Human Thinking vs Automation: Auckland’s $800M Stormwater Gamble
🧠 💧Human Thinking vs Automation: Auckland’s $800M Stormwater Gamble
I reviewed Auckland Council’s justification for their proposed 2025 development contributions, and the $800 million stormwater investment for Glenn Innes raised my eyebrows:
~ $600 million to be paid by new homes
~ $200 million to be paid by ratepayers
⛈️ Their memo claims most small lots have 80% ground coverage with nowhere for rainwater absorption. But this directly contradicts planning rules we must follow.
Critical Thinking: Our Human Advantage 🔍
The fundamental issue? Relying on data without applying human critical reasoning:
✅ Council claims small lots increased from 58% impervious (2008) to 78% impervious now
✅ Did anyone ask (other than me): “Does this make sense given our strict planning requirements?”
Where Human Judgment Was Bypassed:
1️⃣ Their 80% coverage conclusion comes from aerial surveys (Healthy Waters Report, Sept 2022 and TR 2010/037).
🤔 Who asked the question, “what are these surfaces?”
🤔 Critical thinking would ask: “can we distinguish permeable concrete from impermeable surfaces from above?”
🤔 Small lots must maintain 40% permeable surface area – they do it via permeable coverage, it isn’t like there is heaps of space so innovative landscaping is needed.
💡 Human expertise recognizes technology’s limitations and verifies findings
2️⃣ Their claim about no stormwater tanks shows the danger of siloed thinking
🤔 Human collaboration between departments would have instantly flagged this error
🤔Experienced developers know new developments MUST provide tanks
⚡ We Need Thinking Humans, Not Just Systems 💼
⚡ We must cross check information before committing millions in public money.
⚡ What makes us human is our ability to connect disparate information, apply context, and question results that contradict experience. No automated system can replace this critical thinking.
⚡ I don’t accept the status quo. People like me were taught by greater people to think about connections and apply findings to reality. Let’s use technology to enhance our thinking, not replace it.
