MP attacks 'dishonest' report on eastern highway

By BERNARD ORSMAN

Former Transport Minister Mark Gosche says the latest report on the eastern highway is dishonest because it does not tell hundreds of Mt Wellington residents what is planned for their neighbourhood.

The Labour MP for Maungakiekie said residents would be horrified to learn they would be looking out their windows at an enormous concrete wall or a concrete overpass.

About 340 homes out of the 1200 homes that could be bulldozed along the 27km route were in Mt Wellington, he said. Residents were being given concrete structures while affluent inner-city suburbs got tunnels and trenches to reduce environmental impact.

These structures would blight Panmure Basin, a popular recreation area for walking and sailing, he said.

"The Opus report only gives a meagre report of what is planned.

"When you see a little bit more detail, as I have, it starts to get quite frightening - the height, the size, the noise in what is a significant area of residential property.

"I'm not opposed to better roading or better transport infrastructure, but what I'm concerned about is that people get equal treatment in this process. I want people to get the best possible deal and that means having a road that doesn't blight the environment."

The Opus report is the blueprint for the Auckland and Manukau city councils and Transit to decide the final route for the $3 billion to $4 billion highway. A decision is due next month.

Opus International Consultants have recommended a four-lane overpass across Ireland Rd to a section of highway south of Waipuna Rd.

Mr Gosche is also concerned about plans for an overpass at Sylvia Park that would rise about 16m to link the highway with the Southern Motorway.

The overpass would obstruct views of Hamlins Hill Regional Park, he said.

Auckland City Mayor John Banks said he welcomed any constructive criticism, but there was a fine line between telling the community about work that was three-quarters completed and unduly worrying people.

"I want to give Mr Gosche an undertaking that any information we have now he can see, and we will be having full and frank discussions with everyone affected."

Mr Banks, who at various times has promised to complete the eastern highway by 2007 and 2010 and staked his mayoralty on his ability to turn the eastern highway into a motorway as soon as possible, is now saying the highway will be built in stages.

Under the councils' timetable, work is to start in July next year but Mr Banks said it could not proceed without a commitment by the Government and the road building and funding agencies, Transit and Transfund.

Mr Gosche, who chairs the transport and industrial relations select committee, said the Government had no plans to pay for the eastern highway, which was a local road "very much driven by Manukau and Auckland city councils".