Hutt City councillors resolve to buy final piece of land needed for $455m RiverLink project
Tuesday, 1 June 2021
A sliver of land near the banks of the Hutt River is the “last piece of the puzzle” needed in the Hutt City Council’s urban development plans for the $455 million RiverLink project.
“For too long we’ve had our back to the river. Now it’s time to incorporate it,” said Kara Puketapu-Dentice, director of economy and development at Hutt City Council.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to revitalise and transform our city – to enable apartment living and more confidence for business and commerce.”
Hutt City councillors unanimously accepted a recommendation on Tuesday to buy a laneway on Daly St in Lower Hutt for the “river edge” section of the development which would include a riverside promenade, apartments and commercial area.
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Head of city growth Gary Craig said having control of the lane would make development of the area much easier.
The council has already acquired four properties – two on either side of the lane – on Daly St under the Public Works Act which would be used to obtain the alley from the New Zealand Railways Corporation.
RiverLink is a partnership between the council, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Greater Wellington Regional Council, which seeks to improve transport infrastructure, flood protection and support urban revitalisation in central Lower Hutt.
It has been described as the city’s largest ever infrastructure project.
The redevelopment of transport links at Melling is a fundamental part of the project which will be overseen by Waka Kotahi.
Puketapu-Dentice said the council had committed $138.4m to RiverLink. Other parts of the council’s river edge development included a footbridge over the river, a floodplain recreation area, and roading improvements in the city.
Craig said the prospect of RiverLink was already attracting development to the central city with the likes of the $10m conversion of the CML office building to apratments and other High St apartment developments.
The council would seek resource consent in the second half of this year, with a view to beginning construction in 2022. The project is set to be completed in 2026.