The $4 billion wish lists for Government funds after coronavirus

Wednesday, 15 April 2020

Island Bay cycleway safety improvements are part of a $650 million wish-list to help reboot Wellington's economy following the coronavirus lockdown. (File photo)

Councils across the country are jostling for a slice of the Government's fast-tracked spend on infrastructure projects, asking for more than $4 billion to support projects that could reboot the economy following the coronavirus lockdown.

Wellington City Council submitted a $1.3 billion-plus wish-list to the Government on Tuesday, including money for safety improvements at Island Bay cycleway and a new convention centre.

Auckland Council put forward 73 projects, with a price tag well over $2b, while Christchurch City Council has called for $1b of funding to support major roading, water infrastructure and environmental projects.

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A $180m convention and exhibition centre is also on the city council's wish-list. (File photo)

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WELLINGTON'S WISH-LIST

Wellington's funding bid includes $650 millon for 10 'shovel-ready' projects, $158m for pipeline upgrades and maintenance, at least $60m for projects which can begin in six to 18 months, and $490m to kickstart the Let's Get Wellington Moving transport programme.

The shovel-ready projects include construction of a proposed convention and exhibition centre, $14m for improvements to the Island Bay cycleway, and the redevelopment of the Wellington Museum and Municipal Office Building.

The cost of upgrading Civic Square remains unknown. (File photo)

They also include stormwater upgrades in the central city, Tawa and Kilbirnie; a 35 million-litre water reservoir above Mt Cook; social housing upgrades in Nairn St and Harrison St; and the redevelopment of the St John's Church site in Karori.

Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said the projects would be ready to go within six months, helping to create jobs and stimulate the economy.

'These are projects which demonstrate significant financial, social, cultural and environmental value, as well as help create jobs post-lockdown.'

The $50m RiverLink project involves a proposed interchange on State Highway 2 at Melling and strengthening the Hutt River stopbanks to prevent flooding. (File photo)

The council would aim to ensure the projects provided as much work as possible for small and medium-sized contractors and subcontractors.

They could directly employ more than 2200 workers, Foster said.

The projects proposed to get under way within 18 months include a redeveloped sludge dewatering plant at the Southern Landfill, redevelopment of the Te Ngākau Civic Square Precinct, a TSB Arena revamp, and a social housing project at the Granville Flats in Berhampore.

Cost estimates remained vague, especially around the Civic Square and TSB Arena projects, Foster said.

The Let's Get Wellington Moving proposals include $8m for temporary walking and cycling improvements, and $80m for permanent walking, cycling and bus priority infrastructure.

Wellington Deputy Mayor Sarah Free said without government assistance, many of the projects faced significant delays because of rising construction costs and a stretched council budget.

“We think they are all, for various reasons, important projects, and we look forward to the Government coming to the party to help businesses and workers in the city and region.'

Wellington's regional councils have also submitted a funding bid of more than $1b for post-lockdown infrastructure projects.

Wellington Mayoral Forum chair and Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy said the region was pulling together to respond to the unprecedented impacts of the global pandemic.

'We have around 530,000 people in our region but only one inter-linked economy, so there's no point focusing our efforts on any one part of the region and ignoring the plight of others,' Guppy said.

The forum listed a range of projects which could be started in six to 12 months, including railway station upgrades, acquiring extra long-distance trains and electric buses, water infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, and improved port resilience.

Other proposals include Lower Hutt's $50m RiverLink project, a new pool and fitness centre in Naenae, and refurbishing the Petone and Point Howard wharves.

AUCKLAND COUNCIL PITCHES 73 PROJECTS

Auckland Council has submitted 73 projects, with the prioritised top 30 alone worth more than $2b.

Hotels being built at the Christchurch Convention Centre Te Pae could benefit from Government funding.

The biggest pitches are for the Eastern Busway, with the four stages split into two bids totalling $835m.

Auckland's list includes major projects which have already commenced construction, such as the major tunnelling contract for the City Rail Link, and the Karangahape Cycleway - both already with committed joint funding by the council and Government.

Other projects that were already moving through the planning and design pipeline include the $117m Rosedale Station on the Northern Busway.

Auckland Council has not released the amount sought for each of the projects on its list, but in a council agenda last week, sums were noted for each of the projects.

A delegated group of councillors, executives, and the chair of the Independent Maori Statutory Board spent Easter trying to whittle down a long-list of 119 projects.

The council said in most cases, the sums being sought were not the total value of the project, but the additional costs that would be incurred through the Covid-19 interruption, or in some cases, the additional cost of accelerating work to create more jobs.

There are four stormwater projects for Kainga Ora housing developments, which it is argued there would be a multiplier effect by enabling the earlier construction of hundreds of houses.

Below the 'top 30' Auckland Council has added an unprioritised list of 43 projects for the Government to pick and choose from as it wishes.

CHRISTCHURCH'S COUNCIL BACKS $1B OF PROJECTS

Christchurch City Council has submitted $818m of its own projects that are 'shovel ready', including support for flood protection along the Avon River corridor, cash for cycleways and money towards drinking water safety improvements.

More than $200m is being sought for development at Lyttelton Port and expansion at Christchurch Airport, while the city council is also backing funding requests for key private and community projects such as Canterbury Museum, the Arts Centre and the Catholic Cathedral development.

The council has also asked the Government to consider national cost-sharing agreements for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater, similar to the way transport projects are co-funded.

The nine projects Christchurch City Council wants funding for include $92.7m of flood and environmental protection work along the Avon River corridor, $123m for drinking water improvements and prevention of backflow and $12.2m for a 'smart city' technology programme.

The $473m stadium could get a boost, money could come for safety work on Evans Pass and Dyers Pass in the Port Hills, while improvements to Marshland Road and Halswell Junction Road and construction of the South Express and Nor'West Arc cycleways could also be funded.

The council has also endorsed a number of projects from the private and community sectors, including a new $64m recreation centre and wellness precinct at the University of Canterbury, a film studio at Templeton, the Box 112 business development programme and hotels at the new Te Pae convention centre being developed by Philip Carter's Carter Group.

Elsewhere, Environment Canterbury has requested $26m of funding for flood protection work at nine sites; Selwyn District Council has asked for $13.5m for roading projects; Hurunui District Council has submitted six projects worth $51m; and Waimakariri District Council wants $65m for road works, drinking water infrastructure and treatment and the Wheels to Waipara cycleway, as well as the Woodend Bypass.