Tamaki Community Board has endorsed the proposal for an upgraded motorway interchange at Otahuhu, with a proviso that affected property owners are adequately compensated.

At the same time, it has rescinded its previous preference for an interchange option that would have meant closing the south facing ramps at Otahuhu.

The endorsed interchange is one of two proposed by Transit New Zealand and Manukau City Council as part of a plan for a new road linking the Southern Motorway to East Tamaki.

It would involve building a diamond interchange at Otahuhu, with a new bridge over the motorway aligned with Princes Street West.

Tamaki Community Board chairperson, Leanne Cross, says the option endorsed by the board last evening had been developed following 18 months of study and consultation.

"I believe it is an improvement on previous options and that it is far preferable to endorse it rather than have something quite different forced on the community."

She says the community board retained the right to amend its view of the option or to make formal submissions supporting or objecting to any final proposal.

"We will be watching the planning very carefully, to ensure the Otahuhu community benefits from the upgraded interchange and that residents who will lose their properties are fairly compensated."

She says Auckland City will look at appointing an independent advocate to look after the interests of affected residents, and to ensure they are kept well informed about their rights throughout the planning processes.

The new interchange proposal is still to be considered by Auckland City Council’s Transport and Roading Committee.

The board’s resolutions were:

That having considered further information relating to the Waiouru Peninsula to State Highway 1 Connection, the Tamaki Community Board rescind its previous stated preference for the South 2 Option, which would involve the closure of the south facing motorway ramps.

That the Tamaki Community Board state a new preference for Option 4 considered in this report.

That the Tamaki Community Board request that, should Manukau City seek to progress Option 4, both Manukau City Council and Transit New Zealand make every effort, through careful detail design, to minimise the property acquisition required by the works.

That the Transport & Roading Committee and Manukau City Council be informed of this decision.

That the above recommendations not preclude or prejudice the Tamaki Community Board from amending its view or making a formal submission at the appropriate time either supporting or objecting to any final proposals.

That the Board recommend to Transit NZ/Manukau City Council that affected property owners be offered full market value plus a premium for the purchase of their properties.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>