WELLINGTON OFFICE
Level 5, The Majestic Centre
100 Willis Street
PO Box 5084
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5200
15 February 2019
F 64 4 894 3305
www.nzta.govt.nz
Josh Thurston
[FYI request #9422 email]
Ref: OIA-4600
Dear Josh
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email of 17 January 2019 requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Dear NZ Transport Agency, I would like an update and any recent project reports relating
to progress on developing the cycleway between Ngauranga and Petone, specifically
including any timeframes, any other projects that this depends on, and any decisions
made about either delaying or bringing forward this project. Yours faithfully, Josh
The NZ Transport Agency is partnering with Wel ington City Council (WCC), Greater Wellington Regional
Council and Hutt City Council to provide a safe and efficient walking and cycling route between the
Wellington CBD and Melling in Lower Hutt. The Wellington to Hutt Valley Walking and Cycling Link
(referred to as the W2HV Link) will connect with existing walking and cycling facilities located along the
Petone Esplanade and the Hutt River Trail.
The Wellington to Hutt Valley (W2HV) Link has three sections, as outlined in Attachment A and
summarised below.
Wellington CBD to Ngauranga section
This section was delivered by the WCC and is now operational. It runs from Bunny Street, along
Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road, to the Ngauranga interchange.
Ngauranga to Petone (N2P) section
The proposed option is a five-metre shared off-road path from the Ngauranga interchange to the
Petone interchange, which would run adjacent to SH2. The preferred location for this section is on the
seaward side of the Hutt Rail Line. Construction would require coastal reclamation, which presents a
complicated consenting process for this part of the project.
The Transport Agency has finalised the design for the coastal reclamation, which was considered for
approval by the Transport Agency Board last December. Reports supporting the N2P final design are
not yet publicly available and cannot be released until the formal December Board resolution has been
publicly released. I have decided to withhold information related to these reports under section 18(d)
as the information will soon be publicly available.
2
The design process considered potential impacts on the coastal environment, the rail line, as well as
impacts on visual amenity. The preferred design has incorporated ecological, coastal marine
environment, and amenity mitigations. As outlined above, this was recently considered by the Board
and will soon be publicly available.
Petone to Melling (P2M) section
This is an off-road cycle path adjacent to SH2 between Petone and Melling, with shared path
connections linking the Petone railway station to the Hutt River Trail.
Detailed design for the Petone to Melling section of the W2HV Link Programme is complete and
consents have been approved. Construction of this section is currently on hold while we undertake a
cost review due to be completed early 2019. I have decided to withhold information related to the cost
review under section 9(2)(g)(i) of the Act, in order to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs
through the free and frank expression of opinions between Ministers and officials.
For further information publicly avaible on the P2M section, please refer to the project website -
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/wellington-to-hutt-valley-walking-and-cycling-link/publications
With respect to the information that has been withheld, I do not consider there are any other factors
which would render it desirable, in the public interest, to make the information available. Under
section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to withhold this
information. The contact details for the Ombudsman can be located at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
If you would like to discuss this reply with the NZ Transport Agency, please contact Michael Siazon,
Senior Project Manager, by email to
[email address] or by phone on (04) 894 6138.
Yours sincerely
Kevin Reid
Senior Manager, System Design
Attachment A:
