Better Field Days access planned for 2009

Kaipara District Council is working with Northland Field Days organisers and local residents to have the 2009 Field Days served by a three lane sealed access road to avoid traffic delays which caused problems at this year’s event.

The 2008 Field Days were the first at the event’s new site, accessed from Awakino Point East Road, and the 500 metres of two lane road produced hold-ups which led to Transit New Zealand insisting on improved traffic management for 2009.

To ensure the vitally important event’s continuity Council plans to widen and seal the first 500 metres of Awakino Point East Road to provide three lanes of traffic; allowing two in and one out when traffic is arriving and the reverse when most is leaving. The work will involve filling one roadside drain and piping the water to the other side and moving a number of power poles. Also, Field Days organisers are looking at ways of improving traffic flows at the site’s entrances.

Council has budgeted its share of the cost in the current year’s Annual Plan and will seek the balance from “R Funds”; derived from a fuel tax and to be used for regionally important projects. This requires agreement from all Northland councils and the Regional Land Transport Committee.

At the same time Kaipara District Council and 17 landowners on Awakino Point East Road have reached an agreement for them to contribute the $160,000 local share to seal the remainder of the road beyond the Field Days’ entrance. To proceed this will require New Zealand Land Transport Agency subsidy.

“Our engineering advice is that the road can be sealed by next year’s Field Days but the priority will be to get the widening done.” says West Coast/Central councillor Julie Geange who is rapt at the outcome and the willingness of residents to contribute. “It is a model example of how the community and Council can work together for the benefit of everyone.”

The planned upgrade has been warmly welcomed by Northland Field Days President David Phillips. “We are extremely grateful to Kaipara District Council for their proactive approach to the upgrading of Awakino Point East Road and to the residents who have been very supportive throughout the consultation process with the Council,” Mr Phillips says. “The sealing of the road provides benefits to all; the Northland Field Days, residents and indeed everyone who uses this road.”

Awakino Point East Road resident Don Thomas doesn’t want to get too excited until the subsidy is obtained to ensure the sealing goes ahead. However he says it was great to see all the residents realise this is probably the only chance to get the road sealed, then join together and give what they could to make the project proceed.