TUNNEL VISION
■ Minister wanted Mt Vic tunnel delayed ■ Details released of controversial letter ■ Opposition predicts ‘public unhappiness’
Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter has admitted she would only back Wellington’s $6.4 billion transport programme if a mass public transport system was built before an extra Mt Victoria
tunnel.
Genter yesterday released details of a letter she sent to Transport Minister Phil Twyford on March 26, in which she outlined her conditions for supporting the Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) programme.
She stipulated public transport, walking and cycling improvements would need to be prioritised over an extra tunnel if she was to back the plan.
The indicative LGWM package, finalised in October last year, listed the tunnel as one of the programme’s priorities, with design and early construction work scheduled to begin by 2024.
But that project was pushed back in the final proposal released in May, with work now scheduled to start by 2029.
Opposition MPs speculated
Genter’s letter had an undue influence on the final package and asked her to release it.
In August, it was revealed the Ministry of Transport advised Twyford the $700 million project needed to go ahead sooner rather than later, and that not doing so would have ‘‘several potential downsides’’.
New Zealand Transport Agency officials later told a parliamentary select committee the final package was decided by ministers and local elected officials, even though the agency was one of three partners involved in the programme – along with Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Yesterday, Genter and Twyford released a joint statement saying the Chief Ombudsman had backed their decision not to release the letter. However, they also released details of what was in the document.
‘‘The associate minister advised she was comfortable supporting this package if a number of matters were clarified, including that the public transport and walking and cycling components of the package would be completed as soon as practicably possible, and that work on rapid transit be prioritised ahead of the second Mt Victoria tunnel,’’ the statement said.
Genter was concerned extra traffic would increase congestion and greenhouse gas emissions and undermine demand for public transport, it said.
She was also worried there was not enough funding available for public transport.
The letter was provided as feedback on the draft LGWM package before going out for cross-party consultation, the statement said. It did not issue any ultimatums or threats of resignation.
Twyford said that in a coalition government ‘‘we discuss all major policy decisions with our support parties, and Let’s Get Wellington Moving was no different. ‘‘Successive Governments have recognised discussions on Cabinet decisions need to take place in confidence to ensure the best decision is made.’’
Genter said: ‘‘We supported releasing a statement to put to rest the false speculation whipped up by opposition MPs about the letter’s contents.’’
National Party transport spokesman Chris Bishop said it was clear the Green Party had been ‘‘calling the shots’’ when it came to Wellington’s transport.
‘‘What remains a mystery is why doesn’t Julie Anne Genter just be honest about this rather than dance on the head of a pin, using every excuse under the sun
to keep her letter secret? There is going to be a considerable amount of public unhappiness – a huge number of Wellingtonians know it is critical to unclog Wellington’s congestion.’’
Wellington-based National list MP Nicola Willis said Genter had been forced to admit she would not support the LGWM package unless the extra Mt Victoria tunnel was delayed by a decade or so.
The Ombudsman gave Genter a ‘‘pretty severe telling off’’ for
the withholding of information, which led to confusion, disquiet, and speculation, she said.
Willis welcomed the Ombudsman’s decision but wanted to see the full content of the letter.
‘‘This episode has been a shambles from start to finish.
‘‘Julie Anne Genter and Phil Twyford have demonstrated they can’t be trusted to be open and transparent, and can’t be trusted to actually get Wellington moving.’’