primary geotechnical investigations haven't even been carried out. Given NZTA's recently appalling record of cost management - such as the doubling of estimates for strengthening of the Auckland Harbour Bridge - there is very little likelihood that today's $51 million budget will suffice. So as well as being a pointless boondoggle, it going to be an expensive boondoggle. Kent, that’s a great piece of work. I’d recommend you all follow that link and check out the ‘actual’ answers provided to NZTA’s questions. And I’d invite the NZTA to respond asap…. As an example:

5. How much will it cost?
NZTA Answer
Detailed costs will be developed for each option as they are designed. The Regional Land Transport Strategy has provided for a budget of $51 million.

Actual Answer
NZTA’s budget estimates for this project have been disastrously incompetent. Back in late 2007 this project was slated to cost a mere $27 million; by mid 2009 it had risen to $38 million; by early 2010 some $51 million was being quoted. Costs on the project are exploding about five to ten times faster than the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and yet some of the primary geotechnical investigations haven’t even been carried out. Given NZTA’s recently appalling record of cost management – such as the doubling of estimates for strengthening of the Auckland Harbour Bridge – there is very little likelihood that today’s $51 million budget will suffice. So as well as being a pointless boondoggle, it going to be an expensive boondoggle.

]]> By: starkive http://eyeofthefish.org/basins/#comment-15289 starkive Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:52:34 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=1524#comment-15289 On an almost related topic, now that NZTA has finally ended the farcical delay in releasing the transplanted bypass buildings to the open market, can anybody establish the status of the various awkward unbuilt pockets of land scattered about them? Will there be sales there too? Or will we continue to enjoy them as urban motorway berms? On an almost related topic, now that NZTA has finally ended the farcical delay in releasing the transplanted bypass buildings to the open market, can anybody establish the status of the various awkward unbuilt pockets of land scattered about them? Will there be sales there too? Or will we continue to enjoy them as urban motorway berms?

]]> By: Kent Duston http://eyeofthefish.org/basins/#comment-15287 Kent Duston Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:54:56 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=1524#comment-15287 The NZTA FAQs were an exceptionally good laugh, although I have to confess it was difficult concentrating on them over the incessant whine of the PR spin machine in the background. As the Agency is being less than forthcoming with its answers (or facts, or the designs, or much else) we thought it might be helpful to provide the actual answers to the questions ..... http://savethebasin.org.nz/?q=node/79 The NZTA FAQs were an exceptionally good laugh, although I have to confess it was difficult concentrating on them over the incessant whine of the PR spin machine in the background.

As the Agency is being less than forthcoming with its answers (or facts, or the designs, or much else) we thought it might be helpful to provide the actual answers to the questions ….. http://savethebasin.org.nz/?q=node/79

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