Future Access Plan in limbo

A lack of funding could see further delays to Nelson’s much maligned Future Access Project.

The Nelson Future Access Project has been ongoing and controversial since it began as the Nelson Southern Link Investigation in 2015.

In 2018 it became Nelson’s Future Access project to incorporate its inter-relationship with the Rocks Road Walking and Cycling Project.

Public consultation began on three long-term options in June 2020 with a detailed business case due to be completed later that year.

However, council has been advised that the project is running significantly behind time and that no decisions on packages of activities have been made yet.

Without a decision, Nelson City Council has been forced to put a placeholder budget in its Long Term Plan instead of identifying specific work.

This placeholder budget is $30.2m over the next 10 years, which includes a Waka Kotahi subsidy of $15.4m.

However, Waka Kotahi has signalled that the National Land Transport Fund is facing considerable funding constraints and that it requires 90 per cent of the revenue up to 2024 for existing commitments across the country.

As a result of these constraints Waka Kotahi has advised they are not currently approving funding for any new projects over the LTP period (10 years) but will continue to “monitor and review” the situation.

Waka Kotahi NZ director for regional relationships in the Top of the South Emma Speight says Waka Kotahi already has significant programmes that are underway.

She says while Waka Kotahi has been communicating with councils about current funding restraints, this does not mean that the NFA will not receive funding.

“Following the completion of a successful business case, the project will go to both Nelson City Council and Waka Kotahi for endorsement later this year and will then be considered for funding from the NLTP,” she says.

“The project will be prioritised on a national basis once the business case is complete later this year.”

Emma says the project is progressing at a steady pace with a second round of consultation due in May this year and the detailed business case expected by the end of the third quarter of 2021.

She says they expect to provide a public update to council in May.