Let's listen to Jeff

When the leaders of our city are prancing around proposing giant plastic wakas and oversized glass slugs, you know things aren't too good. When a former leader, Christine Fletcher, demands that the old Mt Eden Prison be turned into an "arts centre" (puke), it becomes obvious that things are pretty bad.

So it sure is refreshing to hear the advice of an outsider, particularly one who has been successful.

Jeff Kennett, a former premier of Victoria, was in Auckland a few weeks ago. He's the kind of politician that makes John Key look like a fairy, and Len Brown a circus clown.

Former Victorian Premier, Jeff Kennett.
Adelaide Now (2011)

He was in Auckland addressing a group of businessman, giving them ideas on how we can make Auckland into a (bear the overused phrase) "world class" city. Jeff Kennett is the sort of guy we should really listen to. A Liberal Party (like our National Party, only with guts) premier from 1992-1999, he is largely credited with kick starting Melbourne's grand revival.

Jeff Kennett inherited a city, and state, that was in much economic trouble, like New Zealand today. However, he quickly balanced the state's books, and poured much investment into Melbourne.

Here are three of his legacies in Melbourne:

Federation Square


Controversial and hideous to some, this was done to give Melbourne the town square it never had. Personally, I think it is bold and beautiful. It really makes a statement. Aotea Square looks like something out of communist Moscow in comparison.

Federation Square during a celebration.
Fed Square Pty Ltd. (2008)

Federation Square by day.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

Inside Federation Square.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

Federation Square Pavement.
Lab Architecture Studio (2003), in Brown-May, D. and Day, N. (2003)

Architectural detail of Federation Square. There are 22,073 tiles on the facade of Federation Square (Brown-May and Norman, 2003: 81).
Image: NGV Australia (2003), in Brown-May, D. and Day, N. (2003)

It was built over railway tracks from 1996-2002, knocking out two ugly towers in the process. I could think of many buildings in Auckland I would like to see demolished for an open square.

The ugly buildings that Federation Square replaced.
Sievers, W. G. (1967), in Brown-May, D. and Day, N. (2003)

Federation Square has been successful. As well as being a large open space, it incorporates an art gallery (NGV), a centre celebrating Australian film (ACMI), television studios (SBS), an amphitheatre and many cafes and restaurants. Jeff Kennett's government made it happen.

Docklands

The Docklands development has utilised former derelict port land. It is a space where architects can truly be their weird, 'alternative' selves. It was Jeff Kennett's successful budgeting that gave his government enough money to start this project.

Docklands, Melbourne.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

Docklands, Melbourne.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010) 

Southbank


Prior to the 1990's, Melbourne had largely turned its back on the Yarra River. While this tea-coloured stream is not the most attractive water feature in the world, Melbourne has certainly made the most of it.

Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Mitchell, S. C. (Author) (2010)

Southbank is a dynamic pedestrian promenade that incorporates a casino, restaurants, shops and other forms of entertainment. Again, it was under Jeff Kennett that things actually happened.

Jeff Kennett obviously has a few clues. Melbourne is now a sought after place to live and visit. This year, it was ranked as being the 2nd most liveable city in the world (behind Vancouver) by The Economist (The Economist, 2011).

Whilst here, Jeff, very kindly, gave us a few tips for Auckland, which we badly need. Here are his ideas:

Use our connections with Helen Clark to get the United Nations to set up a Pacific headquarters in Auckland

Great, as long as it doesn't mean Helen Clark comes back with it. And that goes for her communist mates in New York too.

Auckland should have an Aussie Rules team

??? An odd one, but it could bring Australian tourists into Auckland.

Auckland should develop a cruise ship terminal

Thank you Jeff, Captain Obvious. This is one I can't believe has not been done already.

Build the CBD rail loop

Jeff said that Len Brown should just do it, regardless of whether Uncle John will open his wallet or not. Len Brown should find the money elsewhere, instead of whinging to the Government like a spoilt child wanting a new bike for Christmas. 

Build a convention centre

This may, in fact, actually be happening. The government is currently looking at proposals from a range of different parties.

Tear up the spatial plan (Yes!!!)

He didn't exactly use those words, but he said that the new Auckland "Unleashed" spatial plan has too many ideas. Jeff recommends choosing four to five ideas and doing them well. So much for Len Brown's 100 projects in 100 days mantra.

Jeff's experience in Auckland wasn't all smooth sailing. He was growled at by a bus driver for asking directions, which given the nightmarish complexity of our bus system, should be perfectly understandable. My advice: get a rental car next time. Hertz have some good specials. Auckland's public transit, in its current form, is not an experience I would invite any tourist to share.

So hopefully Len Brown listens to Mr. Kennett. The two of them had the chance to interact when they shared dinner together (probably using ratepayers money).

A dose of common sense is something the Auckland Council could really do with right now.

Details about Jeff Kennett's visit, and his premiership, were obtained from: THOMPSON, W. 2011. Growth Recipie: UN Agency and Aussie Rules [Online]. Available: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10715850 [Accessed 13/04/2011].

Details about, and pictures of Federation Square: BROWN-MAY, A. and DAY, N. 2003. Federation Square, Melbourne, Hardie Grant Books.

The Economist Ranking: THE ECONOMIST. 2011. Where the livin' is easiest [Online]. Available: http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/02/liveability_ranking [Accessed 13/03/2011].