Link missing from upgrade plan

Nelson MP Nick Smith said he’s ‘‘beavering’’ away to see the city’s Southern Link included in an upcoming regional transport announcement.

The National Party has outlined a $10.5 billion project for 10 major road upgrades across the country.

The Road of National Significance project included four-lane State Highways – which entails two lanes of traffic flow in each direction, wide lanes, sealed shoulders and high-quality signage.

But the controversial Southern Link proposal, which is being looked at by the New Zealand Transport Agency, was not included.

‘‘The Government is still working on a regional transport announcement that will be made prior to the election,’’ Smith said.

‘‘Certainly it’s a personal priority for me [to have the Southern Link included] but the decision of the wider National team has not yet been made on those priorities. It’s not the only regional project that’s of importance and there’s always a contest for budget. I think we have a good case, I’m advocating as strongly as possible.’’

Smith said the investigation into the Southern Link was ongoing, and NZTA was doing a ‘‘good job’’ but had been delayed due to other priorities following the Kaikoura quake.

He said their findings would inform National’s decision with regards to regional transport.

‘‘I can assure you that NZTA is well connected with the Minister of Transport and the decisionmaking process for the government, just as it was with the roads of national significance.’’

Mayor Rachel Reese said the council had not been told when the findings would be made public.

Earlier this year she wrote a letter to NZTA and Minister of Transport Simon Bridges, urging them to make the investigation a priority.

The NZTA was due to submit its findings over the Southern Link to the council before the end of last year, but was forced to delay the report following the earthquake in Kaikoura. It then told the council it was likely findings would be ready by February or March.

Nelson Green candidate Matt Lawrey said Smith’s ‘‘obsession’’ with the Southern Link had pitched Nelsonians against each other and stopped Nelson City Council from building a desperately needed waterfront boulevard for pedestrians and cyclists.

‘‘Given the weekend announcement that National will again open the nation’s chequebook and spend willy-nilly on 10 other projects in regional New Zealand – but not the Southern Link - the pressure is on Nick Smith to front up about plans for his legacy project,’’ Lawrey said.

Smith’s response was that the link was one of a number of infrastructure projects he was passionate about, and he didn’t agree it was his ‘‘legacy’’.

He said it was part of a wider strategy to eventually see a fourlane highway running through Nelson.