Keen interest in how to keep Wellington on the move

More than 4,500 Wellingtonians have expressed their interest in how to keep the city on the move for the next 30 years in their submissions on the Ngauranga to Airport Strategy Study’s second stage of consultation.

The Stage 2 Consultation Report (PDF, 1.9MB) shows that a total of 4,673 submissions were received on the study, for which consultation ended in February this year. The bulk of these submissions were individual, posted responses, with 58 received from organisations interested in the study.

Representatives from Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council and Transit New Zealand, who are working jointly on the study, say they are pleased with the interest shown.

“It’s positive to see Wellingtonians want to be involved in the future direction of their city,” Wellington City Council Director of Urban Development and Transport, Ernst Zollner, says.

“As we have said before, Wellington is a vibrant, internationally competitive city and we want to keep it that way. To do that means coming up with a plan that’s possible, practical and will fit people’s requirements. We know a mix of roading and public transport improvements, plus changes to make it easier for people to walk and cycle, are required,” Mr Zollner says.

Greater Wellington Regional Council Divisional Manager of Transport Policy and Strategy, Jane Davis, says it has been invaluable to hear from people who live in the city, commute in or visit on a regular basis. This has allowed the study group to come up with the right mix of options to address current and future needs before formulating a draft Ngauranga to Airport Corridor Plan for the area between Ngauranga Gorge, Wellington Hospital and Wellington Airport.

“Wellingtonians are the ones who appreciate many of the issues and constraints the city faces and the importance of having effective roading and public transport systems that will get them where they want to go as efficiently as possible.

“The study group wanted the public to consider the range of initiatives we had considered and tell us which they preferred, and why, before we draw up a draft plan to address the region’s future transport needs,” Ms Davis says.

Transit New Zealand Wellington Regional Manager, Graham Taylor, says the consultation report is being considered in the work to formulate the draft Corridor Plan. This plan will then be reviewed by councillors from Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council as well as by the Transit New Zealand Board in May for before being approved for consultation in June by the Regional Land Transport Committee.

“Consultation will be carried out by the joint group of Transit, WCC and GWRC, under the umbrella of the Regional Land Transport Committee. The final corridor plan for the Ngauranga to Airport area, including the hospital, is expected to be approved by the end of this year,” Mr Taylor says.