A Catch up with Martin White, RiverLink's Project Director
On 11 March 2021 we caught up with Martin White to get an update on RiverLink and find out what it means for the Hutt Valley business community.
Hi Martin. Lovely to see you again. Can you tell us what you would like the business community to know about RiverLink?
Certainly. Businesses should be aware of the scale of RiverLink. This is a huge project that will protect the Lower Hutt central city from flooding events for generations to come, improve transport connections and change the face of the city.
It’s an extensive infrastructure project and notable investment in Lower Hutt, with over $460m already allocated. During the course of the project and upon completion, there will be major opportunities for the business community to benefit from RiverLink.
We’ve been hearing about RiverLink for some time now. Are you telling us it’s finally happening?
Yes. Absolutely. RiverLink is almost here. We plan to lodge our application for resource consent in the next couple of months and we need to get ready. The project is still in the pre-lodgement planning phase so it’s important the business community is aware of the project and what it will offer for the community.
What can we expect from RiverLink?
Hutt City is set to become a more attractive place to live, work and play. The river corridor is being redesigned to allow the river itself more space and become more prominent. In a sense, RiverLink enables opportunities, turning the city around to face the river. The river will become the main feature, with Lower Hutt making its mark as a “river city” with its own unique waterfront. The redevelopment of the riverside area will create a parklike reserve, a connected walkway and cycleway network, and create an environment where people will want to spend more time enjoying the area, the local cafes and restaurants and views of the river.
Improving transport links and flood protection are also other key elements of the project. The need for relocation of a new Melling Station will make commuter access and egress into the city quicker and safer. The Melling traffic lights on SH2 will be replaced by a new, safer grade separated interchange with, pedestrian and cycleway links, and on and off ramps and a Hutt River bridge to replace the existing narrow Melling Bridge.
Click the image above to see the February 2021 update
How long’s it going to take and how much disruption could we expect?
RiverLink is a large infrastructure project that needs to be delivered in a busy urban and community environment. It will directly affect the following areas: Kennedy Good Bridge to Ewen Bridge, Lower Hutt CBD, Melling Train Station and all users of SH2, with planned changes to the Melling intersection. A timeline of events is included below.
With such a large scale project, disruption is unavoidable and will need to be carefully managed. A significant amount of work is underway to plan and minimise any negative impact and effects. We are very conscious of the needs of businesses within the CBD to continue trading, with ongoing key issues being identified. SH2 is expected to remain fully operational and the traffic flows on this route are set to continue as normal. Any temporary road diversions that may be required could be overnight to minimise any disruption. Our presentation on 17 March will talk further about the next steps in engaging with the local business community about the potential impacts. The thoughts and ideas of those who live and work in our city will be invaluable in ensuring we do the right things to minimise disruption.
More specifically, Pharazyn Street will be realigned to be part of the stopbank and will be connected to Marsden Street. Daly St will be closed and some roads may become one way streets. Highway engineers are looking at local traffic circulation at the moment to ensure the most appropriate outcomes are achieved.
RiverLink Timeline
| 2009 | Hutt City Council ‘Making Places’ concepts |
| 2012 | Greater Wellington flood protection option development |
| 2015 | Hutt City Council ‘Making Places’ concepts |
| 2017 | RiverLink preliminary design Waka Kotahi Melling intersection indicative business case |
| 2019 | Waka Kotahi Melling transport improvements detailed business case |
| 2019-2021 | RiverLink Pre-implementation Planning and Design |
| Mid 2021 | RiverLink resource consent lodged |
| Late 2022 | RiverLink detailed design and construction begins |
| Late 2026 | Melling Interchange construction complete |
Tell us more about the stages, particularly Stage I
Stage I is likely to start with the construction of a new stopbank and a realigned section of Pharazyn Street to accommodate the new station works and carpark. River protection works will get underway and traffic flow will change, with the existing roundabouts on High Street and Queens Drive and Melling/Pretoria Street being replaced with traffic light intersections. This work is not expected to begin until late 2022.
Estimates on how many people the project will employ will be available shortly after conclusion of the tender stage, however it is envisaged that a project of this scale will warrant a significant number of people and we will also be encouraging opportunities as part of the tender process.
What opportunities will there be for business?
RiverLink will move traffic up and down the area much more easily, not just in the Lower Hutt CBD. This will allow businesses throughout the Hutt valley to easily trade with one another. There are likely to be a number of opportunities for suppliers and businesses and a need for local labour, with plenty of construction activity during the delivery programme of work.
The new riverside area will facilitate opportunities for new cafes, restaurants, entertainment spaces and outside walking and cycling spaces, attracting visitors to the area from the region. This will support and facilitate new visitors to the Lower Hutt area overall, benefiting the wider business community. The riverside area will also offer new inner city living opportunities, increasing footfall in the CBD.
There will be new native plantings and easy access provided to the river. This is a major redevelopment, setting the scene for wider transformation and redevelopment of large portions of the city, freeing up sites for apartment housing with river views.
This enhanced riverside area will create an increasing need to supply the workers and businesses involved in the project and post-project with catering, raw materials, construction supplies, workforce, including creating many future opportunities for young people.
Ok so I’m in business in the Hutt Valley and I have some questions. How do I find out more?
While there have been a number of public consultation events (“Open Days”) we are concerned that many businesses may not have attended these. These events are an opportunity to hear differing views and points raised. After each Open Day, the RiverLink plan is suitably adapted to accommodate the differing perspectives where these add value to the project. We want to ensure the business community is involved in this planning and consultation process. We are working closely in partnership with the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce to reach out to the business community and make sure that their needs are factored into the project.
We have scheduled an event specifically for business to be held at the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. The most up-to-date RiverLink plans will be on display detailing the scale of the project. There will be speakers from the three funding partners in attendance to explain RiverLink and answer questions. This is an opportunity to learn more and raise any concerns you may have. You will gain an in-depth understanding of what RiverLink will mean to your business by attending this event.
The speakers on the night will be:
- Martin White – RiverLink Project Director
- Tracy Berghan – Owner Integration Lead RiverLink, Greater Wellington Regional Council
- Tom Biggin – Project Manager (RiverLink), Hutt City Council
- William Wallace – Project Lead, Waka Kotahi/Ministry of Transport
