Brownlee determined that Christchurch should suffer too

Written By: - Date published: 2:45 pm, April 19th, 2017 - 25 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, Gerry Brownlee, local government, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, useless - Tags: , , , , ,

Gerry Brownlee, as short-sighted, bullying, and ignorant as ever:

Govt threatens to pull funding for Chch downtown plan

The government is threatening to cancel its funding for a plan to make central Christchurch more pedestrian and cycle friendly if changes are not made.

Yes, gods forbid that the people of Christchurch should get to make their own decisions. Gods forbid they should create a person friendly central city.

The Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Gerry Brownlee, said the government was paying 60 percent of the funding for the Accessible City plan, but last week he was granted authorisation by Cabinet to suspend its funding.

Mr Brownlee said the plan, which has been partially implemented, risked creating a dysfunctional central city.

“Its absurd. I’m hearing all the time from people who are going to have lunch or coffee in the central city and simply can’t park their car. … He said he was constantly hearing from people who have tried to visit the central city but could not find a park.

Christchurch rebuilt must suffer the same central traffic madness as Auckland. Thus decrees Gerry Brownlee. Maybe he read this in the paper – and didn’t get it…

25 comments on “Brownlee determined that Christchurch should suffer too ”

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  1. Carolyn_nth 1
    19 April 2017 at 3:26 pm

    Think of your heart, Gerry. Walking will be good for it…. if you have one?

  2. Ad 2
    19 April 2017 at 3:41 pm

    Christchurch – unlike Auckland – doesn’t have nearly 100,000 apartment dwellers in walking distance.

    I don’t like him, but maybe he’s right on this one.

    • arkie 2.1
      19 April 2017 at 3:44 pm

      No but there are Central City residents and there used to be far more.

      • Ad 2.1.1
        19 April 2017 at 4:06 pm

        Its a new, far more polycentric city. The city centre will only survive with cars.

        The height limits are now too tight for the scale of apartments that could drive pedestrian growth.

        I know he killed off light rail as well – he’s no saint – but he’s representing the new Chch urban realm.

        • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1
          19 April 2017 at 4:22 pm

          The city centre will only survive with cars.

          And once the cars are gone through either people not being able to afford cars, just can’t stand the trying to get through the traffic jam or Peak Oil how will the city centre do then?

          but he’s representing the new Chch urban realm.

          No he’s not.

          Like Toderian, Montgomery was moved by stories he heard in Christchurch when he visited in April. And he too saw a disconnection between the local and the national.

          “The stories I heard, of people who came together to help their neighbours, and to create a new vision for the city, contrasted really sharply with the rubbishing of the collective plan by your national government and the imposition of a plan from outside.”

          He’s doing what all National Party MPs do – enforcing a dystopian vision from the top and getting upset when the people reject it.

        • Skeptic 2.1.1.2
          20 April 2017 at 3:00 pm

          As someone who until last year was working in the central city on the rebuild projects, I can confirm that you’re spot on Ad. The local joke is Chch -the Donut City (in place of the Garden City) – everything – people, businesses and malls – are all in the suburbs. Guess what – they ain’t coming back into the city – in the suburbs they’ve got parking, shops, parks and a reasonably quick ring route to get you home in 30 – 40 mins. And you’re dead right – nobody, but nobody will work anyplace above two stories – they’re too bloody scared.

          The only people who work in the city are those that have to – and they hate it – no parks (other than fucking Wilsons rip-offs), 30 kph speed limit, constantly shifting cones for road works, continuous re-routing because of “temporary” crane/loading/surfacing work etc. Cops, Courts, Hospitals & a few Govt Depts is about all – other than tradies that is.

          Problem with Brownnutjob is that he wants the city to revitalise for his business mates – and it just isn’t going to happen – not until the East Frame Housing Project gets going and people start to live there – or until they get that sports centre up and running. Until then it’s going to be Govt workers, small boutique shops, food places, a few bars and bugger all else. South City Mall is as dead as a dodo – Cashel Container Mall is a tourist trap, so the only thing people can see is the street art – which is pretty good actually.

    • AncientGeek 2.2
      19 April 2017 at 5:18 pm

      Yeah but we didn’t either when I moved in 20 years ago. Population in the town area out to ponsonby was about 5k-10k in apartments. Now we have more than 50k and heading for 100k depending on what you define as an apartment.

      The idea about gown planning is to plan for the future. Brownlee has problems with that.

    • lprent 2.3
      19 April 2017 at 5:31 pm

      Yeah Ad,but we didn’t either when I moved in to the city fringe 20 years ago. Population in the town area out to ponsonby was about 5k-10k in apartments.

      Now we have more than 50k and heading for 100k depending on what you define as an apartment. The blocks around us have about 500 in a wee corner of Newton.

      The idea about gown planning is to plan for the future. Brownlee has problems with that.

