The new mayor’s plans
New Wellington City mayor Andy Foster is already plotting spending cuts, with his council’s share of a proposed airport runway extension one of the first projects that could be scrapped.
Foster, who ousted former mayor Justin Lester in a tight election race on Sunday, has also raised concerns over a proposed mass-transit system between the city’s railway station and airport, saying the project’s business case is unlikely to stack up.
But the new mayor has also not given up hope of establishing a Sir Peter Jackson movie museum in the city after the original plans for the project fell over last year.
He’s also hoping for a manageable bill to strengthen the Wellington Central Library, and a hasty review into the previous council’s handling of the proposed $500 million Shelly Bay redevelopment.
Airport runway extension
The Wellington City Council has budgeted $90m to help fund Wellington Airport’s proposed runway extension, but Foster is opposed to the idea.
The $330m proposal is currently on hold after the airport withdrew its resource consent application earlier this year. It plans to lodge a new application early next year.
The council has a one-third share in the airport, and Foster is a council representative on its board.
But he says scrapping the project would be an effective way to save money.
‘‘If the airport wants to pursue it, that’s their business. But it is certainly one of the things that could come out of our budget.’’
Let’s Get Wellington Moving
Foster has already voiced his concerns about the capital’s $6.4 billion transport programme, with proposed tunnels at Mt Victoria and the Basin Reserve not set for completion until after 2029.
He is standing by his claim that the council does not have the money to fund its $1.3b share of the programme, and believes the business case for a proposed $2.2b mass-transit system will not stack up.
‘‘It’s a lovely idea. But the benefit relative to the cost, at the moment, looks pretty marginal.
‘‘According to LGWM figures,
only 4 [per cent] or 5 per cent of people are expected to enter the CBD on mass-transit by 2036.’’
Shelly Bay
The city council’s granting of resource consent to a private developer for the Shelly Bay redevelopment is being reviewed by independent commissioners, after the Court of Appeal threw out the original consent.
The council plans to review its handling of the development and Foster, who is against the proposal, wants that to start sooner rather than later.
‘‘We need to just get on and do it. We’ve also got some decisions to make around the sale and lease of land.’’
Wellington Central Library
Foster is in favour of saving the library, which is closed because of its earthquake risk, and is hoping an engineers’ report will reveal a favourable repair bill.
‘‘I’m hopeful it’s going to be eight figures, rather than nine.’’
Most Wellingtonians loved the library and wanted it reopened as soon as possible, he said.
But the facility was also part of wider concerns about Civic Square, which had some ‘‘seriously unwell’’ buildings.
Movie Museum
The proposed movie museum, which was to be housed in the city’s planned new convention centre, was scrapped last year following disagreement between Jackson and the council.
Foster, whose mayoral campaign was backed by Jackson, said there was still a chance the museum could pop up somewhere else in the city.
‘‘We had it given to us on a plate and we kind of blew it.
‘‘I’m not just saying that because of my association with Sir Peter. I’ve thought it was a fantastic idea since I first went behind the scenes at Weta Workshop some 15 years ago.’’