“Wellington threatens to withdraw Gully backing
KERRY WILLIAMSON and MATT CALMAN – The Dominion Post | Friday, 10 October 2008″

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4721804a23882.html

As I’ve said before, there are few advantages for Wellington, and a lot more for other councils. If they want to pay for it, they can do what they like with it. Wellington is not going to be foisting a $1billion tax bill on their ratepayers.

And if you’re thinking that the incoming (possibly/probably) National government is going to find the funds for it, then just a reminder: tax cut bribes are to be funded from cutting infrastructure. Do you really think that infrastructure cut will be coming out of the Auckland electorate?

The Gully is a Goner….

That’s a pretty general assumption – “…most of those [submitters]live in Kapiti…”
Can you prove this?

I think your phrase “…none of whom expressed interest in putting a submission in for it….” is pretty telling.
People have no right to protest if they are apathetic. If the other 197,600 odd Wellingtonians put in a submission (opposing Transmission Gully) that would send a pretty clear message.

I also stand by my earlier words – a lot of goods and essential services travel into Wellington via that road. It’s not just Kapiti dwellers and holiday makers.
There is an economic benefit to Wellington that benefits Wellingtonians AS A WHOLE.
It’s not just an individual thing.

I’m happy to be proved wrong – but you seem to have missed my point: most Wellingtonians will not use it, regularly, or much at all. Government has said it will not fund over the current level. Therefore the remainder will have to be paid by locals – either local government, or local tax, (either way: rates go up massively), or by toll (probable horrendous cost – you’ve seen the fuss Maurice Williamson got into over a proposed $5 toll each way, each day).

If the cost does come down to locals, most of whom won’t be using it, then expect a bloody fervent of people suddenly very much saying they do not want it. Just because they’re too dull or disinterested to say they don’t want it now, does certainly not mean they support it.

If the question was put to all Wellingtonians: “Do you support it, on the basis that your rates will go up by $500 a year” or some such amount, then I reckon the answer would be dramatically different.

So i stand by my words – Wellingtonians will not want it, if they have to pay for it…

The improved Transmission Gully route appears to have huge support, with nearly 90 per cent of the almost 2400 submitters giving it the green light.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said yesterday that it had received 2360 submissions on the preferred route, announced two months ago after two years of investigations and geotechnical studies.

Submissions on the route closed last week and staff are now analysing each one, with minor changes to the route expected before a final plan is taken to the Transport Agency’s board at the end of the year.
They offer unequivocal support for the cheaper, environmentally friendly route, with 88.5 per cent of submitters saying they support the proposal and another 4.2 per cent saying they “don’t mind”.

Slightly more than 7 per cent – or 173 submissions – oppose it.

“It’s nice to see that people agree with the work we have done,” project manager Rob Whight said. “We’ve asked them `do you agree?’ and they’ve come back and overwhelming said `yes’.”
The preferred route would cost $1.02 billion, $275 million cheaper than the previous designation.

It would take almost eight years to build, and studies suggest it could blow out to a “worst-case scenario” figure of more than $170 million over budget. It involves fewer bridges and viaducts and hugs ridgelines rather than passing through valleys, affecting the environment less.

But it affects 93 property owners, 30 more than the previous designation. It would also have an impact on the viability of Battle Hill Farm Forest Park, prompting calls for compensation from Greater Wellington regional council.
Mr Whight said the submissions process would lead to some minor changes to the designation, but “99.5 per cent” of it would remain unchanged.
The Transport Agency has started work on the resource consent process – despite no decision on whether the inland highway will be built. Resource consents could be applied for late next year.

Hmmm… Maximus – this kind of puts paid to “We wellingtonian’s don’t want it…..”

I’m actually quite keen that they go ahead with Boondoggle Gully, so i can buy a big V8 and go hooning.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hoon (all but definition 5 perhaps).

I blame all those reruns of Mad Max recently. Time to put the pedal down!

• Some sort of deformed toy made from parts of other different toys

• The colorful plastic lace one uses to make lanyards, key fobs, handcrafted wallets and purses, etc.

• Sneaking up on a woman from behind and groping her

• To be ripped off, suckered or screwed over.

• A person who is dumb enough to ask the mirror to perform sexual acts for them.

and

• B.O.G. word meaning uneccessary

all avail on http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=boondoggle

woohoo! I finally have a legacy.

A legacy heavily linked with irresponsibility, blind grandiosity and potentially nefarious activities.
the jokes just write themeselves.

I predict this project will not ever be completed due to spiralling fuel costs and a crunch in government expenditure. Hopefully they’ll do the useful bits near Wellington first and abandon the Kapiti parts.