Rotorua Council Urged Not to Lift the Eastern Arterial Designation
Press Release, Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers, 17 April 2016
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The Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers has invited the Rotorua District Council’s Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee to pause on 21 April rather than recommend confirmation of the New Zealand Traffic Agency’s intention to lift the Rotorua Eastern Arterial designation. The NZTA has progressively purchased about 80 per cent of the land required since 1964, less parcels owned by three small iwi.

“We propose a deliberate pause to allow the RDC to conduct more research with the NZTA and to offer public consultations and hearings on two matters of profound significance to our whole community; whether the designation needs to be lifted, and possible variations and alternatives to the REA,” said Glenys Searancke, Chair of the RDRR. “The people of Rotorua believe they have a right to be consulted and heard.”

“If the designation is lifted without an alternative, the opportunities offered by possible variations and alternatives could be lost for a long time. Losing the designation would also deny the planning wisdom of successive councils since 1964; that local and highway traffic eastwards from the Sala-SH30 intersection should be separated.

“Four-laning Te Ngae Road is not a plausible alternative for capacity, safety and social reasons,” said Dr Reynold Macpherson, RDRR’s endorsed mayoral candidate. “It will offer relatively short-term relief to Ngapuna, Lynmore and Okareka/ Tarawera traffic congestion. It will increasingly impair the ambience and development of Lynmore and Owhata suburbs, and divide them forever.”

“Losing the REA designation before devising an alternative highway traffic solution would compound the problems created by abandoning the Victoria Street bypass. A strategic pause is needed now to future proof Rotorua’s roading networks.”

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