The High Court Appeal against the flyover decision

The New Zealand Transport Agency has taken an appeal against the Board of Inquiry decision to decline resource consent for a Basin Reserve flyover. Community groups that opposed the flyover, including Save the Basin and the Architecture Centre, are planning to be represented by lawyers when this appeal is heard.

In the original Board of Inquiry process the Newtown Residents’ Association and the Architecture Centre made joint submissions, and the legal costs were covered by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.   This funding is not available for the appeal. When the NRA decided to oppose the flyover it was on the understanding that there would be no cost to the Association.   We are not a wealthy organisation, and so although we support the action the above groups are taking we cannot afford to be a party to it.

Save the Basin are fundraising for their costs, and members might like to support this – see here for more information.

Grant Robertson’s initiative

Grant Robertson, the Wellington Central MP, convened a meeting to discuss next steps in terms of the development of transport solutions for Wellington, in particular in the area around the Basin Reserve.  The meeting was held on Monday 6th of October and was attended by a number of community groups; NRA was represented by Martin Hanley. Martin took some plans for suggested changes to traffic lanes that the Urban Activation Lab has been working on, and they were well received. As an outcome of the meeting a letter is being drafted requesting greater community involvement with the development of plans for the Ngauranga to Airport corridor – we will report further when this is finalized.   There is to be a follow-up meeting, this time with the Regional Council, on Friday 24^th October.