Cities’ Spat Threatens Transmission Gully
October 16th, 2008
The shortcomings of the mish-mash of funding sources for Transmission Gully Motorway has been exposed again with a rift between Wellington and Porirua City Councils threatening to delay the project again. The spat centres on Porirua’s plans to allow the development of a business park in the Pauatahanui/Judgeford area, near where a motorway interchange would connect the route with State Highway 58. Wellington City Council claims development could include a retail centre which would draw customers away from Porirua, the Hutt Valley and even inner-city Wellington shopping. Some Wellington City Councillors are so incensed at the proposal they are threatening to withdraw their support for Wellington’s contribution to the cost of the $1bn road.
Agreement Hangs In Balance. Wellington City Council claims development near the motorway is “inconsistent” with its conditional acceptance of the route. Councillor Andy Foster says the Council’s acceptance of the Gully plan will be withdrawn if certain conditions – including no development near the proposed highway’s interchange – are breached. Wellington Mayor, Kerry Prendergast, addes her Council’s submission is “reminding [Porirua] of the commitment we made.” Porirua had agreed to no intensive development in the area if the highway is built. Wellington’s outburst has provoked an angry response from Porirua City with Deputy Mayor Litea Ah Hoi saying Wellington will not stop Porirua growing. The only way such disputes can be overcome and avoided in the future is to take the funding of such major projects out of the control of Local Authorities all together. Look for growing calls for responsibility for funding such projects to be controlled solely by NZ Transport Agency.
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