The NZ Transport Agency takes responsibility for operating the Transmission Gully highway for the first time. File photo.
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

A new plan has been developed to try to resolve a years-long fight to protect native fish in Transmission Gully.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council is fighting against highway builders north of Wellington.

He says some of the nine alleged consent violations remain outstanding — most related to fish having difficulty moving or sediment runoff into a highly sensitive creek.

They have now agreed a new plan, with the NZ Transport Agency taking responsibility for operating the highway for the first time.

This was done through a public-private partnership (PPP) with the Wellington Gateway Partnership (WGP).

The change follows a confidential settlement of a High Court action announced this week which benefits NZTA by millions of dollars, but forces it to take on maintenance and operations that the PPP was supposed to take care of.

“The relationship between NZTA, the Wellington Gateway Partnership and project builders has created challenges for Greater Wellington as a regulator,” council chair Daran Ponter said.

His regulation had cost about $7 million over the years, which he had sought to recoup, the board had said earlier.

When RNZ asked several months ago which entity the council was suing over the consents, it initially refused to say.

WGP denied responsibility, angering local iwi.

Greater Wellington subsequently dismissed charges filed in the Environment Court against builders’ joint venture CPB HEB, based on legal advice it could achieve more by obtaining an enforcement order.

“Since then we have been working with the parties involved to ensure outstanding consent requirements are met, resulting in an agreed action plan,” Ponter told RNZ.

They could make the plan public and “in the meantime we can reveal that the work required by the action plan is underway, including measures to address fish passage issues.”

The impact of the project on watercourses and diversions, as well as on the maintenance of plantations, posed other problems.

NZTA told RNZ the post-settlement change meant its relationship would be more direct with the council as it would take responsibility for repairing what it says are outstanding reclamation works along the highway, which which could take a few years.

Sign up to Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.