Council must not Jeopardise Wellington Transport Investment

Council must not Jeopardise Wellington Transport Investment

The Wellington Employers' Chamber of Commerce has reiterated its support for the proposed Levin to Wellington Airport roading investment and urged the city's councillors not jeopardise the project.

"It would be disastrous if Wellington's $2.4 billion of government transport investment was lost. It has been allocated to Wellington and now is not the time for political point scoring or it will be lost," said Chamber Chief Executive Ken Harris.

"Business strongly supports this investment in upgrading State Highway One from Levin to Wellington Airport as does the community as a whole.

"We have got this far down the line but government has competing demands on the funds and if the region doesn't show unity the whole lot is put at risk.

"The correct process is for the New Zealand Transport Agency to release its options for consultation with the people of Wellington.

"Wellington City Council must give an unequivocal statement that it accepts this process and welcomes the funding or it risks being lost forever.

"Wellington City Council consultation in 2008 found strong community support for investment in the Wellington City component of this road - including duplication of tunnels and addressing the congestion at the Basin Reserve.

"Already too much time has lapsed since then. We are now at a critical point to ensure the project goes ahead.

"The future prosperity of Wellington is at stake with this road. Businesses are not anti-passenger transport, in fact we are strongly for it, but if Wellington wants to prepare itself for the future and accommodate its expected population growth then it needs this infrastructure investment.

"This is also an example of why amalgamation of councils must be considered so that decisions are made for the benefit of the region as a whole and are less susceptible to local politics," Mr Harris concluded.

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