Don't forget Mt Albert, motorway hearing urged

An architect's impression of an air vent for the Waterview tunnel connection. Photo / Supplied

Designers of Auckland's $1.7 billion Waterview motorways project were accused at a hearing yesterday of showing little regard for the Mt Albertvolcano.

But Springleigh Residents Association representative Hiltrud Grueger also told a board of inquiry into the project that the Transport Agency was offering the Mt Albert suburb far superior mitigation to that proposed for neighbouring Owairaka.

She said that Owairaka, which extends to the volcano's southern and western slopes, would be dominated by a surface motorway and portals for a 2.5km pair of tunnels to be dug under suburban Mt Albert.

The 1.8km section of surface motorway from Maioro St in New Windsor to Alan Wood Reserve would run through an area of natural landscape features, leaving Owairaka residents holding the short straw in comparison to their Mt Albert neighbours.

Ms Grueger said an environmental impact assessment prepared in support of the Transport Agency's planning applications under-rated the effects of the motorway on the volcano, which was a focal point of neighbourhood identity in Owairaka and was considered an outstanding natural feature of high heritage value.

She reminded the five-member board, chaired by Environment Court Judge Laurie Newhook, of a case taken by the Auckland Volcanic Cones society against the former Transit NZ.

She said that case acknowledged the international importance of Auckland's volcanic structures.