Minister says Govt committed to O¯ 2NL
He was responding to questions from Nats
Recent speculation about the fate of infrastructure plans such as those for the Horowhenua Expressway, O¯ 2NL, may just have been a storm in a teacup.
In Parliament on Tueday night Transport Minister Michael Wood was questioned by National list MPs Michael Woodouse and Chris Bishop about two upcoming projects in the NZ Upgrade Programme, in Auckland and Lower Hutt.
Woodhouse demanded from Wood that he express clearly whether the Government was still committed to all the projects announced in January 2020, and that includes O¯ 2NL.
Wood responded as follows: “The Government has not made changes to the NZ Upgrade Programme (NZUP) and remains committed to delivery of good transport outcomes along all of the routes concerned.
“Given the scale of the projects concerned and given the fact the programme was announced preCovid a baselining exercise has been done to provide certainty around cost and scope.
“Ministers are working through the options on how to take the programme forward and announcement on all the rest of the projects will be made in the near future, he said.
He denied he refused to commit to delivery of all those projects, when asked by Bishop.
“That is not the case… the Government remains committed to those projects and I have simply made the comments that the Government remains committed to a sound process to consider the scope and costings of the project, something that we believe is important.
“I am surprised that the members don't think that is important given the shambles… of the Transmission Gully Project that that lot left for this Government to clean up and bail out. Because they didn't do the groundwork. That's what we are doing now.
“The base line info will be released in due course.”
Bishop, who inquired after the fate of the Melling interchange in Lower Hutt, got told he needed to spend less time on Twitter speculating.
“Be like the Hutt South member, who has brought forward the importance of that project.
“I assured her the project remains an important part of the NZ Upgrade Programme and we intend to move forward with implementation as soon as possible,” Wood said.
Local Labour MP Terisa Ngobi said last week she understood that any speculation regarding the O¯ 2NL is frustrating.
“It is important to remember that no decisions have been made yet, and that no projects have been cancelled,'' she said.
She said she had sought a meeting with the Transport Minister, which took place this week.
The speculation has set tongues wagging and many, including former National Party candidate Tim Costley, joined the dissenting voices but Costley also offered a solution.
Horowhenua District Council officially called this speculation at this late stage in the project “not only unwarranted but also totally unfair and cruel”.
While promised by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern just over a year ago that O¯ 2NL was a goer, with four lanes plus a path for walkers and cyclists beside it, the community is now in shock at the publication of “snippets of briefings” to the Transport Minister warning of cost overruns around the country, which may need either more funding or shelving or downscaling.
While Horowhenua has fought hard and long for a four-lane expressway to bypass its towns, and celebrated a year ago its success, despair has now returned once again.
The speculation was made worse since Wood is refusing to confirm or deny any of that speculation.
Horowhenua District councillor Sam Jennings said the council has
been trying to get confirmation, without success, while mayor Bernie Wanden said, “We can’t have these yo-yo announcements, and whether they are rumour or not, there needs to be a response.”
He said the expressway will mitigate a lot of problems, including loss of life on a bit of road that has been labelled “a killing field”.
Horowhenua District Council has expressed alarm and concern at media speculation that the O¯ taki to North of Levin (O¯ 2NL) Expressway is in danger of being scrapped and that the Minister of Transport is unable to confirm commitment to the project.
“It was only in December 2020 that Prime Minister Ardern officially commenced the Tara-Ika subdivision — the largest residential development in the history of Horowhenua — with the acknowledgement that growth forecasts in the region were considerable and investment in local infrastructure necessary.
“With significant growth in the region, the catalyst for much of that growth has been the knowledge that the roading network between Wellington and Levin would become safer and more efficient,” Wanden said.
“Being invited to be part of the Wellington Regional Growth Framework recognises that with the expressway, Horowhenua can assist with the challenges that are faced in the Wellington region, especially in the housing area.
“The Horowhenua community is again being placed in a position of uncertainty which is causing significant stress and anxiety to its residents and businesses.
“The state highway that splits our community is becoming busier by the day, posing increased risk to the safety of the community.
“For many residents who live in the designated corridor, the impact has been great, with a number of properties either purchased by Waka Kotahi or have been signalled as being required for the expressway.
“To have this conjecture and uncertainty at such a late stage in the project is not only unwarranted but is also totally unfair and cruel.”
Horowhenua District Council is in the middle of its Long Term Plan, with much of that planning, whether it be for infrastructure or the future revitalisation of the Levin town centre, revolving around the expressway being built and operational in 2029.
The council’s plea to Government is to put the speculation surrounding the future of this project to bed and to commit to ensuring the project is completed.
Ngobi immediately tried to calm the storm, saying, “O¯ 2NL is critical to the livelihoods, safety and¯wellbeing of people not just in the Otaki electorate, but across the lower North Island.
“While I know that recent speculation regarding the O¯ 2NL is frustrating, it is important to remember that no decisions have been made yet, and that no projects have been cancelled,” she said.
In her dicussion this week with Wood she said she “reiterated my support for our community and our need for O¯ 2NL.
“We talked about how O2NL ¯ actually benefits communities beyond O¯ taki to Levin, with the road feeding through to Manawatu¯ and Whanganui.
“The minister advised there are no cancelled projects but that he is working through the NZUpgrade baseline, which could take up to a month.
“In the meantime, I will continue to strongly advocate for O¯ 2NL.”