State Highway 1 North Canterbury upgrade gets fast-track approval

“SH1 approaching Woodend currently carries around 21,500 vehicles a day, including around 9% freight. With traffic volumes expected to grow to around 28,000 vehicles a day by 2048, the new road will improve safety, reduce congestion, unlock housing growth and support economic development,” Bishop said.

He said the project was also expected to reduce predicted deaths and serious injuries from 5.6 a year to 1.25 a year.

The independent expert panel found the project’s effects on transport, ecology, stormwater and flooding could be managed through consent conditions.

Those conditions include construction, traffic and ecological management plans, ongoing monitoring and the creation of a new wetland to offset habitat loss.

Ministry of Transport principal adviser Chris Jones said the project would unlock housing and urban development opportunities in the Woodend, Ravenswood and Pegasus townships.

“North Canterbury has seen significant residential and commercial expansion and the Waimakariri District has emerged as one of the fastest-growing local authorities in New Zealand,” Jones said.

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey welcomed the approval, saying the project would deliver more reliable travel times and improve safety for commuters.

“As local MP I’m a big advocate for this roading project as I know it will deliver more reliable travel times and improve safety for Waimakariri commuters,” Doocey said.

He said the Government had “taken significant action” on the project over the past two and a half years, including land acquisitions, provisional consents, design work, early implementation work and $127 million in funding.

Fast-track by the numbers

27 projects approved by expert panels.19 projects with expert panels appointed.58 projects are progressing through the fast-track process (29 substantive applications and 29 referral applications).56 projects have been referred to fast-tracking by the Minister for Infrastructure.149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act and can apply for fast-track approval.The average decision time for substantive applications is 118 working days from when officials determine an application is complete and in scope.

Projects approved by expert panels

Arataki, Hawke’s Bay (housing/land)Ashbourne, Matamata (housing/land)Ayrburn Screen Hub, Otago (infrastructure)Green Steel, Hampton Downs, Waikato (infrastructure)Homestead Bay, Otago (housing/land)Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension, Auckland (infrastructure)Drury Metropolitan Centre, South Auckland – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 (housing/land)Drury Quarry Expansion, South Auckland – Sutton Block (mining/quarrying)Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3, Wainui, Auckland (mining/quarrying)Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme (renewable energy)Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works (renewable energy)Māhinerangi Wind Farm, Otago (renewable energy)Maitahi Village, Nelson (housing/land)Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13, Wainui, Auckland (housing/land)The Point Mission Bay (housing/land)Pound Rd, Christchurch (housing/land)Rangitoopuni, Riverhead, Auckland (housing/land)Ryans Rd, Christchurch (housing/land)Southland Wind Farm Project (renewable energy)SH1 North Canterbury – Woodend Bypass Project (Belfast to Pegasus) (infrastructure)Sunfield, South Auckland (housing/land)Tekapo Power Scheme – Replacement Resource Consents (renewable energy)Takitimu North Link – Stage 2, Bay of Plenty (infrastructure)Waihī North (mining/quarrying)Waitaha Hydro, West Coast (renewable energy)Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project (infrastructure)Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal (infrastructure)

Projects with expert panels appointed

188 Beaumont St, Auckland CentralAlternative to the Brynderwyn HillsAuckland Prison Capacity IncreaseBendigo-Ophir Gold ProjectBream Bay Sand Extraction Project, NorthlandCentral and Southern Block Mining ProjectDelmore, ŌrewaDowntown Carpark Site Development, AucklandFoxton Solar Farm, Manawatū-WhanganuiHaldon Solar Farm, CanterburyHananui Aquaculture Project, RakiuraHunua Quarry DevelopmentMt Iron Junction, WānakaMt Welcome, Pukerua Bay, PoriruaNorthwest Rapid Transit, AucklandSouthern Link Inland Port, OtagoStella Passage Development, Bay of PlentyThe Point Solar Farm, CanterburyWaikanae North Development, Kāpiti Coast

Ben Tomsett is a journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.