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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of the Transmission Gully project?
- Why has there been an interest for so many years about a possible route through Transmission Gully?
- What are the significant safety and environmental benefits of the preferred route?
- Why has the preferred route fallen outside the original designation?
- Does this mean that Transmission Gully will now definitely be built?
- Why Is Transit planting trees along the existing designation route when the preferred option is different and there is no guarantee that the Transmission Gully project will proceed to construction stage?
- Are there any changes to the proposed intersections and connection routes?
- What is a Designation?
- What is likely to happen to affected properties?
- Are there any Maori land ownership issues to resolve?
- How do I make my views known?
- How realistic will the engagement process be if you already have a "preferred route"?
- What will happen once the community consultation process has ended?
- What funding has been approved so far?
- The original estimated cost in 2005 was $985m - why has the figure increased?
- Who will provide the funding shortfall?
- When is work likely to start on the project?
- How long would it take to build the highway?
- What will happen to the existing SH1 coastal route?
- How many lanes will Transmission Gully have?
- The project has been called Transmission Gully Motorway at various times in the past. Motorway appears not to be used now; will Transmission Gully still be a formal motorway?
- The Dominion Post supplement made no mention of public transport as part of the project. Surely encouraging public transport in the Wellington Region is important?
General
Land and property issues
Feedback and community engagement
Funding
Construction
1. What is the purpose of the Transmission Gully project?
The Transmission Gully project would be one component of a package of rail and road options that are intended to address congestion, traffic flow and road safety in the Wellington region.
2.Why has there been an interest for so many years about a possible route through Transmission Gully?
For more than 50 years, there has been recognition of a potential alternative inland route for State Highway 1 (SH1). Proposals to develop this route date to World War II when it was suggested that a road could be constructed through the Gully for military purposes. The option of utilising Transmission Gully as an alternative to SH1 was first seriously considered by the Wellington Regional Council in the late 1980s.
3. What are the significant safety and environmental benefits of the preferred route?
The preferred route takes into account the fault line that runs through the area and provides greater route security. The effects on the countryside such as the Pauatahanui Inlet and Battle Hill Farm Forest Park area have also been important considerations in the investigatory work.
4. Why has the preferred route fallen outside the original designation?
Previous studies undertaken were essentially desktop based. The latest field investigations are the first on-site studies to have been undertaken and provide a significant level of detail and information which was not previously available. This has provided a preferred route which provides the most appropriate and cost-effective environmental, transport and engineering solutions.
5. Does this mean that Transmission Gully will now definitely be built?
It moves the process one step closer but it must be said that while the Government continues to support Transmission Gully and the Wellington region, there is still a way to go. The region needs to come up with a funding solution if we are to reach the construction stage.
6. Why Is Transit planting trees along the existing designation route when the preferred option is different and there is no guarantee that the Transmission Gully project will proceed to construction stage?
The planting work is being carried out to meet the conditions of the Designation agreed by Transit when it applied to have the proposed route included in the district plans of local councils in the area.
Fortunately almost all of the planting areas are common to both alignments. Where they are not, the preferred designation is well away from the planting areas meaning that construction is unlikely to affect those trees already in the ground.
If the project proceeds to construction stage, the planted areas will be an integral component of the finished project. If the project does not proceed to construction stage, there are still environmental benefits in having done the planting.
7. Are there any changes to the proposed intersections and connection routes?
Yes there are changes to the intersections and local connector roads.
For a plan showing the existing designation and the preferred alignment click here
A designation is a form of "zoning" in a District Plan which provides notice to the community that a requiring authority (in this case Transit New Zealand) intends to use land in the future for a particular public work or project.
Once land is designated for a particular purpose, the requiring authority (Transit) is able to:
- Proceed with the specified work if it is permitted by the District Plan,
- Control activities that occur on the land in order to prevent the landowner doing anything that would compromise the future work even if the requiring authority does not own the land,
- Apply to the Minister of Lands to compulsorily purchase or lease all or part of the land under the Public Works Act 1981, and
- Enter private land to undertake investigations.
9. What is likely to happen to affected properties?
As with any property acquisitions, there are a number of factors which could have an impact. Transit will be working with all property owners to ensure the best and fairest possible outcomes.
For more information on how Transit undertakes with property purchase click here
10. Are there any Maori land ownership issues to resolve?
Transit has been working closely with Maori representatives on all aspects of the project and this will continue into the next phase. No specific issues have been identified to date.
11. How do I make my views known?
An eight-page brochure is being circulated to all households in the Greater Wellington region. This will include a "postage paid" feedback form. Feedback can also be provided online or by post. Please phone 0800 84 4636 throughout the feedback period for any queries.
12.How realistic will the engagement process be if you already have a "preferred route"?
A preferred route is only an identified option for public consultation. The community consultation process will allow the public to comment on the preferred route and raise any specific issues affecting them. All feedback received from the community, including directly affected land and property owners, will be taken into consideration before any decision is taken on a final recommended route.
13. What will happen once the community consultation process has ended?
Once the consultation period has ended, all the input received will be considered and a report published.
13. What funding has been approved so far?
In its 2006 budget, the Government signalled that $80 million was available for the Transmission Gully investigation phase. On 12 October, 2006, Land Transport NZ approved $9.2 million in funding to enable Transit to proceed with the first stage of the investigation to determine the feasibility of the Transmission Gully project. On 24 June 2008, Land Transport New Zealand approved a further $20 million for Stage 2 work.
15. The original estimated cost in 2005 was $985m - why has the figure increased?
The cost has not gone up. Using Land Transport New Zealand's cost escalation formula the $985 million previously reported cost translates to $1.3 billion, which is why the $1.025 billion represents a cost saving on the previous estimate of $275m in real terms.
16. Who will provide the funding shortfall?
The Government has already allocated $405m towards construction, and made available a further $80m for investigation, planning and preliminary design but there has always been an understanding that the Wellington region would come up with a solution to bridge the funding gap. The savings identified as a result of the phase one investigations can be passed on to the region.
17. When is work likely to start on the project?
This is a huge project and the timelines will depend on a number of factors, in particular the regional funding solution which is essential if the project is to proceed to construction stage.
18. How long would it take to the build the highway?
It is envisaged that the physical construction of the highway would take around five years to build but the precise duration would depend on a range of factors.
19. What will happen to the existing SH1 coastal route?
No formal decisions about the future status of the existing SH1 have been made as this will rely upon the progress of the Transmission Gully project, and discussions and consultation with the local communities and Councils.
20. How many lanes will Transmission Gully have?
The preferred option for Transmission Gully is a four-lane route; two lanes in each direction. Crawler lanes will be provided on the steepest sections.
On sections where there are significant weaving movements e.g. from MacKays crossing to the northbound connection with Transmission Gully from the coastal highway, or from State Highway 58 to the proposed James Cook Interchange, a total of six lanes are considered necessary for safety reasons.
21. The project has been called Transmission Gully Motorway at various times in the past. Motorway appears not to be used now; will Transmission Gully still be a formal motorway?
The preferred Transmission Gully route contains both motorway (main route) and non-motorway (local connections) elements and for greater accuracy and simplicity, the project has been referred to, for a while now, simply as Transmission Gully.
22. The Dominion Post supplement made no mention of public transport as part of the project. Surely encouraging public transport in the Wellington Region is important?
Transit works closely with Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) who are responsible for developing and managing public transport in the greater Wellington region. The GWRC Western Corridor Plan had improving and encouraging the use of public transport as it's number one priority followed by projects such as Transmission Gully, to improve safety, route security and improve efficiency.
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