New Zealand Transport Agency: Christchurch Southern Motorway Proposal. Notices of requirement and resource consent applications

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1 Public notice New Zealand Transport Agency: Christchurch Southern Motorway Proposal Notices of requirement and resource consent applications The New Zealand Transport Agency has lodged an application with the Environmental Protection Authority 1 (EPA) for three notices of requirement and 15 resource consents (the matters). In accordance with section 149C of the Resource Management Act 1991, the EPA gives notice of the direction of the Hon Amy Adams, Minister for the Environment, to refer the matters to a Board of Inquiry to be decided, and also gives notice of the matters. The Proposal The proposal involves the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 2 and Main South Road Four Laning. The matters for the proposal consist of: One notice of requirement for an alteration to designation in the Selwyn District for the widening, upgrading, maintenance, operation, use and improvement of a State highway (MSRFL) including associated works to the local road network, including new rear access roads, from the State Highway 1/Park Lane intersection at Rolleston to the proposed Christchurch Southern Motorway connection near Robinsons Road. Two notices of requirement for new designations in Selwyn District and Christchurch City for the construction, maintenance, operation, use and improvement of a State Highway (CSM2) including associated works to the local road network, between the Christchurch Southern Motorway connection near Robinsons Road to Marshs Road and between Marshs Road to the end of the Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 1 at Halswell Junction Road. Application for eight land use consents: land use consents from both Selwyn District and Christchurch City Councils for the disturbance of potentially contaminated soil, and six land use consents from Canterbury Regional Council relating to the excavation of land; deposition of fill; use of land to store or use hazardous substances; construction and use of bores for investigation and groundwater extraction; earthworks within riparian margins adjacent to Upper Knights Stream; and works within a former stream bed. 1 The Environmental Protection Authority is a crown agent, responsible for a variety of activities including the processing of applications of national significance.

2 2 Application for two water permits from the Canterbury Regional Council to take and divert water from water races and to take groundwater. Application for five discharge permits from the Canterbury Regional Council for the discharge of stormwater to land during construction and operation; discharge of stormwater to water during construction and operation; discharge of water and contaminants to water associated with dewatering; discharge of water and contaminants to land associated with dewatering; and discharge of dust to air during construction. A more detailed description of the matters is set out below and within the notice of requirement and resource consent application documents.

3 3 Christchurch Southern Motorway Proposal

4 4 Where the information can be viewed The New Zealand Transport Agency s notices of requirement and resource consent applications can be viewed on the EPA s website at: The application can also be viewed in hard copy at the following locations during their normal office hours: Canterbury Regional Council, Ellesmere Centre, 24 Edward Street, Lincoln Lincoln Library, 18 Gerald Street, Lincoln Rolleston Library, 94 Rolleston Drive, Rolleston Selwyn District Council, 2 Norman Kirk Drive, Rolleston Christchurch City Council, 53 Hereford Street, Christchurch Sir Henry Wigram Library, 121 Tuam Street, Christchurch EPA Head Office, Level 10, 215 Lambton Quay, Wellington How to make a submission Any person can make a submission on the matters in writing on the prescribed form. The submission must be received by the EPA no later than 5.00pm on Friday 15 March Submission forms are available from the locations listed above, or can be requested by calling the EPA on or via to chchmotorway@epa.govt.nz. The EPA can receive submissions: via an online submission form at the above link by to chchmotorway@epa.govt.nz, (if smaller than 10MB), with the subject line: Submission: (your name), Christchurch Southern Motorway Proposal by fax to (04) in hard copy or on an electronic storage device (if larger than 10MB mailed), to the Environmental Protection Authority, Christchurch Southern Motorway Proposal, Private Bag 63002, Waterloo Quay, Wellington 6140 or delivered in person to EPA Head Office, Level 10, 215 Lambton Quay, Wellington. You must also serve a copy of your submission on the applicant, at their address for service: New Zealand Transport Agency (attention Natasha Sitarz) Airport Business Park Unit C, 92 Russley Road PO Box 1479 Christchurch csm2@nzta.govt.nz fax: (03)

