News Briefs a new missionary for the Gully
When Richard Worth?s replacement was named as National's senior whip Nathan Guy, Transmission Gully supporters were handed a highly placed sympathiser. Mr Guy has been given the new position of associate transport minister, placing him in a position to influence Transmission Gully?s progress. MP for Otaki Mr Guy has come out strongly in favour of Transmission Gully motorway route between Wellington and the Kapiti Coast. Consultation undertaken in August 2008 by NZ Transport Agency shows 88.6 per cent in favour and 7 percent opposed to the new route. His appointment signals that Mr Key wants progress made on the designated routes of national significance, and the Government are expected to decide this year if the Gully or the coastal option will proceed. Transmission Gully will cost $1.025 billion, and the Government are committed to spending $405m ? the shortfall will have to be covered in other ways such as tolls and a regional petrol tax. Formal consultations for the Gully begin in July, with a draft report expected to be released by the end of July. Junior Basketball Brass ?free? view Wellingtonians keen to see New Zealand Basketball?s top young talent score some practice before July's FIBA U19 World Championship should head to Porirua?s Te Rauparaha Arena. The Junior Tall Blacks, coached for a third-year by Kenny McFadden, will play two games against Egypt and one against Lithuania to finish off their month-long programme in the capital. All games at Te Rauparaha Arena will be free to the public and will open with curtain raiser games featuring Wellington region secondary schools teams at 5pm. The Junior Tall Blacks will host FIBA Africa champions Egypt on back-to-back nights ? Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25 ? and FIBA Europe silver medallists Lithuania on Saturday, June 27, with all games tipping-off at 7.30pm. The team will open their world championship campaign against FIBA Americas champions Argentina in Auckland, Thursday, July 2.
