Government's decision to dump plans for a four-lane highway south of Whangārei has angered community leaders across Northland.
Photo / Michael Cunningham
Government's decision to dump plans for a four-lane highway south of Whangārei has angered community leaders across Northland.
Photo / Michael Cunningham
Shock and disbelief— that's how Northland's civic and business leaders reacted to the Government's decision to suddenly ditch the much-touted four-lane highway south of Whangārei.
Instead, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said money would be invested in a rail link between Whangārei and Northport and safety improvements along State Highway 1such as installation of centre median and roadside barriers, and wide centrelines.
The Otiria to Whangārei rail line will be upgraded to cater for 18-tonne axle load trains. Government estimates of the 1400 direct jobs to be created by the projects, to be undertaken under the New Zealand Upgrade Programme investment, a number of them would be in Northland.
Robertson said the Government has decided to make the alterations to meet climate change and housing objectives, as well as manage debt responsibly following Covid.
"The Marsden Point rail spur will be a strategic investment in Northland's future prosperity, getting heavy trucks off the road to make the highway safer, and reduce emissions," he said.
Mai said when elected members from across the region were invited to meet with Transport Minister Michael Wood on May 25, they asked him directly whether the four-lane highway was going ahead.
Whangārei mayor Sheryl Mai is livid the Government has dumped plans for a four-lane highway despite being assured funding was available. Photo / Tania Whyte
He confirmed then that funding was there, Mai said.
"Our top priority projects are road, rail, Northport expansion, new dry dock and the Navy relocation. Now I wonder if we will see any of the remaining priorities given any consideration.
"It is one thing to ask for the region's input into this kind of long-term planning and investment, and to act in accord with that input. To ask for our input, give us every reason to believe we have been heard, and then pull the rug out from under us with no warning is another thing altogether."
While a new rail link rail would benefit Northland, Mai said road provided the connectivity that all people used— locals, visitors, and freight transporters.
"I know that business, our community, and the local government sector remain united on the need for the road project to proceed and we will continue to push for it despite setbacks."
Smith said while rail was important, it didn't have the same value as road.
"The announcement comes as an enormous shock. Northland's been held to ransom and while rail is certainly a meaningful investment for infrastructure, State Highway 1 isn't up to scratch and it doesn't compare to the major highways in third world countries.
"It's reprehensible. Northland cannot develop its potential when the bloody door is locked," Smith said.
Reti questioned the absence of a business case for a new rail link to Marsden Point.
"That's why no previous governments have developed the line. We need to see a business case that shows rail is a wise and better investment than a four-lane highway.
"A four-lane highway is the prime economical driver and we trade it off with a short-sighted announcement. The only argument for a new rail line is it will get the trucks off the roads."
Shelving of the four-lane highway means up to 336 landowners who were potentially impacted by the infrastructure development can now breathe a sigh of relief.
"It's a massive relief," said Otaika resident Dirk Boesser who was one of those affected.
Dirk Boesser can rest at ease, now that he and hundreds of other homeowners don't have to move to make way for a four-lane highway.
Photo / Tania Whyte
Waka Kotahi acknowledged the stress and uncertainty experienced by people with property within the emerging preferred corridor of the four-laning project and said it would take time to work through the next steps and establish what the changes meant for landowners, Treaty partners, stakeholders and communities.
"As a priority, we will be communicating directly with landowners as soon as next steps are known."
Former Regional Development Minister Shane Jones supports investment in rail network south and north of Whangārei but says it's "up to the politicians" to decide whether the four-lane highway goes ahead.
"The four-lane highway will always be akin to a political football but I've always retained a lot of confidence that Grant Robertson has bought into the work I had done.
"It's essential that we make progress with alacrity on the Whangārei to Otiria rail line and move heavy trucks off the road and I expect wholesome support from iwi, government, and others towards restoring the line as a commercial line," Jones said.
Northland Regional Council regional transport committee chairman Rick Stolwerk said while he was disappointed the four-lane highway would not go ahead, funding allocated for other works should be appreciated.
"All of the improvements signalled were on the cards and there was overwhelming support for a four-lane highway when the regional transport committee consulted on its transport plan," he said.
Installation of median barriers will form part of major safety improvements along State Highway 1.
Photo / Michael Cunningham
Northport welcomes the rail development but maintains that continued government investment in road, rail and coastal shipping infrastructure is essential if New Zealand is to have a resilient and geographically-astute Upper North Island Supply Chain strategy that makes best use of the three existing ports that already serve the region.
Spokesman Peter Heath said Northport has the ability to relieve the pressure on the Ports of Auckland and the increasing demands on the Auckland waterfront.
The next step following the Government's announcement yesterday would be land acquisition and further technical work on the new rail line, start upgrade work on the Otiria to Whangārei line, and safety improvements along SH1.
All works will cost about $700m, broadly similar to what has previously been announced for Northland, but further investigations are needed to refine project cost estimates.
Initial estimates are it will take up to five years for the projects to be completed.
