No more new housing should start on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula until the $380 million Penlink transport bypass from the peninsula to State Highway 1 near Redvale is assured.
That’s the message from Auckland Chamber of Commerce head Michael Barnett following an overwhelming verdict from nearly 1000 Silverdale and Whangaparaoa Peninsula respondents to a survey on the Chamber’s website.
The survey aimed to test support within the Hibiscus Coast business community to the Chamber’s campaign seeking an immediate construction start to the ‘ready to go’ Penlink project.
It includes a bridge, probably tolled, over the Weiti River.
“I predicted a strong response from the business community,” Barnett says. “What has taken me by surprise has been the more than 350 deeply felt personal comments, many from residents reflecting anger and frustration over the impact traffic congestion is having on every aspect of people’s lives.
“They’re unable to get to work on time, have missed flights and hospital appointments, abandoned recreation options and much more.”
Living conditions are now so bad that people trying to sell their home and move somewhere with less congestion and easier work and school access are frustrated by a lack of buyer interest, Barnett says.
Morning peak traffic queues now typically stretch back from the SH1 motorway intersection at Silverdale 5km in two directions – on the Hibiscus Highway past Orewa, and along the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, he says.
Key survey findings include 98% support for the Chamber campaign seeking an immediate construction start and 97% support for a partnership involving the Auckland Council, central government and private financiers to get construction underway immediately.
About 90% want no more housing starts until a Penlink construction start is confirmed.
And 65% support a $2.50 toll while 27% back a $3 toll on the transport link..
“The deep community frustration this survey revealed is likely to be reflected in other communities across Auckland,” Barnett says. “They too are fed up over the slow response to stormwater, sewage flowing into the harbour, housing issues and other infrastructure logjams holding back Auckland’s progress.”
