Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)

Project Introduction

The NZ Transport Agency has lodged resource consent applications and a notice of requirement for a designation (NoR) in relation to a future section of State Highway 1 (SH1), formed to an expressway standard, from Peka Peka to North Ōtaki (the Expressway).

Estimated project cost

$100+ million
Project type

Road improvements, Road management
Project status

Design

Project updates

Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway on track

Media release, 19 February 2015

Purpose

To accommodate the Expressway, approximately 1.2km of the North Island Main Trunk Railway (NIMT) through Ōtaki will be realigned, and New Zealand Railways Corporation / KiwiRail Holdings Limited (trading as KiwiRail) has lodged an NoR for that purpose.

Benefits

The Project passes through part of the Kāpiti district, from Te Kowhai Road (near Peka Peka) in the south to just north of Taylors Road (to the north of Ōtaki).

Once constructed, the Expressway will form part of SH1, and the current section of SH1 from Peka Peka to Ōtaki will become a local road. The Expressway will tie in with the new section of SH1 created by the MacKays to Peka Peka (M2PP) Expressway Project to the south, at Te Kowhai Road, and re-join the current SH1 north of Ōtaki.

Consent process

On Friday 14 February 2014 the Board of Inquiry responsible for making a consent decision for the Peka Peka to Ōtaki project released its final decision.

The Board’s unanimous decision was to confirm the requirements and grant the designation and resource consents for this section of the Expressway, on the conditions set out in their final report.

The full report is available on the EPA website(external link).

About the project

The Transport Agency application seeks approval to construct approximately 11 kilometres of Expressway from Peka Peka Road, north of Waikanae, to Taylors Road, north of Ōtaki.

From Peka Peka Road the Expressway will follow the current state highway on the western side of the railway line to cross a railway overbridge just north of Sutton Road. The Expressway will then run along the eastern side of the railway line.

Working together

Throughout the regulatory consenting process and the rest of the project, the Transport Agency will continue to work closely with regional partners, stakeholders and local communities to deliver a quality Expressway that will best benefit the region and New Zealand for many years to come.

About the application

the Transport Agency application for the designation and resource consents for the Peka Peka to Ōtaki project has been lodged under the new national consenting process through the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

The EPA was set up as part of the governmental move to streamline and simplify the resource consent application process. One of the benefits of the EPA process is the shorter timeframe for considering applications which therefore allows outcomes to be known much more quickly than previously. The entire consenting process, using the EPA path, is expected to take less than a year.

Construction timeframe

If the designation and resource consents for Peka Peka to Ōtaki are granted, the timetable for this project sees construction beginning in 2016 and completed by 2020.

How to view the Transport Agency application and supporting documentation

You can find all of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki project’s supporting documentation (with respect to its application to the EPA for regulatory consents on the project) on this site. The documents have been placed in different sections to assist you in finding the information you need easily and quickly.

A guide to the lodgement documentation [PDF, 760 KB] has also been prepared which explains the nature of all the documents that are available and how they relate to one another. This document provides a list of all the documents submitted, a list of abbreviations, and a glossary of terms used.

As well, a non-technical summary [PDF, 642 KB] has been prepared of the Resource Management Act (RMA) planning consents assessments for the Peka Peka to Ōtaki project. It summarises the technical reports that have been prepared in support of the application.

Contents and structure of the lodgement documentation

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) process

To find out more about the Environmental Projection Authority (EPA) process, please refer to the EPA website(external link).

Community involvement

The most recent involvement was through the EPA-governed Board of Inquiry process. This was a formal process through which submitters could choose to be heard regarding their submission during the hearing process. Throughout the preceding years, during the development of the project consultation phases were undertaken in 2011 and 2012 which informed this process.

The EPA submission process
In early 2014, the EPA appointed a Board of Inquiry to assess the proposal approved the PP2O project. Following receipt of the application on the 18 March 2013, the Peka Peka to North Ōtaki Expressway proposal was notified on 18 May 2013, with the submission period running through to 5pm on 17 June. During this period, 55 submissions were received, with a further three being accepted after the submission closing date. A wide range of concerns were raised in submissions and many submitters chose to propose specific conditions.

Of the 58 submissions received:
- 21 submitters (36.2%) opposed the Proposal in full or in part
- 25 submitters (43.1%) supported the Proposal in full or in part
- 8 submitters (13.8%) were neutral
- 4 submitters (6.9%) had mixed positions
- The majority of submitters were from the Ōtaki and Te Horo areas (36% and 33% respectively)
- 35 submitters (60%) wanted to speak at the hearing
Further information on the submissions received can be found at the EPA website(external link)

