A Mt Albert woman, one of many who face losing their homes, asks if we need more motorways, writes Helen Laurent
When Sheelah Chalken was looking for the perfect home to raise a family 35 years ago, she and her then-husband fell in love with a cute, two-bedroom villa with a
large backyard in a quiet Mt Albert neighbourhood.
Now Sheelah and her fellow Phyllis St residents face an uncertain future as they wait for news from Transit NZ whether the western ring route will be built where their houses stand.
Phyllis St, and many others in Mt Albert, are in Transit's area of investigation. It might be used in the ring route or be dug up for a tunnel.
Sheelah says the investigation has been running for years. Many neighbours have sold their houses to Transit and are renting.
For her, selling is not an option.
``This is my home. Why would I want to sell it? Mt Albert is a lovely area.
``This street is lined with trees that fruit in the spring, which is lovely. We have a park full of native trees, a creek, a waterfall, a lot of birdlife. It's a nice area.' Sheelah doesn't want a motorway through Mt Albert: she thinks more money should go into public transport and has written to Transit and attended public meetings on the issue.
``If there is a link to Waterview, there will be an increase in traffic, which will be counter-productive. Because of the wind you will not only hear the traffic but get the pollution, as well,' she says.
Transit says it has gone to a lot of trouble to consult residents. The corporation hopes to finalise plans soon.
Under construction, the western ring route is a 48km alternative to State Highway 1. It adds extra lanes to combine the Southwestern (SH20), Northwestern (SH16) and Upper Harbour (SH18) motorways forming a link from Manukau through southwestern Auckland suburbs, Waitakere and North Shore. It will cost $1.3 billion and open in 2015.
