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Eight days in November have been set down for hearings on controversial Notices of Requirement (NOR), aimed at safeguarding routes for prospective new transport corridors around Warkworth, and potentially impacting hundreds of properties.
The lodging of the NORs with Auckland Council is a key step in a scheme to secure land needed for eight separate transport projects, envisaged over the next 10-30 years to cater for Warkworth’s projected expansion.
Coordinated by Supporting Growth, an initiative of Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi, the proposals will affect an estimated 19 properties in their entirety, and portions of more than 200 others. Property owners have been formally notified by Auckland Council ahead of a public hearing and appeals process.
Most of the projects are yet to be funded, and much of the designated land may not be required for decades.
A total of 115 submissions are set down to be heard from November 13 to 16 and 20 to 23 at the Warkworth Town Hall. Parties making submissions include private landowners, representatives of companies, utility providers and government entities, and advocacy groups. One Mahurangi Business Association, Watercare and Heritage NZ are among those making multiple submissions.
While some submissions are firmly opposed to the designations, others are supportive of the proposals, or in favour but on condition amendments are made. Suggested modifications include minor variations to boundary designations, recommendations for changes to the locations of walkways and cycleways, and the complete rethinking of the placement of envisaged new transport routes.
After the hearings, Auckland Council will make recommendations on whether each designation should be confirmed in the Auckland Unitary Plan (with or without modifications) or be withdrawn. Submitters may appeal council’s decision, and appeals will be lodged with the Environment Court.
Supporting Growth says community feedback has already played a role in the process of identifying route options.
An indicative business case prepared in 2019 resulted in a transport network proposal that “took account of the views of the community, which included having greater transport choices with good walking and cycling facilities and frequent, reliable public transport”.
Route proposals were then further refined, and after more community feedback in 2022 and additional environmental and technical assessments, some shifts were made to the alignment of the proposed corridors, “to better respond to existing and future land use and avoid environmental features”.
The eight proposals are:
NOR1: A public transport hub in north Warkworth and the northern end of the Western Link, including a proposed bridge crossing
NOR2: Upgrading of a western section of Woodcocks Road, from Evelyn Street to the new Puhoi-Warkworth motorway
NOR 3: Upgrading the southern portion of Old SH1, roughly from The Grange to just south of Valerie Close
NOR4: Upgrading of Matakana Road, from the Hill Street intersection to the rural-urban boundary, a short way past the new roundabout at the end of Te Honohono ki Tai Road
NOR5: Upgrading of Sandspit Road, from the Hill Street intersection to the eastern rural-urban boundary
NOR6: The southern portion of a Western Link, from Evelyn Street, skirting the light industrial area and meeting up with the Old SH1 where it intersects McKinney Road
NOR7: A new road linking Matakana Road (at the roundabout where Matakana Road meets Te Honohono ki Tai Road) and Sandspit Road, with separated cycle lanes and footpaths
NOR8: The northern portion of an envisaged wider Western Link, running south of Woodcocks Road (near the new ‘Supporting Growth’ route protection plans: Warkworth hearings planned motorway) to the Mahurangi River
