Saving the Basin

Transport Minister Stephen Joyce was the most unpopular politician at Sunday’s Basin protest. Credit: wellington.scoop.
Known as Option X, the plan by the Wellington Architectural Centre puts a tunnel under the National War Memorial Park at a cost of up to $160 million.
Last month the NZTA closed public consultation on its two flyover options, one just 20 metres from the cricket ground and costing $100 million, and the other 65 metres from the ground at a cost of $120 million. Around 2,000 submissions were received, nearly 600 of which expressed an interest in an alternative design, in particular Option X. An NZTA spokesperson confirmed to Capital Times that the agency was considering Option X “along with other submissions.”
Bianca Begovich, who organised Sunday’s “hands around the Basin” demonstration protesting against the flyover plans says she’s delighted the agency has had a change of heart but she remains cautious.
“It’s hard to know if NZTA is just doing lip service,” Begovich says.
Sunday’s protest was a “huge success” with hundreds turning up to the demonstration despite torrential rain, she said.
“We’ll just keep campaigning until NZTA gives Option X an equal footing to its flyover options.”
Meanwhile Wellington City Council is due to make its submission on the NZTA’s proposals after the agency gave council an extension to make up its mind on the plan. A council spokesman says that submission may be put on line as early as tomorrow (September 29). It’s likely the council will give its support to Option X with Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown confirming most councillors supported the option.
“This area of Wellington is an area of national significance,” Wade-Brown says. “You’ve got the War Memorial and the proposed Memorial Park. You’ve got Government House and you’ve got the oldest cricket ground at the Basin reserve. You don’t want that area looking like the backside of a motorway.”
The NZTA will publish a comprehensive report summarising feedback from its consultation next year, along with decisions on the proposals and more detail of the design. Resource Management Act approvals are expected to be sought in either late 2012 or early 2013.









Have Your Say
0 Comments
No comments.