During the Indictive Business Case (IBC) stage, which was consulted on in August 2018, a number of options were considered for the RTC corridor including options along SH1 and through the Future urban zone.

As part of technical assessments of these options, we ended up presenting two options for public consultation. The recommended option involved a rapid transit corridor through the Future Urban Zone for the following reasons:

• Transport benefits, including ridership/patronage and travel time benefits
• Land use opportunity
• Flexibility, including stage ability, ability to integrate with the North Shore Rapid Transit, and flexibility to respond to changes in land use assumptions
• More cost effective – I.e. better value for money

During the consultation many people supported the option of an RTN running alongside SH1 to Silverdale, however there was also some recognition of the benefits of taking the RTN out into the future growth area of Dairy Flat. People could see that this would provide increased access for new communities, while still servicing existing areas

The indicative business case was endorsed by the Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport Boards in 2019.

Since then, the Detailed Business Case (DBC) has developed options in more detail including working with Auckland Council on the future land use plans in the area.

The proposed future rapid transit corridor is key to unlocking urban growth and helping to shape a new metropolitan/town centre at Dairy Flat. It’s also about connecting people to employment, education and other social opportunities so it needs to be easily accessible.

By travelling through the growth area, it would mean more people are within walking and cycling distance of stations and it would stimulate urban development opportunities to create thriving future communities and allow businesses to prosper.

Is important to note, these projects are long term and only expected to be required to support the urban growth in the Dairy Flat area. Currently Council expects this growth to occur post 2038.

You can read about the IBC here: https://www.supportinggrowth.govt.nz/growth-areas/north-auckland/ which provides information about the options considered, and engagement reports from 2016 and 2018 engagement .Click here to read the IBC report.

The Curley Avenue road option is a legacy project of the previous Rodney District Council, and is identified in the Local Board Plan and Auckland Council Silverdale Centre Plan.

The Te Tupu Ngātahi Indicative Business Case (IBC) was endorsed by Auckland Transport (AT) and the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency in 2019. The IBC did not recommend the Curley Avenue road option as it did not provide the level of wider public benefits assumed in previous investigations.

A subsequent more detailed assessment tested and confirmed two key IBC conclusions:

• That the high environmental, cultural impacts and costs of the Curley Avenue road options outweigh the benefits; and
• That the Wainui Road corridor option with signalisation of Silverdale Street / Hibiscus Coast Highway is a feasible and practical alternative for buses and for general traffic with a lower environmental impact and cost.

The recommendation aligns with AT’s strategic direction to deliver sustainable solutions that promote mode shift and best utilise existing infrastructure.

Stakeholder, community and public perspectives have been considered in this decision through the engagement undertaken as part of the Te Tupu Ngātahi IBC in 2018/2019 and further engagement with landowners post-IBC in 2019 and 2020.

The Te Tupu Ngātahi Detailed Business Case (DBC) will investigate the Silverdale Street and Hibiscus Coast Highway signalisation. The 2021 announcement on the construction of Penlink has provided greater opportunities to consider changes to the form and function of the Hibiscus Coast Highway corridor.