Entry received from: Marlborough District Council
Category: The Department of Internal Affairs Award for Excellence in Community Engagement
The Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study (MSFAS) is a business case developed by Marlborough District Council with Stantec to respond to the severe damage caused by storm events in 2021 and 2022, which caused over $300 million in damage to the Sounds roading network. MSFAS contributes to a long-term recovery plan for the Sounds that will take many years to complete.
The business case required extensive engagement with remote rural communities undergoing stress from two major storm events, to understand how they used the roads, and then to test a range of repair and improvement options.
Key outcomes of the project were:
- 16 engagement events held across multiple locations, many in remote communities
- Over 1,000 people engaged in person, around 50% of the permanent Sounds population
- Almost 3,000 surveys completed across three periods (scope, economic and options surveys), indicating very high community participation
- Four Governance Advisory Group meetings held with cross-government stakeholders
The completed business case was presented to NZTA for consideration in December 2023. NZTA approved the business case and agreed in principle to providing 71% of the road repairs cost, and 51% of the road improvements cost, with a value of $128 million.
Thank you to our category sponsor