A decision on whether a disputed section of Cames Rd in Mangawhai will be opened faces further investigations after public consultation on the issue has proved inconclusive.
The council last week resolved to spend $10,000 to further investigate the opening of the unformed section of the road, which is now passable.
The
results of these investigations will be the basis of further consultation recommendations to the draft annual plan on June 16.
The status of Cames Rd has been controversial since the Kaipara District Council dug a trench to close a section of it in December 2008 following complaints of dust, excessive vehicle speed and other safety factors.
Concerns were raised when an ambulance was forced to take a 45-minute detour because the trench was not known to emergency services.
The council maintains the "legal public" road was never officially fully open, but had been used as a thoroughfare after a developer illegally formed a section connecting the east and west ends of the road.
In May last year the council agreed in principle to open a disputed section of Cames Rd and requested a report on feasibility, impact and funding.
But after failed attempts to obtain community agreement, the council decided in July to consult on the issue through the annual plan process.
The council received 41 submissions to its draft annual plan - 19 were in favour of opening the road, seven wanted it closed, six were neutral, eight said "keep it as it is" or "no change" and one suggested selling the road.
The only clear message from the submitters was few thought they should have to pay the estimated $2 million to bring Cames Rd up to standard.
Many believed the cost excessive and some thought it should be covered by a special or targeted rate.
The original concerns about dust, speed and emergency services were again raised, with two submitters suggesting the road should be passable to emergency services only and a lockable gate should be installed.
To accommodate any expenditure on the road, additional funding or changes to the draft annual plan would be required as the current draft does not include specific funding for Cames Rd.
Any option for the opening of the road would be unlikely to qualify for New Zealand Transport Agency funding.
