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Common sense decision by Wellington City Council on Petone to Grenada Rd

Date: April 16, 2015
Author: Kokopu
Categories: Comment, Proposed NZTA motorway

On 14th April 2015, the Wellington City Council voted a strong (11/4) position on the Petone to Grenada Road proposal, and the last minute additions of either widening SH1 past Tawa (option C), or a new road through Takapu Valley (option D).

Their decision was to SUPPORT the Petone to Grenada Link Road proposal (which will be the largest road building exercise in Wellington City for decades), but NOT SUPPORT the last minute additions.

Clearly the case for Option C and Option D doesn’t exist.  Especially with the Takapu Valley Road option, where more scrutiny simply uncovers more environmental and social damage, that doesn’t equate with the small benefits claimed by NZTA.  Also, NZTA’s & OPUS’s own traffic modelling says volumes past Tawa will be fine until at least 2030. There are also serious concerns about NZTA’s analysis errors that mistakenly promoted the worst option (D) into first place.

It’s also becoming clear the massive interchange being designed at Tawa will be a huge weak link, and likely create its own congestion, which is becoming a concern with observers.  Councillors were concerned about this, and are strongly recommending that the P2G junction with SH1 should occur further south towards Churton Park.

Most people should be happy with this, as it’s a positive step to get on and build the Road aimed at removing congestion from Ngauranga Gorge.

Of course there will be misguided detractors – the Wellington Employers Chamber made a hash of a press release yesterday, but it mostly shows they don’t get the decision at all, as most of the commenters point out.  Some go further to suggest that John Milford was merely doing a favour for his predecessor Raewyn Bleakley – who is now the NZTA staffer responsible for the project.  Which if true wouldn’t surprise onlookers, as the behaviour of NZTA in Wellington has been very questionable of late – and heavily criticised by the Hon. Peter Dunne

Throughout the marathon council deliberations it became clear that Councillors had been fed a very one sided officials paper that talked only about traffic volumes and infrastructure details, without mention of the huge impacts amassing, especially with option D Takapu. Several Councillors chastised the poor quality.  It left councillors to have to research out the facts for themselves.  We’re very grateful that they did.

Transmission Gully Road changes traffic flows north from Wellington – SH1 vs SH2 (& SH58)

Date: April 7, 2014
Author: Kokopu
Categories: Analysis, Comment, Proposed NZTA motorway

We were wondering what Transmission Gully Road would do to Wellington traffic flows once completed?  Transmission Gully will shift the main Wellington northern corridor east, bissecting SH58 at Judgeford.  What would this mean if you were a truck heading north from Wellington? Save for a few traffic lights on SH2, your route is clearly much better via SH2 and SH58 for fuel economy and wear and tear (see blue line below).  So why are NZTA saying they need to invest $50-150m on extra capacity between Tawa and Porirua (SH1 widening or bulldozing rural Takapu Valley to make a ridiculous short parallel motorway), when for much less money they could remove traffic lights and fix a few bad corners on SH58?

Transmission Gully changes to traffic flows SH1 vs SH2 north from Wellington

Transmission Gully changes to traffic flows SH1 vs SH2 north from Wellington

These sudden proposals (options C and D) have arrived without Council knowledge and have totally circumvented the regional and district planning process.  It’s clear to see that they’re being rushed through with haste by NZTA with no regard to wider regional needs.  We say build Transmission Gully, and build Petone to Grenada Road if necessary, but wait to see what will happen before destroying communities and a whole rural valley.

NZTA tell us traffic volumes are going to miraculously skyrocket after Transmission Gully sending much more traffic past Tawa.  We find this incredibly hard to imagine given traffic volumes have been dropping in Wellington, and when this elevation infographic diagram above suggests that Hutt Traffic (and possibly much Wellington Traffic) will prefer SH2/SH58 (over SH1 past Tawa) to Levin and beyond, further reducing flows.

Overall, this adhoc major infrastructure building by NZTA in road project silos is not serving the Wellington Region well.  All these roads need to be put through a proper established strategic planning framework.

Petone to Grenada Link Road ‘Takapu Motorway tack on’ has big recreation implications for Belmont Regional Park

Date: March 17, 2014
Author: Kokopu
Categories: Analysis, Comment, Environment, Recreation

NZTA plans for a new motorway through Takapu Valley (option D), by tacking it onto the Petone to Grenada Link Road, has major implications for Wellington’s outdoor recreation users.

