The Alliance for Sustainable Kapiti has initiated an online petition opposing the Government’s proposed four lane expressway through the Kapiti Coast.
Described as an informal alliance of community organisations and individuals who have united to preserve the character of Kapiti, the Alliance of Sustainable Kapiti (ASK) group are requesting that the government rescinds its decision to build an expressway through the Kapiti community then work with the whole community in a consultative manner to develop a sustainable transport solution.
A letter accompanying the petition says, “[ASK] support sustainable transport solutions which consider community interests and the Community Plan, as well as our obligations to lower our reliance on fossil fuels and to reduce greenhouse emissions at a local and national level.”
Furthermore the letter offers solutions including:
- Safety and flow improvement to State Highway 1. Along the current alignment, including four lanes as and when necessary, median barriers, removal of traffic lights etc.;
- Two-Lane Western Link Road (WLR) and Waikanae River bridge. Built NOW to provide significant relief to State Highway 1 with maximum local connectivity, fully integrated with the surrounding centres and environment;
- Continue improvement to the Rail System. Support the efficiency of the road network through passenger and freight rail improvements including passenger services to Otaki and Palmerston North;
Read the letter in full ‘Bringing communities together’:
Kapiti suffers from significant traffic congestion at peak times. We need sustainable solutions soon.
The NZ Transport Agency has decided to build an expressway, designed to motorway specifications, through our precious coastal community. The decision process has been divisive, manipulative, and lacking information. Instead of consulting the community about possible solutions to the problems, we were only offered a choice between three equally unacceptable expressway routes.
The construction of a major expressway through the heart of the Kapiti district would drastically change the coastal suburban/rural character of our community. It would have dramatic impacts, including community severance, noise, air pollution, and the destruction of waahi tapu and significant natural and cultural sites. Such an expressway would not address local traffic issues and would not provide through-traffic solutions for several years. This is not a solution.
The Alliance for Sustainable Kapiti (ASK) is an informal alliance of community organisations and individuals who have united to preserve the character of Kapiti and its local communities, by opposing any new expressway and lobby for a sustainable approach to transport and development.
We believe that our local communities should not be sacrificed for the Minister of Transport’s perceived national interest, and should be recognised as part of the overall environment and economy.
We support sustainable transport solutions which consider community interests and the Community Plan, as well as our obligations to lower our reliance on fossil fuels and to reduce greenhouse emissions at a local and national level.
These solutions include[1]:
1. Safety and flow improvement to State Highway 1
Along the current alignment, including four lanes as and when necessary, median barriers, removal of traffic lights etc.;
2. Two-Lane Western Link Road (WLR) and Waikanae River bridge
Built NOW to provide significant relief to State Highway 1 with maximum local connectivity, fully integrated with the surrounding centres and environment;
3. Continue improvement to the Rail System
Support the efficiency of the road network through passenger and freight rail improvements including passenger services to Otaki and Palmerston North;
The decision
On 15 December 2009, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board announced its decision for the “Sandhills” route as the preferred corridor for a new expressway. NZTA provided very little information[2] to assess the actual path of the expressway and hence specific impacts on the community.
Likely impacts:
Any decision to proceed with the “Sandhills” route would result in[3]:
1. Continuing traffic delays until 2020, the likely completion date;
2. A four-lane 100kph motorway with major overbridges on the scale of Mackay’s crossing through QE Park and through a residential region
3. Loss of dune lands, wetlands, native bush and waahi tapu;
4. Severance – a community further physically divided;
5. Loss of local connectivity provided by a two-lane Western Link Road, which means little improvement in travel times for people making local trips;
6. Poor connections for cyclists and walkers from the loss of major CWB route (Cycleways/walkways/bridleways)
ASK is encouraging the following actions:
- Either, contact ASK at ASK1@kol.co.nz for a copy of the petition and gather signatures
- Or, sign and spread the information about the electronic ASK petition
- Look at the website of www.thesustainableoption.co.nz for further information
[1] From the KCDC’s preferred solution submitted to the NZTA. For more information: http://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/Documents/Downloads/Expressway/Expressway-NZTA-Submission-complete-final-30Oct09.pdf
[2] Based on an article from KCDC in the Kapiti News on 16 September 2009.
