MP scrambles for reasons to justify bad decision

Nathan Guy’s ’10 reasons to get on with the expressway’ would be more aptly named ’10 generalisations to justify a bad decision’. Mr Guy presents his opinions in his column ‘Just a Thought’ (21 July) as if they were based on any research or genuine information.

Below is a summary of Mr’s Guy’s ’10 reasons’ and beside each factual information based largely on NZTA reports, KCDC reports and official information act requests.

1. Better access in and out of Wellington. Improvements to bottlenecks on SH-1 as originally proposed and agreed to by NZTA would immediately solve the unimpeded access problem with a much reduced impact on the community. The money saved could go towards electrification of rail to Otaki, also helping to reduce road congestion.

2. Transmission gully. This is NOT planned to be built until the Kapiti Expressway is completed (up to 10 years away). Until Transmission Gully is completed the Kapiti congestion will push the bottleneck down to Paekakariki and onwards to the South.

3. Economic boost/More local jobs during construction. Statistics show Kapiti was the fastest growth area in New Zealand until the expressway was announced 2 years ago. Since then, growth has declined by 2000 people. Additionally, the WLR package rejected by Mr Guy would have created 4000 local jobs whereas the expressway creates only an estimated 650.

4. It connects our communities. How can a concrete bypass connect communities? It is severing 3 communities and cutting Waikanae into three, a large price to pay to enable big trucks to travel through the middle of the community.

5. SH-1 local road. Yes, and ratepayers will have to pay to maintain and upgrade this very old road and the 2 bridges that have nearly passed their use-by date.

6. Safer roads. According to NZTA’s website, this stretch of road does not feature in the list of most dangerous roads in the country and there has not been a fatality on Kapiti’s SH-1 in the 2 years since the median barriers were installed, a very cost effective and much more efficient resolution than an expressway.

7. Fewer homes affected. Everyone in the district will be affected by noise, light and air pollution, especially the 1350 houses that will be living within 200m of the expressway. However it is worth remembering that the original WLR had already purchased all the necessary property and the upgrade to SH-1 takes under half of the number of houses than this proposed expressway option.

8. Less disruption during construction. Earthmoving equipment, trucks laden with construction materials using our local roads for at least 5 years during the building process does not indicate less disruption The WLR Package allowed for traffic to use this local road whilst improvements were made to SH-1, a much less disruptive solution and completed in a much shorter time frame.

9. Future proof. To reiterate, Kapiti’s population is no longer growing. Also, the WLR Package had a 50 year capacity, which was why it was NZTA's favoured original option.

10. Certainty. Any old solution should not be mistaken for the best solution. Research and reports show the WLR package is better economically, socially and environmentally. Not considering all options is not visionary, in fact it is prehistoric.

Economically the expressway has been proven to be a money-waster (see Government’s original SAHA report) and was originally rejected by NZTA as the worst option in environmental, social and cultural terms. The Western Link Package would have already been underway if Mr Guy and his Government hadn’t decided to support the bigger road necessary to cater to the “overweight and overdimension vehicles” as mentioned in the Draft Regional Freight Plan (2011).

ENDS

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