Tuesday 13th March 2018

Wellington's Chambers of Commerce welcome the 'Option D' outcome – it’s now time to get Welly moving

Transport planners at last have a clear mandate to get on and sort out an option at the Basin Reserve that will solve Wellington’s main transport bottleneck, say the region’s Chambers of Commerce.

The five Wellington Region Chambers of Commerce today welcomed the summary report on the 'Let's Get Welly Moving' options, which show Option D is the most favoured option and that an overwhelming majority of 65 per cent (1044 of 1604 submitters) want a solution that sorts out the Basin.

"It's great news that the Let's Get Welly Moving consultation saw a significant number of submissions from the public," says John Milford, Chief Executive of Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

"There is a clear need to fix the current issues that under-investment and poor planning has created to date, and get it right going forward by planning ahead.

"A survey by the five Wellington Region Chambers of Commerce conclusively backs up the Let’s Get Welly Moving report.

“There can now be no doubt what the majority of people in the region want – and that’s a fix at the Basin.

“We undertook extensive research with our own members, which saw 642 give us direct feedback from members across Wairarapa, Kapiti, Porirua, Hutt Valley and Wellington.

"The survey revealed that 96.86 percent – more than 600 respondents – agree that Wellington’s transport system needs further development and investment. More than half (54 per cent) of businesses that participated favoured Scenario D, while 90 per cent supported a solution that includes resolving the issues at the Basin Reserve and introducing grade separation.

"Scenario D delivers the most benefits, including travel time savings and opportunities to regenerate and develop the city, and builds the infrastructure that Wellington needs to make our transport network work.

"Given that the business community pays 47 per cent of Wellington City rates and a third of the regional council’s rates, we believe it’s important for decision-makers to take this into account over the next few months as they take final decisions.

"We can't stand still in congestion any longer. We've got to get Welly moving."

ENDS

© Scoop Media