The New Zealand Transport Agency today announced that the preferred route for the Rotorua Eastern Arterial is a route between Te Ngae Rd and the Lake edge on land which has been designated for this purpose since 1963.
The agency's regional director, Harry Wilson spoke at a Rotorua District Council meeting today and at a meeting with local iwi representatives.
Mr Wilson said the investigation into options to improve the city's eastern corridor and help to plan its future identified this route with - some adjustments to the designation as the best performing option in terms of supporting the city's economic growth objectives and managing congestion through this busy corridor.
Mr Wilson said the preferred option was chosen because it would deliver the best outcomes and benefits including:
Improved travel time and journey reliability
More efficient connections
Ease congestion by separating state highway and local traffic
Improved safety by reducing conflicting travel movements at intersections
Best long-term solution to meet the needs of the Rotorua Eastern corridor and wider region
Enable lake water quality improvements to proceed
The route chosen was the most economic option and takes into consideration safety, efficiency and wider economic benefits with the least impact on directly affected land owners and businesses.
Mr Wilson said the next step for the project was to confirm the extent of land required and to prepare a Notice of Requirement for alteration to the existing designation which has been confirmed in the City Plan since 1963.
The Notice of Requirement will be lodged with Rotorua District Council and if confirmed will be included in the District Plan.
"Once the Notice of Requirement is lodged with the Council, it will be publicly notified and a public hearing may be held. Any party may make submissions in support or opposition, and request to be 'heard' at the Council Hearing. This is a very important part of the process."
He says as a key part of the preparation of the Notice of Requirement, the NZTA needs to complete the consultation process with key stakeholders, affected land owners and Iwi.
The Council will then make a recommendation, with or without conditions, and if the NZTA are happy with the recommendation, they will accept it, and the Council will then notify submitters and directly affected landowners of the outcome. If there are no appeals to the decision, the changes to the existing designation will be included in the District Plan.
Mr Wilson says no date has been set for the construction of this new highway as this is dependent on future demand. However, the agency in conjunction with the local council will proceed with planning for this road now to ensure when demand requires we are ready to go.