Lizard News OCTOBER 2018
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AONGATETE • ŌMOKOROA • PAHOIA • TE PUNA • WHAKAMĀRAMA
People power push keeps pressure on By Matthew Farrell s we go to press, the Transport Agency says it’s updating key stakeholders, and the local community on timeframes for completing the re-evaluation of the State Highway 2 Waihī to Tauranga projects, which it expects will take less than four months. On Wednesday 19th September, Transport Minister Phil Twyford answered Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller in Parliament that he couldn't commit to driving Ōmokoroa to Tauranga to experience the road firsthand, because he was busy making sure SH2 projects were re-evaluated as an "urgent priority". Local NZTA staff previously told representatives of the Fix the BLOODY Road campaign that if the Minister issued a directive for urgency, they would respond. In August potentially affected landowners were told the review process would take up to six months, leading to a protest march blocking the Wairoa River for almost half an hour on Sunday 16th September. Mr Twyford told Parliament the Agency had advised them an 8.2c a litre excise increase was needed to pay for existing unfunded promises made by National, ex-
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cluding $10 billion of pledged expressways. Mayor Garry Webber says he supports the right of the community to protest. “Western Bay residents want a straight answer from the Government and NZTA about what exactly their commitment is going to be to remedy this sub-standard highway”. The City, District and Regional Councils of the SmartGrowth partnership say they'll "work harder" with NZTA to solve the western Bay's "investment challenges". An online future housing moratorium petition at tinyurl.com/fixthebloodyroad has since attracted more than 1,500 signatures. Campaigners are now working on an open letter about the need for SH2 investment, so organisations and corporate bodies in Western Bay / Tauranga can show support. Further details will be released on the Facebook page of Lizard News. Campaigners say the moratorium isn’t to curtail existing developments. It’s intended to send a message to Government that the investment is overdue, as a result of the residential growth strategies that local authorities have been told to adopt in recent years. In April, the District Council stated 130 houses for
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325 residents would be built in Ōmokoroa in the following year, adding further traffic congestion. Currently, 1020 sections are already approved for housing. NZTA’s Chris Gasson says the confirmed $101m Waihī to Ōmokoroa safety project will include a wide centre line, wider road shoulders, roadside safety barriers and 26 safer intersections. “We expect to speak with the community about possible speed limit reductions and active speed warning signs before Christmas,” says Chris. Decisions are awaited on Tauranga 4-laning to Ōmokoroa, the Katikati urban bypass, and improvements from Te Puna to Whakamārama and Ōmokoroa - projects previously estimated to cost between $663m and $850m in total. Campaigners were hoping to meet NZ First MPs to discuss the road, as it's possible the projects may be eligible for the Provincial Growth Fund. SH2 in the Western Bay is a 2-star safety rated road on a scale of 5 stars. The AA says it is “one of, if not the highest risk” highways in NZ. Recorded traffic in the sub-region has more than doubled in the past 20 years to beyond NZTA’s stated maximum capacity.
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