South Auckland package

The $2.7 billion South Auckland package has changed to expand investment in new train stations, deliver a smaller scale northern section of Mill Road and invest in Drury transport upgrades that support releasing additional housing and connectivity with the stations.

Changes

Mill Road will become a smaller scale project, with a focus on addressing safety issues. It is expected to involve an upgrade of two lanes instead of four between Flat Bush and Alfriston tying in the existing urban Redoubt Road dynamic lanes. There will also be targeted safety improvements between Alfriston and Papakura.

The existing proposals for Mill Road and Papakura to Drury South Stage Two (including a new interchange at Drury South) will be deferred.

Savings from these changes to Mill Road will allow investment in transport upgrades to release housing and local centres in Drury in a way that supports the Government’s decarbonisation goals.

The projects to be considered will include regional cycleways, arterial corridors that provide direct walking, cycling and/or bus access to stations and projects within or crossing state highway corridors to help release additional housing in Drury West.

Further investigations are needed to develop these projects and the smaller scale northern Mill Road project.

Benefits

• Support housing by ensuring growing suburbs are well linked to public transport networks, including commuter rail, to better manage congestion and emissions.
• Increase walking and cycling travel choices.
• Address existing safety issues.
• New third main rail line to remove a bottleneck in the Auckland rail network which will allow more commuter services between South Auckland and Britomart. It will also support freight growth.

Scope

• Three new rail stations (two in Drury plus Paerata).
• Papakura to Pukekohe rail electrification.
• Third main rail line (Wiri to Quay Park).
• SH1 Papakura to Drury improvements and shared path.
• Mill Road upgraded two lanes between Flat Bush and Alfriston tying into existing Redoubt Road dynamic lanes.
• Mill Road targeted safety upgrades between Alfriston and Papakura.
• Local infrastructure investment in Drury network, including active modes and public transport.

Next steps

Waka Kotahi and KiwiRail are now working together to further develop these projects for consideration by ministers.

This will include confirming the scope, costs and timelines and carrying out economic analysis. The significant work already completed for the four-laning project will inform this development work.

Find out more about the South Auckland investment [PDF, 912 KB]