KEY POINTS:
A developer is claiming victory over a controversial Warkworth development, saying an Environment Court ruling will allow him to start work.
Neil Barr of Perrendale Holdings said he would now start building the $55 million Stockyard Falls retail centre on Woodcocks Rd alongside a $40 million retirement village to be developed by Summerset Holdings.
Transit New Zealand had originally opposed Mr Barr's shops and the retirement village, saying the project would increase traffic which would put more pressure on the existing road network. There was no obvious way to mitigate or remedy those effects, it said.
But Mr Barr criticised Transit for stopping the two projects and pleaded for Government intervention, claiming the roading authority's job was to keep the country moving and not create roadblocks to growth and development.
Two years ago, the Mayor of Rodney District, John Law, said congestion in the area was intolerable and Transit was simply reinforcing a case for a western bypass.
The mayor described the State Highway 1/Hill St intersection to Matakana and Snells Beach as "the worst in New Zealand".
But Mr Barr said he had worked with the council and Transit in the last year and the court had issued a consent order to allow his project to begin.
Council spokesman Mike Isle said roading problems had been resolved via interim measures which included linking existing roads to give better access to the development site.
The council was still discussing long-term measures including building a western bypass.
