Friday, July 8, 2011

Government ignores Kapiti expressway opposition


Carrying banners reading "Rail Against The Expressway", "Riding Rough Shot Over Kapiti'' and "We can smell the diesel on your breath from here", about 300 protesters brought a colourful and vocal message to Parliament on Wednesday - they do not want the Government's planned Kapiti Expressway. Opposition parliamentarians addressed the crowd but no-one in the Government.

Waikanae and Paraparaumu are already split literally by State Highway One and the North Island Main Trunk (in both towns running side by side); Steven Joyce's motorway will physically split them again.  Forty-three homes will be demolished under the proposal and a further 33 affected under the planned route for the McKays to Peka Peka expressway.

How an intended bypass road for locals between Paraparaumu and Waikanae - the Western Link Road - was turned into one of Mr Joyce's Reichsautobahnen is an involved story, but the constraints of Government finances at present mean that it probably will be a reasonable time into the future before anything happens. (Stuff photo)

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