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REGION: Former New Zealand prime minister Geoffrey Palmer’s property could be in the way of the latest extension to the Ka¯piti expressway.
‘‘Every time you build a road it will be necessary to take land. There’s no way around it.’’ Former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer, who has a holiday home that could be in the way of an extension to the Ka¯ piti expressway
A former New Zealand prime minister’s property could be in the way of the latest extension to the Ka¯ piti expressway.
Finding a path for the Otaki to north of Levin roading ¯project revved up this month as Horowhenua residents received letters informing them of properties that may be required for the new stretch of highway.
Among residents possibly affected is Sir Geoffrey Palmer, whose holiday home on Kuku East Rd could be gone.
While some residents are riled up about the possibility of losing their homes, Palmer said he understood the implications of roading projects.
‘‘Every time you build a road it will be necessary to take land. There’s no way around it.’’
Palmer hoped others weren’t too worried about receiving letters as the project still needed to go through a consultation process, he said.
‘‘I don’t think a great deal of agitation is helpful.’’
Palmer and other residents are scheduling meetings with roading authorities as part of the consultation process, but some residents are unhappy about the process.
Yesterday, Kuku East Rd landowner Peter Burke said he was shown three options for eastern routes and no options for the west, despite public consultation in 2017 identifying the west as a preferred option.
Burke had his meeting with NZ Transport Agency staff, but he suspects the decision has been made.
‘‘This is so predetermined that there’s no point.’’
There needed to be a bypass of Levin, but Arapaepae Rd, east of Levin, was sufficient, Burke said. There should be a two-lane highway to the west to take the traffic heading to western towns, he said.
‘‘I’m annoyed. It’s frankly outrageous.
‘‘I won’t make a submission saying which is the best, which is the worst, because I’d be pitted against my neighbours.’’
Burke said he wasn’t allowed to take the map of the three options home.
‘‘At the end of the day, if my house goes then, so be it. But I’d like an honest option.’’
Burke wanted the process halted until the west was revisited.
Last week, NZ Transport Agency regional relationships director Emma Speight would not confirm how many letters were sent to property owners, or how many options and locations were being considered.
The agency was working closely with affected communities and residents, she said.
‘‘[It] is committed to working with them in order to finalise a preferred corridor and next steps during 2018.’’
The agency would also not confirm when the announcement of a preferred route was expected, but Horowhenua District Council growth response manager Daniel Haigh said it was understood the decision was expected in mid-2018.
After originally planning for public consultation at the end of 2017, the second round of public engagement is now scheduled for February.
There was strong support for a bypass to ease congestion.