Boulcott wins stopbank fight

Golfers get to play on

After years of often bitter bickering, an agreement has finally been reached to upgrade the Boulcott stopbank.

The stopbank has long been identified as a weakness in the city's flood protection network. If it was breached, the hospital and city centre could be inundated. Some estimates put the potential economic cost tor the city at $700 million.

While there has always been agreement that the stopbank needed  upgrading, the alignment and design has long been the subject of heated discussion.

Some Hathaway Ave residents opposed filling in a gap in the stopbank, as it would ruin their views of the Hutt Golf Club.

In recent months, the debate has centred on the impact on the Hutt and Boulcott Golf Clubs.

The alignment option favoured by Greater Wellington Regional Council would have costed $10.4 million and  forced the closure of the Boulcott club.  A different version, the so-called Boulcott Alternative, saved the club but was initially estimated to cost an extra $2 million.

GWRC steadfastly maintained it could not justify to the region's ratepayers the more expensive design, and told Hutt City Council it would have to fork up the extra cash.

After some recent tinkering with budgets and stopbank design, GWRC got the difference between the two options down to $600,000.

Regional and city councillors last week unanimously agreed to go with the Boulcott Alternative. Both councils will put in an extra $300,000.

The decision was made with plenty of back slapping. Mayor David Ogden and GWRC chair Fran Wilde appeared to want to get beyond any damage the issue has caused between the two councils.

Boulcott resident Dennis Page congratulated regional council staff on finding a solution that will protect the golf club and safeguard the city from flooding.

The original option would have resulted in the golf club taking expensive legal action that would have delayed flood protection. Yet any delay would result in the Hutt Hospital continuing to face the threat of a catastrophic flood, he said.

Former Lower Hutt mayor and regional councillor Glen Evans urged city councillors to endorse the Boulcott Alternative.

The city faces a very real threat from flooding and he agreed with Mr Page that the original proposal put up GWRC would result in an expensive delay. He predicted the golf club would win a legal challenge. That could see the whole project delayed by many years. The cost of a legal fight would be better spent on the Boulcott Alternative, he said.

Cr Ray Wallace said the scheme is vital for the protection of the city.

"You only have to look at weather patterns and the rain over the last couple of weeks to know this investment is a very sound move...We are talking about protecting the central city business district."

Cr Joy Baird said it was a "victory" for Mayor Ogden and the tough stance he adopted with the regional council.  The city was originally facing an extra cost of more than $1.2 million. The extra $300,000 was a "small sum" when weighed up against the gains for the city and the golf club.

Mayor Ogden thanked the golf club for strongly defending its position. He said its resolve had made it easier for the city council to negotiate with the regional council and ultimately win the battle.

The total cost of the project is $12.2 million; Hutt City will contribute $300,000 cash and $700,000 worth of stormwater and roading work.

For Mayor Glenn Evans there was more at stake than just saving the golf club.

One of the achievements he was most proud of during his career as a city councillor, and mayor, was the Ewen Bridge Floodway.

Mr Evans lobbied hard for that and has long pushed the message that flooding is a major threat to the city.

Although he also fought hard for the golf club, he says his motivation was the need to get the best possible stopbank project and for it to be done as soon as possible.

"I think the Boulcott Golf Club is a wonderful club but the real reason I got involved was flood protection."

Club president Joe Liddle says it has been a long fight but he always felt confident.

"We are in a win, win situation. Hutt City gets its flood protection and we have our golf course and I can't thank the officers of both cities enough."

The club now faces significant disruption and semi closure for a few months. The members have fought hard to save the club and he is confident they will be understanding.

The club is holding a women's tournament in October to celebrate victory.