Home : Strategic
Development : NAR : Northen Arterial Route
FAQs
What consultation is currently taking place?
Public information is available through this website, as well as an update newsletter and other media items. Consultation activities (by way of briefings) will continue to be carried out with affected landowners/parties as required.
How many route alternatives have been considered?
Seven broad routes were originally considered in 1996. Two routes utilised the urban road network and four proposed new rural routes to the east of Hastings, with new linkages provided. This was followed by a more detailed study of the preferred ‘BDG-S’ route and associated alignment options over the 1996 - 1999 period. Most recently (2001-2006), five route alternatives have been considered (two of which were a reconsideration of previously considered routes) with specific alternative alignments for the Karamu Road to Crosses Road section of the route closely examined as a result of impacts of the preferred route on multiple owned Maori freehold land. The most recent studies have confirmed that the originally preferred route (BDG-S) is preferred [click here to see map).
What is a designation?
A designation is a provision in a District Plan which provides notice to the community that a "requiring authority" (in this case Hastings District Council) intends to use land in the future for a particular work or project.
How does the process to confirm a designation work?
In March 2007 Hastings District Council intends to lodge a Notice of Requirement (NOR), which will notify the Council that Council (as an approved "requiring authority") intend to 'designate' the project corridor. This designation will ultimately protect the land needed for the construction, operation and maintenance of the NAR
The designation process can be summarised as follows:
- The requiring authority (HDC) will notify the territorial authority (in this case themselves) that it intends to designate land by lodging a "notice of requirement".
- HDC may request further information in relation to the notice of requirement.
- Once satisfied with the level or information received HDC will publicly notify the requirement notice. The notice must be served on specific people including affected parties, relevant Iwi authorities and local authorities and the Minister of Conservation and Fisheries (where appropriate).
- Any person will be able to make a submission on the notice of requirement in the same way as a submission on a resource consent application.
- HDC (via independent commissioners) may conduct pre hearing meetings or go straight to a formal hearing. HDC may hold this hearing jointly with the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. (HBRC will hear applications for resource consents relating to water/drainage and sediment control).
- In considering the requirement, HDC must take into account the information set out in the notice of requirement, public submissions and the factors outlined in section 171(1) of the RMA, including:
- Whether the designation is reasonably necessary for achieving the objectives of the work for which the designation is sought,
- Whether adequate consideration has been given to alternative sites, routes or methods of achieving the work,
- All relevant provisions of any national policy statement, New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, regional policy statement, proposed regional policy statement, regional plan, proposed regional plan, district plan and proposed district plan.
- HDC will make a recommendation to Council as to whether Council should confirm (with or without conditions), modify or withdraw the notice of requirement.
- Council will then make a decision whether to accept or reject HDC's recommendation, in whole or in part.
- HDC will ensure that every person who made a submission receives notice of the decision by the Council.
- HDC or any submitter to the notice of requirement may appeal the decision made by the Council to the Environment Court, under section 172 of the RMA.
- Depending on the outcome of any appeal, the designation may be placed in the district plan.
Click here for more information from the Ministry for the Environment website on designations.
What does a designation allow for?
Once land is designated for a particular purpose, the Council will be able to:
- Proceed with the specific work on the site as if it was permitted by the district plan;
- Control activities that occur on the site in order to prevent the landowner doing anything that would compromise the future work even if the requiring authority does not own the site;
- Apply to the Minister of Lands to compulsorily purchase or lease all or part of the land under the Public Works Act 1981;
- Enter private land to undertake investigations.
Where can I get independent advice on designations?
The following website links provide independent advice on the planning / statutory process:
Ministry for the Environment
The Ministry for the Environment website provides you with an understanding of the designation process, with a particular emphasis on how the you can become involved as a submitter.
Sustain
The Community Environmental Law Service: Sustain has been established to provide independent advice, information and representation to individuals and groups.
RMA Guide
This site is produced for the Environmental Defence Society, which is a New Zealand based environmental advocacy organisation. This site contains information to assist people and community groups to more effectively participate in consenting and designation processes.
What compensation will be offered to landowners?
The Public Works Act 1981 provides for the acquisition of land for public works and the payment of compensation. You can access an independent guide to land owners rights, prepared by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) by clicking here.
Are resource consents required from the Regional Council?
While a designation will give HDC 'permission' under the District Plan, HDC must still address all the relevant matters under the regional plans including obtaining regional resource consents. Therefore, following the NoR lodgement, work will also begin preparing applications to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for resource consents relating to work in or near water and sediment control. These applications were lodged in 2007 and provide detail on construction and environmental mitigation. Again, it is anticipated that the public and stakeholders will be able to make formal submissions on these consent applications.
How will the project affect local roads?
The following table lists the results of traffic modelling of total daily traffic volumes (vehicles per day - vpd) and shows traffic volumes for 2026 without the project and with the project but with an Industrial landuse in place at Tomoana.* Streets shown in italics are residential streets. Roads with significant increases are either part of the proposed NAR or have a direct feeder role (e.g. Evenden Rd, Karamu Rd, Crosses Rd)
Location |
No NAR (2026) |
With NAR (2026) |
% change in vpd* |
|||
|
AM Peak |
PM Peak |
AM Peak |
PM Peak |
AM Peak |
PM Peak |
Evenden Rd |
1,427 |
1,353 |
2,165 |
2,170 |
+35% |
+38% |
Fredrick St |
735 |
250 |
462 |
416 |
-37% |
+40% |
Williams St |
645 |
962 |
473 |
424 |
-27% |
-56% |
Richmond Rd |
1,671 |
2,054 |
2,573 |
2,945 |
+35% |
+31% |
Grove Rd |
1,291 |
1,539 |
1,090 |
1,166 |
-15% |
-24% |
Karamu Rd |
937 |
986 |
1,713 |
1,910 |
+46% |
+49% |
Willowpark Rd |
631 |
650 |
573 |
697 |
-10% |
+6% |
Windsor Ave |
656 |
772 |
431 |
516 |
-34% |
-33% |
Ada St |
336 |
361 |
216 |
228 |
-35% |
-37% |
Havelock Rd |
1,853 |
2,008 |
1,554 |
1,676 |
-17% |
-16% |
St Georges Rd |
560 |
635 |
473 |
457 |
-16% |
-29% |
Crosses Rd |
958 |
1,101 |
1,509 |
1,494 |
+36% |
+26% |
How will noise from the road be mitigated?
Where the route comes close to residential housing or urban areas (e.g. Kenilworth Road or Jubilee and Jellico Streets) mitigation will be included to ensure the impact of noise on residents is minimised. Mitigation will include:
- The use of a quiet seal surface (i.e. friction course);
- The use of noise walls such as a 2.4 metre high timber fence, fronted by planting (i.e. along the frontage of Jubilee and Jellico Streets); and
- The use of setbacks, and a New Jersey barrier (i.e. along the length of Kenilworth Road).
Still have an unanswered question?
Please contact a member of the project team:
Murray Douglas (HDC
Strategic Projects Manager)
06 8780510 ext 8695
murray.douglas@hdc.govt.nz
Mark Clews (HDC Strategic Development Manager)
(06) 878 0510 ext. 8668
markac@hdc.govt.nz
