Ohariu MP Peter Dunne says NZTA and Wellington local authority chief executives have done “a dirty deal behind the public’s back” over the proposed Petone to Grenada link road.
In January 2014 it was revealed NZTA was considering a road through Takapu Valley to link the proposed Petone to Grenada road to the Transmission Gully highway.
“A hostile public reaction forced NZTA to back off, and after a couple of open days and a very large public meeting in Tawa last April, NZTA agreed to consult more widely with local authorities and the affected public.
“It has not been seen in public on the issue since then, and at the same time all then local authorities expressed their opposition in varying degrees to NZTA’s plans,” Mr Dunne says.
However, Mr Dunne has now been made aware that a paper from NZTA and the chief executives of Wellington local authorities is to go before the Regional Transport Committee on March 9 recommending that the Takapu Valley go ahead after all.
A copy of the paper is attached.
“This is outrageous.
“NZTA and the faceless chief executives are utterly gutless – they have not had the courtesy or the courage to front up to local people on this issue since last April, and have arrogantly proceeded, behind the public’s back, with what they intended to do all along.
“It is an absolute disgrace, so I am calling on the Regional Transport Committee and the Greater Wellington Regional Council to reject the plans outright until and unless NZTA and its fellow Quislings can demonstrate that they have fully consulted with and involved local people in the decision making process.
“If the Committee does not reject the proposals, I will be seeking the intervention of the Minister of Transport to stop them.
“NZTA and the chief executives need to be brought to heel to realise they are public servants – not public bulldozers.
“They should never forget they are there to serve communities, not wreck and divide them,” Mr Dunne says.
PAPER
Report 15.41
Date 2 March 2015
File TP/03/29/02
Committee Regional Transport Committee
Author Chris Upton, Chair Chief Executives Forum
Proposed Petone to Grenada Link Road Options
1. Purpose
This report outlines the key issues considered and the conclusions reached by the Chief Executives Forum on the investigations of options for the proposed Petone to Grenada Link Road (P2G). This is to assist the Regional Transport Committee to provide advice to the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) on the region’s preferences.
2. Conclusions
The Chief Executives Forum has considered and discussed the matters set out in this report. Our conclusions are as follows:
• That the P2G link road is a vitally important project for the future of the region acknowledging that it improves east-west connectivity, resilience, land use integration, freight efficiency, relieves severe congestion and delivers substantial economic benefits.
• The wider economic development and urban development benefits of the P2G link road are substantial and will strengthen significantly the regional economy.
• There are opportunities for the surplus fill from the P2G Link Road to be used to support the proposed Wellington to Hutt Valley walking and cycling link. This would enable a wider (20m) reclamation to be pursued which would have additional benefits to resilience, walking and cycling, and future-proof for any later improvements to SH2 or the Hutt rail line.
• It is essential that the P2G Link Road be delivered as part of an integrated package of transport improvements, including a new Wellington to Hutt Valley walking and cycling link, a significant safety upgrade of SH58, SH2 corridor improvements and a new Cross Valley Link between SH2 and Seaview.
• There are opportunities to bring forward sections of the project to provide benefits to the wider strategic road network. The early construction of the grade separated Petone intersection is recommended as this would provide travel time benefits to existing SH2 users and the Petone Esplanade as well as enable an early start on the widening of the Petone to Ngauranga corridor.
• The impacts of the P2G Link Road on public transport patronage are considered minor. Improvements for public transport to mitigate these are possible.
• The P2G Link Road has the best benefit cost assessment of all New
Zealand major roading projects.
North of Tawa
• The assessment of the options north of Tawa shows that there will be negative impacts on levels of service and travel times by 2031. All five territorial authorities have a preference for the Takapu Valley connection to Transmission Gully for the following reasons:
o It provides congestion relief and maintains an acceptable level of service;
o It is less disruptive to the community than the alternative motorway widening;
o It opens up additional land for development opportunities;
o It is a logical extension to the Transmission Gully route;
o It provides resiliency benefits in the event of network disruption on the motorway;
o It provides environmental benefits through lower fuel usage for freight movement as it maintains elevation;
o Funding is available now and may not be in the future.
o Of the options considered it has the largest contribution to overall project benefit cost.
3. Background
The proposed P2G link road forms part of an integrated package of proposed transport improvements to significantly improve connectivity and accessibility within the region and to support and drive economic growth.
Additional modelling and analysis has been undertaken over the last few months, which is summarised in Appendix 1.
3.1 Package of improvements
The draft RLTP 2015 identifies that a new east-west link road should be considered as part of a package of measures to improve connectivity and address capacity, environmental and safety issues.
This package of improvements should include:
• Interim improvements to the Petone Esplanade followed by construction of a new Cross Valley Link between SH2 and Seaview to provide improved access to this key industrial area for freight.
• Use surplus fill from P2G to widen the Petone/Ngauranga corridor providing opportunities for improved public transport travel times (Hutt
Valley rail connections), enhanced resiliency and other corridor improvements.
• A new Wellington to Hutt Valley walking and cycling link, to span the gap in this strategic network (part of the Great Harbour Way).
