Transit New Zealand Auckland Regional Office

27 July 2004

Submissions divided on tolling ALPURT B2

Transit New Zealand released today its summary of submissions on the proposal to bring forward the construction of the Northern Motorway extension of State Highway 1 (ALPURT B2).

Of the 620 submissions received, 199 (32 percent) were in support of the proposals; 96 (16 percent) offered conditional support and 291 (47 percent) were in opposition. The remaining 34 submissions (five percent) gave no position in relation to tolling.

Transit’s Auckland Regional Manager Wayne McDonald said the reasons people offered conditional support varied, but included there being no alternative method of funding the road and ensuring tolling would cease after the road had been paid for.

Mr McDonald said he was pleased with the overall response and with the wide range of individuals and groups making submissions.

Transit consulted widely on its proposals, running advertisements in national papers, sending information to 24,000 households in the area and providing 474 key stakeholders with briefing documents.

Mr McDonald said submissions were received from local and regional authorities, land transport user groups, iwi, the general public and the affected community.

The level of support from submitters located in close geographical proximity to the road, and south of the road, was slightly (three percent) below the overall average. The level of support from those living north of the road was significantly (eight percent) higher than the overall average.

In order to ensure it has fully captured the views of the affected community, Transit has also undertaken a survey of randomly selected households in the Orewa, Puhoi, Waiwera and Whangaparaoa area.

"The results of both the survey and the wider public consultation will be presented to the Minister of Transport for consideration in determining whether to approve an Order in Council giving permission to toll the road," Mr McDonald said.

A total of 84 of the 620 submitters indicated they want to be heard at public hearings to be held in the Orewa Community Centre, starting Tuesday 3 August.

The consultation hearing panel consists of three members, including independent Chairperson Alan Bickers, a Director of Catalyst Management Services Ltd. The other panel members are senior Transit staff member Terry Brown and technical specialist Derek McCoy, Infrastructure Manager for Sinclair Knight Merz in New Zealand.

If approval to toll the road is received, the Orewa to Puhoi motorway will be the first state highway project in New Zealand to be advanced by tolling under the Land Transport Management Act. Construction could start as early as December 2004.

ENDS

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