It may be just another case of the Dom Post getting its pics wrong, or it may be an embarrassing case of someone saying too much too soon, but the picture in Stuff today accompanying the story about NZTA’s plan to contest the Flyover decision, shows a bombshell. In the image, reproduced larger here for you, it is quite clear that two flyovers are planned, floating above the original road below.
NZTA have always denied that was the case, although several opponents of the Flyover have always suspected that this was indeed the final plan. So where has the image come from? Is it direct from NZTA? Or is it that Fairfax have used an image from Richard Reid Associates, who claimed that twin aerial runways was the NZTA’s final masterplan? How long will it take for NZTA to spot it and order its removal?
Post-script: Not long. The minions have been dealt to…
The double flyover pic is from Richard Reid,
its cited ( and duly attributed) in this article the DOmPost ran in May 2014
http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/10062623/NZTA-plans-limit-on-noise-as-Basin-flyover-built
But given that the Stuff.co.nz is likley subbed in Hamilton or Auckland, the person who inserted the image likley has absolutely no idea about what is being proposed…
The offending double Flyover image has now been removed by Stuff. Presumably the minion in Hamilton has been spanked.
Ooooh! Spanking! Minions!
Dammit, I always miss the good bits
Translating the Transport Agency – worth reading over at Scoop:
http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=71273
“What they [NZTA] said: “We need the questions raised in our Appeal to be answered before we can move forward with confidence on improving Wellington’s transport system, starting at the Basin.â€
Translation: We’re going to stamp our feet and hold our breath until we get our way.”
NZTA actually need to be very careful about what they are doing here,
Its is my understanding that a BOI decision by one board is not directly legally binding on other Boards, they can pick up bits if they want to , but they are not automatically binding. Its called “stare decisis”
see here
http://www.parliament.nz/resource/0000120508
BUT, and this is a huge BUT, an Environment Court ruling *is* binding on all future BOI verdicts,
If the Env court upholds the BOI decision, or even just large chunks of it, NZTA are gonna be screwed,
[ although I suspect they may then simply skulk off to their minister and say, err we stuffed that one up, can you get parliament to pass some legislation to override that court judgement for future projects)
Actually a double flyover looks much better than what was proposed as it would mean removing the state highway from Vivian Street. This would be a great outcome for Te Aro. Just have to make sure the cut and cover from Memoral Park was actually extended all the way to the Terrace Tunnel.