• Significant upgrades for State Highway 58 to improve safety.
• State Highway 2 corridor improvements to address sub-standard intersections, safety and capacity issues.
This package is strongly supported, and it is noted that NZTA have now committed to a significant safety upgrade of SH58 and that RTC is also considering a variation to the current Programme to bring forward funding for the grade-separation of SH58/SH2 intersection.
3.2 The expected benefits of P2G
In no particular order the benefits of P2G are:
Strategic Fit: - At a local and regional level an additional east/west transport connection is recognised as an integral part of the Wellington regional transport landscape (the benefits are articulated below). It also assists in the delivery of a wider range of regional transport initiatives, plans and strategies. Additionally it aligns with the priorities and objectives in the Government Policy Statement (GPS). This gives it priority across a broad range of decision- makers and funders. (Wellington has been waiting 40 years since the original P2G route was proposed.) It will improve regional connectedness, coordination and collaboration. It is a vital part of an integrated package of regional transport and economic interventions. At a national level this project has the best benefit cost ratio of any of the major transport projects.
Economic: - The transport economic benefits alone are estimated to contribute
$700m to the local economy. This will result in significant stimulus to the economies of the Hutt and Porirua through providing better access to jobs and markets. It is also expected to be a significant driver in terms of land use both along the route and beyond. These benefits have not been evaluated but the agglomeration outcomes observed elsewhere suggest these will be significant.
Transport: - The transport benefits include congestion relief on SH1 (Ngauranga Gorge) and SH2 (Petone to Ngauranga). There are significantly improved journey times between the urban areas of Hutt Valley and Porirua, Tawa and north Wellington as well as trips to and from Wellington City. More efficient freight journeys and improved accessibility between the Hutt Valley and Porirua, Tawa and north Wellington will also provide enhanced employment and market opportunities.
Resilience: - Significant improvement to the overall resilience of the regional transport network in the event of network disruption (storms, slips, congestion, crashes) or natural disasters by providing an alternative route of a higher design standard. There is also economic benefit associated with how quickly the transport network can rebound from disruption.
Environmental: - Notwithstanding that there are adverse ecological impacts during the building of P2G (and it is expected that conditions in resource consents will mitigate these) there are key environmental benefits resulting
from significantly reduced travel time leading to lower overall vehicle emissions. (With Option 3 an additional environmental and economic benefit is that trucks have a flatter journey.)
Public Transport: - There are opportunities to improve the public transport offering between the Hutt Valley and Porirua, Tawa and north Wellington. Direct and timely services along P2G could provide an opportunity to grow public transport patronage. In addition the widening of the Petone to Ngauranga corridor provides the opportunity to realign the rail track and thereby improve travel times for the Hutt Valley services.
3.3 Council views
A series of workshops have been held with the relevant councils around the region. All councils expressed clear support for the P2G Road, with a range of views expressed about the linkages north of Tawa.
All territorial local authorities expressed a clear preference for including an upgrade to the northern linkages as part of the project. In regards to the options for north of Tawa, Wellington City Council (within whose district the majority of the proposed project lies) expressed a strong preference for construction of the Takapu Link Road option, as did Kapiti Coast District Council. Porirua City Council has not formally confirmed a preference, but indications are that the Takapu Link Road is also likely to be their preferred option.
Both Upper Hutt City Council and Hutt City Council thought the northern link option would be best decided by those councils within whose districts the affected properties reside. This was because those councils could assess the local effects best and the technical detail presented was limited in this regard.
The Chief Executives think it is probable that all five territorial local authorities will support the Takapu Link option in preference to an upgrade of SH1, even though this is not a formally adopted position.
Greater Wellington Regional Council expressed a strong preference for a “wait and see” approach and did not support any of the options for additional capacity north of Tawa. This view was based on the forecast congestion not being significant, the uncertain timing of any forecast increase in traffic volumes and the environmental impacts of Options 2 and 3.
4. Recommendations
That the Committee:
1. Receives the report.
2. Notes the content of the report and the conclusions of the Chief Executives
Forum set out in section 2.
3. Notes that the P2G link road is an important project for the future of the region acknowledging that it improves east-west connectivity, resilience, land use integration, freight efficiency, relieves severe congestion and delivers substantial economic benefits.
4. Notes the opportunity to use surplus fill from the P2G Link Road to support a seaward side 20m reclamation option for the Wellington to Hutt
Valley walking and cycling link that is future-proofed for potential additional transport improvements (including public transport rail services) along this corridor.
5. Supports an integrated package of transport improvements, including a new Wellington to Hutt Valley walking and cycling link, a significant safety upgrade of SH58, SH2 corridor improvements and a new Cross Valley Link between SH2 and Seaview.
6. Encourages the NZ Transport Agency to bring forward sections of the project to provide early benefits to the wider strategic road network, including a new grade separated intersection at Petone. This will facilitate an early start on the package of improvements.
7. Supports the addition of Option 3: Takapu Link Road to the P2G Link
Road project.
Report approved by:
Chris Upton
Chief Executive Upper Hutt City Council
Chair, Wellington Chief Executives Forum