Christchurch Motorways package – endorsement and investigation and property purchase funding

Applicant

NZ Transport Agency

Purpose

To seek the Board's endorsement of the New Zealand Transport Agency's Christchurch Motorways package in the Canterbury region and its approval for funding the investigation to preliminary design of remaining projects and for funding the purchase of property for the package

Date of decision

28 August 2009

Resolutions

The NZ Transport Agency Board:

  1. endorses the New Zealand Transport Agency's (NZTA's) Christchurch Motorways package in the Canterbury region;
  2. approves funding for the investigation of the NZTA's Christchurch Motorways package, excluding the SH21 Waterholes Road – Rolleston project, at an estimated cost of $22.1 million from N and/or R funds, subject to:
    1. the establishment of hold points when the macroscope has been established for the key projects or combinations of projects that comprise the package to enable the General Manager Regional Partnerships and Planning to endorse the preferred options;
  3. approves funding for property purchase associated with the package at an estimated cost of $64.1 million from N and/or R funds;
  4. requests the Chief Executive to:
    1. request the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee to endorse a variation of the Canterbury RLTP to include the SH 1 Waterholes Road to Rolleston 4 laning project under section 18D of the LTMA; and
    2. request the Group Manager, Regional Partnerships and Planning to consider including the SH 1 Waterholes Road to Rolleston 4 laning project in the National Land Transport Programme if the Canterbury RLTP is varied and to consider approving the funding for investigation of the project;
  5. notes that the construction cost for the Christchurch Motorways package is estimated at $782 million, the 95th percentile construction cost is estimated at $865 million and the 5th percentile at $595 million;
  6. notes that funding for the Christchurch City Council works linked to the package will be requested separately when these are ready to proceed;
  7. notes we anticipate there will be a developer's contribution to construction of between $12 to $16 million based on a mediated outcome;
  8. notes the reasons for this decision are as set out in the Reasons for recommendation section; and
  9. agrees to take Board paper 09/08/0244 out of Committee when the Board has published the notice of decision.

Reason for the decision

The assessment profile for this activity has been determined as being of High strategic fit, High effectiveness and Medium efficiency.

The Christchurch Motorways package contributes to the NZTA's Investment and Revenue Strategy to give effect to the GPS and meet the purpose and objectives of the LTMA. Specifically it will improve:

  • economic growth and productivity through improved travel time and reliability to the port, airport and CBD and Improved access to key activity and industrial areas (Hornby, Sockburn and Belfast);
  • integration with the land use pattern set out in the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy and will improve safety and social amenity in UDS township areas; and
  • access for public transport, walking and cycling in the UDS growth node of Belfast.

The SH1 Waterholes to Rolleston 4 laning project has not been included in the RLTP and so cannot be included in this funding request. The activity has been identified in the CTRIP that was consulted as part of the last RLTS update and it would be practical to undertake it together with adjoining parts of the package. We consider this project should eventually be included in the NLTP; once it has progressed through a variation to the RLTP.

We confirm that the matters in sections 20(2) and 20(5) of the LTMA have been satisfied and that the matters in section 20(3) have been taken into account.

If you would like details of how the assessment profile for this activity was determined, please email us at boardsecretariat@nzta.govt.nz.