5 5 Assistance with the Process Public Meeting The EPA will host two public meetings to outline the board of inquiry process: 7.00pm 8.30pm on Thursday 21 February 2013 at the Lincoln Events Centre, Meijer Drive, Rolleston; and 6.30pm 8.00pm on Monday 25 February 2013 at Prebbleton Hall, 617 Springs Road, Prebbleton. Friend of Submitter Paul Thomas of Environmental Management Services Ltd has been appointed as an independent Friend of Submitter to provide assistance to potential submitters. For session times and locations go to call the EPA on , or contact: Paul Thomas Environmental Management Services Ltd PO Box Ngaio Wellington telephone: Minister s Reasons for Direction Ministerial direction to refer the New Zealand Transport Agency s three notices of requirement and 15 resource consent applications for the Christchurch Southern Motorway Proposal (the matters) to a Board of Inquiry I consider that the matters lodged by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), being three notices of requirement and 15 resource consent applications relating to the construction, operation and maintenance of the Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 2 and Main South Road Four Laning proposal ( the matters ) are a proposal of national significance and under section 147 of the RMA direct those matters to be referred to a board of inquiry for decision. My reasons for directing the matters involved in the Christchurch Southern Motorway proposal to a board of inquiry are as follows: National Significance The matters proposed by NZTA are a proposal of national significance having given regard to the following relevant factors in section 142(3) of the RMA: The proposal has a total area of 124 hectares, and is likely to result in the significant use of natural and physical resources (section 142(3)(a)(i)). It will require approximately 1,035,000m3 of total fill for its construction. The estimated cost of physical works is $200 million and the proposal requires $100 million of property acquisition.

6 6 The proposal results or is likely to result in or contribute to significant or irreversible changes to the environment (including the global environment) (section 142(3)(a)(v)), through the addition of a motorway to the largely rural environment with large structural and elevated components. The proposal will assist the Crown in fulfilling its public health, welfare, security, or safety obligations or functions (section 142(3)(a)(viii)). This proposal is likely to assist with opening up and connecting Lyttelton port to the south of Christchurch City and improve access to Christchurch CBD, the International Airport and the Port of Lyttelton. It is expected to contribute to the reduction in congestion and improved road safety in the wider Christchurch Southern Corridor. The proposal provides for an alternative route for through-traffic with direct access to the industrial areas in Hornby, the south of Christchurch and the Port of Lyttelton. As the proposal traverses the boundaries of Christchurch City and Selwyn District and also falls within the jurisdiction of the Canterbury Regional Council, it affects or is likely to affect more than 1 region or district and relates to a network utility operation that extends or is proposed to extend to more than 1 district or region (sections 142(3)(a)(ix) and 142(3)(a)(x)). Two of the local authorities Selwyn District Council and Christchurch City Council are of the view that the proposal is of national significance. Canterbury Regional Council does not have a view on the national significance of the proposal. Direction to a Board of Inquiry Before reaching my decision to direct the Christchurch Southern Motorway proposal to be referred to a board of inquiry for decision I considered the following relevant factors: The Environmental Protection Authority recommendation that I refer the matter to a board of inquiry. That the Government has signalled through the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding 2012, seven Roads of National Significance (RoNS) that are critical to support New Zealand s economic growth aspirations. The Christchurch Southern Motorway proposal is part of one of those RoNS. Directing this proposal to a board of inquiry for a decision recognises the importance the Government has placed on this infrastructure project. The board of inquiry process will provide for a comprehensive assessment of the notices of requirement and resource consent applications within a streamlined process. NZTA began preparing for the Christchurch Southern Motorway proposal prior to the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes. However as a result of these earthquakes there is emphasis on residential development for the southwest of Christchurch (such as Rolleston, Prebbleton and Halswell) and therefore a timely decision on this proposal is important. The board of inquiry process will provide greater certainty for all parties to the application as a decision is required within nine months. The Environment Court or the relevant local authorities are not subject to this timeframe.

