There will be an interchange connecting the route to State Highway 58, and another to the Porirua City Centre and Linden through Kenepuru. In addition, there will be two link roads connecting the eastern Porirua suburbs of Whitby and Waitangirua to the route. The Porirua City Council will be the authority responsible for the Whitby and Waitangirua link roads.
In 2008, during Phase 1 of the Transmission Gully project, the NZTA undertook public consultation on the preferred route through Transmission Gully. The consultation resulted in 88.6% of respondents supporting the preferred route.
In 2010, during Phase 2 of the project, engagement on design and environmental matters was undertaken with iwi, community groups, statutory agencies and territorial/local authority stakeholders in preparation for the lodgement of Notice of Requirement (NoR) and resource consent applications with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
On 15 August 2011, the NZTA lodged the applications with the EPA and detailed information on the applications, process and timeframes can be obtained on www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/transmission-gully-application.
On 24 August 2011, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recommended to the Minister for the Environment that the regulatory consent applications lodged for the Transmission Gully project be directed to a Board of Inquiry as a proposal of national significance. Information on this can be accessed on the EPA website.
On 16 September 2011, the Minister for the Environment directed that the applications be referred to a Board of Inquiry. The Ministerial direction can be accessed on http://www.epa.govt.nz/Resource-management/tg/Lodgement-and-Notification/Pages/Ministers-Direction.aspx.
The Minister for the Environment's media statement on the applications referral can be accessed on http://beehive.govt.nz/release/transmission-gully-proposal-referred-board-inquiry.
The EPA's public notification of the applications can be accessed on http://www.epa.govt.nz/Resource-management/tg/Lodgement-and-Notification/Pages/Public-notice.aspx.
The NZTA's media statement on the applications referral can be accessed on http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/media/releases/1389/news.html.
The Minister of Transport's media statement on the applications referral can be accessed on http://beehive.govt.nz/release/transmission-gully-passes-significant-milestone.
The Board of Inquiry’s hearing on the Transmission Gully applications was conducted from 13 February 2012 to 15 March 2012.
The Board of Inquiry’s draft decision was released on 4 May 2012 and can be accessed on the EPA website. The Board’s final decision is expected in June 2012.
The timetable for the Transmission Gully project sees construction beginning in 2015 and completed by 2021.
Wellington Regional Freshwater Plan change
The August 2011 lodgement of regulatory consents application for the Transmission Gully project was the second step of a two-step consenting process for the project.
The first step saw the NZTA lodge a request with the EPA in September 2010 seeking changes to the Wellington Regional Freshwater Plan to provide a clearer policy framework within which resource consent applications for activities in and on water bodies can be considered.
The plan change request was made through the EPA as the Transmission Gully project is a proposal of national significance and as such, it is appropriate that applications pertaining to consenting matters are lodged with the EPA.
A Board of Inquiry hearing was held on the request in July 2011 and the Board announced its final decision on 10 October 2011. Details of the final decision can be accessed on http://www.epa.govt.nz/Resource-management/tgpc/Pages/Final-report-and-decision.aspx.
Further information on the request for the change can be found on the Wellington Regional Freshwater Plan.
