Parks Memo 8 June 2021 To: Dough Fletcher, Principal Project Lead, Premium Team, Auckland Council From: Lea van Heerden, Senior Parks Planner, Parks Planning, Auckland Council Subject: REQUEST FOR PARKS PLANNING ADVICE ON FAST TRACK CONSENT FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION OF MORE THAN 19KM OF THE NORTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK LINE (NIMT) BETWEEN THE PAPAKURA AND PUKEKOHE STATIONS AS PART OF THE KIWIRAIL PAPAKURA TO PUKEKOHE RAIL ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT (P2P) - LUC60378393. 1. PROPOSAL KiwiRail is seeking resource consents for works between Papakura and Pukekohe Stations, including installation of the overhead line equipment (OLE) along the length of the rail corridor (approximately 19km), track replacements, and upgrades at both Pukekohe and Papakura Stations to accommodate electrified locomotives. Other works include the construction of platforms for three new stations at Drury, Drury West and Paerata. A map of the major works for this project is provided in Figure 1 below. Works that may be relevant to parks planning involves the removal of riparian vegetation from riparian areas of various streams and removal of vegetation and earthworks within riparian margins and wetlands. Specific work includes: • Bulk earthworks across the entire project footprint, including with the riparian margins of 11 wetlands. • The removal of up to approximately 34,750m² of vegetation from the riparian areas of 35 streams. • The removal of up to approximately 9,120m² vegetation within 10m of 11 wetlands. Temporary access tracks are proposed across the course of the route for enabling construction vehicles. 1 Figure 1: The extent of Auckland Railway Improvement from Papakura to Pukekohe. 2. BACKGROUND COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 P2P is a regionally significant transport project, providing for improved rail services and safety. This is a listed project under Schedule 2 of the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020. The Southern Motorway (SH1) and the North Island Main Trunk Railway line runs through the Franklin Local Board area and Pukekohe is the last stop for commuter trains running to and from Britomart. While these transport corridors present challenges from a local path’s perspective, they also provide important transportation links which the paths can effectively link up with, to create an efficient continuation of transport routes available. There are several transport projects already identified within the Pukekohe-Paerata area including: • a new bus network in Pukekohe • Pukekohe Train Station upgrade, and 2 • a new train station at Paerata, as part of the Wesley Special Housing Area. Previously Approved Outline Plan of Works (OPW) Waiver Auckland Council approved a waiver to the OPW (Auckland Council reference: OPW60367322) for Designation 6302- North Island Main Trunk Railway Line from Buckland to Britomart Station, dated 27 November 2020. This waiver only relates to enabling works described in the requested material, and summarised as: • The construction of a combined services duct (CSR) to carry power and communication. cables to various rail corridor assets along the entire rail corridor. • Upgraded signals throughout the rail corridor. • 18 construction access tracks along the rail corridor. • Upgraded level crossings at 5 locations. Vegetation clearance was also undertaken as part of the enabling phase but not subject to the Outline Plan waiver. Pre-application Meeting Kiwirail commenced with a pre-application meeting (PRR00035301), dated 26 November 2020, seeking specialist input from: • Bulk earthworks (under AUP and NES-F) • Riparian vegetation removal (under AUP and NES-F) • Disturbance of contaminated soil (NES-CS) • Operation of a construction yard for more than 24 months (AUP). Auckland Council’s Principal Project Lead, Dough Fletcher confirmed in an email dated 02 June 2021 that Kiwirail did not raise any matters related to any impacts on Parks, Watercare, Healthy Waters or Auckland Transport during the pre-application meeting. Kiwirail provided a copy of their draft Assessment of Environmental Effects and a suite of draft conditions to Auckland Council for review before they lodged their application. Six Council specialists reviewed this information, being: • Andrew Gordon – Specialist – Acoustics: Contamination, Air & Noise Team • Fiona Rudsits - Specialist – Contaminated Land: Contamination, Air & Noise Team • Rue Statham – Senior Ecologist: Ecology Advice Team • Joe Mills – Specialist Historic Heritage: Heritage Unit • Steve Bryant – Consultant to the Earth, Stream and Trees Team • Isabella Wang – Monitoring Officer Kiwirail meeting with Auckland Council Parks Department 3 Jacobs New Zealand Ltd hosted a meeting with Auckland Council Parks on