NZ Transport Agency has lodged applications for statutory approvals to secure land for an alternative route to the Brynderwyn Hills, a key section of the Northland Corridor.
The applications have been submitted under the Fast-track Approvals Act and cover the proposed 17km section between Kaiwaka and Waipū.
NZTA programme director Derek Robertson says the move is a significant step toward improving resilience on a critical transport link between Auckland and Whangārei.
“The Northland Corridor project will unlock major economic opportunities for Northland. It will mean a safer, more resilient route between Auckland and Whangārei.
“To address the critical resilience issues in the Brynderwyn Hills, the 17 km section between Kaiwaka and Waipū is being prioritised for route protection and regional resource consents.
“Focusing on the Alternative to the Brynderwyn Hills section will provide the long-term solution to severe slips and road closures on this part of the critical Northland lifeline and it will enhance the overall efficiency of the corridor.”
Robertson says advancing route protection will also provide certainty for landowners and support future planning.
“Pushing on with route protection will give landowners more certainty, support future planning, and enable a flexible delivery pipeline for the full corridor between Te Hana and Whangārei,” he says.
The Te Hana to Port Marsden section, which includes the Brynderwyn Hills alternative, is one of three Roads of National Significance making up the wider Northland Corridor project.
NZTA says the preferred route has been refined through geotechnical and environmental investigations, as well as engagement with landowners.
The NZTA board endorsed the Te Hana to Whangārei investment case in August, allowing the project to move into the route protection phase ahead of future funding decisions.
