Franklin Local board has provided formal feedback on Te Tupu Ngātahi Supporting Growth’s work around future transport networks for Pukekohe, Paerata and Drury South.
Te Tupu Ngātahi is a collaboration between Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency but changes since 2019 have required new local input.
The board provided its formal feedback on the report, agreeing the programme is essential in supporting the planning for Pukekohe-Paerata and south Drury’s economic, environmental, social, and cultural well-being.
But deputy chair Alan Cole pointed to questions highlighted by the board.
“The diversion of freight away from residential areas and the town centre would deliver significant quality of life and safety outcomes while also reducing carbon emissions,” he says.
“We have significant concerns about the change from providing a ring-road in Pukekohe to divert trucks and freight from pedestrian-heavy areas, and the exclusion of upgrades to intersections on Route 20 on the Supporting Growth map.
“We’ve also noted the scope of work does not include aggregate and land fill transport support for the Wairoa area, in particular Clevedon-Takanini and Clevedon-Papakura, or ey connect ions to Mill Road for safe routes. Nor is there designation planning for connections to Waikato to take growth into account.”
The board did back efforts to support cycling and walking paths and recommend the work undertaken by the board in the Pukekohe-Paerata Paths Plan be referenced, that the Supporting Growth staff engage in developing the broader Paths Programme.
Cole says members supported the north-east and north-west - to the intersection of Gun Club Rd - sections of the ring road around Pukekohe as proposed, but not using the Golding Road intersection as the outer ring road connection point.
“We do not support sending traffic past Pukekohe Hill Primary School because it would create safety and congestion issues, and we don’t support using West Street and Helvetia Road because it would split a residential community and undermine their quality of life.”
Other concerns centred on more traffic with the expansion of the Glenbrook steel mill and a proposed reduction from four to two lanes for any Ramarama-Pukekohe expressway.
The board’s full resolution is here.
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