MEDIA RELEASE

23 September 2013

Collaborative approach for Hutt CBD flood protection

Greater Wellington Regional Council, Hutt City Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency have agreed to work together to develop an integrated development plan for the Hutt River Corridor in the Lower Hutt Central Business District.

The Hutt Valley Flood Management Subcommittee last week (19 September) recommended setting up a Management Group, comprising senior managers from the three organisations, to manage the preparation of the combined development plan.

The project will look at how best to combine components of HCC’s CBD Making Places Project and NZTA’s Melling Intersection Project with the stopbank upgrade project.

The CBD Making Places project involves establishing a riverside promenade to improve river access from the city streets and the Melling Intersection Project looks at reducing traffic delays and crashes.

The Regional Council is looking to finish bringing the flood protection network through Lower Hutt to a level where it can cope with a 1 in 440 year flood. The area still requiring work is through the CBD between Mills Street and Ewen bridges.

A Working Group, comprised of senior officers from the three organisations and consultants, will work on the project to investigate a range of feasible options before recommending preferred options.

Regional Council chair Fran Wilde says taking a joint approach allows officials involved in the projects to work together for the betterment of Hutt City residents.

“By looking at the big picture we are able to ensure that each project is relevant to other work going on in the area and that each of these major projects is able to tie in together and complement the overall vision for Hutt City.”

NZ Transport Agency Wellington highway manager Rod James says collaboration between the three agencies is vital to develop a synchronised, future-thinking approach for managing this infrastructure corridor.

Hutt City council Urban Planner Paki Maaka says this is a rare opportunity to merge economic development and social outcomes with infrastructure planning in Lower Hutt.

“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring the river and city together in the CBD through merging public and private sector development.

“This collaborative approach is the city’s best chance to implement Council’s “Making Places” vision statement and we welcome that opportunity.”

The process also involves extensive consultation with key stakeholders and the local community. Works on preparing the combined plan begins this month and recommendations on the preferred options are expected by July 2014.

ENDS