We've just received news that the NZ Transport Agency will be delaying the start of consultation on the Basin Reserve flyover until Monday 15 March 2010:

From: Wayne Hastie, GWRC
Further to the presentation to the Transport and Access Committee last week, we have been advised about a delay to the consultation process.
NZTA advise that "Because of a need to complete additional preparation work in conjunction with feasible options for the planned transport improvements around the Basin Reserve, it is now intended to commence public consultation on Monday 15 March, subject to NZTA Board approval."

On one hand, this is excellent news - it gives longer for the Save The Basin Reserve campaign to inform Wellingtonians about the dire plans the NZ Transport Agency has for the Basin.

On the other hand, it's another demonstration of how poor the NZ Transport Agency is at running projects. For professional project managers, the success (or otherwise) of a project is measured against time, cost and quality. Let's see how they're doing to date:

Time: Information was due to go to community groups in December 2009, and consultation has just been delayed. FAIL
Cost: In 2007 the flyover was costed at $27 million, and current estimates see it go as high at $97 million. FAIL
Quality: None of the options leaked to the media measure up to the innovative urban design from The Architecture Centre. FAIL

No wonder independent commentators are increasingly skeptical about the abilities of the NZ Transport Agency.