Comments on: Memorial Parkway http://eyeofthefish.org/memorial-parkway/ 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: starkive http://eyeofthefish.org/memorial-parkway/#comment-6919 starkive Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:50:28 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=586#comment-6919 As it happens I am a cricket tragic and - to the extent that being an Auckland supporter will allow - a Basin lover. I have often slumped on the grassy bank and plotted how much better the ground could be while still remaining the Basin. Most of those plots involve the northern end of the ground where a new structure between the Vance stand and the embankment could house decent food and toilet facilities, provide for a somewhat larger crowd and break up the northerly. It does seem to me that the right design (!) could exploit opportunities provided by a flyover structure. The worst part of those thoughts is that they appear to bring me into agreement with Cr Morrison - not a place I would often go. As it happens I am a cricket tragic and – to the extent that being an Auckland supporter will allow – a Basin lover. I have often slumped on the grassy bank and plotted how much better the ground could be while still remaining the Basin. Most of those plots involve the northern end of the ground where a new structure between the Vance stand and the embankment could house decent food and toilet facilities, provide for a somewhat larger crowd and break up the northerly. It does seem to me that the right design (!) could exploit opportunities provided by a flyover structure.

The worst part of those thoughts is that they appear to bring me into agreement with Cr Morrison – not a place I would often go.

]]> By: Maximus http://eyeofthefish.org/memorial-parkway/#comment-6916 Maximus Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:57:08 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=586#comment-6916 Starkive - yes, Muppet #5 says: "The protester outside the ground whingeing about a new road that may pop up outside the Basin Reserve. Given the fact that the ground is in the middle of a roundabout, the presence of cars and trucks on a new road nearby doesn't sound like a death knell for the Basin to me. It sounds more like professional protesters who hate roads having another whinge, and trying to deploy a bit of scaremongering among cricket fans to help with their cause." I'm not really a cricket fan, and so if they don't mind a flyover cutting across the paddock then perhaps we should just let them have one. Starkive – yes, Muppet #5 says: “The protester outside the ground whingeing about a new road that may pop up outside the Basin Reserve. Given the fact that the ground is in the middle of a roundabout, the presence of cars and trucks on a new road nearby doesn’t sound like a death knell for the Basin to me. It sounds more like professional protesters who hate roads having another whinge, and trying to deploy a bit of scaremongering among cricket fans to help with their cause.”

I’m not really a cricket fan, and so if they don’t mind a flyover cutting across the paddock then perhaps we should just let them have one.

]]> By: Rampant http://eyeofthefish.org/memorial-parkway/#comment-6877 Rampant Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:28:07 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=586#comment-6877 Rondo, I don't think the mayor would be keen to have a flyover in her honour but an overly expensive park I suspect would be just about right. Alan, yes the levels are brilliant here for Mt Vic Tunnel-to-Buckle but what about Mt-Vic-Tunnel-to-Inner-City-Bypass-Stage-3? The current Bypass is Stage 2, Stage 1 was the One Way Pairs instituted in 1991 or so (can't remember the exact date, I was still in nappies :-P ). Stage 3 is still a possibility and it involves grade separation of a type all Wellington drivers (and most pedestrians heading north-south) would like to see, with the damn thing dropped in a trench (and hopefully partly covered). This would place SH1 Buckle Street UNDER the park, which is a drop from a flyover over Cambridge Tce. Helpfully the contours rise from the Basin to Mt Cook - anyone here a surveyor with some spare time and wanting to confirm? Rondo, I don’t think the mayor would be keen to have a flyover in her honour but an overly expensive park I suspect would be just about right. Alan, yes the levels are brilliant here for Mt Vic Tunnel-to-Buckle but what about Mt-Vic-Tunnel-to-Inner-City-Bypass-Stage-3? The current Bypass is Stage 2, Stage 1 was the One Way Pairs instituted in 1991 or so (can’t remember the exact date, I was still in nappies :-P ). Stage 3 is still a possibility and it involves grade separation of a type all Wellington drivers (and most pedestrians heading north-south) would like to see, with the damn thing dropped in a trench (and hopefully partly covered). This would place SH1 Buckle Street UNDER the park, which is a drop from a flyover over Cambridge Tce. Helpfully the contours rise from the Basin to Mt Cook – anyone here a surveyor with some spare time and wanting to confirm?

]]> By: starkive http://eyeofthefish.org/memorial-parkway/#comment-6872 starkive Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:48:04 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=586#comment-6872 Seems that not all cricket lovers see the proposal as a desecration of the beloved Basin. See Muppet #5... http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/blogs/sideline-slogger/2321241/10-muppets-from-the-Test Seems that not all cricket lovers see the proposal as a desecration of the beloved Basin. See Muppet #5…

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/blogs/sideline-slogger/2321241/10-muppets-from-the-Test

]]> By: Alan http://eyeofthefish.org/memorial-parkway/#comment-6848 Alan Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:36:57 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=586#comment-6848 What you oh-so-clever and cynical lot seem to fail to realize is that the levels for the proposed overpass would tie in perfectly from the entry to the current tunnel, flying pretty much straight across the end part of the basin reserve, about 20m up so the noise and the cars won't disturb you, and then land neatly on the edge of Tory St . What's wrong with that? The bypass won't be going to spoil anything on the Reserve itself as the concrete bridge pylons won't actually be put through the grass on the Basin, just a few round the edge. What you oh-so-clever and cynical lot seem to fail to realize is that the levels for the proposed overpass would tie in perfectly from the entry to the current tunnel, flying pretty much straight across the end part of the basin reserve, about 20m up so the noise and the cars won’t disturb you, and then land neatly on the edge of Tory St . What’s wrong with that? The bypass won’t be going to spoil anything on the Reserve itself as the concrete bridge pylons won’t actually be put through the grass on the Basin, just a few round the edge.

