Rocky road for new Ngāūranga to Petone path actually good news

Thursday, 4 April 2024

Infrastructure Minister and Hutt South MP Chris Bishop, left, and Transport Minister Simeon Brown visit the Te Ara Tupua Ngāūranga to Petone walking and cycleway beside the State Highway 2 from Petone to Wellington.

Wellington is gaining weight as it gobbles up tens of thousands of tonnes of Golden Bay and central North Island rock.

Waka Kotahi NZTA on Wednesday offered a look at what is going on at the under-construction $311 million Te Ara Tupua Ngāūranga to Petone walking and cycleway beside the State Highway 2 from Petone to Wellington.

Already, 40,000 tonnes of rock has been brought in from Golden Bay and the central North Island to reclaim part of Wellington Harbour from the sea, with a further 104,000 tonnes coming before the project is finished in 2026.

Infrastructure Minister and Hutt South MP Chris Bishop, who lives in Eastbourne, was at the event and offered some rare praise to the previous Labour Government, which pushed the project through under Covid-19 fast-track consenting legislation.

“When I turned up as an MP in 2014 it was being talked about,” he said.

Bishop said he planned to use the walkway when it was expected to be completed in 2026. “You may even see me get the old Adidas gear and running into town.”

Transport Minister Simeon Brown, also there, took aim at the fast-tracking consent, which still included the building of costly artificial reefs to help with sea life.

His Government is fast-tracking legislation to speed up the process of consenting.

A birds eye view of the proposed shared pathway between Ngauranga and Petone.

NZTA estimated that, by 2030, more than 2100 trips a day would be taken by bike each week day along the path, as well as 360 walking or running trips, and 290 trips on e-scooters and the like.

As well as creating a walking and cycleway between Lower Hutt and Wellington City, it will also help protect the rail line and State Highway 2 that will run inland from it. In an emergency that blocks the road or rail lines, the new pathway could be used as a recovery route for Wellington.

By the numbers

144,000 tonnes of rocks brought in from Golden Bay and the central North Island (40,000 tonnes so far).
6800 concrete 2.6 tonne “Xblocs” used.
2700 cubic metres of concrete sea wall poured.
100 workers involved in construction when it reaches its peak.
11 years since initial engagement and investigation for the project began.
$311.9 million is the upper limit of the project budget.
4.5km length of the pathway.
5m width of the pathway.