Auckland City Council

Auckland City Council’s Transport and Roading Committee is supporting the extension of State Highway 20 from Hillsborough Road to Richardson Road but it wants more study and consultation on what happens between Richardson Road and the North Western Motorway – the next stage of the Transit NZ project.

The committee’s meeting yesterday recommended that the Council does not support any option that might compromise the "liveability" of Avondale. Councillor Catherine Harland, Chairwoman of the Transport & Roading Committee says, "We are looking for innovative solutions that minimise the impacts of the extension on the community and the environment, and a design process that involves the community."

She says that while Auckland City Council recognises the regional desire for a connection through the western part of the city, providing access between Manukau in the south and, via the northwestern motorway, to the North Shore, the Council wants all the options fully investigated first. "At this stage we are not making any commitment to the completing link, other than to call for more studies and consultation."

The full text of the Committee’s SH20 recommendation to Council is: the report of the Manager, Transport Planning dated 30 August 1999 be received.

That the following recommendations be made to Council for adoption:
- That Auckland City Council supports a Transit New Zealand led study, working closely with Auckland Regional Council, Waitakere City Council and Auckland City Council, into options for extending SH20 west of Richardson Road to link with the North-Western Motorway.

- That Auckland City Council advise Transit New Zealand that Council has identified Avondale as a potential "liveable community" growth area. As such, Auckland City Council does not support roading options for an extension of SH20 west of Richardson Road that compromise the development of Avondale as a ‘liveable community’.

- That before supporting a roading alignment or design west of Richardson Road, Auckland City Council will work closely with Transit New Zealand to ensure innovative solutions that mitigate the adverse effects of the extension are fully investigated and consulted upon. That regard be given to protecting the environmental and community value of the reserves in the area including Oakley Creek, Heron Park and Alan Wood Park.

- That subject to the following points 1-12, Auckland City Council supports the extension of SH20 from Hillsborough Road to Richardson Road as soon as practicable. The extension should...

* Be designed as a high standard state highway, using international best practice mitigation techniques to reduce environmental impacts.

* Endeavour to fit in as closely as possible to the Liveable Communities concept in Mt Roskill as a component of Auckland City’s contribution to the Regional Growth Strategy.

* Include advanced noise reduction techniques such as road lowering or noise barriers and stormwater management that prevents run-off polluting our streams and harbours.

* Not compromise the ability to develop the existing rail designation and must include provision for dedicated bus lanes.

* Minimise severance of existing communities.

* Investigate a road crossing at Hayr Road to ensure community links are retained.

* Include suitably located, high quality pedestrian, cycling and passenger transport cross-connections over the state highway corridor.

* Be designed to be compatible with mixed use, medium density development along the corridor.

* Allow for local short-distance trips as well as regional longer-distance trips.

* Provide a safe transition from high speed motorway conditions to 50 km per hour urban conditions along Maioro Street and Sandringham Road.

* Involve designing the Maioro-Sandringham link as part of Auckland City’s arterial road network.

* Involve identifying and implementing traffic management measures along the Maioro-Wolverton route and along White Swan Road to accommodate the anticipated additional traffic.

* That Transit New Zealand, the Auckland Regional Council, the Regional Land Transport Committee and the Avondale, Mt Roskill and Eden-Albert Community Boards be advised of the above.

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