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Landowners in parts of Dairy Flat, Stillwater, Silverdale and Wainui East are gearing up in opposition to plans that could see their land taken for roading infrastructure – but not for at least a decade.
Last month, 13 Notices of Requirement (NoRs) were lodged with Auckland Council by Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport under its Supporting Growth Programme.
The notices (which are subject to a public notification process, similar to resource consent), affect around 1000 landowners, protecting the land for future acquisition under the Public Works Act for infrastructure use.
The proposed projects include a rapid transit corridor and rapid transit stations, including one in Milldale, and a park and ride facility for 500 cars in Pine Valley Road.
Whether or not any of this work will ever be funded is unknown. But until that funding becomes available, the properties could have the NoR on them, impacting any future sales or development plans they may have, for 10-30 years.
Dairy Flat Landowners chair, Brian Sutton, says that timeframe is a key issue.
“We are not opposed to a rapid transit corridor and forward planning is a good idea,” Sutton says. “But there are issues with this plan, including the suggested route. Putting rapid transit alongside the motorway would be fairly easy, but to say you may put it through people’s properties, in the distant future – that gives major uncertainty.”
Sutton, and Rodney Local Board member for Dairy Flat, Louise Johnston, also share concerns about the route itself, which has been placed through some of the most expensive parts of Dairy Flat, with many lifestyle blocks.
“Apart from anything else, those will be really expensive to buy out,” Johnston says. “Putting the route through paddocks could save a lot of money. You have to think it will end up being totally unaffordable.”
Johnston says what is proposed is a real burden for affected landowners, who feel like they’re not being considered when massive planning decisions are made.
“I’ve had people phoning me, in tears,” she says. “They are devastated.”
The NoRs are expected to be publicly notified by Council on November 16.
Once notified, people will have 20 working days to make a submission.
A hearing with Independent Hearing Commissioners could be held mid-2024, after which the commissioners will make a recommendation to Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport. There may also be Environment Court appeals, which can take up to two years to resolve.