The proposed ‘Takapu Motorway – option D’ will effectively cut off the key access points to western Belmont Regional Park, leaving only southern and eastern points.  These access points are important for mountain bikers, trampers, walkers and horse riders, with the carpark often overflowing on sunny weekends.

Belmont Regional Park access issues by proposed NZTA Takapu Motorway (option D)

Belmont Regional Park access issues by proposed NZTA Takapu Motorway (option D)

We know the Greater Wellington Region is very proud of this park, so loosing these access points is of great concern.  The whole plan has arrived suddenly, doesn’t exist in any district planning, is being driven with haste, will have little consultation, compared to Transmission Gully and the Petone to Grenada Roads which have had decades of consultation.  This is madness.

“Ōhariu MP Peter Dunne is calling on NZTA to drop altogether proposals for a link road between the Transmission Gully Highway and the planned Petone to Grenada road “until it gets its act together.” 

We think the impacts on recreation in the Wellington Region also warrant a major rethink about this sudden adhoc last minute tack onto the Petone to Grenada Link Road.

Roads of National Significance – Greenfields to Motorway by stealth – Takapu Motorway

Date: February 20, 2014
Author: Kokopu
Categories: Comment, NZTA behaviour, Proposed NZTA motorway

NZTA quietly decided the Petone to Grenada Link Road would become a Road of National Signficance (RoNS).  The minute note below shows.

This is very signficant.  It means that the road does not have to meet the same cost benefit analysis of other roads, and also gets fast tracked through planning and consent processes and environmental safeguards.

NZTA have suddenly tacked a ‘Takapu Motorway’ (Option D) onto the Petone to Grenada link Road (P2G).  The P2G has been discussed since 1975. In contrast the Takapu Valley Motorway was dropped on residents, farmers and landowners a mere 3 weeks ago out of thin air!  It exists in no planning or consultation documents publically available!  NZTA are giving 6 weeks consultation to fight a motorway from a cold start.  Is this how NZ works these days?

By virtue of NZTA quietly adding P2G to the RoNS (somehow they’re saying the P2G road is in the Wellington Northern Corridor [Wgtn Airport to Levin]), and then suddenly tacking a while new ‘blue sky’ Takapu Motorway on at the last minute, you get from green fields to 4 lane motorway with no District Plan, Strategic Traffic Planning, fair public process, or regard for communities.

Amazingly brazzen feat of total disregard for public process and democracy by New Zealand’s largest Government Ministry

5c
Update from the 28 October 2009 State Highways Board Committee meeting
Resolved:That the New Zealand Transport Agency Board:
Wellington Northern Corridor (Levin to Wellington) Route of National Significance: State Highway/local road considerationa.APPROVES that the Petone–Grenada Link be included in the definition of the Levin toWellington Road of National Significance (RoNS);
b.AGREES to keep the Committee report in Committee until it has made a decision on the overall scope of the Levin to Wellington RoNS and the Minister of Transport has announced the Levin to Wellington RoNS
As I write this, the Petone to Grenada Road website says P2G IS a RoNS project and outlines its tenious link, while the RoNS website map show P2G ISN’T a RoNS?  I expect this to change or the links to die, as we’re fast discovering that NZTA are good at manipulating what they share with the public online.

Wellington City Council trying to throw Porirua City & Hutt City Councils under the bus?

Date: February 11, 2014
Author: Kokopu
Categories: Analysis, Media Release, Proposed NZTA motorway

MEDIA RELEASE:

MAP DETAILS LAST MINUTE CHANGE OF PLAN TO TRANSMISSION GULLY ROUTE – LOCALS DISCOVER

Takapu Valley residents have uncovered a last minute plan by Wellington City Council and the New Zealand Transport Authority, to ‘throw Porirua City and Hutt City under the bus’ with 11th hour Transmission Gully plan changes that will see the motorway diverted straight through the Takapu Valley community, with minimal time for consultation or appeal.

Takapu Valley residents found out last week that NZTA have plans to build a new motorway through many homes and farms, to link Grenada North to Transmission Gully bypassing traffic around Porirua.

“The Wellington City Council is blindsiding the community, by attempting to take the freight and warehousing industry from Hutt City by stealth with major implications for businesses, industry and livelihoods in the Hutt Valley.” said Richard Brown, spokesperson for concerned Takapu Valley locals.

