Delay puts f lood project at risk
Uncertainty over a major roading project could compromise a flood protection and urban design project worth $2.5 billion to Lower Hutt’s economy.
Greater Wellington Regional Council is about to start the tendering and planning process to protect Lower Hutt from catastrophic flooding.
RiverLink involves strengthening the Hutt River stopbanks, a new Melling bridge, a promenade with apartments, and relocating Melling Station.
However, Hutt City Council’s draft annual plan states that the Melling bridge has been ‘‘pushed back one year’’ to allow the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to develop its business case for an interchange at Melling.
An economic impact assessment estimated RiverLink would add $2.5 billion to the Hutt economy and that the cost of flooding would be measured in billions, damaging 3200 homes, 730 businesses and five schools.
To get the maximum flood protection benefit, the current bridge, which is a major choke point for the river, needs to be replaced.
Transport Minister Phil Twyford said the interchange was one of the projects being re-evaluated by NZTA to make sure it aligned with his Government’s transport priorities.
The NZTA board made the final decision on projects and the agency had advised him that further work was required.
As it was such an important project to the community, it was important that time was taken to get it right, he said.
He expected an announcement to be made in the coming months.
Hutt South National MP Chris Bishop said he had been asking NZTA for an update about Melling without getting a satisfactory answer.
The project was a ‘‘giant jigsaw puzzle’’ and without a new Melling bridge and interchange, it would be compromised.
Prior to the last election, National said it would ‘‘fasttrack’’ the Melling Interchange.
Since then, criteria used to evaluate major roading projects had changed and Bishop said that had led to doubts over the project.
Councillor Chris Milne said for RiverLink to work, the councils, KiwiRail and NZTA had to work together.
Acting RiverLink project director Alistair Allan said it would be ‘‘fantastic’’ if all four agencies could work together and he remained hopeful that NZTA would get on board.
A new bridge and interchange was vital to the success of the floodway project, he said.
The existing stopbanks are designed to cope with a one-in-60 year flood. If the bridge is not moved, the level of protection would be one in 200 but with a new bridge, it rises to one in 400.