the 11th of February 2021. Parks and Places Specialist, Mr Greg Lowe attended the meeting on behalf of the parks department. The purpose of the meeting was to gain parks input where additional land is required for trackside Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) and power supply equipment as they are located adjacent to two Auckland Council Parks, being: - Jellicoe Park at Homai - Karaka Road adjacent Mcpherson Road. Within this specific application, no reference was made as to whether Kiwirail commenced with the purchase of this land. Dave Butler from Kiwirail approached Auckland Council Statutory Adviser, Wendy Morris in an email dated the 13th of April 2021 to seek a lease over part of the Ngakaroa Reserve to construct a switching station in conjunction with the Rail upgrade. It was proposed that the majority of the development would be located on Kiwirail land and with a small section (estimated at 478m²) of the adjoining Council land required for some of the structure and access. The application was declined as Auckland Council did not consider it appropriate to have this equipment placed on a council reserve. Greenway Plans The proposed railway upgrade, electrification of the rail line and new platforms are located entirely within the rail designations. All other works are considered temporary and for construction purposes. In this case, I do not foresee any raised concerns for the interference and limitations of future greenways networks. However, there is an opportunity to future proof and integrate future greenway connections that have not been explored. I have reviewed the Pukekohe-Paerata Paths Plan, 2018. The Pukekohe-Paerata Paths Plan outlines the long-term Local Path network for the Pukekohe-Paerata areas. This plan provides an opportunity for integrated planning to improve transport, environmental protection, land uses, housing growth and economic development, with the benefits of one authority responsible for all coordination. 4 Figure 2: Pukekohe to Papakura Greenway Plan 5 Figure 3: Proposed Paerata Rail Platform Location 6 3. LIMITATIONS Parks Planning was not given an opportunity to provide or request additional information during the pre-application meeting. The extent to which and how parks, reserves and esplanades may be affected or may be able to offer greenway connections to the proposed rail network have not been identified in detail within this application. Under normal circumstances, more information would be requested under S92 of the RMA to better understand the impact of constructions on parks, open spaces and esplanade reserves. No effects assessment has been provided against any existing parks and reserves. 4. INFORMATION ASSESSED My assessment is based on a review of the application materials provided by the Applicant, particularly the following, including but not limited to: • Fast Track Application Form, Assessment of Environmental Effects, and Supporting Attachments, Plans and Reports prepared by Jacobs New Zealand Ltd on behalf of KiwiRail Holdings Limited, dated 10 March 2021. • Proposed Resource Consent Conditions for Main Works prepared Jacobs (Ref: TN-NIMT-CV- NA-05145-0|C) dated 10 March 2021. • Ecological Effects Assessment, prepared by RMA Ecology Ltd, for Jacobs New Zealand Ltd, dated March 2021. • Access Track Plans, prepared by Jacobs New Zealand Ltd, dated 02 March 2021. • Plans for New Stations, prepared by ETRCS for Kiwi Rail, Rev B, dated 12 February 2021. 5. GENERAL ASSESSMENT Desktop Analysis A desktop assessment of the development footprint and surrounding area was undertaken on the 1st of June 2021 to identify parks, open spaces and esplanade reserves that may be affected by the proposed rail upgrades other than what has been addressed in the AEE. Section 6.10.1, p.76 of the AEE identified that proposed construction work will not occupy any recreational facilities, however, works will occur bordering specifically the following three reserves: • Opaheke Reserve • Drury Domain • Ngakoroa Reserve It is not clear whether these reserves will be able to offer connections to the rail stations or align with the greenway plans to integrate active modes. I have taken a strategic approach to identify the three new proposed platforms as they may have a greater effect due to the scale and extent of works. During the time of my desktop analysis, the three 7 new platforms are located outside any open spaces and esplanade reserves and are primarily proposed inside the railway designation. I have also considered the “Access Track Plans” to try and locate the portions of land that will most likely be affected. The following existing open spaces and esplanade reserves (shown in Table 1) (but are not limited to) along the course of the rail route, adjacent to the rail designation (primarily Designation 6302): Table 1: Existing