Minister pushes ahead with Woodend Bypass, toll considered
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has given the green light for planning to begin on the long-awaited Woodend Bypass, with a toll among the funding options being considered.
Brown joined Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey at the Pegasus Roundabout in Canterbury on Friday to announce planning will begin on the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway, which includes the bypass on State Highway 1.
It was one of the first seven projects in the Roads of National Significance signalled in the Government Policy Statement.
The announcement allows NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to begin planning the route, design work and costing the project.
‘‘It will help boost productivity and facilitate the faster movement of freight across New Zealand,’’ Brown said.
‘‘Locally, the Woodend Bypass is important for Christchurch, Canterbury and the South Island.
‘‘This project has been talked about for too long and we going to get it back on track.’’
State Highway 1 currently cuts through the town of Woodend, slowing traffic and raising safety concerns.
Brown said more details would be included in the National Land Transport Plan, which is due to be released in September.
The agency has been asked to consider all funding options, including a road toll and public-private partnerships.
‘‘I am expecting tolling assessments to be made for every Road of National Significance,’’ Brown said.
‘‘If tolling is what is recommended, we will do it.’’
Waka Kotahi regional relationships director James Caygill said the agency had been waiting for the minister’s announcement.
‘‘He has told us to ‘get on with it’ and now we can go out and talk to landowners, and go out and re-look at the route and see what has changed in the last 10 years.
‘‘Ravenswood wasn’t here 10 years ago and there has been a lot of growth.’’
A route to the east of Woodend, from Pine Acres, north of Kaiapoi, to the Pegasus Roundabout was designated for the Woodend Bypass by Waka Kotahi in 2014.
Caygill said the Pegasus Roundabout would need to be replaced and the agency was aware of two shingle pit lakes near Pine Acres, which would all be considered in the design process.
A pedestrian and cycle underpass between Pegasus and Ravenswood, and proposed cycle ways linking Woodend with Pegasus and Kaiapoi were also ‘‘on the table’’, he said.
Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon said the Woodend Bypass was a priority for the district.
‘‘The minister’s message is very clear. We welcome that direction and we want to see it completed.
‘‘The community has been waiting for a long time.
‘‘This is probably the largest roading project our district has seen.’’
Gordon said the council looked forward to seeing the detailed design and was ready to partner with Waka Kotahi to see the bypass delivered.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
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