]]> By: Rondo http://eyeofthefish.org/memorial-parkway/#comment-6847 Rondo Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:24:10 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=586#comment-6847 So, "every mayor loves a memorial"? I reckon that Kerry P has done a good job, held it all together, albiet nothing too outstanding. But surely even Kerry would be aiming higher as a memorial than a traffic-choked overbridge? Would it be called the Prendergast Bypass? Or the KerryAerial? I'm pretty sure it won't be the Iona Pannet overpass.... So, “every mayor loves a memorial”? I reckon that Kerry P has done a good job, held it all together, albiet nothing too outstanding. But surely even Kerry would be aiming higher as a memorial than a traffic-choked overbridge? Would it be called the Prendergast Bypass? Or the KerryAerial? I’m pretty sure it won’t be the Iona Pannet overpass….

]]> By: Rampant http://eyeofthefish.org/memorial-parkway/#comment-6799 Rampant Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:04:48 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=586#comment-6799 Hmm... it will be a steep drop from a flyover over Cambridge Terrace to a tunnel under the lovely new park. Lots of out of control commuters plunging into the bowels, so to speak. Especially fun with said tunnel ending at the Taranaki Street traffic lights of death and piles of traffic all queued up in the tunnel. Ouchies from behind. Just another example of teeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrible road design ala Victoria Street. Might have got the park built by now if the Council and the Minister could agree on the pingers but every mayor loves a memorial... Hmm… it will be a steep drop from a flyover over Cambridge Terrace to a tunnel under the lovely new park. Lots of out of control commuters plunging into the bowels, so to speak. Especially fun with said tunnel ending at the Taranaki Street traffic lights of death and piles of traffic all queued up in the tunnel. Ouchies from behind. Just another example of teeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrible road design ala Victoria Street. Might have got the park built by now if the Council and the Minister could agree on the pingers but every mayor loves a memorial…

]]> By: Maximus http://eyeofthefish.org/memorial-parkway/#comment-6791 Maximus Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:35:20 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=586#comment-6791 I wonder if anyone from the Council could clarify the timeline as regards to the traffic planning around the Basin and the Memorial Park? I wonder if anyone from the Council could clarify the timeline as regards to the traffic planning around the Basin and the Memorial Park?

]]> By: peasoup http://eyeofthefish.org/memorial-parkway/#comment-6755 peasoup Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:26:03 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=586#comment-6755 davidp - you are so wrong about the Basin not being required for cricket. Where have you been? The last day of the test match is tomorrow by the way. But your idea of Buckle Street aka Karo Drive being 'undergrounded' is on the money. kent - I agree - a tunnel would be a far better answer. The best solution I have heard is to drill a new east to west tunnel from Hataitai aka Whataitai to Adelaide Road. It could start near the road that leads to the tennis / netball / softball / velodrome. Then run under the hill deep below the Government House lawn and exit at Drummond Street and onto Adelaide Road. This would firstly solve the tunnel bottle neck, and secondly require east to west traffic to only use the the SW quadrant of the Basin roundabout. Currently this traffic has to use the SE quadrant as well. Grap a map and draw the route yourself - it seems very simple. The existing tunnel could then be used for only west to east traffic and a cycleway. It avoids the need for the overpass and the massive negative impact this would have on the Basin and its surroundings. davidp – you are so wrong about the Basin not being required for cricket. Where have you been? The last day of the test match is tomorrow by the way. But your idea of Buckle Street aka Karo Drive being ‘undergrounded’ is on the money.

kent – I agree – a tunnel would be a far better answer. The best solution I have heard is to drill a new east to west tunnel from Hataitai aka Whataitai to Adelaide Road. It could start near the road that leads to the tennis / netball / softball / velodrome. Then run under the hill deep below the Government House lawn and exit at Drummond Street and onto Adelaide Road. This would firstly solve the tunnel bottle neck, and secondly require east to west traffic to only use the the SW quadrant of the Basin roundabout. Currently this traffic has to use the SE quadrant as well. Grap a map and draw the route yourself – it seems very simple. The existing tunnel could then be used for only west to east traffic and a cycleway. It avoids the need for the overpass and the massive negative impact this would have on the Basin and its surroundings.

]]> By: Kent http://eyeofthefish.org/memorial-parkway/#comment-6754 Kent Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:22:38 +0000 http://eyeofthefish.org/?p=586#comment-6754 Maximus - The OIA stuff is a work in progress, for sure. NZTA replied to my request with "we have nothing other than the public documents, and besides, the rest is commercially sensitive since we paid Opus to do it." The Ombudsman didn't believe them either and is currently investigating. Given that Opus have been paid to do all the heavy lifting on the Basin Reserve flyover - they've apparently done the design, the impact assessment and the traffic modeling - it does rather beg the question why we bother having a "NZ Transport Agency" at all. I feel some redundancies and a few million dollars in savings coming on .... Maximus – The OIA stuff is a work in progress, for sure. NZTA replied to my request with “we have nothing other than the public documents, and besides, the rest is commercially sensitive since we paid Opus to do it.” The Ombudsman didn’t believe them either and is currently investigating.

Given that Opus have been paid to do all the heavy lifting on the Basin Reserve flyover – they’ve apparently done the design, the impact assessment and the traffic modeling – it does rather beg the question why we bother having a “NZ Transport Agency” at all. I feel some redundancies and a few million dollars in savings coming on ….

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