A Northland roading leader is calling for a judicial review of June's government decision to can the multi-million four-lane highway from Whangārei to Port Marsden.
Northland roading leader and Far North Deputy Mayor Ann Court Photo: Northern Advocate / Peter de Graaf
Regional Transport Committee (RTC) member Ann Court said she wanted a judicial review of the information the government had used in reaching its decision to halt the four-laning.
The State Highway 1 Whangārei to Port Marsden project was to be an upgraded 22 kilometre four-lane corridor. It was canned by the government in June, shocking local community leaders.
Court said Northland's voice had obviously not been adequately heard.
She said the four-laning had been clearly justified through the Waka Kotahi-commissioned business case 'Connecting Northland'.
The government had however suddenly halted the four-laning and diverted funding to a Port Marsden to Whangārei rail link - and SH1 upgrades along the route.
She said the business case for the new rail scenario had yet to go to government, but it was apparently progressing anyway. This business case will address scope, cost and timing for the new plan.
Court said it was not okay to divert roading money collected from Northlanders through road user charges and fuel excise tax into rail, at the expense of the four-laning and adequate roading.
"We are not just going to roll over an accept that," said Court, who is also Far North Deputy Mayor.
Court said Northland contributed significantly towards roading funding but was not part of making decisions about how its use played out locally.
"We need to be at the table as part of these conversations," Court said.
Her comments came at the Regional Transport Committee meeting on 5 April.
Court said it did not make good sense for the government to channel four-laning spending to Kiwirail, an entity with "no skin in the game" when it came to roading.
The government's June four-laning tack change came along with the announcement of a new rail link to Port Marsden and major SH1 improvements instead.
Waka Kotahi NZTA - Director Regional Relationships Upper North Island Steve Mutton told the RTC meeting the government was committed to a Northland roading and transport spend that was much the same as the $700 million it had previously announced.
"The government is committed to an investment broadly similar to previously announced for Northland - about $700 million," Mutton said.
After the change of tack on four-laning, the government would be spending $150 - $200 million on SH1 safety improvements on the 'northern package', he said.
Mutton said it would also be spending $450 - $550 million on the new Port Marsden to Whangārei rail link. He would not be drawn on exactly how much of that would be specifically spent on the rail link, also including upgrades to the Whangārei to Otiria rail line in that spending.
He said safety work on the SH1 'northern' section between the highway's Port Marsden roundabout and Whangārei was being rescoped after the government halted roading four-laning for this stretch.
He said earlier four-laning preparation would inform current work on this section of SH1.
Mutton said work on the highway's 'central' section - from the SH1 Port Marsden roundabout to the north side of the Brynderwyns - was underway.
Alternative designs for original Waipū SH1 safety upgrades were being developed "after feedback from the community and stakeholders."
Waipū residents in January strongly opposed Waka Kotahi effectively funnelling all SH1 traffic in to and out of the hamlet through its quiet main street. This was to be done in a three-part plan effectively shutting off its southern SH1 access via The Braigh and northern access via Nova Scotia Drive and sending all vehicles via a Shoemaker Road/SH1 roundabout.
Mutton said planned 'central' section safety work was due to start mid-2022. It included wider centre lines, flexible median barrier and side safety barriers near Ruakākā School. Geotechnical work was starting. Conversations with affected landowners and communities were also underway.
Mutton said the 'southern' SH1 section from the southern side of the Brynderwyns to Wellsford was at the detailed design stage and discussions were being held with stakeholders.
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