$50m trench to take road under memorial park

The National War Memorial is in line for a $50 million facelift, with plans to put State Highway 1 under a new park in front of the memorial.

It is understood the project is the preferred option for the Wellington site after discussions between Transport Minister Steven Joyce and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson.

It would involve Buckle St being lowered between Tory and Taranaki Streets using a "covered trench" design, and a landscaped Memorial Park above.

Sources say the project has been signed off, but must now survive Budget negotiations before an announcement in May.

Both Mr Joyce and Mr Finlayson were tight-lipped on the plan yesterday.

A spokesman for Mr Finlayson said the Government was "committed to the development of a war memorial park in Buckle St" and that more details would be announced "in due course".

A spokesman for Mr Joyce said no decisions have been made and no funds had been allocated.

The trench option was considered by the previous government but was deemed too expensive. A proposal to move the highway 40 metres north and landscape Memorial Park was shelved last year when funding dried up.

Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast said a trenching option was the best solution.

"It would be a superior outcome for Memorial Park and something the city would really support," she said yesterday. "Anything but a trenched outcome would be second best. It's a national memorial. It's something for the whole country and it should be treated with the respect it deserves."

The cost of a trench for SH1 beneath Memorial Park is higher than the previous plan to realign Buckle St. About $8m had been allocated for the park but that disappeared as part of the Government's line-by-line review of spending last year.

At present, Buckle St is often closed when big commemorations are held. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior is barely 100 metres from the busy road.

Ms Prendergast admitted the trench favoured by her council was costly. "The reality is it is a very expensive option but we'd certainly encourage the Government if they were looking at that.

"It's better to do it once and do it properly than do a job which is second best, which you might have to go back one day and redo."

The plan is a victory for the Mt Cook community, which fought to put Buckle St underground. Mt Cook School, in particular, was concerned that realigning Buckle St would endanger pupils and increase pollution near the school. "We are just absolutely thrilled," principal Sandy McCallum said. "We feel as though our battle has been really worthwhile."

Mt Cook Mobilised spokesman Peter Cooke said: "The park needs to be the best park it can be. We are very happy with the idea of the road being sunk.

"It would mean a much bigger park and a much better park."

RSA national president Robin Klitscher, also a member of the National War Memorial advisory council, said a Buckle St trench "would be the best solution".

"Whatever happens there really needs to be a solution with the future in mind, not just the needs of today. The awareness of New Zealanders of the need to remember in an appropriate way is gaining strength. One of the responses to that is to have a properly presented war memorial."

- © Fairfax NZ News