Light at end of the tunnel for Wellington’s transport tangle

Monday, 18 December 2023

A major rethink of the project formerly known as Let’s Get Wellington Moving has come as a surprise to those occupying land earmarked for up to 1500 new homes.

A joint announcement by the Government and Wellington civic leaders on Sunday painted a way forward for the $7.4 billion transport overhaul, which has spent years bogged down in planning, budget blow outs and fighting – with very little actual work done.

A second Mount Victoria tunnel, complete with Arras tunnel extension and new roads around the Basin Reserve have been given a green light. Light rail has been ditched, to be replaced by bus priority lanes running east-west from Karori to the eastern suburbs, and north-south from Johnsonville to Island Bay with lanes down the harbour quays.

And the $139.4 million Golden Mile works in central Wellington, from the railway station to Courtenay Place including pedestrianisation, will go ahead with the Wellington City Council going it alone, albeit with some central government funding.

But a key part of the plan, confirmed by Greater Wellington Regional Council transport head Thomas Nash, is a new housing area northwest of the Basin Reserve in an area “ideally” bordered by Cambridge Tce, Vivian St, Tory St and the Basin Reserve.

The site would allow for 1500 new homes, in blocks up to 12 storeys high, he said.

Among current users of the area are a series of car yards, a Te Papa facility, and Wellington City Council’s archives.

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau said it was “time to get the ball rolling” on the land northwest of the Basin Reserve. There was also talk of more housing on Adelaide Rd, south of the Basin Reserve.

On Fifeshire Ave, off Cambridge Tce, Mark Hampton, of MTI Wellington, only heard about the plans when approached by The Post on Sunday.

He was moving out in a few weeks but doubted his landlords would sell voluntarily. A new building is being built opposite: “I don’t think they will think about selling that given they are just putting it up.”

Myles Gazley, who has a number of car yards on Cambridge Tce, said he had not been approached about losing the land.

Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said it was too early to say what would become of its facility.

Te Papa spokesperson Kate Camp said the museum had talked to LGWM about previous plans for construction near its facility, but there had been no recent talks. She could not comment on the new plans

Nash said the transport rethink was “a good deal under the circumstances” of a National-led Government. Whanau admitted losing light rail was a bitter pill.

“I have been clear that I do not support a second Mt Victoria car tunnel. However, the Government has said that this is a priority for them this term and have committed to funding 100 per cent of the costs.

“I am also glad to have found areas of collaboration where we can look to develop a housing and urban growth precinct with the acquisition of land for this development.”

Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said the second tunnel would create “exciting opportunities for more urban development and housing”, while Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown talked of a government deal for the city.

Wellington City councillor Iona Pannett labelled the plan “climate vandalism”, due to roads getting priority over light rail. “A hostile road is not good for pedestrians,” she said.

Wellington’s two Green MPs, Tamatha Paul and Julie Anne Genter, said in a statement ditching LGWM showed the new Government was “still tied to the failed approach of building more roads”.

“The good news is that there are remnants in the scrap heap that we can build from,” Genter said.