Uncertainty surrounds council’s $1.6b transport programme

Thursday, 27 June 2024

The fate of three Christchurch cycleways and several roading projects remain unknown, despite the city council approving a $1.6 billion transport programme.

On Tuesday, during a meeting that lasted 11 hours and 18 minutes, the Christchurch City Council made several funding decisions as part of finalising its 10-year budget, the long term plan (LTP).

It approved spending $1.6b, over 10 years, on capital works across the entire transport network, but it is not known exactly which projects will go ahead and when, because no one knows how much money the Government will contribute.

Confirmation on Government funding is not expected to be known until September or October.

The Government, via Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), traditionally funds transport projects, sometimes up to 50%.

The council warned of the uncertainty in the draft LTP, saying the transport programme could be impacted by Government policy and changes in funding priorities.

At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, the council decided to reconsider the transport programme once Government funding had been confirmed.

This leaves some projects, including Wheels to Wings and Te Aratai cycleways, in limbo.

Councillor Victoria Henstock tried to get the council to defer the Wheels to Wings cycleway down Harewood Rd until 2027/28, but her amendment was ruled out of order by Mayor Phil Mauger.

Councillors were told by auditors at the beginning of the meeting that if they made “material” changes to the LTP there was a risk it might not be adopted, as planned, on Thursday because it would not give auditors enough time to approve the document.

There was much uncertainty among councillors about what the definition of “material” actually was.

However, Henstock’s amendment was deemed “material” because it involved deferring $17.6m.

Earlier in the debate, Henstock said she had a clear mandate from her community to defer the cycleway.

The 4.5km cycleway was originally expected to cost $19m, but has since increased to $22m, with $5.4m already spent.

However, staff had since advised they expected the cost to rise to between $27m and $35m.

The cycleway has gone through two rounds of consultation and was approved in July 2022, but has yet to get past the detailed design phase.

Henstock argued the cycleway needed to go back to community consultation due to the budget increase and the possibility it might not get Government funding.

When the cycleway was consulted on, it had been expected to get a 50% Government subsidy, she said.

Council chief executive Mary Richardson said once the council had all the information needed in September or October, it could make decisions around consultation, funding and how the transport programme was prioritised.

Other cycleway projects that will be considered later this year includes one along Aldwins Rd in front of Te Aratai College, and another cycleway connection on Simeon St.

Both projects were put on hold earlier this year after the new Government cancelled millions of dollars in promised Transport Choices funding.

Council transport head Lynette Ellis said while the council was waiting for funding certainty from the Government it would take a “risk-based approach” to roading work.

“We need to keep going with maintenance and renewals programme which is the bulk of the programme anyway.”

Other big items in the council’s transport budget include $63m for a new bridge on Pages Rd across the Avon River and $591m to renew roads.

The council will reconvene on Thursday to confirm the LTP and the rates increase for the year from July 1, which was sitting at 9.9% on Tuesday.

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