Detailed information on Kaiwaka, Mangawhai and Maungaturoto's future significance in the planned Puhoi to Wellsford road extension will soon be released to the Kaipara District Council.
The report, expected in January, should shed some light on the potential impact any changes to State Highway 1 will have on existing or anticipated
growth on Kaipara communities particularly those of Kaiwaka, Mangawhai and Maungaturoto.
Kaipara representatives have been included in the Network Plan Co-ordination Group charged with compiling information to be considered as part of the Government's planned northern extension of State Highway 1. This extension has a high priority on the Roads of National Significance number one list.
The Puhoi to Wellsford road provides a vital link into the Northland region.
The group was established by the New Zealand Transport Agency and consists of key stakeholders representing territorial authorities, regional councils and Kiwi Rail. Any direction given from NZTA has the potential to impact on structure plans for both Kaiwaka and Maungaturoto including long-term functions and potential growth.
A scoping report commissioned in March was also to include an overview of Kaipara and Rodney wards from a social, cultural, economic and land use perspective.
The current time frames for RONS is Puhoi to Warkworth 2014/19 and Warkworth to Wellsford 2016/21, but NZTA has already indicated it will accelerate the programme wherever possible.
Changes to the current alignment of the highway could have an impact on landowners as well as potentially changing current land use practices.
They could also have an impact on the council's current roading and stormwater management plans.
