‘Dictatorship’ or overdue? City responds to fast-tracking
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stood just metres away from two of Wellington’s most controversial, yet not built, roading projects to announce sweeping new powers that either cut red tape or avoid crucial checks, depending on your point of view.
What it means for Wellington, including the nearby second Mount Victoria tunnel and roading changes around the Basin Reserve, is either a “dictatorship” pushing through climate destruction, or changes that are “60 years overdue”. What nearly all agree on is that it makes those two projects a lot more likely – a lot sooner.
Yesterday at the Basin Reserve, the Government announced its “one-stop-shop” fast-tracking consenting regime that, if passed, would mean infrastructure projects can get referred to an expert panel for fast-tracking by ministers.
The new Government campaigned on building the second Mount Victoria tunnel and attached Basin Reserve roading changes (though not a flyover), and was delivered a clear mandate – nationally. But the two electorates most affected by the changes – Wellington Central and Rongotai – swung Green for the first time.
“This city would never support these terrible roading projects and they didn’t vote for this Government either,” said Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul.
“The Government has no mandate in Wellington at all and they have no right to inflict their archaic, outdated, polluting ideas on our green city.”
But Pukehīnau/Lambton ward councillor, Nicola Young, was celebrating the announcement, saying a second tunnel was “60 years overdue”.
“New Zealand has been strangled by red tape for decades,” she said.
Fellow ward councillor Iona Pannett, who opposed Wellington’s inner-city bypass and Basin Reserve flyover, said the venue for yesterday’s announcement was no coincidence.
She said the Government was going to force through as a top priority, with little more than a minster’s say-so, major infrastructure around the Basin Reserve without the checks against environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts that would be needed under the Resource Management Act. “There are reasons these go through a rigorous legal process. We have the laws to make sure the politicians are using their powers properly ...” she said.
“We are not a dictatorship. And that is why we have these processes.”
Rongotai Green MP Julie Anne Genter said the “radically anti-environment Government is taking extraordinary steps to ram through projects” amid a climate crisis.
Wellington’s Green-aligned mayor Tory Whanau opposed the second tunnel but said there were areas of collaboration, such as a housing and urban growth precinct north of the Basin Reserve, that she backed.
Civil Contractors NZ advocacy and communications manager Fraser May said New Zealand had been “stuck in a whirlwind of disagreement” for years. CCNZ backed fast-tracking as long as it was done appropriately.
What it meant for Wellington – in terms of a second tunnel, Basin Reserve changes, and any other projects – was unknown, with more factors than the initial consent that could slow things down. For the second tunnel, this could be as simple as finding where to put the dirt and rock, as well as supply chains and materials.
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop, also Hutt South MP, could not be reached for comment but yesterday said “consenting major projects in New Zealand takes too long and is far too expensive”. It is understood the Basin Reserve venue was chosen to highlight the lack of action on the nearby second tunnel.
“The Government has no mandate in Wellington at all and they have no right to inflict their archaic, outdated, polluting ideas on our green city.” Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul