No plans for highway: Govt

Durham Havill.
Durham Havill.
The Government has no plans to support the proposed Haast-Hollyford highway unless the project passes through standard land transport planning processes, Transport Minister Simon Bridges says.

That process would require any investment in the proposed 136km private road by local authorities or the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to be "prioritised alongside other projects to ensure the available funds are allocated fairly and according to the greatest need,'' Mr Bridges said.

The road, being promoted by former Westland mayor and Haast Hollyford Highway Ltd (HHHL) director Durham Havill, would connect the West Coast and the Milford Road via the Hollyford Valley. About 98km of new road would be constructed through wilderness areas and the Fiordland National Park.

The cost, estimated to be at least $250 million, would be met by user toll charges.

Mr Bridges' letter was written in response to questions about the Government's position on the road raised by SDC Mayor Gary Tong through Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay. It was included in the agenda for an SDC council meeting next week.

When contacted yesterday Mr Havill said he did not know about the letter and found it "surprising''.

"It sounds like Mr Bridges doesn't even know we don't need any money.''

HHHL has signed a memorandum of understanding with overseas investor JCP Group to design, build and maintain the road.

The original Chinese investor secured by JCP pulled out, but Mr Havill said yesterday another Chinese investor, whom he would not name, had been secured.

Mr Havill said HHHL had "no problem'' entering the highway proposal into the land transport planning system.

"This is not bad news, it's actually pretty good news ... we've been going round in circles for 18 months. It's been very frustrating. At least this is moving the project forward, one way or the other.''

In his letter, Mr Bridges said although a privately built road was "theoretically possible'', it would be a first for New Zealand and there would be complex procedural and legal issues.

"Since the proposed road is likely to encroach on conservation land, a legal instrument would need to be found to enable a road to pass through the conservation estate.

"Therefore, the Government has no plans to support this project unless it goes through the established planning processes.''

In a report to next week's meeting, SDC chief executive Steve Ruru recommended councillors support putting the highway proposal forward for inclusion in the Southland Regional Land Transport Plan and the National Land Transport Programme, with HHHL meeting associated costs.

However, he said HHHL might not be prepared to invest in developing the material needed.

The next step would be for the SDC to convene a meeting with the Westland District Council, NZTA and HHHL to discuss and agree the planning process to be followed, Mr Ruru said.

When contacted yesterday, he said Mr Bridges' letter "gave clarity, which is helpful''.

"It gives councillors a clear way forward.''

Mr Havill said HHHL would be able to meet the costs of providing material for the land transport process as it had already estimated planning/resource consent costs would be $3million to $5million.

However, he said he still wanted the Government to "call in'' the highway as a road of national significance.

Even though a resource consent process would still happen, calling in the project could enable the project to be fast-tracked and built within nine months, he said.

Mr Tong is out of the country until the weekend.

allison.beckham@odt.co.nz

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