Wellington lobby group formed amid fears of similar proposal to the Basin flyover

Thursday, 25 May 2017

A Wellington lobby group fears a similar proposal to the controversial Basin flyover could be on the cards.

A coalition of motorway opponents has been formed in Wellington, amid concerns that a new variation of the Basin Flyover could be on the cards.

Congestion Free Wellington, a lobby group that includes the Save the Basin group that helped kill off the flyover proposal several years ago, is vowing to convince city planners that the future lies in high-quality, electric public transport, not more motorways.

'We're not going to wait. We do not want the centre of Wellington consumed by a motorway,' Save the Basin co-convenor Tim Jones said at the group's first meeting on Thursday.

'We've fought too long and too hard against that to let it happen again.'

**READ MORE:

* [Transport plans will look like 'talk-fest' unless deadline set

*](http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/92752451/lets-get-wellington-moving-project-will-look-like-talkfest-unless-deadlines-are-set--councillor) Basin flyover officially scrapped, costing taxpayers $12m

* Report lays bare Wellington's transport woes

* Wellington drivers average 27kmh during rush hour

* Board of inquiry says 'NO' to Basin flyover

* Basin Reserve flyover project killed off by the High Court

* Four years of frustration: Planners admit congestion solution is a long way off**

The coalition, also comprising Fair Intelligent Transport Wellington (Fit Wellington), Cycle Aware Wellington, and Living Streets Aotearoa, says solutions suggested by the Let's Get Wellington Moving working group to solve the city's congestion issues are 'over-weighted' towards state highway spending.

Let's Get Wellington Moving is an alliance between Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency, which is looking at a range of scenarios to be put out for public consultation in October or November, aimed at solving congestion between the airport and Ngauranga Gorge.

It has yet to be decided what its priorities will be, but people at Thursday's meeting feared roads would feature heavily.

Too much money had already been spent on highway investment, and that had failed to make any improvements, Fit Wellington spokesman John Rankin said.

'Spend most of the money on roads and you miss the opportunity of a lifetime,' he told Let's Get Wellington Moving representatives at the meeting.

'You can't keep buying bigger trousers because you're putting on weight.'

Jones said some form of 'grade separation' – splitting traffic on to overpasses or underpasses – had not been ruled out near the Basin Reserve.

Congestion Free Wellington's aims, which included a reduced reliance on private cars, safer cycling and walking infrastructure, and a more liveable city, encouraged planners to 'be bold', Rankin said.

The meeting attracted about 70 people, and most supported the group's campaign.