A plan that would see the next stage of the Eastern Busway public transport project dissect a residential community has sparked heated debate between members of the Howick Local Board.
Auckland Transport (AT) revealed late last year its preferred route of the busway’s Pakuranga to Botany section would run down Ti Rakau Drive, move left over a new bridge around the back of the Chinatown complex and onto Burswood Drive.
It then runs along the back of businesses in Torrens Road, continues in a straight line past Bunnings, onto Burswood Drive, and back out in Ti Rakau Drive.
The plan would require the purchase of numerous homes in Burswood.
Several board members want the busway to continue along Ti Rakau Drive toward Botany rather than going through Burswood.
Board member Mike Turinsky raised an extraordinary item on the issue at the end of the board’s most recent business meeting.
He moved a resolution noting a previous resolution relating to the busway the board passed at its business meeting in November last year, and stating the board does not support the proposed route through the Burswood residential community at this stage “due to insufficient evidence to justify the proposal”.
Numerous board members spoke for and against the resolution.
Member Bob Wichman said he opposes the route through Burswood due to the “economic and logical disadvantages to the community” it presents.
“I don’t think it’s the right idea for the circumstances and the economics for the time.
“The sheer economics of it, $1-$2 billion, is just ridiculous and the economics can’t afford it.
“We are working on behalf of the community, and the community, they have to pay the bill.”
Board deputy chairperson John Spiller said the Eastern Busway Alliance, which is working on the project with AT, has answered “every question we put to them in a fair, honest, and compassionate way”.
“I think the Ti Rakau Drive option has been discounted several times.
“We have to be guided by their expertise, otherwise we’re just calling them liars.”
Wichman then interrupted Spiller, and was asked by board chairperson Adele White to let Spiller finish his point.
“Other members have had plenty of time to say their piece and I think it’s time a counter point was heard,” Spiller said.
“If we delay this we have a risk of losing hundreds of millions of dollars which is potentially reallocated to this project from the cancelled cycle and pedestrian harbour crossing.
“That has now been earmarked, the majority of it, for this project including the Reeves Road flyover.
“The [AT] team stated today the preferred option shows a $50 million saving.
“That can’t be ignored.
“I don’t believe there’s any possible further explanation they can give, if we don’t already accept it, that will make us accept the preferred route.”
Spiller said the busway project was “well down the track already” and has had hundreds of millions of dollars spent on it.
“It was being committed from the Manukau City Council days for goodness sake.
“Bob [Wichman] and [board member] David [Collings] know that.
“They were pushing it from way back then.
“I cannot see why now they want to put the brakes on and halt something and potentially make a white elephant of what has already been created between Panmure and Pakuranga.
“It just doesn’t make sense.
“I have absolute sympathy for residents who may ultimately lose their homes, but sometimes these things are necessary for progress and there’s plenty of other examples around the country that have happened.”
Spiller also said the project shouldn’t be stopped for the sake of “one little diversion”.
Collings said he took exception to Spiller’s comments.
For the busway to deviate through Burswood “was certainly not on the plan, whatsoever,” in the days of the former Manukau City Council, Collings said.
“It’s not a slight deviation if the busway is suddenly coming through someone’s property or right through their living room and they’re being moved out of their homes.
“We suffered this along Pakuranga Road from Panmure to Pakuranga Town Centre, where many people and many houses are gone.
“We suffered that and we endured that. I think the community as a whole has had a bit of a gutsful to be honest.”
White said the board must remember the busway is part of a “big picture and a 30-year plan”.
“I have amazing sympathy for Burswood homeowners however I have been assured they will be fairly compensated.
“I am very happy with the explanation we’ve been given today [by AT] and believe we’ve been given good reasoning for the choice of route they are pursuing.”
Turinsky’s resolution was amended to include requesting AT reconsider the original option within the Ti Rakau Drive road corridor without the deviations through Burswood proposed in the latest plan.
Voting for the motion were members Katrina Bungard, Collings, Bruce Kendall, Turinsky and Wichman.
Voting against it were board members Bo Burns, Spiller, White and Peter Young.
The motion was carried by five votes to four.
AT has carried out public consultation on the next stage of the busway and is expected to soon release more details.
