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An independent panel considering Auckland Transport’s proposals to protect routes for future transport projects around Warkworth is expected to issue its recommendations later this month, after formally closing the hearing process last month.
At hearings in Warkworth last November, the panel comprising Richard Blakey, Mark Farnsworth and Vaughan Smith heard from representatives of AT and other parties, as well as property owners affected by eight notices of requirement (NoRs), relating to land that may be needed in the future for new roads – or upgrades to existing ones.
The eight projects proposed by Supporting Growth, a collaboration of AT and NZTA Waka Kotahi, were:
NoR1: A public transport hub in north Warkworth and the northern end of a Western Link Road (WLR)
NoR2: Upgrading of a western section of Woodcocks Road, extending from Evelyn Street to near the new motorway
NoR 3: Upgrading of 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 near Clayden Road)
NoR5: Upgrading of Sandspit Road, from the Hill Street intersection to the eastern rural-urban boundary
NoR6: The southern portion of the WLR, from Evelyn Street looping round to the Old SH1’s intersection with McKinney Road
NoR7: A new road linking Matakana Road (at the roundabout where Matakana Road meets the new Matakana link 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 motorway) to the Mahurangi River
After the hearings, AT provided its closing submissions in writing ahead of the Christmas break, an Auckland Council spokesperson said. The panel in late January requested further information which AT provided in February, and then formally closed the hearing on March 5.
Once council makes its recommendation, AT/Waka Kotahi will issue a decision, either accepting the recommendation wholly or in part, or rejecting it. Council will then notify the AT/Waka Kotahi decision to submitters and affected landowners and occupiers.
Before any designations become operative in the Auckland Unitary Plan, submitters can appeal to the Environment Court, which will hold a hearing and then issue a decision.
Most of the projects have yet to be funded. Council said it anticipated they will be considered for funding in line with long-term timeframes for council’s rezoning and releasing of land.
Mahurangi Matters last year ran a series of articles on the Supporting Growth NoRs:
Warkworth route protection proposals: Hearings planned (Sept 11)
Transport hub near Pak’n Save disputed (Sept 25)
Land owners contemplate personal cost of road plan (Oct 9)
Roading impacts on family land causing frustration, trepidation (Oct 23)
Proposed Matakana Road upgrade impacts dozens of properties (Nov 6)
Route protection proposals affect scores of properties (Nov 20)
Route protection public hearings close (Dec 4)
