Fight unequal - Transmission Gully opponents

Transmission Gully opponents say they're fighting an unequal battle.

The billion dollar roading project's been given draft approval by the Environmental Protection Authority.

Opponent of the highway Dick Jessup says there aren't many options open to those against the project, except the expensive process of legal action.

"That's a pretty unequal battle, the transport agency drag out a huge echelon of experts to say that the interference with the environment won't be too bad. The people who think the opposite have not got the resources to line up against them."

Mr Jessup says they'll consider legal action as the project takes another step towards reality.

"It's still in draft so we can perhaps suggest some tidying up of the wording, minor things but then it would have to be a legal challenge, and that's something that we've still got to look at, because it's quite an expensive and chancy business."

Dick Jessup says talk of commencing construction of the road by 2015 is all very well, but there's been little discussion of how the billion dollar project will be financed.

Photo: NZ Herald