Transport for future housing areas

The public are being given a unique opportunity to help plan transport for about 110,000 new houses planned for land which is currently greenfields.

Feedback will be used to help identify the transport networks needed during the next 30 years to support future urban areas in the northwest, southern Auckland, Warkworth and Silverdale.

Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and the NZ Transport Agency are working together to identify the range of projects needed to support the new communities and business areas. It will build upon transport plans already in place to support growth in existing urban areas.

Six weeks of public consultation is getting underway, with two weeks of initial feedback on proposals in each future urban area. This starts in southern Auckland today.

Four weeks of further public consultation will start in April.

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse says significant new transport infrastructure will be needed to support about 110,000 new houses and 50,000 new jobs in future urban areas a similar size to urban Hamilton.

“It is important we identify early what is needed so projects can be developed and in place before new housing and businesses go in.

“Getting transport well integrated with the future communities to ensure they are well connected and great places to live will be a priority. Making sure jobs are easy for people to get to is also very important.”

Auckland Transport Key Strategic Initiatives Project Director Theunis van Schalkwyk says a plan to support Auckland’s expected growth during the next 10 years is already in place, with a number of projects already complete, under construction or well advanced in planning.

“We are also working closely with developers to deliver new transport for special housing areas as they are built.

“At this stage public feedback is needed on what people believe future residents’ transport priorities will be. We also want to know what people think about a menu of transport ideas being considered.

“It is a good opportunity for people to help guide what mix of transport projects need to happen.”

The NZ Transport Agency’s Auckland Regional Director, Ernst Zöllner says the work is focused on identifying the additional new and upgraded transport infrastructure for future housing and business areas earmarked for land which is currently rural.

“Improved transport will include a mix of public transport, new or upgraded roads, footpaths and cycleways, upgraded state highways and smarter use of existing infrastructure.

“The plans should give the public confidence that work is underway to provide transport for new housing and allow them to give feedback on the type of transport that future communities want and need,” he says.

“After recommending transport networks the next stage will be to prioritise projects for inclusion in future investment programmes.”

Public feedback will be used to develop recommended transport networks that will help inform discussions between the Government and Auckland Council on agreeing an approach to develop the city’s transport system - the Auckland Transport Alignment Project.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

Online at www.at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks

Southern Auckland consultation – 18 February to 3 March

Warkworth and Silverdale/Dairy Flat consultation - 25 February to 10 March

Northwest Auckland consultation – 3 to 17 March.

ENDS

© Scoop Media