      [Hey you keep going into moderation … – MS]

    • Chris 2.4
      21 April 2017 at 1:34 am

      Brownlee’s too thick to ever be correct. He’s a mouthpiece for ideologically driven gits he’s also too thick to understand. And he’s a fucking bullying pig, to boot. Gerry Brownlee has never since becoming a National MP been anything more than this.

  3. ropata 3
    19 April 2017 at 3:59 pm

    The people making transport decisions live in a cosseted world of luxury BMWs and do not mingle with plebs who walk around in public places and use other modes of transport

  4. Sable 4
    19 April 2017 at 4:14 pm

    I’m no fan of National but there’s a reasonable point being made here. Finding a park for the car in Wellington can best be described as a nightmare at times. There are places for cyclists which I applaud but there are often too few places to park, especially on the weekend.

    I do not see why Chch can’t accommodate both? Its all well to talk about walking and cycling but when you have a family its not that easy and not everyone lives in the CBD. Worse still having cars sitting idling while frustrated people look for places to park adds to congestion and pollution. It also plays into the hands of private paid parking rather than the free public alternative.

    I’d say people should be more concerned about the rise of the zombie TPPA being considered by the likes of NZ and Japan.

    • ropata 4.1
      19 April 2017 at 4:23 pm

      WTF mate if you can’t be bothered paying for a car park then don’t drive into the city. Car drivers have this ridiculous sense of entitlement. Choking cities with cars is the #1 enemy of livability and people friendly cities. Kids should be able to walk around safely in public spaces don’t you think?

      And here’s another example of drivers complaining about the 30K speed limit. You do realise that the road toll is one of the leading causes of death in NZ?
      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/298920/chch-businesses-worry-over-lower-speeds

      And here’s another example of Kiwi drivers’ bad attitude

      Zebra crossings are optional pic.twitter.com/HnbKkDHRXE— Richard Ashurst (@RichardjAshurst) April 18, 2017

      And here’s what Brownlee wants for Christchurch

      Auckland's transport crisis: How it was made, and why it will only get worse https://t.co/u09kUV2Wom via @nzherald— Ben Ross (@BenRoss_AKL) April 18, 2017

    • Brendon 4.2
      19 April 2017 at 9:48 pm

      Exactly Ropata -cars consume an enormous amount of space -both when in motion and when parked. If their owners do not want to pay for this space -then they shouldn’t be using this transport option…… there are lots of other options -walking, biking, buses, light rail, train -these are all more space efficient.

      In the coming decades with the expected growth of Canterbury there will be 80,000 more private vehicles. Many/most will want to drive/park in the existing Christchurch streetscape. More cars into the same space equals more congestion, more battles about parking, more sneaky tricks to get others to subsidise Brownlee and co’s addiction to the motor-vehicle…..

  5. Adrian 5
    19 April 2017 at 4:36 pm

    If Brownlee really has been influenced by those two stories then he must be thicker than even previously assumed . They are obviously a pisstake, just read them before the knee jerk high dudgeon kicks in.

  6. Johnr 6
    19 April 2017 at 7:01 pm

    The man is a disgrace to the human race. If he perhaps, upon his demise, wanted to be thought of more kindly he could donate his body to the production of lard. Think of the yield people, should fit into the natz, money at all costs, philosophy

    • Whispering Kate 6.1
      19 April 2017 at 8:42 pm

      Johnr – you are fat shaming – I have been reminded on this site to watch my p’s and q’s about fat shaming members of parliament – be told my friend you may get your hand smacked by the moderators.

      • Johnr 6.1.1
        20 April 2017 at 5:22 pm

        You’re correct WK, which is ironic given I’m a bit portly myself, also I played the man not the ball. But, the man’s arrogance, blatant lying and general incompetence drives me nuts. I plead provocation

  7. Keith 7
    20 April 2017 at 6:33 am

    They are still rebuilding Christchurch? I say “they” because the National Party inc assumed full control a long time back but 6 years later it drags on with the usual threats and myopic 1950’s vision.

    Still voters there reward National by voting for them faithfully, rebuild or not, how they want or not, (party vote especially), so the Nats can do what they want, when they want, how they want.

    You get what you vote for people!

    • Skeptic 7.1
      20 April 2017 at 2:39 pm

      Nah – that’s just the Fendalltonites who live in the Ilam electorate – the rest of Chch is red mate

      • Tamati Tautuhi 7.1.1
        20 April 2017 at 4:00 pm

        …. but Party Vote National?

        • Skeptic 7.1.1.1
          20 April 2017 at 4:47 pm

          Unfortunately too true – but I’m an optimist – I put that down to the “Key” factor – far too many people did a red/blue or green/blue vote split. Almost all prior elections have seen Chch mainly red.

  8. Dialey 8
    23 April 2017 at 1:31 pm

    The problem with Brownlee and the Nat government and their supporters is they are unable to see alternatives. Enlightened folk look to at other countries and other cities which have successfully embarked on innovative alternatives to the car defined city. Walkable cities are the key to the future. Have a listen to Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City speak on TED.
    https://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_speck_the_walkable_city