NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is re-examining the installation of a median barrier on two sections of State Highway 2 between Waihī and Ōmokoroa.

The decision was announced on Tuesday night just hours before a community-organised meeting regarding the issue.

“We’re delighted that they’re going to reconsider,” says former Western Bay of Plenty district councillor Mike Williams.

However, he points out that: “Unless this review includes input from the locals, I don’t have much faith in what NZTA have to say”.

In a press release by NZTA on July 23, chief executive Nicole Rosie says: “This corridor has had a significant number of deaths and serious injured, and has increasing volumes of traffic. It is also a key corridor for the communities who live along or off the state highway”.

“We are seeking to strike a balance between achieving the best safety outcomes for all road users and a design that meets local trip needs.”

NZTA’s announcement also stated median barrier installation will continue from Wright Rd to Aongatete bridge.

“This will mean Wright Rd and Dawson Rd will become left-in left-out with a roundabout at Matahui/Lockington roads – approximately 1.2km distance from Wright Rd,” says the NZTA press release.

Bulk liquid cartage business Porter Transport manager Bruce Porter says these median barriers still set to go up will cause massive disruption to the area.

The Wine Portfolio and Seeka Packhouse lay either side of SH2 where the median barriers are being installed.

Transporters exiting these warehouses will be unable to cross to the other side of the road due to the median barriers and will instead have to take a long detour to reach a roundabout to go in their intended direction, says Bruce.

No common sense

“We can go into the winery from the Tauranga side, however, there is no way that we can exit this site with large vehicles going towards the Katikati way due to the barriers.

“The Seeka packhouse across the road is in the same predicament, which is in reverse to the winery.

“This issue into the winery is also going to have issues for Mainfreight as we operate in and out of the winery daily. There is no common sense with these people from NZTA.”

Bay of Plenty-based ACT MP Cameron Luxton welcomes NZTA’s decision to reconsider sections of the planned continuous wire median barriers between Katikati and Tauranga.

“This news will come as an enormous relief for residents I’ve met. While it is difficult to say exactly what pushed NZTA to make this announcement, it’s clear the fierce advocacy and protest of the locals has been effective,” says Cameron, who joined affected residents at Katikati War Memorial Hall on Tuesday night.

Got the memo

“As a locally-based MP, I was contacted by residents tearing their hair out over the prospect of being blocked from turning right out of their roads.

“Residents of affected roads would have been forced to drive kilometres down SH2 in the wrong direction to find a roundabout before turning around. This could add thousands of kilometres of annual travel for regular commuters.

“On June 6, I wrote to the Transport Minister about this issue, and the median barriers were a major topic raised at Act’s public meeting in Tauranga last week.

“While I understand it is difficult for a minister to intervene in operational decisions that have already reached the implementation phase, it appears NZTA has one way, or another, got the memo.”

Cameron says the news will disappoint residents near where barrier installation is set to continue, such as those living on Wright Rd.

“So as a community we’ll need to hold NZTA to its commitment today to continue to ‘consider the concerns raised by the community with the current design’.”

Packed meeting

The community-organised meeting in Katikati on Tuesday night was attended by more than 350 people, according to Mike. “The hall was packed.”

Mike says while SH2 residents are pleased with NZTA’s announcement, they are worried the same thing will happen like last time and NZTA won’t listen to the locals.

“They proved it last time that they would not listen to us. The only way they are going to get credibility is by including us in the decision-making and consultation.”

“The pressure that we put on NZTA, and the politicians has possibly had some bearing on the announcement.”

Lund Rd resident Gino de Graaf has been heavily involved in the organisation of protests.

“Let’s hope the second review NZTA are doing will turn into significant changes so we can turn into our side roads. We don’t trust NZTA,” he says.

“They could have announced earlier instead of just prior to our community meeting. I feel hopeful and it’s progress in the right direction.”

Another resident, Rick Burke, says this is the first bit of good news that they’ve had.

“Long may the good news continue."

- SunLive