Joint news release - Greater Wellington and Transit New Zealand
21 November 2005

Hearing dates for Western Corridor announced – 900 people and groups to be heard

The hearing dates for the Western Corridor plan have been announced.

Hearings will begin on Monday 28th November and carry on through December. Reserve days in late January 2006 have been booked in case additional time is needed.

Chairperson of Western Corridor Plan Hearing Subcommittee, Councillor Terry McDavitt, said that the lengthy hearing period was needed because of the very large number of persons and groups wishing to be heard.

“Up to 900 individuals and groups have asked to be heard on the Plan, making this one of the largest hearings ever run by Greater Wellington and Transit New Zealand. To make it easier for people to participate, we are organising venues in Wellington and Porirua to reduce transport difficulties.”

Councillor McDavitt also commented that the length of the hearings process meant it was unlikely a decision by the Regional Land Transport Committee on the plan would be made before March 2006.

“I hope the Subcommittee will be able to report their conclusions to their parent bodies, the Regional Land Transport Committee and Transit Board, by late February 2006. Those bodies will then have to reach their own conclusions. I anticipate the full process will not be complete until at least March 2006.”

Details of hearings

Hearings will begin at 9.00 am on Monday 28th November at ThinkTankz, level 3, 25 – 27 Vivian Street in Wellington. The first day will be taken up with a presentation by the Western Corridor Plan Study Team. Further hearings in Wellington will take place on 29 and 30 November and 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, December.

Hearings in Porirua will be held at the Auditorium, Te Wananga o Aotearoa, Todd Park, 1 Herriot Drive. The first hearings will take place on the 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 December, with reserve days on the 24, 25, 26, 27th January 2006.

Members of the Hearing Subcommittee are:

Chair, Terry McDavitt (Chair of the Regional Land Transport Committee)
Charles Finny (CEO Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce)
Kay Saville Smith (Sociologist, CRESA Ltd)
Alan Bickers (Public and private sector consultant, appointed by Transit New Zealand)
Sir Brian Elwood (former Chief Ombudsman)

ENDS

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