More planting funded for Transmission Gully

Transfund New Zealand has approved a further $243,000 for planting along the proposed route of the Transmission Gully motorway.

Transfund Acting Chief Executive Peter Wright said the agreement to fund additional planting for the next year followed an earlier approval in July 2001 of $500,000 to start the planting process. Further funding is possible over the next few years through Transfund’s National Land Transport Programme, released in June each year.

The planned route crosses areas of land which could be subject to silt erosion and run-off, especially during construction. Planting is being done so that over time the established vegetation will minimise any adverse environmental effects and is a condition of designation for the route.

Transit regional manager Brian Hasell says Transit has just completed planting 40,000 plants along the route at a cost of $170,000 and a further 5,000 plants were established in 2000. “We’re very pleased with this additional funding as it will help us to continue to prepare the route in advance of construction,” he said.

© Scoop Media