Motorway waiting game continues

Residents along the indicative route of the proposed Warkworth to Te Hana motorway are no closer to knowing when the Road of National Significance will proceed.

There was some hope that an NZ Transport Agency report, released last month, might bring some clarity, but the report only restated that the road would be built, but not for at least a decade.

NZTA acting system design manager Paul Glucina says that the designated route is subject to change during the consenting phase. This means although 12 properties along the route have already been purchased, others will have to wait.

“When designation is in place and a construction start is imminent, the transport agency will seek to acquire all land required for construction, operation and maintenance of the future state highway,” he says.

Rodney MP Mark Mitchell says it’s a “huge disappointment” to see the motorway construction delayed and he is working with landowners to reduce the impact on them.

“This decision has put a lot of pressure and stress on property owners on the route,” Mr Mitchell says.

“I’m pushing NZTA to get the legal paper work for the route processed, which will free up $31 million of capital so they can make a deal imminently with owners that want to get out.”

One of the landowners who is considering a move is farmer Greg McCracken, who has a dairy operation in Te Hana that will be split down the middle by the proposed motorway.

He is yet to have any official correspondence around a decision and is no closer to a decision on the future of his farm after the latest announcement.

“I’m no better off without a set date for the motorway so it’s really just a waiting game still,” Mr McCracken says.

Not only is the sale of his land an issue, but investment in infrastructure on the property is problematic.

“I need to put in a new feed pad. It would be best sited exactly where the road is set to split the farm, but it costs half a million dollars, and I have no idea how long it could actually be used for at this stage.”

Mark Illingworth is another resident who was hoping to further invest in a property on the indicative route, which he owns with his brother, Brett.

“We’ve had no official communication on a final decision from NZTA, so we just don’t know what to do at this stage,” Mr Illingworth says.

While nothing seems like it will be clear for at least a decade, both landowners know that if the government changes next election, then their situation could change rapidly.

Mr Mitchell says that if National wins the 2020 election, it will progress the motorway’s construction immediately.

“I would like to think that if we get back in to power we would have construction underway that same year, because most of the background work has already been done,” he says.

Meanwhile, Labour MP Marja Lubeck has said she is talking with Transport Minister Phil Twyford to see if more certainty can be given to landowners, although she admits the decision ultimately resides with NZTA.

Both Mr Mitchell and Ms Lubeck agree that changes of government, and with it policy, is an inefficient system at times, but one that’s inevitably part of democracy.