[3] http://www.nzta.govt.nz/network/projects/wellington-northern-corridor/docs/20091215-wgtn-rons-factsheet.pdf
Firstly, I am neither for or against the NZTA solution.
Any decision that is made is going to impact everyone. All the solutions provided further physically divide the communities and destroy dune lands, wetlands, native bush and waahi tapu.
To suggest that connections for Cyclists will be poor for the NZTA solution is narrow minded. What is currently State Highway 1, as I understand it, would become the local road. Therefore there would be nothing to stop cyclists from using it.
Which ever road is built or upgraded there will be traffic delays. My logic, however skewed, says that upgrading Highway 1 and building a new Local road would cause more disruption to the local community. Surely if the existing Highway was to become the local road, no additional work would be required leaving it free whilst the motorway was built.
Having a local road for Kapiti residents would be great. Being able to commute between communities without having to use the Highway would be of definite benefit.
But the communities would still be split in two with pollution distributed over a greater area.
I don’t know what the answer is…but so far its none of the suggestions put forward by anyone
We could start building the WLR now: the community has agreed on what is needed, all resource consents granted. Very soon, pretty much as soon as the Waikanae bridge was completed, it would start taking traffic off SH1. The WLR would be cycle-friendly from the start.
The government has decided to build the old Sandhills Motorway. It will take years to work out the worst errors and omissions in their plan. Then once we have a final plan, resource consents will need to be obtained. All this time the existing problems with SH 1 will continue.
The best we can hope for is that National get booted in 2014 and the Sandhills Motorway gets canned before building starts. Then we will have lost only 5 years and some tens of millions of taxpayers’ dollars.
Thanks for your comments Sue.
Agreed an alternative, second bridge across the Waikanae River is needed now! If there happened to be an accident on the bridge, completely blocking State Highway 1, then Wellington and the lower North Island would be severely affected.
Construct the two lanes bridge but with a four lane option if needed in the future.
Don’t delay build today.
Letter to minister: not answered.
Robert Ferris
Raumati South
16/9/09
The Minister of Transport
Rt. Hon. Steven Joyce
Dear Sir,
I write to you about your current motorway design proposal.
My name is Robert Ferris I am an Architect and I also teach at Victoria University School of Architecture. I have studied Urban Design and been involved in the town centre meetings with Cobus Mentze as well as the Raumati South meetings about the WLR. I live on Rosetta Rd and am, at present, not really affected by any of the various options apart from turning north from Poplar Ave to travel south. For South end residents it is the most convenient route. I have in 1999 produced a historical Urban Design study of the district, and presented this to Council when Mr Milne was mayor, so I understand clearly the issues. At the meeting I attended directed by Cobus I presented a main road strategy based on the geology of the district. This was in 2001.
The district has two different land types one of which has proven to been the source of huge costs i.e. the deep peat soils; these soils run all the way from Paekakariki in the south to Otaki in the north, They abut the hills, which were the former sea cliffs dropping directly into the ocean 2500 years ago; these also run more or less in a line north-south, the soils of the hills are a lot firmer, hence Paraparaumu township east of the rail line was founded on firm ground.
I need to point out some historical facts, When the rail line was first put through the area in the 1860’s it took the same amount of time to build the track from Paekakariki to Otaihanga (beside Southwards car museum a commemorative plaque can be found) as it did to construct the rail line from Palmerston North to Otaihanga; why…precisely because of the deep soft soils.
Now in our own time, the Lindale interchange proudly started out with a sign that said Project $1,000,000 dollars and x amount of time to completion. Within one month that figure was crossed out and soon after the sign came down. Deep peat and swam gas was encountered if I recall correctly.
It was exactly the same issue recently at Mackays Crossing overpass and similar for the huge 1980’s proposal by the MOW (whose report I have read) to broaden Rimu Rd. and put in a 4 lane round-about north of the Council office building.
The reason being for these repeated follies is that nobody, including the roading engineers does their homework or research. If the WLR proceeds the very same issues will be encountered. The costs of any proposed projects located on the soft soils of the western side of the hills will invariably cost much, much more than estimated…I would suggest double.
