Challenges loom for proposed 20-year programme to quake-proof New Zealand's economy
Monday, 2 December 2019
A 20-year infrastructure programme to protect New Zealand's economy against a major Wellington earthquake looks far from a done deal.
The Wellington Lifelines Regional Resilience Project aims to save the country's GDP more than $6 billion following a large quake on the Wellington Fault.
It's proposed a coordinated $5.3b, 20-year programme of infrastructure projects to reduce the impact of a 7.5 magnitude earthquake on the country's economy.
Wellington Lifelines Group (WelG) chair Dame Fran Wilde said the programme would require its 16 member organisations to work together to prioritise the recommended projects.
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But Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman Daran Ponter said that may not be the reality.
While he supported the programme generally, the council had other priorities, such as upgrading its own rail fleet.
'We can't just take this thing and say, 'These are all the things that we need to focus on'.
'Fran and her team have had the benefit of looking through the resilience lens, but how does that fit with our business-as-usual activity - resealing a road, double-tracking a rail line - as opposed to dealing with some of those substantial projects?'
The report was valuable in collating all of the region's resilience projects into one document for everyone to be aware of, Ponter said.
New Zealand Transport Agency director of regional relationships Emma Speight said the projects aligned with the agency's own resilience programme.
However, it would not necessarily commit to the report's recommended projects and timeframes.
'Timing and funding for projects will be prioritised through our National Land Transport Programme, and all projects will considered against priorities across the country.'
Wellington Electricity chief executive Greg Skelton said the report indicated roads would be badly damaged in an earthquake.
More than 60 per cent of Wellington's electricity network was underground, making it particularly vulnerable, he said.
'In some cases it may take weeks to establish alternative routes, meaning repair crews won't be able to reach many areas easily.
'We've also got only one connection for the central city to the national grid, whereas Christchurch had two.'
Wellington's landscape posed additional challenges, he said.
'We can't ever hope to achieve the speed of restoration achieved in Christchurch. But it does show that a similar investment here in Wellington could have a substantial payoff down the track.'
Wendy Walker, on behalf of the council owners of Wellington Water, said councils and industry were investing in resilience every day.
'Councils are putting in stronger pipelines, and strengthening existing reservoirs and other critical infrastructure as part of our continuing programme of looking after what we have.
'We're also planning for major works like new reservoirs and a new bulk main water pipe crossing the Hutt River.'
Wellington Region Emergency Management Office regional manager Jeremy Holmes said the fact that infrastructure providers agreed to work together to align their respective work programmes was 'truly remarkable'.
'We are all going to have to play our part if we are going to achieve the level of resilience for the capital that we want going forward.'
Transport Minister Phil Twyford said ensuring New Zealand, and the capital city, had a resilient transport system was a key strategic priority for the Government.
The resilience report highlighted a number of transport projects that improved resilience, which aligned with NZTA's study of Wellington's transport network resilience, he said.
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said the city council was already working to ensure infrastructure was resilient over the next 25 years or more.
The ideas in the Wellington Lifelines Project were the next step in that, Foster said.
'A lot of the investment that's being suggested is probably investment we'll be wanting to see as a city, anyway.'
The city was already future-proofing some infrastructure, including Kaiwharawhara being considered as the preferred site for a new multi-user ferry terminal in Wellington, Foster said.
'We're seeing that's got to be a requirement fairly soon,' Foster said.
Wellington MP Grant Robertson said the project was a 'very useful' piece of work.
'From a Government point of view, this is a useful input into Wellington's future infrastructure plans.'
CentrePort general manager of regeneration Anthony Delaney said the port was developing a regeneration plan considering resilience, along with safety, the environment, technology, risk management, the needs of the community, and the regional and national economies.
Kāpiti Coast District Mayor K Gurunathan said more than 5000 Kāpiti residents travelled to and from Wellington each day.
'We welcome the report and encourage further discussion on how infrastructure investment programmes will be integrated and prioritised across the region to help give our communities the best shot at surviving and thriving following a major seismic event.'
GNS Science chief executive Ian Simpson said they wanted to make sure people could go about their daily lives sooner after a major earthquake.
'If all organisations work together to achieve the necessary upgrades, the economic and social cost of a big event will be markedly reduced.'