The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has told the High Court its consideration of alternative sites and their impacts for a controversial flyover near Wellington's Basin Reserve was sufficient.
The agency is appealing against a board of inquiry decision to deny the $90 million project resource consent last year because of concern over the flyover's impact on the area.
An artist's impression of the external view of the Basin Reserve's Northern Gateway building looking up Ellice Street. Photo: NZTA
NZTA lawyer Matthew Casey QC told the judge that, because the agency was not taking private property, a lower level of adequacy was required.
He said the board had deemed the effects as very significant and so felt it required a greater consideration of alternatives from the agency.
Mr Casey said the board had gone about it entirely the wrong way and alternatives routes had been considered, which the board had not taken into account.
He said the agency was only required to look at other options under the Resource Management Act rather than fully analyse them for their impacts.