Eastern highway plans horrify schools and sports clubs

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The $4 billion eastern highway will expose school children to poisonous carbon monoxide fumes and be the death knell for two of Auckland oldest sports clubs, Auckland City councillors were told yesterday.

Remuera Primary Principals' Association president Geoff Burgess told the council's transport committee that parents were horrified at the prospect of tunnel vents emitting carbon monoxide fumes near St Kentigern, Baradene, Victoria Ave and King's schools with combined rolls of 2000 pupils.

Representatives from the Parnell Cricket Club and the Grammar Junior Rugby Football Club said the effect of the Parnell tunnel option on Shore Rd Reserve and Bloodworth Park would probably kill their clubs.

A recommendation on whether the highway should come into downtown Auckland from Orakei through a 3.5km tunnel under Parnell or across Hobson Bay and a widened Tamaki Drive will be made to councillors next week.

Both options face strong opposition from Remuera and Parnell residents, who have formed the Hobson Bay Residents' Network. It has more than 1000 members, including lawyer John Haigh, QC, who has locked horns with Auckland City Mayor John Banks in an acrimonious battle to save Hobson Bay.

Mr Burgess, who is principal of St Kentigern School, said in a joint submission from King's, St Kentigern and Victoria Ave schools that the tunnel route would put more traffic on already congested local roads, which had one of the highest concentrations of schools in Auckland.

Even with traffic plans to stagger pick-up and drop-off points at the schools, Shore Rd and nearby roads were gridlocked between 8am and 8.30am and from 2.45pm to 3.15pm.

A Victoria Ave pupil was hit by a vehicle while crossing Portland Rd last term, Mr Burgess said.

He said the Opus report noted that the length of Shore Rd from Portland Rd to Orakei Rd would carry 2300 more vehicles a day but made no mention of the increase in traffic along Portland Rd, Victoria Ave, Arney Rd, Orakei Rd and Upland Rd.

Paul Bunting, of the Parnell Cricket Club, said the loss of the Shore Rd Reserve and Bloodworth Park playing fields for any period would be devastating to membership.

The club, formed in 1884 and at its present home since 1948, had 600 junior members serving 10 local primary schools and 150 senior members.

"The complete absence of any form of notice [about plans for the parks] is quite astounding. We haven't been consulted in any shape or form," Mr Bunting said.

Land from the two public reserves is needed for on- and off-ramps to the tunnel and the reserves would be closed for several years while the tunnel was built.

The club captain of Grammar Junior Rugby Football Club, Nick Wiles, said the tunnel option would probably spell the end of his club, which had 240 playing members.

"When I found out about the proposed development I was absolutely dumbfounded and devastated that this little gem in the city that bounds the harbour is potentially at risk," Mr Wiles said.

Meanwhile, the main mayoral candidates challenging Mr Banks for the mayoralty have attacked him over the eastern highway.

City Vision leader Dr Bruce Hucker said a Deloitte report saying the highway needed a $250 million public subsidy a year and the Government's refusal to fund it made the project a dead duck.

Dr Hucker said Mr Banks should resign for staking his mayoralty on building the eastern highway.

Former mayor Christine Fletcher, who wants her old job back, said Mr Banks did not show at yesterday's meeting, in keeping with his abysmal attendance at council committee meetings.

Mr Banks, who refused to reveal his whereabouts while the public were making submissions on the eastern highway, dismissed Mrs Fletcher's comments and said Dr Hucker had obviously not read the Deloitte report: "He's confused."