Wellington long term plan: Bus priority funding, cycleways among projects axed of rescoped

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau wants to show the government they should have nothing to worry after the council voted on its amended long term plan.

A marathon six hour meeting on Tuesday saw fiery debate and discussion between councillors trying to save their key projects from the chopping block.

The meeting was triggered after councillors voted last month to not sell the council's 34 percent stake in Wellington Airport.

The sale was part of the council's long term plan which had been passed in June, meaning it needed to be amended.

The changes saw Local Government Minister Simeon Brown install local government practitioner Lindsay McKenzie on the council as an observer.

Councillors ended up passing over 20 amendments to the paper that their staff initially put forward, which identified $558 million worth of savings via rescoping and axing projects.

One of the projects up for being rescoped was the $113m Golden Mile upgrade - a former Let's Get Wellington Moving project that is part funded by NZTA.

It will see private cars banned between Lambton Quay and Courtenay Place and offer walking and cycling improvements.

Council officers suggested the project could be halved with the council just going forward with the Courtenay Place upgrades - but Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau convinced councillors to vote in favour of the full project.

Councillors have given the Begonia House in the botanic gardens a lifeline through an amendment that states the future of the building will be assessed after a review of it next year.

Projects that were rescoped or axed included bus priority funding, the cycleways programme which will be cut back by $40.7 million and upgrades for facilities at Otari Wiltons Bush.

Just prior to voting today Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau made mention of the government and its Crown observer.

"Let's show the government that we've done this successfully and that our wonderful observer Lindsay over there has nothing to worry about, we've got this."

Councillor Tony Randle tried to get an amendment overline that would have seen the Golden Mile project capped to $40 million - but that proposal failed to get over the line.

Randle said the council still could not make a hard decision.

"We keep spending money on things like the Golden Mile Project."

Councillor Rebecca Matthews fired back at Randle after his claim the council could not make hard decisions.

"When the deputy mayor was in tears because she voted against an amendment to restore our cycleway funding which she stood for council to achieve.

"Voting against the things you hold dear is the hardest thing."

Tuesday's amendments will now go to a vote on 17 December, after which the amended long term plan will be prepared for public consultation early next year.