East West Link draft decision released

This summary has been prepared to help journalists and the general public understand the Board of Inquiry’s decision. It does not comprise part of the reasons for that decision. The full decision, with reasons is the only authoritative document. The full text of the decision, and reasons, can be found on the EPA’s website http://www.epa.govt.nz/eastwest

The independent Board of Inquiry appointed to consider the East West Link has released its draft decision approving the proposal.

The East West Link is a major transport proposal for Auckland, involving the construction of a new, four-lane arterial road connecting State Highway 20 at the Neilson Street Interchange in Onehunga with State Highway 1 in Mt Wellington.

In addition to the proposed highway, the proposal includes new local road connections within the Onehunga and Penrose areas and new, or upgraded, cycle and pedestrian facilities.

The Board of Inquiry’s draft decision gives the New Zealand Transport Agency legal approval, in principle, for the construction work and the right to use land for this purpose.
• Download the draft decision http://www.epa.govt.nz/eastwest
The Minister for the Environment, the Minister of Conservation, the New Zealand Transport Agency, Auckland Council, submitters, landowners, and occupiers affected by the decision, now have 20 working days to provide minor or technical comments on the draft decision document. A final version will be released January 2018.

Notes for editors
Boards of inquiry are appointed by the Ministers for the Environment and (in this case) of Conservation to make independent decisions on proposals of national significance (considered to be exceptionally large and complex proposals with regional or national impacts).
The EPA supports the decision-making process, as set out in the Resource Management Act (1991) by providing administrative and secretariat support to boards of inquiry.

© Scoop Media