Motorway drives wedge of uncertainty into Wellsford

Landholders around Wellsford are calling on the NZ Transport Agency to speed-up the release of their final plans for the motorway north of Warkworth.

One farmer said that uncertainty was “hampering on-farm development” for those east of the town.

“No-one wants to spend money, in case their property’s in the firing line,” he said.

An NZTA spokesperson says residents may have to wait until mid-to-late next year for an answer to the question ‘where will the motorway go?’

“The plan was always that the new highway would rejoin the existing SH1 north of Wellsford,” she said.

“However, we had a lot of feedback in phase one consultation saying that we needed to bypass Te Hana as well so all options are currently being considered.”

“This is part of the investigation we are undertaking.”

Farmer and contractor Steve Levet fears that his 60 hectare farm could be split in two by the road and says that the delay is frustrating and upsetting for the whole community.

“We just want to be put out of our misery,” he says. “There’s a lot of guessing going on, which isn’t helpful for those of us wanting to get on with our lives.

“It’s a case of where are the men in fluoro jackets going to turn up next and what new plan they are hatching.”

Steve would expect to lose about one-third of his farm if the road went through.

“I’d like to see a decision made to end the road at Warkworth, and then a by-pass for Wellsford.”

Farmer Paul Shepherd never gave a thought to the new highway having an impact on his 200-hectare farm when he spent more than $2 million upgrading farm buildings.

“The expectation was for the route to go to the west of town; the proposal to go east came out of the blue and it never entered our minds when planning improvements to our farm,” he said.

The Shepherds amalgamated their sheep and dairy properties into one larger farm devoted to dairying. They created a new centre for the farm, including a new milking shed. If the road goes through their property it will carve right through the middle of these improvements.

“I’m trying not to think about it, and just get on with things, but the uncertainty is always there, hanging over us.”

He’d like to see the highway end at Warkworth, and the road through the Dome upgraded to four lanes.

“I’m just hoping that NZTA has seen sense and that this is what will eventually happen. There’s no point losing any more sleep over it.”

Paul’s son Cameron points out that the family has beewn on the farm for more than 100 years.

“I’ve got sons who’ll be the fourth generation,” he says. “We want to carry on here; even if we were adequately compensated, that’s not the point. This is where we want to be. If they put the road on the other side of the railway line (between it and SH1) that wouldn’t be so bad, but wherever the road goes, it’ll affect productivity.

“I feel sorry for people who have bought lifestyle blocks nearby recently, some of whom are now trying to sell, because even if their land’s not affected, they will see and hear the road.”

Former Rodney Councillor Grahame Powell’s property, which lies between SH1 and the North Auckland railway line, is one that could be affected by the highway extension, but he says he is not concerned over NZTA’s delay in defining a route.

“But I do have concerns for other property owners who are anxious for a decision. It’s the uncertainty which is affecting them,” he said.

“As long as I get value for my property then I’m not too worried. However, I do think it would make sense for the route to follow existing property boundaries and roads as far as possible. No-one wants to lose land.

“My gut feeling is that the road will come through the Dome to the west, go through Wayby Valley Road, and to the east of Rustybrook Rd, and on up water tower hill, into Worthington. With this routing, there are a lot of homes in Matheson Road which need to be taken into consideration and the town’s water supply system as well.

“Where the road continues from there I think hinges on where they bring it out in Te Hana, whether it’s to the south or north of town. There are issues with crossing the railway line, and the need to build both a road and rail bridge. Following the existing railway line would seem logical, but I’ve been given no indication of whether this might happen at this stage or indeed of any details.”

Pictured: Cameron Shepherd at the milking shed on his family farm at Te Hana. His father has spent $2 million on upgrading farm buildings over the last two years, which could cut in two by the Puhoi-Wellsford highway.

Published December 2010