MEDIA RELEASE

MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2017

Northern Corridor decision released

An independent board of inquiry appointed to consider an application by the New Zealand Transport Agency, has given its approval to the Auckland-based Northern Corridor Improvements proposal, part of the Government’s accelerated programme of works.

The approval gives the green light to construction of the last link of Auckland’s Western Ring Route, providing an alternative route from South Auckland to the North Shore.

The new road will create an uninterrupted motorway-to-motorway connection along the Western Ring Route – the Hobsonville, Northwestern and Southwestern Motorways (SHs18, 16 and 20) - between Albany and Manukau to the south, upgrading the Upper Harbour Highway to a motorway, and extending the Northern Busway from Constellation to the Albany park-and-ride station.

• Download the draft decision and report

The New Zealand Transport Agency, Auckland Council, landowners and occupiers affected by the decision, submitters, and the Minister for the Environment, now have 20 working days to provide minor or technical comment to the draft decision document.

The final decision will be released by the Board of Inquiry on the EPA website in November 2017.

Ends

Background information for editors:

Boards of inquiry are appointed by the Minister for the Environment (sometimes in conjunction with other ministers), to make independent decisions on proposals of national significance (these are considered exceptionally large and complex proposals with regional or national impacts).

The EPA supports the decision-making process, as set out in the Resource Management Act (1991), by providing administrative and secretariat support to boards of inquiry.

We also support those who opt to make submissions as part of the public decision-making process.

For further reading:
• Background on the Northern Corridor Improvements proposal
• Learn more about the resource management process

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