New road's route defended

South Taranaki District Council intends to extend Nukumaru Station Rd to make a new route to Waiinu Beach. Graphic/ Bevan Conley

South Taranaki District Council considered a lot of options for a new road linking Nukumaru and Waiinu Beach, engineering services manager Brent Manning says.

All of them had some advantages, but the one chosen was the best overall.

"The decision wasn't taken lightly."

The road is needed because the Limeworks Bridge, on Waiinu Beach Rd, is weak and likely to collapse in the next flood. The new route would avoid crossing the Waitotara River.

On August 7, commissioner Christine Foster considered the effect of the proposed route at a hearing in Whanganui. Nukumaru organic dairy farmer Diana Handley objected to it, and presented a new route option in conjunction with planner Di Lucas.

Ms Foster was not asked to consider any other routes. Mr Manning said Miss Handley's didn't measure up.

"For a number of reasons it just doesn't stack up. We are not considering that any further for the time being."

Miss Handley has said the council route's intersection with SH3 has poor visibility and will not be safe. Mr Manning said it meets the New Zealand Transport Agency's safety guidelines.

The council has been negotiating with Miss Handley and one other affected landowner. It is offering market rates for their land and hopes to arrive at an agreement without taking land under the Public Works Act.

It has five firms lined up to tender for designing and building the road, and will ask for tenders within the next few months.

The road's cost is estimated at $5.3 million, but that could change if cheaper building options are found or if expensive conditions are set.

Ms Foster's decision is expected in the next week or two, Mr Manning said.