Northern Arterial Route Declined by Independent Commissioners

Hastings District Council is disappointed independent commissioners have declined a proposed designation for the Northern Arterial Route.

The council put its justification for the proposed 7.5km linkage between the Expressway and Havelock North up for scrutiny by the independent commissioners at a hearing held in 2008 and 2009.

In a 56 page decision, the commissioners have declined the proposed designation because of impacts on Maori land, and related cultural issues, and on productive plains land.

They stated:

“We consider the Privy Council test of “pressing need” for a road through that land is not been met to the extent that transport efficiencies should override the cultural and heritage issues relating to the Karamu Block and the wider impacts on tangata whenu.”

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says the decision is disappointing given that transport and urban planning has for decades shown the road to be of great benefit to Hastings and the wider Hawke’s Bay.

“The project has a number of economic, environmental and neighbourhood safety benefits, and has been strongly supported by business and a great deal of the wider community,” Mayor Yule says.

“While an arterial route inevitably has some impacts on land owners along the corridor and productive soils, council had done all it could to minimise and mitigate those impacts.

“Infact, the commissioners were happy with the consultation between council and Maori landowners and noted that both parties acted in good faith,” Mayor Yule says.

Council spent additional time in 2008, in an adjournment from the hearing, to try to resolve issues raised by Maori.

“Decisions like these are partly subjective in nature – different people put weight on different issues, just as the commissioners have done,” Mayor Yule says.

First proposed in 1974, the NAR aims to address regional transport issues, improve transport efficiency and help manage the urban growth of Hastings, including the effects of traffic on the urban environment.

“The NAR has been one of the highest priorities in the Regional Transport Strategy, which was developed and adopted by HDC, Napier City Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

“Much of the urban planning for Hastings has been done with the NAR in mind and we will now need to relook at some of this,” Mayor Yule says.

“The council now needs to consider its options, including whether to appeal the decision to the Environment Court or re-examine other options for dealing with the transportation issues facing the community,” Mayor Yule says.

A full copy of the decision can be found on http://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/files/all/documents/NAR-decision-14Sept09.pdf