Kapiti Express Ways

I applaud the considered work Kapiti Community put into redesigning the western link road for good connections, cycleways  and public transport.  

Now the National lead Government is about to impose four lane express ways cutting a swath through the Community, and negating every aspect of process that one can think of. The only possible answer is an emphatic NO!

Government's proposals disregard long term maintenance and the full cost of trucks and cars to our economy and environment.

But not only that.......Every dollar spent on these roads, might well take ten potential dollars out of the community .... dollars that might have supported efficient public and active transportation, quality employment, healthy communities, clean air and water. 

The Regional Transport Committee denied a few million dollars for construction of new railway stations, extension of the suburban line to Otaki, and movement of freight onto efficient rail. Yet, in the same breath, Government recommends the expenditure of ten times if not 50 times that on express ways. 

These projects disregard safety, the obesity epidemic, clean air and water, greenhouse emission reduction targets needed to avoid dangerous climate change, and oil depletion. The IEA Chief Economist Dr Fatih Birol, forecasts an oil crunch within 5 years, estimating that the decline in oil production in existing fields is now running at 6.7 per cent a year compared to the 3.7 per cent decline it had estimated in 2007. 

It is time to say yes for community design, and just NO! to the NZTA. 

Cr Paul Bruce 

Greater Wellington Regional Councillor
ends
 

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