Media advisory

12 September 2014

Final decision on Puhoi to Warkworth proposal

The Board of Inquiry has today released its Final Report and Decision on the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance: Pūhoi to Warkworth section.

The Board has confirmed two notices of requirement (as modified during the hearing) and granted the 15 resource consents sought by the NZ Transport Agency, subject to the imposition of conditions.

The EPA Board’s Acting Chair Dr Kevin Thompson says the Board of Inquiry was impressed with the positive level of interaction shown by submitters and the applicant.

The decision followed the Board’s consideration of the application, submissions, and evidence and included a seven and half week hearing.

Following the release of the Draft Report and Decision on 25 July 2014, a total of 334 comments were received by parties to the original application. The Board deliberated on the comments and made consequential amendments before confirming their Final Report and Decision.

The Final Report and Decision has been sent to all parties involved in the application. It is also available on the EPA website at the link below: http://www.epa.govt.nz/Resource-management/Puhoi/Pages/default.aspx.

Dr Thompson thanked the Chair of the Board, the Hon John Priestley CNZM, QC and the other Board members – Michael Parsonson, Alan Withy, Bronwyn Hunt and David Chandler for their work with this proposal.

ENDS

Background

This proposal was directed by the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Conservation to an independent Board of Inquiry in October 2013.

The proposal was notified in November 2013 and a total of 187 submissions were received.

A public hearing was held between 7 April and 5 June 2014 at locations in both Silverdale and Warkworth.

The Pūhoi to Warkworth Board of Inquiry is chaired by the retired High Court Judge, the Honourable John Priestley CNZM, QC. The other four members of the Board are Michael Parsonson, Alan Withy, Bronwyn Hunt and David Chandler.

The Board of Inquiry is independent of the EPA and of Ministers. All decisions and reports are made and written by the Board and can be appealed to the High Court on points of law only and cannot be overturned by Ministers.

You can read more about this proposal and the process followed on the EPA website here:

http://www.epa.govt.nz/Resource-management/Puhoi/Pages/default.aspx

Learn more about the EPA’s role in managing applications for nationally significant proposals.

http://www.epa.govt.nz/Resource-management/about-rm/Pages/default.aspx

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