Right Decision on Wellington Northern Corridor

Media Release
15 December 2009

Government has made the Right Decision on Wellington Northern Corridor

The decision to proceed with Transmission Gully and the other elements of today’s announcement on Wellington’s northern roading corridor are the right ones and construction must commence as soon as possible according to the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“The Chamber has been a major proponent of Transmission Gully right from the outset and the certainty that today’s announcement brings will delight businesses across the region,” said Chamber CEO Charles Finny.

“Transmission Gully is a far superior option than the coastal highway upgrade and we are pleased the government has made the right decision.

“The coastal upgrade was never a viable option - it being more expensive and less resilient than the Gully, particularly with the projected impact of climate change. Construction would also have been more disruptive.

“As Wellington’s population and economy grow, there will be increasing demand for the road.

“Construction on all elements of this road must commence as soon as possible. This decision will lead to a significant productivity boost for the region. This in turn will enable faster economic growth to occur. The sooner this work is completed, the better.

“The Chamber is supportive of tolling or electronic pricing to help fund these roading projects. The government should also be open to the use of more private sector investment including public private partnerships (PPPs) and borrowing to fund the road.

“We have been pleased that the wider regional and national significance of this road has been taken into account in reaching this decision. All of New Zealand will benefit from this decision.

“We would like to congratulate Stephen Joyce and the NZTA board for this decision,” Mr Finny concluded.

ENDS

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