Survey Shows Support For Revised Motorway
September 11th, 2008
NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is crowing about the results of a survey on its revised Transmission Gully motorway. NZTA says nearly 90% of the almost 2400 submitters on the project gave it the green light although the exact rationale for the high level of support is unclear. The survey’s results probably highlight little more than support for a lower cost option which motorists may view as having less impact on their pockets rather than concerns about the greater environmental impact of the original higher cost option. Of course no option other than building a new road (spending $1bn on the parallel rail corridor for example) was included in the survey. Given the limited scope of the survey, whether or not a motorway is seen as the best long term option by Wellington region people to meet the city’s northern access problems will never be known.
More Landowners Affected. The latest plan for the long running motorway saga involves fewer bridges and viaducts and hugs ridgelines rather than passing through valleys but it affects 93 property owners, 30 more than the previous designation. It would also have an impact on the viability of Battle Hill Farm Forest Park, prompting calls for compensation from Greater Wellington Regional Council. Submissions on the route have now closed and staff are analysing each one, but only minor changes to the route are expected before a final plan is taken to the Transport Agency’s board at the end of the year. The Transport Agency has started work on the Resource Consent process – despite no decision on whether the inland highway will be built. Resource Consents could be applied for late next year.
FAST FACT: 88.5% – Percentage of submitters who support Transmission Gully motorway.
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