10 Year Plan to boost resilience, public transport

An ambitious new 10 Year Plan adopted by GWRC today includes a significant investment in infrastructure to boost resilience in the region as well as new money to continue to improve public transport. 

GWRC Chair Fran Wilde says recent flooding in the wider Wellington region shows how important it is that flood risk is tackled head-on over the coming decade among other projects to prepare the region for natural disasters.

"We've seen twice in recent months how susceptible we are to the worst that Mother Nature can throw at us," Ms Wilde says. "With climate change set to make adverse weather events more frequent and severe, and the threat of a big earthquake ever present, it's essential that we invest money now into essential infrastructure.

"The region's residents have repeatedly told us that this is what they want, and this plan will deliver."

GWRC consulted extensively on the plan, including by holding open days around the region hosted by councillors. There were also 75 oral submissions made by individuals and organisations at hearings in May out of 876 written submissions.

The plan, which prioritises spending for the next 10 years, also includes substantial money for public transport. It builds on investment in recent years in the train network that has seen patronage steadily increase and extends this to the bus network.

Plans include working towards a Bus Rapid Transit system through central Wellington and more high-frequency, all day bus routes and evening and weekend services to the suburbs. A single electronic fare and ticketing system to be introduced from 2017/18 will simplify switching between buses, trains and ferries.

"Massive investment in rail over the last few years has led to significant passenger growth and these initiatives will move even more people onto public transport," Ms Wilde says.

GWRC also plans to continue to improve rail services by increasing the frequency of peak services from the busiest stations and improving the journey times from the outer stations on the electrified network from 2016 to 2021. Park and ride facilities at rail stations will be expanded in Waikanae and Paraparaumu. The plan also continues to roll out the new fleet of Matangi trains that have proved so popular with commuters.

Improving the environment and water quality is another key focus over the next 10 years. GWRC will expand and improve its partnership programmes with farmers and landowners through the preparation of additional Farm Environment Plans and Riparian/Wetland Plans to improve water quality and biodiversity.

GWRC has kept the rates increase to pay for existing business as usual activities to around the rate of inflation but the extra resilience and transport spending residents have been asking for means rates will be increased by a total of $38 for the average household, or 73 cents a week.

"This shows strong financial management and I'm proud that we will be able to deliver so much for the people of the region at a low additional cost for households," Ms Wilde says.

Major investment packages in the plan are:

Public transport infrastructure

GWRC will increase its investment in the bus network and infrastructure to improve the quality of existing bus shelters, accelerate new bus shelter installations, and improve signage. It will also implement a new bus network in Wellington City and replace trolley buses with a fleet of new hybrid buses.

Rail services will continue to be improved through increasing the frequency of peak services from the busiest stations and improving the journey times from the outer stations on the electrified network from 2019/20. Train carriages used on the Wairarapa line will be refurbished from 2016 to 2021. GWRC will contribute to the retention of the Capital Connection.

GWRC will also work with KiwiRail over the next 10 years to improve the capacity and robustness of the rail network through projects such as double tracking between Trentham and Upper Hutt, and will increase investment in park and ride car parks to encourage commuters to get out of their cars and use public transport.

Improving public transport infrastructure has a capital cost of $29 million over the next ten years and total operating expenditure is forecast to be $78 million over the same period.

GWRC has invested significantly in its Metlink public transport network, including the purchase of new Matangi trains, in recent years, and this plan also includes money to pay back borrowing for this investment.

Protecting communities from flood risk

Over the next 10 years, GWRC aims to develop and update floodplain management plans for the Upper Ruamāhanga, Waiohine, Waiwhetu, Pinehaven, Mangaroa, Wainuiomata, Otaki and Hutt catchments and the Lower Wairarapa Valley Development Scheme area.

It also plans to build a number of new or upgraded flood stopbanks to reduce risks, including significant works in the Hutt City Centre, Upper Ruamāhanga and Lower Wairarapa Valley Development Scheme areas. Additional funding will also be provided for floodplain works to protect isolated settlements and improve maintenance.

Protecting communities from flood risk has a capital cost of $51 million over the next 10 years. Total operating expenditure, including finance costs and debt repayment is forecast to be $28 million over the 10 years.

Getting more people onto public transport

GWRC is aiming to increase the number of public transport trips by 15% over the next 10 years, in support of the Regional Land Transport Plan.

A new integrated electronic ticketing system will be introduced from 2017/18, enabling commuters to use just one ticket on all Metlink public transport and allowing free transfers between all services and fare discounts for children and off-peak travel. Passenger information will be improved through new online products and a better customer service centre.

Getting more people onto public transport will have a capital cost of $53 million over the next 10 years while total operating expenditure is forecast to be $81 million over the same period.

Getting out and about

GWRC provides regional coordination and delivery of programmes aimed at getting more people walking, cycling, carpooling and using public transport. Getting people out of their cars and onto their feet or bikes is important for reducing congestion on our roads, reducing emissions and improving health.

Along with local councils and the Government, GWRC will also contribute to building a new walking and cycling link between Wellington and the Hutt, reflecting the regional importance of completing and improving this strategic link.

Getting people out and about will have total operating expenditure of $4.8 million over 10 years.

Keeping the water flowing

GWRC will fund major projects to keep the water flowing in the event of a major emergency. It aims to provide up to 20 litres of water per person for up to 40 days in those parts of the region most at risk from a break to the bulk water pipes in Wellington City and Porirua City. Without this it is likely that households would be without water following a major emergency.

The projects include a cross-harbour pipeline linking the Hutt to Wellington City to be built from 2017 and an emergency storage lake at Takapu Road to supply Porirua and northern Wellington. Construction of this is due to start in 2018.

Works to better protect the Kaitoke water supply pipeline near Silverstream and replace the Kaitoke water supply pipeline on Silverstream bridge will take place in Upper Hutt and money is earmarked to upgrade the Waterloo Wells in the Lower Hutt area, as well as to refurbish the Wainuiomata pipeline and the Haywards pump station electrical equipment to reduce interruptions resulting from emergency events.

To ensure the bulk water pipes can be repaired and replaced quickly after a major event like an earthquake, GWRC will boost the self-insurance fund as this is more cost-effective than paying for commercial insurance.

Keeping the water flowing has a capital cost of $126 million over the next 10 years and total operating expenditure, including finance costs and debt repayment, of $56 million.

Environment and water quality

GWRC will accelerate the establishment of whaitua catchment committees for each of the five primary catchments in the region to recommend how water quality should be managed based on new scientific research and models. The Ruamāhanga and Porirua whaitua catchments have already been established.

The council will also expand and improve partnership programmes with farmers and landowners through the preparation of additional Farm Environment Plans and Riparian/Wetland Plans, including in the catchments around Wairarapa Moana and Porirua Harbour. These plans aim to improve water quality and biodiversity through managing erosion prone soils, nutrients and fencing and planting along waterways.

It will also enhance its possum and predator control programmes to cover more parts of the region and grow the educational programme it helps fund in schools through Enviroschools.

Environment and water quality work responds to the requirements of the Government's new Freshwater Quality National Policy Statement and will see GWRC take a strong leadership role in ensuring improved water quality across the region.

Improving the environment and water quality will cost $26 million in operating expenditure over the next 10 years.

Media contact:

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comms@gw.govt.nz