Thakur Ranjit Singh
Auckland, December 23, 2017
While the mainstream media is oblivious, ‘Fiji Pundit;’ is again raising an issue that escaped their radar.
Perhaps they are too busy muckraking over who mistakes that our PM as somebody else’s wife. So, we tackle something important and relevant to all of us.
Auckland Council appears to be promoting a new culture of drinking water from toilets. This is because, planning of Council facilities are bereft of any human, health, hygienic or public-need considerations.
We do not have free drinking water at all railway and bus stations network, except two. There are no separate taps or drinking fountains that you drink in toilets.
Bigger Irony
The bigger irony is that the Western Springs Lakeside Park, built on the site of former Auckland Reservoir, which provided water to early settlers, is as dry as Sahara Desert. None of its fountains in the park walkways has running water. Another irony is that the $28-million-dollar Otahuhu bus and rail station, opened in October 2016 and won an award, also has no drinking fountains.
People are forced to drink from toilets, as no separate hygienic free water is available at any of Auckland’s bus and train stations (except two).
Council ignores letter
This article was written seven months ago, in April 2017, and sent to all councillors, Mayor Phil Goff and Auckland Council Chief Executive. But as usual, it seems to have ended in the Council trash bin.
That is why I am rekindling this water issue as the summer heat makes us thirsty, and we have a new Government which can whip a dead horse – the Auckland Council. This is because the Super City’s Mayor is Labour’s former leader.
Not a drop to drink
You travel on a train or a bus network from Waitakere Station in West Auckland to Pukekohe via Papakura (including Sylvia Park network) in South. If you have an empty water bottle, you will find no place to fill, except in Auckland toilets.
The same thing applies if you travel on Northern Busway, from Albany Station to all stations (Constellation, Sunnynook, Smales Farm and Akoranga) to the city.
In Britomart, you now have a sole fountain for hundreds of thousands of commuters and visitors. New Lynn has a low-pressured lone drinking fountain. That is the sum in Auckland- just two.
As mentioned earlier, the most recent multi-million-dollar showpieces at Otahuhu and Panmure stations are also ‘dry.’
Auckland, as a supposedly most liveable city needs to live up to that name.
Children affected
Health and well-being of its citizens is it prime priorities.
Free water contributes to healthy bodies.
Tens of thousands of school children use these facilities, and are encouraged to buy frizzy and sugary drinks instead of free water supply in a country overflowing with so much water.
Ironically New Zealand does not blink an eye to give free water to overseas companies who profit on our natural resources.
Yet, our city is unable to provide it to us.
Some stations, apart from pricy water, also sell fizzy products and supposedly healthy gluten and fat-free products, but fail to provide water fountains. Does Auckland Council have shares in these companies selling water at twice the price of petrol?
Suggestion to Mayor
I suggest Mayor Phil Goff to take a ride on his motorbike, thirsty and with an empty water bottle, and verify where you can have clean free fill or drink of water, away from a toilet.
The Mayor can have the new Health Minister, Dr David Parker Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta in tow to give them a first-hand look at wanting Super City.
The Fijian Example
I suggest that Mr Goff also sends Auckland City planners on a junket to Fiji, a Third World Country to see how we do it there.
All Fiji municipality markets and bus stations throughout Fiji have separate pipes and free water for its thirsty citizens -not in toilets.
Fiji may be poor, but its decision-makers have a heart, compassion for the people who pay their salaries.
Cash-strapped municipalities in Fiji can teach Auckland Council how to manage people facilities. We can teach them a lot, if they listen.
Public transport network in Fiji municipalities do not make our people to drink from toilets.
Thakur Ranjit Singh runs ‘Fiji Pundit,’ his blog site and ‘Auckland Council Watch’ on Facebook, where the above article has been posted. Mr Singh is a voracious reader, researches his topic well before commenting on them. His views may not always find favour with the concerned people or some of his readers, but he remains unaffected.