Takapu residents discovered the 11th hour change of plan when New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) officials apparently accidentally left a map which illustrates the change of plans, while visiting a resident.

Further research has uncovered an unusual agreement signed between the Wellington Mayor and NZTA on 20 Dec 2013, just before Christmas last year, explicitly stating the goal to:

‘Strengthen Wellington’s [City] strategic location as a freight hub by improving the efficiency of freight movements to, through and beyond Wellington.’

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said “This Accord enables us to remain inside the tent for important transport programmes and projects…”, and “…this agreement is a sign Wellington is open for business.”

IMPLICATIONS FOR HUTT CITY COUNCIL

Once the Petone to Grenada North road is finished, by linking Grenada North to Transmission Gully via the proposed Takapu Valley motorway, Wellington City will have the space, location and link to develop Grenada North into the new logistics hub. This sudden new Takapu Valley motorway we’ve discovered is key to making it happen.  “It will bleed Hutt City dry of businesses and rates if WCC gets its way with this proposal” said Mr Brown, “I’d be worried if I was the Hutt City Mayor”.

“No wonder there are so many closed door last minute meetings. It’s a sudden last minute move to announce bulldozing of Takapu Valley.  This is a killer move by the Wellington Mayor, a total blind-siding of her neighbouring councils,” said Mr Brown.

“The new Grenada to Transmission Gully road (Takapu Valley) has suddenly appeared overnight despite Transmission Gully planning of 20 years; its secretive, it’s weird and looks like it’s extremely rushed to approve it before the election.”

Locals are understandably concerned that a major new road appears in no public planning or strategy documents and is now being rushed through urgently. “They’re restarting their plans that were stopped by commonsense in 1990 by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Helen Hughes; they’re being underhand” said Mr Brown.

“So, what are they really up to?” asked Mr Brown, “It looks like Wellington City Council has done a quick and dirty deal to ram a new motorway through Takapu Valley in order to take Hutt City business and rates. We suspect the transport lobby is behind this as well”.

PORIRUA CITY WON’T FARE MUCH BETTER THAN HUTT CITY

“The suddenly proposed Takapu Valley motorway will cut the Porirua City off from Transmission Gully traffic flow, option D on the secret map clearly shows this.  NZTA have said is their preferred option”.  “Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett would have to be very concerned; it’s something Porirua Mayors have fought against for at least 20 years.”

WELLINGTON SUPER CITY NEEDED NOW                     

“It looks like Wellington City Council could be stealing from the Hutt and Porirua Councils, for their own ends. Clearly Wellington Region urgently needs a super city council to put an end to this madness – that’s the only conclusion we can make from the evidence available”

Takapu Valley residents are upset and angry about the lack of consultation with them, the community who will be directly affected by such a change of plan.  They’re also angry that they’re being pitted against Tawa Residents who could lose their homes in option C. “We feel for them too”.

Ends

Available:

1) Map left by NZTA (.pdf file)

2) High resolution photo of Takapu Valley (.jpg file)

3) High resolution mock up photo of Takapu Valley with motorway (.jpg file)

NOTES:

  • Takapu Valley, near Tawa, is one of the last remaining close knit rural communities in Wellington City. Some farms go back to the 1800’s and have been in continuous family ownership.
  • WCC – NZTA Xmas agreement announcement: (http://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/news/2013/12/wellington-city-and-nzta-to-sign-accord)
  • Transmission Gully was planned and consulted over 20 years. Grenada to Transmission Gully (Takapu valley) will have a mere 6 weeks consultation period with an urgent decision timetabled before the general election.
  • There is no reference to the new Grenada to Transmission Gully road (Takapu Valley) in any planning document publicly available. Why is such a large roading project invisible to the public and being created suddenly without strategic planning?
  • The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) Helen Hughes’ Report into Transmission Gully recommended that Takapu Valley be saved from roading, hence recommending the current Linden/Kenepuru start to TG.
  • Following the PCE report, the Greater Wellington Regional Council (WRC at the time) Report further recommended protection from Transmission Gully for Takapu Valley for environmental and social reasons, recommending the current Linden/Kenepuru start to TG.
  • The Transmission Gully start was moved to Linden because of these reports, NZTA are now looking to build both, with no recourse to previous reports.