Better late than never

Work will finally start on a million-dollar carpark for commuters in Waikanae, delayed by consent wrangles and cultural reports for more than a year after it was bought.

Greater Wellington Regional Council confirmed on Wednesday that work would likely start within days on the lot fronting State Highway 1.

It has been vacant since the only pub in the town north of Wellington was demolished last November.

The car park, with 240 spaces would ease parking pressure on Waikanae, which was the northernmost stop on Metlink’s Kapiti Line.

Greater Wellington bought the land in June last year but the project was plagued with delays including the need for a cultural assessment when it was revealed as the site of Wi Parata’s homestead in the late 1880s.

Concerns that the new car park could swamp stormwater drains with run-off caused further delays with consent. The car park will now have its own underground pits to allow water to soak away more quickly.

The regional council could not buy all of the land in the car park footprint, after buying the majority last year, and instead leased a remaining strip from Te Ati Awa ki Whakarongotai Charitable Trust.

The regional council budgeted $1.7m for the 12 to 16-week project, which was originally hoped to be completed last year, then planned to begin in January.

Public transport portfolio leader Paul Swain said once completed there would be 400 spaces for train commuters in Waikanae.

‘‘Over 1000 people take the train from Waikanae every day, and many of them drive to the station from further north.’’

Finding land for park and rides in built-up areas could be complicated, he said.

The entire construction area would be closed during the work for safety reasons.

The Waikanae park and ride and extensions to facilities in Porirua, Upper Hutt and Trentham would create more than 6000 park and ride spaces across the region.