Wellington’s Town Belt Under Threat From “Motorway” Plan

“Wellington’s Town Belt is under significant threat from four (or six?or eight? “motorways”, tunnel duplication, and Basin Reserve flyover plans, Councillor Ritchie revealed today. As well, the Basin Reserve, with its significant historic significance and held in trust by the Council under the 1873 Town Belt and Basin Reserve Deed will also be impacted. The shape of the City will be changed dramatically.

Wellington’s City’s defining point of difference as a world class City lies in its natural environment- not in motorways through people’s lives, homes and recreation green space. Wellington’s economic future, tourism and healthy sustainability in its natural environment, not in new motorways.

If Town Belt land is not swallowed up then people’s homes will be impacted along Ruahine Street. As well, people’s homes and businesses, Levin to the Airport, will be impacted. Mt Victoria, the Eastern suburbs, Hataitai and others will become “motorway backwaters.” Newtown, Mt Cook, will be impacted but to what extent is not known exactly or even minimally by Council.

Cricket and the integrity of the Basin Reserve will very likely be undermined.

Councillors have never been presented with the detail of the exact plan or of the impact on people’s homes, businesses, and the Town Belt, of the $2.4 billion motorway and road widening proposals on the Levin to Airport a so-called road of national significance.

It is highly irresponsible for Council to commit to this $2.4 billion expenditure next Wednesday, without first knowing what is planned, exactly where, the impact and the detail. Council should know exactly on what plan NZTA intends to consult the public.

Council should review and know the route, the plan, the impact, the designs that NZTA is developing before agreeing to anything, and before any vote to endorse on Wednesday. Then and only then the issues which are of some complexity can be properly understood, advised on, questioned and debated.

One such impact, to date not revealed, is that this motorway will likely take and interfere with the Town Belt and Basin Reserve.

Wellington’s City’s point of difference and uniqueness does not lie in motorways.

It lies in its harbour and the Town Belt held in trust for all Wellingtonians for recreation and as a public place. Council has a legal mandate to protect it.
The Deed which is the legal document controlling the Town Belt and Basin Reserve (The Town Belt and Basin Reserve Deed 1873) states that Council cannot alienate or dispose of Town Belt land.

This $2.4 billion project should not be bulldozed through neither by Council nor by nor by Government.

Attached Two emails

: Helene Ritchie
Sent: Sunday, 17 April 2011 12:13 p.m.
To: 'Celia Wade-Brown' (celia.wade-brown@wcc.govt.nz); councillors@wcc.govt.nz
Cc: Garry Poole (Garry.Poole@wcc.govt.nz)
Subject: NOTICE OF MOTION

17 April 2011

This is to give you notice that I will be moving the following motion at the extraordinary meeting to be held on 20 April 2011

“ That Wellington City Council undertake full public consultation with the people of Wellington, on the New Zealand Transport Agency’s option(s), intention, and designs, routes, property and Town Belt and Basin Reserve impacts of their roading proposal(s) prior to any decision by Council “to confirm (or otherwise) Wellington City Council’s position on Wellington RONS (Road of National Significance) transport improvements for State Highway One, south of Ngauranga”

Mover: Helene Ritchie Councillor
Seconder: Stephanie Cook Councillor

EXPLANATION IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION

An extraordinary meeting has been requisitioned by nine councillors to be held on the 20 April 5.30 p.m.

• The purpose of that meeting is “to confirm (or otherwise) Wellington City Council’s position on Wellington RONS (Road of National Significance) transport improvements for State Highway One, south of Ngauranga”
• However, the Council has yet to receive or review or approve the specific option(s), routes, designs which NZTA intends to pursue.
• Double tunnels on the Terrace, Mt Victoria; four laning to the airport or part of the way; road widening through Thorndon will all impact heavily on homes and businesses in Wellington and particularly in the Eastern Suburbs-Hataitai, Kilbirnie, Miramar; Thorndon and Mt Victoria; and the CBD
• Some of the Town Belt and Basin Reserve will be alienated in all likelihood.
• NZTA has written to Council saying that it now wishes to “proceed to public consultation on aspects of the plan that we are leading”.
• Council needs to know “the detail of the aspects of the plan NZTA is leading” and on which it intends consulting
• Council needs to then have the view of the Wellington City public prior to giving any approval to NZTA.

NZTA has seriously flouted fundamental aspects of its Crown Entity responsibilities- public sector and Government protocols around speaking to the media, and public consultation requirements under case law of ensuring that they have an open mind before consulting with the public.

In so doing it has jeopardised good relationships, trust and sound democratic process with its partner in local government.

From: Helene Ritchie
Sent: Sunday, 17 April 2011 10:43 a.m.
To: Garry Poole (Garry.Poole@wcc.govt.nz); dave.burgess@dompost.co.nz
Cc: 'Celia Wade-Brown' (celia.wade-brown@wcc.govt.nz); sally.dossor@wcc.govt.nz; svea.cunliffe-steel@wcc.govt.nz; councillors@wcc.govt.nz; Teena Pennington (Teena.Pennington@wcc.govt.nz); Stavros Michael (Stavros.Michael@wcc.govt.nz)
Subject: FW: Extraordinary Meeting
Importance: High

Dear Garry,

1. Thank you for this meeting notice of an “extraordinary” meeting requisitioned by 9 councillors, to be held when there is an ordinary Council meeting, already set down there on the same night and at the same time.

