Government, Auckland Council revising controversial East-West Link plans

Friday, 27 April 2018

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and Transport Minister Phil Twyford last year announcing the $28 billion Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP).

An previously axed Auckland roading project critics said would be amongst the most expensive roads in the word has been revived in a cheaper form as part of a major transportation infrastructure plan.

The East-West Link (EWL) was a $1.8 billion 'road of national significance' identified by the previous National Government which would connect State Highway 1 at Sylvia Park to State Highway 20 at Onehunga, with the aim of reduced network congestion and improved flow of freight between the two industrial hubs.

The project was pulled by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff in November last year.

The new East-West Link intends to save about $950 million on its earlier iteration.

However, the Government and Auckland Council will now be revising plans for the arterial route as part of the 10-year Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP).

* Auckland's defunct East-West Link motorway cost taxpayers $50 million

* East-West Link to cost an estimated $327 million per-kilometre, Infrastructure New Zealand says

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says fixing transport in Auckland is a priority.

* New Government bins Auckland's East-West link, after PM meets Mayor**

Announced by Goff and Transport Minister Phil Twyford on Thursday, the ATAP will inject $28b into overhauling the city's transport infrastructure.

The EWL would connect the industrial hubs of Onehunga and Penrose.

The fully funded transport plan, which incorporated the proposed Regional Fuel Tax (RFT) to unlock about a further $4.4b, would include an extensive light rail network along Dominion Rd out to the airport, heavy rail improvements such as electrification to Pukekohe and more electric trains, beefed up bus services, and a redevelopment of the Downtown ferry terminal.

About $800m will be invested into the EWL corridor, representing a reduction of about $950m from the earlier proposal.

Twyford said the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) had been asked to start work on a 'lower cost, higher value' option for the EWL.

'We know the EWL corridor needs work, it's a vital freight route and at the moment it's really suffering congestion and something needs to be done,' Twyford said.

A multi-model approach which incorporated public transport infrastructure was being sought, rather than a solution which 'just built a new motorway', he said.

NZTA's recommendations would be presented to affected communities and stakeholders for consultation once a draft proposal had been completed, he said.

During the EWL's lengthy resource consent process, which it was granted in November, a number of groups voiced strong criticism.

In September, Infrastructure New Zealand calculated the project would cost $327m per kilometre, rivalling the most expensive roading project in the world, the 40km Sochi to Krasnaya Polyana road in Russia.

Earlier the same month Mercury Energy stated its opposition, outlining numerous safety concerns - including an explosion hazard - regarding its decommissioned Auckland Southdown Power Station and its proximity to the proposed route.

Onehunga Enhancement Society chair Jim Jackson said the business community would like to see the EWL built, but in a version which did not destroy the local community.

'There should definitely be a road, but it could be done incrementally and if they can do that for $800m, which brings a 10-year solution then we should be doing that,' Jackson said.

Funding was also approved for two additional roading projects - an upgrade of Mill Road giving an alternative to the southern motorway between Manukau and Papakura and further south where new subdivisions are emerging; and Penlink, a connection between the northern motorway and the Whangaparāoa Peninsula.

Support for transport investment

Results of feedback to Auckland Council's 10-year budget consultation and an independent survey by Colmar Brunton released on Friday showed many Aucklanders were in support of increased investment in transport.

More than 32,000 pieces of feedback to the March consultation were received by the council, making it the biggest response to a budget consultation in the city's history, Council said.

Of these responses, 46 per cent were in favour of the Regional Fuel Tax, while Colmar Brunton's survey found 52 per cent were in favour.

Goff said the results showed Aucklanders understood the need to pay more to fix the things which really mattered in the city.

'Fixing transport in Auckland is a priority and the regional fuel tax will enable more than $4b of investment in critical transport infrastructure,' Goff said.