7 7 The views of the applicant and the relevant local authorities that would have processed and decided the matters if I had not directed the matters to be referred to a board of inquiry for decision; and The capacity of those relevant local authorities. Dated at Wellington this 2nd day of December 2012 Hon Amy Adams Minister for the Environment The matters Selwyn District Council Notices of requirement applied for under Selwyn District Council jurisdiction NSP 12/02.001: NSP 12/02.002: Notice of requirement for an alteration to designations in the Selwyn District (TR 1 and TR4) for the widening, upgrading, maintenance, operation, use and improvement of a State highway (Main South Road Four Laning Project), including associated works to the local road network, including new rear access roads, from the State Highway 1/Park Lane intersection at Rolleston to the proposed Christchurch Southern Motorway connection near Robinsons Road. Notice of requirement for a new designation for the construction, maintenance, operation, use and improvement of a State highway (the Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 2 Project), including associated works to the local road network, between the proposed Christchurch Southern Motorway connection near Robinsons Road to Marshs Road (Selwyn District/Christchurch City authority boundary). Resource consent applied for under Selwyn District Council jurisdiction NSP 12/02.003: Land use consent for sampling, disturbance and change of use of land containing contaminated or potentially contaminated soil where there is a potential risk to human health pursuant to Regulation 9 of the Resource Management (National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health) Regulations 2011 (SR 2011/361). Christchurch City Council Notice of requirement applied for under Christchurch City Council jurisdiction NSP 12/02.004: Notice of requirement for a new designation for the construction, maintenance, operation, use and improvement of a State highway (the Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 2 Project), including associated works to the local road network, between Marshs Road (Selwyn District/Christchurch City authority boundary) to the end of the Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 1 at Halswell Junction Road.

8 8 Resource consent applied for under Christchurch City Council jurisdiction NSP 12/02.005: Land use consent for sampling, disturbance and change of use of land containing contaminated or potentially contaminated soil where there is a potential risk to human health pursuant to Regulation 9 of the Resource Management (National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health) Regulations 2011 (SR 2011/361). Resource consents applied for under Canterbury Regional Council jurisdiction NSP 12/02.006: NSP 12/02.007: NSP 12/02.008: NSP 12/02.009: NSP 12/02.010: NSP 12/02.011: Land use consent for excavation of land over an unconfined, semi-confined and coastal confined gravel aquifer where excavation is either deeper than 5m or deeper than the highest groundwater level and in the coastal confined gravel aquifer where there is less than one metre of undisturbed material between the base of the excavation and the aquifer; and volume is greater than 100m3 (e.g. at the Robinsons Road overpass, where the local road passes under the highway; and the Halswell Junction Road stormwater detention ponds). This consent is sought generally across the designated area and will apply to other areas within the designation where these situations arise. Land use consent for deposition of fill of more than 50m3 over an unconfined, semi-confined and coastal confined gravel aquifer where land is excavated to a depth of 5m or deeper and groundwater is less than 30m below ground level (e.g. the deposition of fill associated with soak pits and treatment ponds). This consent is sought generally across the designated area and will apply to areas within the designation where these situations arise. Land use consent for hazardous substance use and storage during construction. Land use consent for earthworks within the riparian margin adjacent to upper part of the Knights Stream. Land use consent for the disturbance / reclamation of former stream bed in the upper part of the Knights Stream. Land use consent for the construction and use of bores generally within the proposal designation area and for all land adjoining the proposed designation, including: Investigation and monitoring bores; Bore/infiltration facilities related to the Robinsons Road overpass and Halswell Junction Road ponds (dewatering facilities); and Domestic and stockwater bore relocation. NSP 12/02.012: Water permit for diversion and take of water from water races at the following locations: Weedons Ross Road (north side); Weedons Ross Road (south side); Main South Road;

9 9 Robinsons Road; North of Robinsons Road; Waterholes Road; Trents Road; Marshs Road; Springs Road; Halswell Junction Road (Montgomery s drain); and John Paterson Drive. NSP 12/02.013: NSP 12/02.014: NSP 12/02.015: NSP 12/02.016: NSP 12/02.017: NSP 12/02.018: Water permit for taking groundwater as required (dependant on groundwater levels) at Robinsons Road and the Halswell Junction Road ponds. Discharge permit for discharge of stormwater to land during construction and operation. Global consent is sought for the discharge to land via swales, soak pits, ponds and siphons throughout the proposal designation area. Discharge permit for discharge of stormwater from the stormwater treatment facilities to water (Montgomery s Drain and other water race locations within the proposal designation area) during extreme groundwater and/or rainfall events. Discharge permit for the discharge of water and contaminants to surface water associated with dewatering (Montgomery s Drain, Knights Stream and a stockwater race at Robinsons Road). Discharge permit for discharge of water and contaminants to land associated with dewatering at Robinsons Road. Discharge permit for discharge of dust to air during construction from earthworks and construction activities. Sarah Gardner General Manager, Applications and Assessment Under delegation of the Environmental Protection Authority