West Auckland’s streets are constantly being ripped up, redesigned and reconfigured, seemingly at the drop of a hat, by the new Auckland Transport CCO. Rather than responding to the wishes of ratepayers, this is one Council Controlled Organisation that seems to deliberately thumb its nose at the people it is supposed to serve.
The latest, and possibly the straw that will break the camel’s back, are plans to redesign the major roundabout at the junction of Swanson Road, Universal Drive and Don Buck Rd.
Download pdf here : – Universal Swanson Consultation Plan 06122011
As shown here, plans include re-sculpting the centre island, adding a couple of lanes and installing speed bumps – on both entry AND exit lanes. Doubtless the bureaucratic Mandarins who readily take their share of our increasingly expensive rates as salary believe what they propose will benefit the thousands of West Aucklanders who commute daily through the intersection.
Doubtless in the long run that may be true and they really do have our best interests at heart, but in this instance the cart is well and truly in front of the horse.
To date there seems to have been little or no public consultation or indeed any mention of the disruption the works will cause. Not to mention that it looks suspiciously like the only people the proposed changes will really benefit are that small but influential cohort of Lycra clad 18 speed two wheeled dervishes that race down Don Buck hill on the weekends.