Battle lines drawn over plans for motorway link-up

By JASON COLLIE transport reporter

The battle is ready to begin over the fate of hundreds of homes and a dozen reserves that are threatened by plans to link the Southwestern and Northwestern Motorways.

Transit New Zealand has launched its study into extending State Highway 20 from Mt Roskill through Avondale or Mt Albert to either the Rosebank Rd or Waterview interchanges on the Northwestern Motorway.

It is looking at 1.5km-wide corridors to cover potential routes. These cover hectares of green space, including Oakley Creek, and hundreds of residential and commercial properties.

The $90 million motorway link, expected to be open between 2008 and 2010, is seen by Transit as an alternative to traffic filing through Spaghetti Junction, particularly in situations where this is affected by accidents.

Locals said yesterday that both routes were highly controversial because of their effect on the environment, living conditions and house prices.

Already some homeowners were having trouble selling their properties, Avondale Community Board chairman Jeff Iversen said.

The board has been waiting for the study area to be set down before it holds a meeting of locals. The only decision it has made so far is that it would oppose any attempt to build over Herons Park.

"That would divide the Avondale community," Mr Iversen said.

"There's mixed feeling amongst residents. There is not an easy answer.

"There is a need for it for the whole transport system."

Transit project manager John Raines said Transit would get a bigger fight over this section of the motorway than it did for the second stage - planned to run between where State Highway 20 now ends and Richardson Rd - because that was covered by a planning designation.

This link has no designation and would cause upheaval either way it went, he said.

He added that Transit would consult the public for at least the next 18 months and part of the motorway might be dug out and then covered over if locals demanded it.

Mr Raines believed the Richardson Rd link was more likely to be built because it would fit into the mid-term plans for motorway links around the region. However, he Waterview link might also have to be built eventually to connect with a second harbour crossing.

"Every option we can think of has its downsides, so it's going to be an incredibly difficult project," said Mr Raines.

"It is often a weigh-up between the natural environment and affecting residential areas."

Prime Minister Helen Clark's electorate will be affected and last year she said she supported the connection but would oppose its destroying a network of reserves.

Local environment group Greenbelt opposes the motorway completely.

Member Tania Stunzner said: "Both routes would see a huge destruction of green areas."

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