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Community involvement

Updated: 11 April 2011

In 2002, the community was consulted on expressway options between Peka Peka and Otaki and then re-engaged with in 2009. NZTA is committed to involving local communities in its projects and there will be opportunities for public input during this project.

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Otaki township

Community involvement

Initial consultation on the expressway options began in 2002. As the scheme assessment report was eight years old the NZTA re-engaged with the community from August - October 2009, to ascertain residents' current views.

The engagement involved letters, brochures, media, project website, 0800 phone line, open days and meetings. The NZTA received a positive response from the community with 1720 submissions made including 1363 (79%) in support, 231 (13.5%) opposed and 126 (7.5%) referring to alternative transportation options or neutral.

Analysis of the submissions identified six common themes:

  • 313 advised they wanted road works or other transportation options and improvements to start as soon as possible.
  • 195 commented faster journey times and reduced congestion was of benefit.
  • 178 made positive and/or negative comments regarding the Otaki Railway retail area.
  • 136 suggested the NZTA consider alternate alignments.
  • 87 commented on the location or need for more interchanges.
  • 74 commented on the effects on existing houses and property.

More information can be found in the Peka Peka to Otaki Community Engagement Report 2009 (PDF, 348 KB).

Feedback from the community confirmed the preferred option is the improved eastern route. The engagement also identified the need for good local links between communities on both sides of the highway. This has resulted in an overbridge at Te Horo and an overbridge south of Otaki at Otaki Gorge Road to be included in the project.

Since 2009, further investigation and design work has been carried out to determine the proposals for the expressway. From 7 February to 18 March 2011 the NZTA consulted Kapiti residents on its proposals on the form, function, and location of interchanges and connections.

Project open days were held at Otaki and Te Horo in February 2011 to provide an opportunity for the community to meet the project team, learn about the proposals, and to offer any comments to the team.

Currently the submissions on the proposals are being collated and entered into the consultation database. A public consultation report is being prepared and will be published prior to the next project open days scheduled for mid 2011.

Your feedback is welcome at any stage. Feel free to contact us.

2002 Transit Board-approved plan

The community was consulted on options to improve journey times from Peka Peka to Otaki. Four route options north of the Otaki River (western, central, railway and eastern) and two south of the river (east and west of the railway line) were considered before the then Transit Board decided on the improved eastern route. A revision of the 2002 plan resulted in a Te Horo overbridge and Otaki Gorge Road underpass to connect local roads.

Read more about the consultation process in the publications section.

In 2002, the community was consulted on expressway options between Peka Peka and Otaki. A preferred alignment was identified and subsequently approved by the former Transit NZ Board. With the addition of an overbridge at Te Horo and an underpass at Otaki Gorge Road to connect local roads, NZTA engaged with the community on the preferred alignment in 2009. The 2002 decision was re-confirmed by the NZTA Board in late 2009.

Information related to those consultations and engagements is provided below.