20 November 2012

Design Work for Whangaparaoa Road Upgrade

Auckland Transport is moving to the detailed design stage for the upgrade of the 1.6km section of Whangaparaoa Road from Hibiscus Coast Highway to Red Beach Road. It has appointed GHD Consultants Ltd to carry out the design.

The proposed upgrade sees Whangaparaoa Road becoming a four-lane road by adding two lanes to the south of the existing road, alterations and additions to underground services such as stormwater and wastewater, and putting the power lines underground.

An assessment was completed last year, and the preferred option for widening the road was decided on following public displays in August 2011.

The 1.6km section of the road reached its capacity of 25,000 vehicle movements a day in 2009. The upgrade to Whangaparaoa Road is a priority because Penlink, the second access to the peninsula, is on hold for the foreseeable future.

Letters have been dropped off at homes and businesses where GHD need to access properties to carry out surveys to assist with the design work. A web page is being set up on the Auckland Transport website.

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>