By Deanna Harris
Auckland’s traffic issues are under the spot light again and an environmental planning expert says it is New Zealand’s 10 acre dream which is fuelling the problem.
Waikato University professor of Environmental Planning, Bob Evans says New Zealand, like the world’s other prosperous economies, is continuing to pursue economic growth despite the long-term dangers.
“We’ve reached peak oil, there’s instability in the Middle East and demand is increasing, particularly in the booming economies of India and China. So we need to re-think how we plan and manage our cities,” he says.
Mr Evans has recently come to the Waikato from the UK where he was Director of the Sustainable Cities Research Institute at Northumbria University.
Mr Evans says New Zealand’s love of living in the country and single storey housing is using up vital natural resources and it will soon be unaffordable to drive long distances to work everyday.
After only a short time living in Hamilton he can already see transport problems are looming.
“Hamilton is sprawling and that means people here use their cars far more than they do in more compact cities. It seems to me on first impressions that people don’t walk so much here,” says Mr Evans.
“You’re not a big city but at rush hour you’re not far off gridlock in some places.”
He says that compared with the UK and other countries in Northern Europe, petrol is still relatively cheap in New Zealand, but that this won’t last.
“We need to deal with it now, before it becomes harder to deal with.”
He says it is not realistic for the public to drive the cultural change but the Government needs to work on the issue now.
Mr Evans says that New Zealand has a real chance to avoid the consequences of over-development and over-consumption that exist in Europe.
“New Zealand, with its small population, substantial renewable energy and natural resources, and stunning landscapes has a unique opportunity to secure a high quality of life for its people, sustainable for future generations.
“However, it will require some bold moves to change existing policy direction.”
The New Zealand Automobile Association has attacked the Auckland Council’s transport plans saying it will not be long until only the rich will be able to drive in New Zealand’s biggest city.
“The details of the Auckland spatial plan should be of concern to each and every motorist in Auckland,” says AA’s Auckland transport spokesperson, Simon Lambourne.
The plan proposes congestion charges, network access charges, a regional fuel tax, and levies on private parking spaces, as ways to pay for the Council’s public transport improvements.
These extra costs plus the rising cost of petrol will make private transport too expensive for many, says Mr Lambourne.
But a spokesman for Auckland Mayor Len Brown says this was one of many options being considered by the council.
There was nothing to suggest Auckland's motorists were being targeted, he said.
"We're at the start of a long consultation process about options for the new Auckland. We will be considering all options and it's very, very premature to suggest motorists are going to be targeted unfairly.”
Mr Evans says large cities similar to Auckland are having the same problem.
“Most cities of that size are having to invest in public transport and walking and cycling.”
Yesterday, problems were coming under scrutiny at the Intelligent Transport Systems summit.
The summit discussed how emerging technologies could improve road safety, reduce congestion and pollution while providing solutions and making best use of existing road infrastructure, ITS New Zealand president Deryk Whyte says.
Smart technology including car navigation, traffic signal control systems, variable message signs, automatic number plate recognition and speed cameras and advanced applications were all discussed.
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