2. I note that NZTA have not expressed any date for a reply and expressed no such urgency.

3. I note that dictionary synonyms for “extraordinary” range from peculiar, queer, erratic, odd, strange, bizarre, to comical, fantastic, preposterous, unique, crochety, and funny.
Further synonyms are over-the-top; sinful; laughable and ludicrous.
All these synonyms can be aptly applied to the actions of the nine councillors and their leader and their extraordinary meeting.

4. I am forced by definition to wonder about the signatories’ reason and motivation, ( led by Councillors Coughlan and Morrison, signed by Councillors McKinnon; Best; Ahipene- Mercer, Gill; Eagle; Marsh; Lester) who have called for a meeting to be held when there already is a meeting.

5. I am therefore forced to come to the rather obvious conclusion that the only motivation left is a Political one, and an attempt to undermine the mayor.

PURPOSE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING

1. In the proposed meeting requisition notice, we (Council) are being asked to “confirm Wellington City Council’s position on Wellington RONS transport improvements for State Highway One, South of Ngauranga”.

2. I note that to date for this meeting, we have received no advice , or written report from the signatories regarding the substance related to this meeting. (We have received no officer advice either-but I would not expect it as this meeting clearly is politically motivated.)

3. They have now only two working days by their own timetable to ensure that the mayor and Council are properly advised by them on this complex matter.

4. For some councillors, new this term, this is the first opportunity they have had to consider this matter.

Their leader(s) Councillors Morrison and Coghlan should as a minimum provide councillors with :

i. A copy of the wording of resolution(s) which preceded Council’s “position”, as we are being asked to “confirm” our “position”
ii. An explanation of “Council’s position” with Council resolutions (all of them) as evidence.

FINANCIAL COSTS
iii. The entire (and breakdown in parts) estimated NG to Airport Capital costs .
iv. The other Wellington City transport improvement proposals and cost estimations of that Wellington City part.
v. The estimated cost of the Levin-Airport RON (roading-“motorway”).

OTHER WELLINGTON CITY ASPECTS OF THE TRANSPORT PLAN
vi. The proportion of roading expenditure to safety, cycling, pedestrian improvements.
vii. An outline of what they are.

THE ROADING ROUTE AND IMPACT ON HOMES, BUSINESSES AND TOWN BELT: EASTERN SUBURBS; MT VICTORIA; BASIN RESERVE; TOWN BELT; THORNDON
viii. The exact route of the proposed road Levin to Airport
ix. An enlarged map of the Ngauranga to Airport part
x. An enlarged map showing all the properties that will be affected
xi. The exact current plan and all attachments and appendices that the Transport Agency is going to consult the public on.

$2.4 BILLION
xii. The exact content of the proposed $2.4 billion spend.
xiii. The detailed drawings that have been done and the intended Wellington City option(s) we would be approving for NZTA to consult the public on.
xiv. The proposal that would go to the Minister and Government
xv. The next steps that will be followed after/if NZTA consults with the public
xvi. The timeline for work to begin and end.
xvii. The exact proposal regarding tunnel(s) duplication (or triplication as has been rumoured in some parts).
xviii. Please advise whether you have been advised that Government might circumvent the public consultation process and simply approve a “motorway Levin to the Airport” If this is correct, can you please advise what powers Government would have to do this. Can Government use “Call-in” powers to do this? (Councillor Coghlan, the other “leader” might be helpful in this regard through her contacts).
xix. The cost benefit ratios for the duplicate Terrace tunnel, the four laning of Ruahine St., and beyond; the duplication of the Mt Victoria Tunnel and what such cost benefit ratios mean
xx. Whether such poor cost benefit ratios would normally be considered as priorities.

REPORT FROM COUNCILLOR MORRISON AND COUNCILLOR COGHLAN AS LEAD PROPOSERS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING

Their leader should provide us with this information in a report before and so that Council can make an informed vote this Wednesday to support or otherwise all part or none of a $2.4 billion spend.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND STAFF INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS

5. Finally, as the calling of this extraordinary meeting is clearly politically motivated, for grandstanding and other elusive reasons, and further, has now become a nasty personalised political fight and with the media, it is my now considered view that neither you nor any officer should be involved in any way in that meeting. That would be my strong advice following the normal processes of objectivity and impartiality of advisers to Council.

6. I would appreciate an assurance of that from you.

7. Instead the opportunity to provide objective and professional advice from yourself ( and staff) will be when and if a further meeting is scheduled-taking into account that Councillors will need to have objective advice about such a major issue and answers to the questions above.

IN CONCLUSION

i. It is unfortunate but evident from media statements that the leader, Councillor Morrison needs to be as informed as the remaining six councillors are.

ii. The motivation for this extraordinary meeting can only be political and an attempt to undermine the mayor.
iii. The Chief Executive in no way should be involved with it.
iv. A substantial report should be received by Council from Councillors Morrison and Coghlan answering the above relevant matters, for that meeting.

I look forward to all councillors receiving their report from the councillors before the meeting on Wednesday.

Regards

Helene Ritchie
Wellington City Councillor

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