Council confirms Waterview mitigation for NZTA to consider

Auckland City Council has confirmed it will advocate to the New Zealand Transport Agency for a significant number of mitigation measures to be implemented for communities surrounding the proposed State Highway 20 Waterview connection.

A combined meeting today of council committees responsible for open space and transport endorsed comprehensive mitigation actions the council wants NZTA to undertake for the project – earmarked for construction between late 2011 and 2016.

Council’s recent consultation with Waterview and Owairaka community groups has helped shape its mitigation priorities, and will form council’s submission to the SH20 Waterview Notice of Requirement and negotiations with NZTA.

Chairperson of the Transport Committee, Councillor Ken Baguley, says the council has consistently supported the completion of the Western Ring Route, provided that appropriate mitigation is implemented by NZTA.

“It has been council’s primary role to lobby NZTA on the community’s behalf to achieve the best possible outcome, and I’m pleased that NZTA has already indicated it intends to complete a package of mitigation measures,” says Mr Baguley.

NZTA has already indicated it intends to undertake the following mitigation:

o Hendon Park pedestrian/cycle bridge
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o Extension of existing SH20 cycleway from Maioro St interchange to southern portal
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o Southern Oakley creek realignment, wetland restoration and amenity planting
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o Urban Design Panel approval of architectural treatment of ventilation stacks, buildings, retaining structures and noise walls
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o Landscape and planting on motorway edges and stormwater ponds
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o Restoration of and pedestrian access to Star Mill archaeological site and replacement of bridge across Oakley Creek estuary
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o SH16 cycleway widening
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o Facilitate airspace structures at Richardson Rd bridge and allowing space at Richardson Rd to safeguard for a future rail station.
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o Noise walls where required
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o Investigate options for urban redevelopment on surplus NZTA land once the motorway is completed.
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In terms of open space, the council also wants NZTA to:

o Replace the 2.5 hectares of open space taken for the project, by:
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- Increasing Saxon Reserve by approximately 0.25 hectares for a passive park
- Providing around one hectare of informal active open space for hard court and informal field sports
- Providing for a reserve between Great North Road and Waterbank Crescent, and between Howlett Reserve and Alverston Street.

o Expand Phyllis Street Reserve to provide three senior sports fields
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o Provide a new cycle and walking bridge across Oakley Creek from Phyllis Street Reserve to Great North Rd to improve the Waterview community’s access to replacement open space (particularly sportsfields)
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o Maintain the reserve along Oakley Creek, and transfer additional reserve to council from NZTA owned properties adjacent to the creek
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o Replace the three hectares of lost Owairaka open space by acquiring and developing land adjacent to the Valonia Reserve area as a mixed use, ecological and sports field facility, with two senior soccer fields.
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For transport, the council wants NZTA to provide the following mitigation:

o A new northbound Great North Road bus lane between Oakley Ave and Waterview interchange as part of SH20 Waterview construction
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o A continuous SH20-SH16 cycleway with bridges at Soljak Place and Phyllis St Reserve
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o Investigate the upgrade of St Lukes SH16 interchange including a new footpath and cycleway on the west side of the overbridge.
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Once further detail is available following lodgement of the Notice of Requirement with the Environment Protection Agency, the council will evaluate the information to ensure the best outcomes for the Waterview Primary School and neighbourhood, with respect to air quality standards and design elements in the ventilation stacks and control buildings.

The council will also advocate to NZTA and the Ministry of Education to investigate the provision of an enhanced school hall facility that can be shared with the community.

The council will also recommend to the new Auckland Council that it works with NZTA, Housing NZ and the community to identify future urban development opportunities on surplus motorway land and adjoining land.

ENDS

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