Applicant
NZ Transport Agency
Purpose
To gain the Board's support for the Waikato Expressway component of NZTA's Waikato Expressway Strategy and its approval for funding further investigation and specimen design of NZTA's roading projects intended to bring all projects on the Waikato Expressway road of national significance to a standard ready for tendering full design and construction.
Date of decision
24 April 2009
Resolutions
The NZ Transport Agency Board:
- supports the Waikato Expressway component of the Waikato Expressway Strategy, which includes the proposed expressway from Mercer to south of Cambridge and Hamilton's Te Rapa Bypass;
- agrees to the variation of NZ Transport Agency's 2008/2009 Land Transport Programme to accommodate the Tamahere 4 laning project, and approves its addition to the 2008/2009 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), subject to appropriate consultation being undertaken to enable its addition to the NLTP;
- approves funding for the further investigation and specimen design of NZ Transport Agency's Waikato Expressway projects, at a total estimated cost of $29.6 million from R funds, as set out in the table below, such that all projects will be ready for tendering full design and construction:
| Project | Estimated phase cost |
|---|
| Longswamp to Rangiriri 4 laning |
$2.6 million |
| Huntly Bypass |
$10.7 million |
| Hamilton Bypass |
$13.1 million |
| Tamahere 4 laning |
$3.2 million |
subject to:
- the establishment of hold points to allow the Group Manager, Regional Partnerships and Planning to consider and approve each of the project macroscopes and the resulting strategy macroscope, which will include a re-evaluation of the economics of the complete strategy; and
- consideration by the Group Manager, Highways and Networks Operations during the investigation of Huntly and Hamilton Bypasses, as to whether lower scope options that deliver a free flowing highway within the designation can provide better value for money solutions than the currently identified preferred options;
- notes that property purchase for the four projects would normally be triggered by macroscope approval, but the NZ Transport Agency intends to take advantage of market opportunities and advance property purchase;
- notes that Hamilton City Council, Waikato District Council, Waipa District Council, and Environment Waikato have completed the sub-regional integrated transport and growth strategy ("Future Proof"), is being incorporated into the Regional Policy Statement;
- notes that the construction cost for the remaining projects on the Waikato Expressway, including Te Rapa Bypass but excluding Hamilton Southern Links, is estimated at around $1.72 billion and the total 95th percentile at $2.25 billion;
- notes the reasons for this decision are as set out in the Reasons for recommendation section; and
- agrees to take Board paper 09/04/0173 out of Committee when the Board has published the notice of decision.
Reason for the decision
The assessment profile for the Waikato Expressway component of the strategy, which is applied to the 4 activities for which funding is requested, has been determined as being of High strategic , Medium effectiveness and Low efficiency.
The Tamahere to Cambridge 4 laning project is being recommended to be added to NZTA's Land Transport Programme and to the NLTP as it is an integral part of the strategy, subject to consultation being undertaken to enable its addition to the programme.
The Waikato Expressway component of the strategy will contribute to LTMA objectives of economic development and safety.
We confirm that the matters in sections 20(2) and 20(5) of the LTMA have been satisfied and that the matters in section 20(3) have been taken into account.
If you would like details of how the assessment profile for this activity was determined, please email us at boardsecretariat@nzta.govt.nz.
