South Auckland’s Mill Rd Highway: Residents in the Dark About $ 1.4 Billion Project

A group of Drury residents say they are frustrated by the lack of feedback they have received from the Waka Kotahi NZ Transportation Agency about the $ 1.35 billion Mill Rd project and the impact it could have on their properties and businesses.

When the government launched its $ 12 billion New Zealand Upgrade Program infrastructure package in January, the road project was the biggest ticket on the bill.

The 21.5 km Mill Rd arterial route, which will provide an alternate highway between Manukau and Drury, will run parallel to and east of State Highway 1 and is expected to be completed in 2028.

According to Robyn Elston, senior system design manager at Waka Kotahi NZ Transportation Agency (NZTA), the route of the Manukau section of Mill Rd has already been completed, but the Takanini, Papakura and Drury sections are still in process.

“There are some significant challenges to overcome as we move towards construction beginning in late 2022 and request consents for the Takanini, Papakura and Drury sections,” Elston said.

“The size and scale of this new corridor, combined with the fact that we are building large sections through established areas, means that regardless of the route chosen, there will be a significant impact on private property. We are taking the time to making sure we make the right decisions, and that means we haven’t confirmed the preferred route south of the Manukau section, including the number of properties potentially affected. “

Riet van der Gulik and her husband Peter own a property on Fitzgerald Rd and run their own vegetable growing business.

She is also the treasurer of the Drury Community Committee, a group of local residents. Van der Gulik and several residents of the area are eager to know what is happening.

He said he recently called the NZTA to learn more about the proposed route for the highway through Drury, even if an adjoining property had been sold.

“But they said they were still in talks. We don’t know anything and it’s like we’re stuck in limbo. We’re not going to be stressed about it. But we have no idea.”

His thoughts are shared by Drury winemaker Dave Young, whose family has lived in the area since the 1870s.

Young said he’s disappointed that the NZTA hasn’t told residents more. He said he doesn’t want to have to sell, even though he knows he might be forced to if the NZTA uses the Public Works Act.

“The people here are on the warpath,” Young said. “We cannot plan our future and where are we going to go? We have business here.”

He said several of his neighbors have similar concerns.

“How are they going to compensate the affected business owners? That’s what we want to know.”

Consent for the southern section of the highway is expected to be submitted early next year. But according to Elston, the NZTA is still doing ecological, topographic, geotechnical and general surveying work.

“We had planned to carry out these investigations at the beginning of the year, but we had to delay this work due to Covid-19,” he said.

“As we are still working to overcome these challenges, engagement with the owners and the community on a preferred route has not yet begun. We have written to the owners in the Mill Road area to update them and let them know that we will provide an additional update. in 2021. “

He said the latest survey work follows a public consultation on the options for the corridor route at Takanini, Papakura and Drury in May and June.

Elston said comments from local residents showed there were concerns about the impacts on homes and businesses.

“We have been using these comments to help update the plans and to help us make decisions on a preferred route for further consultation.

The total population of the Takanini, Drury, Opāheke, Paerata and Pukekohe areas is expected to grow to 120,000 in the next 30 years. And the Mill Rd project will provide an important link between the new areas and Manukau.

Oyster Capital, Fulton Hogan and Kiwi Property are looking to rezoning approximately 330 acres in Drury East from future urban areas to a combination of residential, commercial and open space. Council officials added to the public notice a fourth smaller private plan change to rezoning 33.7ha for mixed-use housing by Karaka and Drury Consultant Ltd.

Auckland City Council has said it will oppose developers’ plans to rebuild Drury unless they can come to an agreement by next year to fund a $ 1 billion shortfall needed for infrastructure in the area.