Marlborough ratepayers and residents are invited to
provide feedback on ‘emerging preferred options’ and
‘hazard adaptation pathways’ for the Marlborough Sounds
future transport network, and their estimated
costs.
With the next phase of public engagement for
the Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study beginning today,
high level details and indicative cost estimates of both an
emerging preferred option and a hazard adaptation pathway
for each of the five storm-damaged areas of the Sounds are
now available.
A project team led by engineering
consultancy Stantec has completed eight months of research
and assessment, which also included receiving detailed
feedback from the Sounds community. Based on this work, five
emerging preferred options have been identified. Hazard
adaptation pathways have also been developed for each area,
recognising the future risk of significant events such as
storms, earthquakes and sea level rise.
Mayor Nadine
Taylor said the study provided options and pathways to help
build a more resilient transport network for Sounds’
residents, businesses and visitors.
“This is the
first time such extensive analysis has gone into the
Marlborough Sounds’ roading and marine transport network.
It offers potential transport solutions that enable the
Council to put a business case to the Government for
funding.”
“We now have cost estimates for the
emerging preferred options and the hazard adaptation
pathways. We still don’t know what the funding mix between
Government and Council will be, but as there will probably
be a significant impact on rates there will be a financial
impact on everyone. It’s important that all Marlborough
ratepayers give us their feedback.”
Depending on the
area, the emerging preferred options and hazard adaptation
pathways fall under one of the following
themes:
- Road Focus: Most roads
strengthened, with marine transport primarily for emergency
response. - Road Access: Key roads
strengthened, with marine available where needed as back
up. - Balanced: A mix of investment
in road and marine transport. - Marine
Access: Essential roads repaired, and marine
transport made more available and more
resilient. - Marine Focus: Roads
repaired where affordable, but roads are mostly focused on
providing access to marine transport as the primary
transport mode/method for access into and out of the
area.
The emerging preferred options for most of
the Sounds, excluding the Kenepuru area, would be a road
focused or road access approach. This means the bulk of any
investment would be on making roading infrastructure more
resilient while also improving and protecting the Sounds’
marine infrastructure.
Using these estimates the
emerging preferred options have a cost in the order of $160M
while the hazard adaptation pathways would be in the order
of $80M. The hazard adaptation pathways are a mix of marine
access and marine focus depending on the
area.
“It’s important we get the public’s views
on the hazard adaptation pathways before another significant
event causes damage to the transport network,” said Mayor
Taylor.
“Adaptation is a journey – a series of
steps. The emerging preferred option can be considered the
starting point of that journey. Any significant event that
causes substantial damage to the transport network may start
the adaptation process. However, the hazard adaptation
pathway provides certainty to the community that long term
access will be available, and what that option might look
like if we are unable to restore all of the roads quickly
and affordably.”
Mayor Taylor reiterated how
important it was to get feedback from anyone with an
interest in the Marlborough Sounds transport network during
the engagement period this month.
“The public’s
feedback will be analysed and incorporated into the final
business case, which Council will review before providing it
to Waka Kotahi for endorsement before the end of this
year.
“As many of the fixes are complex, we need to
ensure the right solution for each area is agreed upon, the
appropriate design is completed, and adequate funding is in
place.”
“It’s likely to be 2024 before Council
can fully consult everyone in Marlborough on the detailed
options and costs through a special consultative process
before making a final decision.”
“Through this
study the Council now better understands the needs of our
diverse Sounds communities. We also know much more about
both the road network and the marine infrastructure – and
the future potential of both.”
Public
engagement
To find out more about the options and
pathways, the public can attend one of the seven community
drop-in sessions being held around the Sounds and in
Blenheim, Picton and Nelson from 20 to 28 June. There will
also be an online webinar for people who live outside
Marlborough or who can’t make one of the drop-in
sessions.
Two videos have been produced explaining the
high level details and indicative costs of both the emerging
preferred options and the hazard adaptation pathways for
each of the five areas. An engagement booklet also provides
more detailed information. A survey seeking the public’s
input has also opened, with feedback due by 11
July.
The drop-in sessions are:
Tuesday 20
June
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Blenheim, Lansdowne
Park Sports Hub
Wednesday 21 June
10:00 am –
12:00 pm
Waitaria Bay Hall
Thursday 22
June
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
French Pass
Hall
Friday 23 June
2:00 pm – 4:00
pm
Linkwater Hall
Monday 26 June
5:30 pm
– 7:30 pm
Zoom online: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81708059434
NEW
DATE: Tuesday 27 June
10:00 am – 12:00
pm
Rai Valley, The Millers Rest
Tuesday 27
June
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Nelson, Trafalgar
Centre, Northern Extension
Wednesday 28
June
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Port Marlborough
Pavilion
At the drop-ins, members of the public will
be able to view the emerging preferred option and hazard
adaptation pathway for each of the five areas, and ask the
project team any questions.
From today a link to the
survey and more information are available on the project web
page at: www.marlborough.govt.nz/services/roads-and-transport/marlborough-sounds-future-access-study
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