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A new survey of 1000 Wellington residents shows strong support for a new Mt Victoria tunnel, with 67 per cent in favour and 16 per cent opposed. The survey also found 74 per cent support for roading improvements around the Basin Reserve and Arras tunnel, with 9 per cent opposed.
Commissioned by Wellington Airport, the survey took place from November 10–14, shortly before detailed plans were released by NZTA.
Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke says the results confirm what many in the region have long known.
“The local support for this project is no surprise. This is a project that’s decades overdue and will be a massive improvement to our current network.
“The six-kilometre journey from the airport into the CBD at peak time regularly takes longer than a 500km flight from Auckland, which just isn’t good enough for New Zealand’s capital city.
“Trying to choke the road to boost public transport as a strategy is nothing short of economic vandalism. Taking the bus to and from the Miramar Peninsula just isn’t a viable option for many families throughout the region.
“It’s the residents of Wellington and the visitors to our region who pay the price while the chatter drags on and critical improvements are delayed.
“You only need to look at Transmission Gully to see the benefits this project could bring to Wellington. That was also debated and delayed for decades but there is no way anyone would want to go back to the old route.
“It’s especially encouraging that this project has strong bipartisan support from the Labour Party and Wellington mayor Andrew Little.
“Wellington has missed out on major infrastructure projects in the past, but with such broad community and political support now’s the time for this project to be the first cab off the rank.”
