Subscribe to RSSWgtn Expressway Date Set
NZTA has announced it will announce the new consultation timeline for Wellington’s MacKays to Peka Peka Expressway on November 19- the day before the local Mana by-election.
NZTA says its Board Committee meeting will meet the day before (Nov 18) and be presented with the new route and an extended consultation period of about 10 days will follow afterwards.
Questions have been raised in parliament about NZTA’s earlier change of date and whether it was to shut down discussion during the by-election.
NZTA has decided to reschedule public consultations for the MacKays to Peka Peka expressway route until - coincidentally- after the Mana by-election. It said NZTA needed to “further refine the specific proposals we’ve developed and therefore potentially reduce the impact on property owners”.
Labour claimed the government gave the directive for the meetings to be postponed and the NZTA was being made to front up and take the blame.
NZTA Regional Director Central Jenny Chetwynd today said since the consultation period will now straddle the Christmas/New Year break, the NZTA expects to extend the timeframe for consultation.
Ms Chetwynd said the agency understood that the community was frustrated with the delay to consultation, and want to see the route as soon as possible.
“We know that this delay has been difficult for people, but it’s important that people are presented with as much detail as possible, and the refinements we’ve made to the proposed route over the last few weeks will provide the Kapiti community with more certainty once consultation commences.
Ms Chetwynd also acknowledged that some members of the community had expressed a desire to see earlier proposed versions of the expressway route before consultation gets underway, but said doing so at this stage would only add to uncertainty in the community.
“It’s important that we present the most up to date details of the proposed route, to ensure that they have the clear and accurate picture of what is proposed and who is potentially affected.”
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