Interest in use of Lanes Flat land

A sportsground, community hall or a weigh station is likely to be built on a plot of Pauatahanui farmland once the new state high- way is built – but Porirua City Council is hoping it will not be the latter.

The area known as Lanes Flat – opposite the substation just past the roundabout – is likely to be a site compound during the construction of Transmission Gully, from 2016-2022.

The land will be near one of the main interchanges coming off the Gully highway and will contain site offices, car parking, a concrete batching plant and pre-casting yard, plant and vehicle servicing facilities, and storage areas.

According to a report to PCC’S committee on February 16, recent community consultation has led to residents’ concern that the site may not be available for public use after the highway’s completion.

About three-quarters of Lanes Flat will be a flood plain, but the portion built up for the compound could be used for a possible sportsfield or even a community hall.

The city council is one step ahead, however, having sent a letter to the NZ Transport Agency, registering its interest in the area, in 2009. A response received last October from NZTA’S project manager for Transmission Gully has them leaning in one direction.

‘‘NZTA is unable at the present time to support the principle of PCC being involved in the longterm management of that area [where the site compound will be].

‘‘ That is because NZTA currently expects to retain management of that area for state highway purposes, which could include its use for a weigh station similar to that . . . at Plimmerton.’’

PCC technical services manager Geoff Marshall says they are very happy about the development of a wetland on the flood plain, which NZTA have confirmed, and are keen to get some clarification on the remaining portion.

Lanes Flat and its future use is flagged in the Pauatahanui Village Plan.

‘‘NZTA’S stance is that it may be surplus land, in which case we could buy it,’’ Mr Marshall says. ‘‘ There has been talk about a weigh station, and it would make an excellent site for a petrol station, so we’re just going to have to wait and see. But they [NZTA] know we’re interested and we’ve asked them if we could have an option on it, when that time comes.’’