Elvis isn't dead, he's in a rest home with some-one who thinks he's JFK. Between them, they have to stop a soul sucking Egyptian Mummy from killing the other rest home residents. Which doesn't have much to do with building Transmission Gully, but then again, neither do the endless reports that come out periodically, usually after long studies into feasibility and cost which get nailed down and everyone thinks, "finally".
Transmission Gully ever built? You'd have more chance of seeing Elvis. And if you want to, I strongly recommend you do it by watching Bubba Ho-Tep. Brilliant. I liked the sound track too. It doesn't stand alone like say, The Crow, but it really suited the movie. It's B Grade, and all the better for it.
Speaking of B Grade and soul sucking mummies, I can only assume that anyone working to find Transmission Gully alternatives are victims of a similar curse. Look at the reasons they come up with in order not to build infrastructure:
1. More cars will travel into Wellington.
Well duh. Let's approach building New Zealand as if growth is a given. Let's assume our population will steadily increase and better quality (more lanes, divided centre lines, truck resistant) roads will improve fuel efficiency, remove huge wasteful traffic jams and provide more than one or two dodgy routes out of the capital city.
Furthermore, traffic can go both ways. Rather than worrying about how much extra traffic goes into Wellington City, we are free to think about how much traffic we can move out. An international airport up North? A couple of business districts with easy access? Start thinking 50 years ahead, not five.
2. It will cost more due to inflation.
Well duh. Actually, it will cost more due to inaction. We have been debating this for more than 60 years, ever since the US Army offered to build the bloody thing for free. Add up the cost of reports and studies, adjust for inflation and I wouldn't be surprised if we've spent more in "planning" than the current estimate of 1.3 billion.
3. The coastal route is cheaper and better
Maybe it is. Chances are we'll never know, because they will not do either of them. Besides, the last quote was $760 million, not much different from doing Transmission Gully, and then the DomPost publishes a "back of the envelope" estimate of only $100 million yesterday from some ex-expert. Why the discrepancy? Nothing like good reporting. This option though means we are left with one less way out of Wellington than if we kept the coastal road AND built the Gully.
4. It would take longer to repair after an earthquake
They have to be desperate to point this out. That's an unknown, as one decent rock-slide on the coast could cut off train and road after an earthquake. The point is we'd have an extra road out and in to Wellington, and therefore, a better probability of having some access after a big one.
Calling Elvis
The worse thing about all this is the narrow minded focus on just road. Any of these options should consider new rail track for high speed rail (or even just double tracking rail) and wide paths for bike and walking - all built as part of the same project.
The reporting in the DomPost was disappointing in it's lack of balance presenting "new" information that we've been through and countered repeatedly over the years. They may as well report an Elvis sighting. It has the same sense of the unreal as talking about transmission gully, but has more chance of being true.
I know, I saw Bubba Ho-Tep. One last plug: Bruce Campbell. Enough said.
Thank you. Thank you very much.