Locals halt busway station

By WAYNE THOMPSON

Public opposition has stopped a proposal to build a bus station at the bottom of Stafford Rd for the North Shore Busway.

The North Shore City Council deleted the station when approving the overall plan.

The project includes five bus interchange stations along the Northern Motorway between Albany and Akoranga Drive, improvements to interchanges and upgrading of motorway feeder routes.

Northcote residents' spokesman Tony Sharrock said the decision came after locals showed great resolve at public meetings, mounted an awareness campaign and attended project consultation sessions.

Residents were worried that the station would bring more buses and cars through quiet streets.

Mr Sharrock said residents could now focus on fighting a proposal for a high-occupancy-vehicle lane to meet the Onewa interchange.

That could mean replacing the bridge at the Onewa interchange with a high-level ramp extending from Stafford Rd to the interchange.

The council shared residents' preference for an alternative way to transfer the northern bus lane to the eastern side.

Mr Sharrock said this raised the possibility of a $40 million tunnel instead of a ramp. Residents would take the fight against the ramp to the Environment Court.

Deputy Mayor Dianne Hale said $40 million would be spent on improvements to the Esmonde Rd interchange, bringing the project total to $150 million.

Finance would be sought from Infrastructure Auckland and Transfund New Zealand. Costs would also be allocated between the regional, Auckland City and North Shore councils.

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