What I proposed at the meeting mentioned above, in line with my research would be to put one fly-over on the Main Rd at grade to cross the rail line to the east side (at about The Warehouse) and hugging the hills and firm soils, drive a new motorway more or less straight up connecting with the motorway at Rimutaka St / Boatyard corner. Flat unobstructed land is available in the rail way parking lot for some distance beside Epiha St. which runs onto Hinemoa St., the Funeral Chapel is the only substantial property affected. As for St Patricks Church, the building is of no historical value, and as a parishioner there I can tell you that we would like a new church anyway… The old being not suited to parishioners needs, and our present parish priest has a reputation for building anew. Some dwellings would be affected by a sweeping curve of the road, but theses dwellings are few in number and of low value.
Building on the east side will free up land that is at present highway, for new urban design multi-storied dwellings/shops etc and also much improved links with the railway station hub.
Possibly designed buildings and land could be swapped with affected parties.
I will be writing to Jenny Rowan informing her of these facts also.
As a new Minister and Politician I realise you are trying to carve out a name for yourself with this project; something that history will look back on and say Steven Joyce did this. I want to share a story with you that an Irish priest shared with me years ago. A large public contracting firm in Auckland call Green and McCahill- my father was an early partner – were asked to tender on a huge pipeline project. Now Hughie Green was called The Brains while Barney was called The Brawn; Hughie didn’t have this epithet for nothing as he could estimate project costs in his head and give a fixed price for work on the spot. Hughie was taken by helicopter over the length of the project through rugged bush terrain and asked for a price. He answered directly and with conviction that the project was impossible to perform. Green and McCahill did not tender for the project. The contract was won by another contractor who went bankrupt during the course of the job which was never completed.
What I am trying to suggest is that this project in this particular geology needs a very careful study undertaken so that your reputation remains intact as somebody history says didn’t fail.
Don’t take for granted or stake your reputation on the WLR route which, in my opinion, doomed to cost double of any tendered price.
A wise man in your position would look to the following:
• Take into account the good democratic processes that have already taken place
• Appoint a multi –interdisciplinary team composing urban designers such as Cobus Mentze, Road & Rail engineers, Council, and interest groups directly affected such as residential groups and Maori.
• Don’t neglect alternative forms of transport such as rail and shipping in your estimates and projections. (from 10am till 12 pm the current highway is virtually empty same in afternoon)
• Build sustainable existing community links onto motorway for growth.
Thank you for considering what I have said.
Yours sincerely
Robert Ferris BArch NZIA
I have received, on the 31th March 10, a nicely written letter from the Minister of Transport, the Hon Steven Joyce, who has addressed the points in my above letter.
He makes these points
1. He supports the “sandhills route because it is the least expensive, avoids the town centres, and requires the purchase of the smallest number of private properties.”
2.He is promoting the idea of the multi-disciplinary team to consider the project. Good!
3.He agrees that more investment in public transport is needed and outlines the current expenditure on the double tracking work currently in construction and construction of the two stations at Waikanae and Paraparaumu. Excellent!
4. and finally notes that”the sandhills route will ensure local railway stations continue to be accessible for local rail commuters.” How so?
Comment:Come on Minister, How about a station at Raumati South as well?
To make my position clear, I am entirely against the Expressway alinement coming across Queen Elizabeth Park and through the sandhills in in Raumati South, and I think most other Raumati residents are. I am already aware the Kapiti Collage students will protest, along with myself, in front of the bulldozers if this route is chosen. The sandhills route is the death of Raumati south, Raumati, Paraparaumu and beyond and make no mistake about it. It will have far more impact on the stormwater patterns, ecology, air quality, and life style than folk imagine. The upgrade of the current Eastern route is the only sensible solution.
Two years ago I gave some invited lectures on climate change to a large class of graduate students in China. Many of their questions were about sea level rise. One of their professors told me that China was now planning to shift all major roadways to at least 3 meters above sea level, and they know that Shanghai is a big issue.
More recently I communicated with Deborah Hume, Regional Director in NZTA, explaining that scientific estimates of future sea level rise had doubled in the last three years and asking how this was being considered in the decision to relocate SH1 onto some low lying land to the west of Waikanae. She admitted that it had not been considered (yet).
The Chinese culture is to think long term, but I really wonder about the way New Zealand’s government thinks. If our grandchildren have to move SH1 back onto higher land to avoid accelerating coastal erosion, they will wish we had been like the Chinese.