Transmission Gully hearings
The Board of Inquiry into Transmission Gully is in full swing with a range of evidence being presented.
The Inquiry was appointed by the Minister for the Environment and has five members who will make a final decision on the project in June or July. They have the power to approve the project, or place additional conditions.
Transmission Gully has been a big issue for me as local MP and it won’t surprise anyone that I’m strongly in favour of it. When I campaigned in 2005 I ran a petition and gathered over 5000 signatures in support.
The idea has been around for nearly 100 years and rumour has it that US Marines offered to build it for free during World War II.
After decades of talk, it took a National-led Government to finally approve the project in 2009. The cost is estimated at around $1 billion, and some of the terrain it crosses will provide challenges for engineers and builders.
It has been very interesting to read about the wide range of groups in support of the Gully project.
I have no doubt that this is hugely important to Kapiti and Horowhenua, and it will dramatically reduce journey times in and out of Wellington. According to one expert, commuters will save around 10 minutes on a morning trip to the city, and even more in the evening.
It will also reduce crashes, increase productivity and boost the regional economy.
As part of the Road of National Significance from Levin to Wellington Airport, and including the Kapiti expressway, it will make our region much more accessible and attractive to live and work here.
NZTA is expected to apply for consent for the Kapiti expressway in March, which is an essential part of the roading corridor. It would be pointless to have traffic exiting the Gully and coming to a screaming halt at traffic lights in Paraparaumu.
Finally, it’s great to see improvements finally happening at Mana esplanade with new clearways being introduced from 1 March. Now both lanes will be open to all traffic during peak time, regardless of the number of people in the vehicle.
Some of you may remember I made some noise about these lanes being hopeless for motorists, so it’s good to see common sense prevailing.