Viewpoint – Council collaboration on roads

At the beginning of last year, Councillor Howard and I reached out to our fellow elected members from Auckland Council and the Rodney Local Board. Our hope was to collaborate with them on safety improvements we feel are necessary on our local Auckland Council (AC) boundary roads. This came about due to concerns raised by local ratepayers who frequently use Mangawhai/ Waiteitei and Wayby Valley roads. The issues became exacerbated during the closure of the Brynderwyn SH1 route.

We know that as our community grows, so will the traffic movements. Understanding the council processes we have available (LTP-Long Term Plan/AP-Annual Plan/RLTP-Regional Land Transport plans) to secure funding for any future upgrades means we need to start identifying our priorities now. Below are the collective issues we have identified as having urgent priority and the remedies we seek.

Our concerns

• SH1 expressway extensions – Warkworth to Te Hana & Te Hana to Port Marsden (exact route; increased traffic movements)
• NZTA and Auckland Council acknowledging the pressure points on our shared roading network (expressway on/off ramps leading to Tomarata/Te Arai and Mangawhai)
• Identify main detour routes when sections of SH1 are closed. Recognise the issues of increased vehicle movements on these routes
• AC, Auckland Transport and Kaipara District Council (KDC) must factor Mangawhai/Kaiwaka/North Rodney growth projections into any future Regional Land Transport Plans and set aside funding for future road upgrades
• Mangawhai (KDC) – three private plan changes approved
• Te Arai (AC) – Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust and Te Arai Sth Holdings, integrated development plan for Te Arai South Precinct and Regional Park (fast track approval pending). This includes:

• Up to 420 residential units/180-unit tourist accommodation at Te Arai Regional Park
• Expansion of existing land-based sand mining operations on the site of up to 300,000 m3 of sand per annum, with a 35 year resource consent
• Increased in vehicle/truck movements

Remedies sought
Road safety improvements:

• Auckland Council to implement fit-for-purpose, strategically placed, pull-in bays for slow vehicles, trucks and campervans. This will avoid vehicle build up and allow emergency services to pass, when required.
• Funding included via councils’ Regional Land Transport and Long Term Plans
• KDC/Auckland Council to align future roading upgrades on our shared unsealed border roads such as Cames and Coal Hill Roads, as funding allows.
• Any future safety improvements (pull in areas) must be followed up with appropriate communication and signage (public campaign)

It’s not an easy task to make inroads on neighbouring council’s roading plans. Be assured we will continue to work towards our safety improvement goals and do our best to collaborate with our neighbouring elected members. Once council’s Regional Land Transport pre-planning kicks off next year, I will let you know how you can help – this will be by way of written submissions to Auckland Council’s new Regional Land Transport Plan.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of Kaipara District Council.