Number of pages: 02
Date: 01 July, 2010

Hatea River Bridge Consents Granted

Independent Commissioners have granted consents for the raft of activities needed to build the Whangarei District Council’s proposed multimillion dollar new bridge across the Hatea River.

The three Commissioners heard applications by the Whangarei District Council (WDC) for the consents at a joint Northland Regional Council (NRC) and Whangarei District Council hearing in Whangarei in May.

The Commissioners have now issued two separate decisions; the first from Hamilton barrister Doug Arcus and Auckland consultant Graeme Ridley covering consents sought from the NRC, the second by Auckland consultant Terry Brown covering consent sought from the WDC.

The consents allow for a proposed bridge across the Lower Hatea River between Port Rd and Riverside Dr, as well as associated roading (including three new roundabouts) but the application does not include a weir or lock system.

The application to the NRC was publically notified for a month earlier this year, attracting 20 submissions. The WDC proceeded via a limited notification to one party, United Port Road Ltd (United), which leases a Port Rd property on and adjacent to the proposed bridge approach alignment.

Submitters opposed to the consents sought from the NRC raised concerns over public consultation, adverse environmental effects and impacts on traffic, vessels, jetty and marina users.

Supporters cited the improvement the proposal would bring to Whangarei City, the work the proposal would generate for local infrastructure companies, the improvements to roading on the northern side of the harbour and the reduction in Onerahi-bound traffic through town.

In a submission on the consent sought from the WDC, United raised a number of concerns including the physical impacts the proposal would have on its land and existing use rights, impacts on land values and what it felt to be inadequacies linked to traffic estimates and the proposed roundabouts.

However, in their decisions, the Independent Commissioners – chaired by Mr Arcus - concluded that subject to the raft of conditions they were imposing, “there is no (adverse) effect which we consider is greater than minor”. “In addition there are positive beneficial effects.”

The conditions attached to the coastal permits, land use consent, discharge permit and water permit sought from the NRC run to 17 pages, with the bulk of the consents expiring in either April 2015 or April 2045. However, consent for an associated reclamation continues in perpetuity.

The WDC land use consent conditions run into 12 pages.

As applied for, the proposed bridge would be up to 300-metres long and 12.7m wide, incorporating a 3.5m wide walking/cycle path. The deck on the bridge would be at least 7.5m above mean high water springs and include a central lifting section to allow vessels taller than 6.5m to pass.

The Commissioners’ decisions are now subject to appeal for 15 working days.

ENDS

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