My Account
Commissioners considering a resource consent and notice of requirement application by the NZ Transport Agency to construct a new highway between Warkworth and Wellsford granted the applications last week.
Commissioners concluded the new road, which will replace the existing State Highway 1 as the primary connection between Warkworth and Wellsford, will have a number of transport and related economic benefits for the Auckland and Northland regions. Commissioners acknowledged construction of the highway will involve creating significant environmental hazards.
But they said that they were satisfied that the environmental impact of the construction and operation of the new road can be managed to an acceptable and reasonable level. Commissioners added NZTA acknowledged that desirability and usefulness of land along the route would be affected. However, the agency had proposed “visual mitigation options” and minimum noise performance standards to compensate for negative impacts.
The estimated cost of the project is more than $2 billion and funding is yet to be secured. It has a tentative construction start date of 2030.
