VIC PARK TUNNEL - ENVIRONMENTAL

Potential Effects and Mitigation Summary

Noise
The VPT creates the opportunity to reduce existing motorway traffic noise along the motorway alignment.

Through comprehensive noise testing the area between the Shelly Beach overbridge in St Mary’s Bay, and the Fanshawe Street off-ramp, plus some areas in Freeman’s Bay, are identified as the key areas where noise mitigation will be focussed. 

Noise mitigation options include:

• Quiet road surfaces
• Noise walls
• Improvements to individual properties

Overall a reduction in traffic noise is anticipated.

Air Quality
The project will help alleviate congestion, and therefore reduce air emissions, by reducing the ‘stop-start‘ traffic flow that contributes to increases in vehicle emissions.  In addition, the tunnel will be ventilated to prevent any potential build up of emissions.

Geotechnical
The tunnel design will accommodate stormwater and groundwater flows and any potential subsidence and soil contamination issues.

Visual
Potential visual impacts can be reduced in the following ways:

Transparent noise walls up to 5 metres in height are proposed along St Mary’s Bay to retain views and a sense of openness to St Mary’s Bay reserve users. Two metre solid noise walls will be placed along Freeman’s Bay, where necessary.

Tunnelling enables the retention of open space in Victoria Park. The tunnel entrances will have an impact on elevated views in the immediate vicinity and will be designed in accordance with the Central Motorway Improvements urban design framework.

A pedestrian footbridge from the vicinity of Jacob’s Ladder across to Westhaven is proposed and will be designed as a symbolic ‘gateway’ to Auckland city.

Some trees will need to be removed or relocated to allow for the tunnel construction and associated lane widening. The visual impact of this tree loss will be reduced through a comprehensive landscaping plan.

Vegetation/Landscaping
The project directly affects a total of 86 trees. 18 affected trees will be retained and 68 will require removal although of these, there is potential for 20 to be relocated. Only four of the 68 trees to be removed are scheduled in the District Plan.

Comprehensive replacement landscaping for those trees that will be removed will be undertaken to mitigate their loss.

Heritage
Heritage icons have been identified and will be retained or preserved. These include:

• The Birdcage Hotel - will be relocated approximately 30 metres further up Franklin Road. 
• Jacob’s Ladder  - will benefit from an increased area of reserve and improved pedestrian linkages.
• Campbell Free Kindergarten and Victoria Park Market - will not be directly affected by the preferred option.

Several Maori heritage sites are located within the area and consultation is continuing with Iwi to develop appropriate protocols to manage tunnel excavation and to obtain input into Urban Design features.

Reserves and Walkways
The overall area of public reserve land and extent of walkways will increase when the project is completed.

Victoria Park will retain the same area of open space while the current Ngapona land will be returned as new reserve area once the Fanshawe Street on-ramp is upgraded. This will connect St Mary’s Bay reserve to Victoria Park.

Jacob’s Ladder will also link to this new reserve area and a proposed footbridge will link the reserve, across the motorway to the Westhaven area.

Existing Services
There are a range of major infrastructure services in and around the motorway corridor.  The tunnel impacts on sewer and stormwater pipelines and telecommunications cables.

These services as well as a range of other services, will be relocated as part of the project.

Construction Impacts
Construction management plans will be implemented to guide construction activities. In particular traffic, dust, noise and vibration - to minimise the adverse effects of construction in accordance with designation and consent conditions and Transit New Zealand guidelines.