Porirua Celebrates The New Land Transport Plan

Greater Wellington this week published the new Regional Land Transport Strategy. This publication is a reason for celebration in our City, said Porirua City Councillor Robert Shaw.

"Porirua people were able to convince an impartial panel that the Transmission Gully Motorway was in the interests of the whole region, and not just a Porirua hobby-horse" said  Cr Shaw.

"Now we at last see in black-and-white the result of all that effort and the ratepayers' investment of $200,000 for expert advice".

"Land transport to the north of Wellington revolves around one major issue, the capacity and security of State Highway 1. No amount of work on the road will ever fix the base problems which relate to its position and its vulnerability to even a minor earthquakes."

"The new Regional Land Transport Strategy confirms the position established in the previous strategy. However, one important development is that it now highlights the Wellington Regional Strategy and how the lack of adequate networks holds back our economic development."

The plan also makes it clear that the government must find the $326 million needed to advance the region. With every delay the cost of the project increases", said Cr Shaw.

"It is vital we do not lose sight of the reasons for the Transmission Gully Motorway - it is essential if our region is to advance both socially and economically".

The three top goals in the newly published plan are: 1  Assist economic and regional development ; 2  Assist safety and personal security; 3  Improve access, mobility and reliability.

"These objectives for the Wellington region, contrast with those elsewhere in New Zealand. Elsewhere it is the relief of traffic congestion that dominates planning." We are fortunate that this is not our situation, Cr Shaw noted.

With reference to the recent statement by Dick Jessup of the Coastal Highway Group, Cr Shaw said "The Coastal Highway Group is unfortunately still fighting against Transmission Gully, and they still do no seem to realize that the issue is not congestion. Nor have they understood that it is reasonable that Wellington shares  more fully in the money government collects from taxpayers to build roads and the public transport infrastructure". More information is on www.porirua.net, he added.

ENDS

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