MEDIA RELEASE 8TH MAY 2013

PUBLIC GIVE OVERWHELMING MESSAGE TO AUCKLAND TRANSPORT TO

‘Stop the Redoubt/Murphy’s/Mill Road Expressway’

At a public community meeting held last night at the Vodafone Events Centre, concerned residents voiced their serious concern and opposition to Auckland Transport’s proposed expressway from Flat Bush to Drury and beyond.

The first stage of this proposed alternative arterial route, parallel to the existing southern motorway and costed at $246 million in its first stage alone will destroy at least 66 homes and seriously affect up to 400 others. The irreparable damage and destruction of various areas of substantial, centuries old native bush, heritage trees and wild life refuge areas is of major concern and generated huge interest from all those attending.

The meeting was attended by more than 200 residents, representatives of various local community boards, Auckland Council, MP’s and their representatives.

One major concern of those present focused on the issue of cost and consequence. Given that Auckland Transport is seeking funding for these roading projects from both local rate payers and national tax payers, then these same people should have a voice in how these funds are spent on roading projects. The residents are not against improvements but there are considerably less invasive and less expensive options to improve the traffic flow problems in the region that do not include destroying homes , the native bush, heritage trees and the unique environs of the area.

An overwhelming majority of the +200 residents present at the meeting passed the following resolutions and want action taken as soon as possible to stop this proposed plan:

This meeting opposes the destruction of homes along the Redoubt Ridge environs, the desecration of native bush and wildlife habitat and the significant loss of mature trees. We therefore call upon Auckland Transport to abandon the proposed multi-lane highway development.

This meeting urges Auckland Council to permanently protect the Redoubt Ridge from environmental degradation, as an essential link in Auckland's biodiversity.

This meeting urges Auckland Council to stop Auckland Transport’s proposed scheme and upgrade roads to service the residents and community using the existing road bed.

This meeting urges NZTA to widen the Southern Motorway and upgrade the South Western merge and the Takanini interchange to remedy the worsening traffic gridlocks.

At the end of the meeting a petition was signed by all the residents present to “Stop Auckland Transport’s Redoubt Road/Mill Road/Murphy’s Road Corridor”. This petition will now be further circulated among the affected communities.

Our online petition is here: http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/the-honourable-gerry-brownlee-transport-minister-stop-destroying-nature-stop-the-redoubt-road-mill-road-corridor-2

For more information, contact us on www.redoubtaction.co.nz or redoubtaction@gmail.com

The Redoubt Ridge Environmental Action Group

ENDS

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