Objections to highway overruled. Completing road network steps closer

The overruling of objections to the Mt Roskill extension by the Environment Court has boosted business confidence that Auckland's road network can be rapidly completed, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

"The routes where Auckland's highways have to be built have been widely publicised for the past three years in the Auckland Regional Transport Strategy, and are plain for everyone to see," said Alasdair Thompson, EMA's chief executive.

"Yesterday's comments by Judge Treadwell and the Environment Court commissioners are welcome as they will ensure future objections are made responsibly.

"We are pleased to see them.

"By making clear the issues it is prepared to consider to address environmental concerns, the Environment Court has lifted confidence that the road network can be completed in good time.

"We urge Transit New Zealand to note them and to lodge resource consent applications as soon as possible to complete the Avondale link through to the North western motorway.

"The Avondale extension is expected to cost much more, and present a larger challenge than the Mt Roskill extension. Therefore work should begin on its resource consents straight away.

"When the Avondale gap is closed, and the Eastern Corridor is built, we will have at last the motorway network expected since 1965."

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