Introduction:
Roads ring much of the P.I. shoreline. These roads have considerably damaged the natural character and ecology of the Inlet. Large areas of saltmarsh and adjoining freshwater wetland have been cut off from the Inlet - many of these areas have subsequently been drained. Wetlands (saltmarsh and freshwater) are highly productive ecosystems and habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species. They are also nursery areas for a number of fish species. Their loss over the years has had a significant impact on the Inlet. This has been compounded by the extensive loss of wetlands in the Porirua Arm of the Harbour. Much of this loss has also been caused by the construction of transport corridors (road and rail).
Perspectives:
It is agreed that while individual Guardian members may have strong perspectives on particular roading proposals based on their personal circumstances/convictions, the Guardians’ position should address roading from the perspective of the actual or potential impacts on the Inlet. This does not preclude individual members from taking a stronger line on all or any roading proposals in the Pauatahanui catchment.
Summary of the main roading proposals for the Pauatahanui catchment:
- Proposed state highway 58 Haywards-Pauatahanui four laning
- this will cross streams in the catchment
- it will bring more traffic from state highway 2 to the Inlet at a faster rate. This will create pressures to upgrade roads around the Inlet.
- State highway 58 Pauatahanui-Paremata upgrading
- Transit plan to gradually upgrade by straightening and removing corners
- this may lead to reclamations and major earthworks which will further decrease the natural character of the southern side of the Inlet
- these changes will increase the arterial functions of this road
- Gray's Road bypass
- this is likely to increase the volume of traffic on the rural section by the Inlet, especially the heavy traffic which may currently avoid the existing tight corners in Camborne
- any consequential upgrading of the rural sections (especially straightening) could have significant adverse effects on the wetland areas around the Inlet margins
- State highway 1- four laning Mana Esplanade
- the extra bridge may have an effect on the Inlet
- the main effect will be to increase the arterial role played by the Pauatahanui Inlet ring roads. Neither Gray's Road nor state highway 58 was designed to be a major arterial route. There is likely to be increasing pressure to continually upgrade these roads. This will adversely affect ecological and recreational values of the Inlet and its margins.
- Transmission Gully
- if safeguards for this project are not adequate this could result in significant additional amounts of sediment and nutrients reaching the Inlet
- if Transmission Gully is built and the existing State Highway 1 is converted to a local route this should reduce the arterial functions of the Pauatahanui Inlet ring roads with consequential long-term benefits for ecological and recreational values
- appropriate, sufficient and timely mitigation works will be essential for the Transmission Gully route
Guardians’ position:
- Roading has significantly altered the natural character and ecological values of Pauatahanui Inlet and its margins. The existing roading configuration results in adverse consequences for the Inlet's ecological and recreational values.
- Proposals to upgrade the existing roads to cope with increased traffic (especially existing State Highway 1, State Highway 58 and Gray's Road) will lead to greater adverse environmental effects.
- Grays Road is located along a highly sensitive part of the estuary. Upgrading, especially straightening, would significantly affect the Inlet’s ecological values.4. The Transmission Gully project has the potential to adversely affect ecological values if adequate environmental safeguards are not put in place. The project would, however, remove the need for incremental upgrades of existing roads around the Inlet
- The Transmission Gully project would be of such a scale that appropriate environmental mitigation would be affordable and practical. Because of the lead time required for some environmental mitigation measures this work should begin immediately so that shortcuts are not taken if the community decides to proceed with this project at an earlier date than it is currently scheduled for.
- If the Transmission Gully is to proceed – and this should be decided as soon as possible –proposals to upgrade existing roads around the Inlet should be suspended.
Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet
PO Box 57034, Mana, Porirua City
May 2000