In the years prior to lodgement of the Notice of Requirement and Resource Consent applications, two consultation phases were held in 2011 and 2012. These phases informed decisions that were made in developing the proposal for which approval was granted in 2014 and are briefly discussed below.
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2012 consultation phase
The main public consultation took place over a four-week period from 16 June 2012 to 13 July 2012. It included two public open days as well as meetings with key stakeholders, the Kāpiti Coast District Council and local iwi.
A total of 36 submissions were received and the content of the submissions reflected a number of views and interests. These views and interests ranged from support to opposition of the project and proposed mitigation measures, as well as a combination of both. Areas of concern included:
- Noise and vibration effects and related mitigation measures
- Landscaping to improve visual amenity as well as to deliver ecological benefits
- More detail on proposed mitigation measures.
Other key themes raised by the community through submissions included environmental effects such as; flooding, traffic and safety, general mitigation measures, property issues and alternative routes. Some concerns about the design for local access and interchanges were also raised.
The key results from this round of consultation were:
- Creating a platform for the community to express both concerns and positive feelings
- The project team gaining more local knowledge
- Informing mitigation measures and improving design solutions
- Identifying gaps in the consultation process
- Maintaining good relationships with the community
The 2012 Public Consultation Report can be found here [PDF, 778 KB].
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2011 consultation phase

A total of 473 submissions were received and the content of the submissions reflected a number of views and interests ranging from support to opposition to the proposals, and a combination of both.
The feedback from the community on the proposals for the interchanges and local road connections suggested a high level of support for the interchanges to the north and south of Ōtaki. At Te Horo, there was a clear preference for a connection across the expressway around Te Horo Beach Road (Proposal B from the consultation brochure), and a desire to maintain the existing vehicular link to the Mill Road roundabout via Rahui Road.
Other key themes raised through submissions include environmental effects such as flooding, noise, business viability, and safety, along with some concerns about the design for local access and interchanges being raised.
View the 2011 Public Consultation Report [PDF, 1.1 MB]
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Earlier consultation on an expressway prior to 2011
2001 consultation
The objective of the consultation in 2001 was to focus on specific project development and effects on the environment and properties.
The consultation process started with a presentation to the Ōtaki Community Board in July 2001. This was followed by the general distribution of a project newsletter that was also printed in the Kāpiti Observer on 23 July 2001, and a public open day in Ōtaki on 25 July 2001. A second project newsletter was distributed in June 2002.
The 2001 consultation raised awareness of the expressway options in the Ōtaki and Te Horo communities. Over 150 people attended the open day. Written submissions were received from about 50 people and groups, while others made telephone enquiries.
2002 consultation
The 2002 consultation process was undertaken to focus on the Ōtaki – Te Horo expressway preferred route. This followed on from the 2001 consultation on alternative options. The purpose of the 2002 consultation was to provide widespread public knowledge of the preferred route for the Ōtaki – Te Horo expressway, and a range of opportunities for potentially affected landowners and interested people to meet with the then Transit representatives to discuss the project and its effects.
Key features of the 2002 consultation process included:
- Letters were sent to all landowners whose land could possibly be directly affected by the preferred route
- Follow-up meetings were held with landowners who asked for more detail
- A newsletter was distributed widely advising people about the preferred route
- Letters were sent to local authorities, Government agencies, and utility companies advising them of the preferred route
- A website provided information and plans of the project
- The media were briefed in a tour of the preferred route and a media kit was distributed
- Two open days were held: at the Rotary Hall, Ōtaki on 4 December 2002 and at Te Horo School on 5 December 2002
- Graphic displays, along with comment forms, were set up in the New World supermarket, Ōtaki Library, Ōtaki Information Centre and a storefront window in Mill Road
- A presentation was made to the Ōtaki Community Board.
2009 consultation
As part of investigations into improvements into this section of SH1 forming part of the Wellington Northern Corridor, it was announced on 20 August 2009 that the Transport Agency would be consulting on four-lane expressway options from MacKays Crossing to Peka Peka and from Peka Peka to North Ōtaki.
The Transport Agency’s objectives for consulting on the expressway proposal were to:
- Inform affected communities, key stakeholders, iwi and the general public about the expressway proposal
- Provide an opportunity for these parties to give feedback to the Transport Agency on the expressway proposal
- Provide the NZ Transport Agency Board with an understanding of the views of the affected community, key stakeholders, iwi and general public regarding the expressway proposal
- Provide a method of community, stakeholder and general public engagement on the preferred route for a four-lane expressway from Peka Peka to north Ōtaki, which meets the requirements of the Land Transport Management Act 2003.
The consultation ran for 10 weeks, from 24 August to 30 October 2009. It included sending brochures to over 26,500 postal addresses in the Kāpiti Coast District, as well as open days and meetings with stakeholders. These included potentially affected property owners and key stakeholders such as the Kāpiti Coast District Council and local iwi.
A total of 1,720 submissions were received, 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 Ōtaki Railway retail area
- 136 suggested the Transport Agency consider alternate alignments
- 87 commented on the location or need for more interchanges
- 74 commented on the effects on existing houses and property.
Feedback from the community confirmed the preferred option is the improved eastern route (running next to the existing SH1 and rail line). 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 Ōtaki at Ōtaki Gorge Road to be included in the project.
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