Work begins on Mt Messenger bypass
Six years after it was first announced, Taranaki’s largestever roading project is finally under way.
A celebration at the Mt Messenger Alliance in Bell Block on Thursday last week marked the start of construction of the $280 million Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger bypass.
Representatives from the Alliance – Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Downer, HEB Construction, Tonkin+Taylor and WSP – were joined by Associate Minister of Transport Kieran McAnulty as well as members of Ngāti Tama, councillors and project representatives.
However, not everybody was happy.
While the celebration was taking place, a group of protesters, some of whom had been part of a month-long occupation of the Mt Messenger summit site, marched down Devon St East towards the New Plymouth District Council building, holding signs saying ‘‘Not one more acre’’.
The group of 17 protesters, some belonging to Ngāti Tama and Poutama, were demanding a halt to construction of the bypass through the Mangapēpeke Valley in order to take another look at ‘‘Option Z’’, which would largely follow the existing State Highway 3 route.
While the council locked its doors, Mayor Neil Holdom, who had also attended the Mt Messenger Alliance celebration, met the protesters.
In a statement, Holdom said the council had reiterated its commitment to environmental excellence and its expectation that the bypass project would contribute to biodiversity.
‘‘We’ve also asked Waka Kotahi to do the right thing by the Pascoe family, who are hugely impacted by the highway running through their farm and so close to their family home.’’
At the Mt Messenger Alliance headquarters, McAnulty put his driving skills to the test with an arcade-simulator that allowed him to practise driving along the route.
’’I think everybody here locally knows the challenges that they’ve had to face to get this off the ground,’’ McAnulty said.
‘‘It was announced in (2016) and everyone wanted to get under way then, but it had to go through the process that was challenged and ended up in court. We saw some protests, but that never deterred the group of organisations and individuals that were behind this.’’
McAnulty said the work would ensure a more resilient, safe, and reliable route in and out of north Taranaki.
‘‘This route is critical to the region’s economy as it provides a safe and direct connection to Waikato for freight and travel.’’
Motorists could be driving the bypass as soon as 2026.
Design manager for Mt Messenger Alliance, Sharon Parackal said the next few weeks would be ‘‘very much in the planning phase’’ – however they were hoping to begin tree felling from next week.
During the first season of construction, crews will use three access points to construct the route, including a 1.1km cableway to get workers and machinery to the heart of the site.
Construction has already begun on the cableway, as well as tracks for the project’s pest management programme, which is set to cover over 3650ha either side of the bypass.
Meanwhile, opponents of the bypass route have vowed to continue their fight.
Marie Gibbs of Poutama Charitable Trust said the protesters were supportive of the upgrade, but wanted ‘‘Option Z’’ looked at again.
‘‘We are very disappointed that we were not invited at the opening ceremony today.’’
Ramona Raiwhara said that they would continue their march down to Parliament ‘‘very soon’’.