Key Issues
Public Transport
In the Wellington region
We have a high-quality well-used Metlink public transport network of bus, train and harbour ferry services. There are 103 bus routes, four train lines and two harbour ferry routes. In 2007/08 more than 34 million trips were made on the network.
The Wellington region has the highest per capita use of public transport in New Zealand.
What we want
A well-patronised public transport network that helps people get around the region easily and reduces road congestion.
Water Supply
In the Wellington Region
In our region we are fortunate to have a temperate climate with adequate rainfall to supply our needs.
Greater Wellington is a wholesale water supplier of potable water (tap water). We collect water from rivers and underground (aquifer) sources that are dependent on rainfall. The water is treated and delivered to reservoirs owned by the Lower Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington city councils. Those city councils then supply the water to the public.
In the remaining part of the region (Kapiti and the Wairarapa), the district councils collect, treat and deliver water to their communities.
Greater Wellington and the four city councils in the region consider it important to have a secure supply system. The target is to have a very low risk of water shortage - less than 2% annual probability of a shortfall. This means that we would expect to have no more than one year in 50 years when there is not enough water to meet reasonable demand.
What we want
A safe and secure reticulated water supply that provides high-quality water to meet the reasonable current and future needs of the population, and which is cost effective and environmentally responsible.
Regional Parks
In the Wellington region
Greater Wellington manages five regional parks (Battle Hill, Belmont, East Harbour, Kaitoke and Queen Elizabeth). It also manages significant recreation areas in the Akatarawa and Pakuratahi forests. Two new parks - Whitireia and Lake Wairarapa - are being included into the network.
Greater Wellington's current approach to these parks and forest areas is to offer open space near the urban centres for a variety of recreational activities, and preserve the biodiversity and heritage values of these areas.
What we want
Park and forest areas that provide a real and lasting benefit to the region - public open spaces that meet leisure and health needs, and support healthy natural ecosystems.
Flood Protection
In the Wellington region
There are four major river systems in the region (Ruamahanga, Hutt, Otaki and Waikanae rivers) and a whole complex of smaller river systems (eg, Porirua Stream, Wainuiomata River, Waitohu Stream, Mangaone Stream, Waipoua River and the Waiohine River) that pose a range of flood and erosion risks. Flooding is only a risk when it affects people, property and the productive use of land. The Hutt Valley, for example, is one of the most densely populated floodplains in New Zealand and, as the population of the Kapiti Coast grows, the potential impacts of flooding from the Waikanae and Otaki rivers increase. Similarly, as land use intensifies in the Wairarapa (agricultural and lifestyle developments), the importance of flooding becomes even greater.
In 2000, Greater Wellington committed to a 40-year flood protection programme of improvements for the major western river systems (Otaki, Waikanae, Hutt) and in 2006 we also committed to investing in a 10-year programme for two Wairarapa schemes to ensure they deliver the required level of service. We also have a programme of investigating the flood risk for a lot of our minor water courses so we can make sensible decisions about how these are managed.
What we want
Our community to understand the risks from flooding and erosion, and have acceptable and affordable solutions in place. We also want to ensure that inappropriate developments don't create new problems.
Land Management
In the Wellington region
There are four major river systems in the region (Ruamahanga, Hutt, Otaki and Waikanae rivers) and a whole complex of smaller river systems (eg, Porirua Stream, Wainuiomata River, Waitohu Stream, Mangaone Stream, Waipoua River and the Waiohine River) that pose a range of flood and erosion risks. Flooding is only a risk when it affects people, property and the productive use of land. The Hutt Valley, for example, is one of the most densely populated floodplains in New Zealand and, as the population of the Kapiti Coast grows, the potential impacts of flooding from the Waikanae and Otaki rivers increase. Similarly, as land use intensifies in the Wairarapa (agricultural and lifestyle developments), the importance of flooding becomes even greater.
In 2000, Greater Wellington committed to a 40-year flood protection programme of improvements for the major western river systems (Otaki, Waikanae, Hutt) and in 2006 we also committed to investing in a 10-year programme for two Wairarapa schemes to ensure they deliver the required level of service. We also have a programme of investigating the flood risk for a lot of our minor water courses so we can make sensible decisions about how these are managed.
What we want
Our community to understand the risks from flooding and erosion, and have acceptable and affordable solutions in place. We also want to ensure that inappropriate developments don't create new problems.
Climate Change
In the Wellington region
In our region climate change is likely to result in more damaging winds and flooding. There may be an increase in rainfall and cloudy days during winter and spring for the west of the region (Kapiti, Porirua and Wellington) but in the Wairarapa the opposite may happen. The Wairarapa may experience prolonged dry periods, lower rainfall and more drying northwest winds, resulting in drought conditions and water shortages.
An increase in storm intensity across the region is a possibility. This may lead to more damaging floods, a greater number of landslips and higher storm surges that could increase erosion in the high country and along vulnerable coastlines, and cause more coastal flooding.
The models of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicate that, by 2080, there will be 10-50% more days with very high and extreme fire danger in the Wellington region.1
Indications are that sea level rise is likely to be at least 0.2-0.5 metres by 2100, with a real possibility it may reach one metre or more. When the effects of the rise in sea levels are added to the storm surge effects of more frequent and more intense adverse weather events, the implications for our region's coastal communities could be serious. Further, the upstream effects of sea level rise are likely to add to or compound the number and frequency of floods. Climate change has the potential to cause both economic and social disruption.
What we want
A resilient community that, as far as possible, is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of global warming, but is also adapting well to any changes caused by climate change.