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.
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.
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