Media advisory

22 July 2014

Media advisory for Basin Bridge Proposal

The independent Board of Inquiry delegated to hear and decide the Basin Bridge Proposal of National Significance has released its draft report and decision.

The Board by majority decision (3 to 1) has cancelled the New Zealand Transport Agency’s Notice of Requirement and declined its resource consent applications for the construction, operation and maintenance of State Highway 1 in Wellington City between Paterson Street and Buckle Street/Taranaki Street.

The draft report and decision is available on the EPA website here: http://www.epa.govt.nz/Resource-management/Basin_Bridge/Pages/Basin_Bridge.aspx

A total of 215 submissions were received, and evidence was heard from 69 witnesses and representations by a further 74 submitters.

The applicant and other parties now have 20 days to make comments on minor or technical aspects of the report.

The Board will provide its final decision to the EPA by 30 August 2014.

ENDS

NSP000026_NSP000026_Draft_Report_and_Decision.pdf

Background notes

The Basin Bridge Proposal was referred to the Board of Inquiry by the Minister for the Environment on 3 July 2013.

The Board conducted a hearing between 3 February and 4 June. It ran for 72 sitting days, over a four month period.

The Project consists of a two-lane one way bridge (the Basin Bridge) and involved:

the proposed construction and operation of the 265m long Basin Bridge

• a new Northern Gateway Building within the Basin Reserve

• an elevated shared pedestrian and cycle way on the north side of the Basin Bridge

• a building under the bridge on Bogarts Corner, including a multi-storey planted trellis ‘green screen’ adjacent to the Grandstand Apartments

• landscaping and planting, including an extension to the National War memorial Park

• a clearway on Vivian Street and upgrades to several intersections.

The Board is chaired by Retired Environment and District Court Judge Gordon Whiting. The other three members are David Collins, James Baines, and David McMahon.

The Board makes its decision independently of the EPA and of the Minister. Its decision can be appealed to the High Court on points of law only, and it cannot be overturned by the Minister.

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