North Auckland is growing fast. Areas identified for future urban growth in Silverdale, Dairy Flat, Wainui and Ōrewa are expected to accommodate 41,000 new homes, 22,000 new jobs and 110,000 new residents in the future. 

To support future urban growth, a well-designed integrated transport network for North Auckland is needed. We’re proposing long-term transport projects to help everyone move around safely, easily and sustainably, whether they’re walking, cycling, using public transport or driving.

We’re planning now because it’s important to protect the land needed to build new transport projects over the next  30 or more years as development occurs. It is anticipated they will be considered for funding in line with the long-term timeframes for the rezoning and release of land by Auckland Council.

To guide our planning, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency outlined a long-term strategic transport network in 2019. It was developed with community consultation and contains options for local and longer distance trips to create a low-carbon transport system for North Auckland. Since then, the project team has investigated a number of preferred options for corridors within the network.

Key features of the long-term transport network for North Auckland: 

• Improved access to jobs and social facilities
• Reliable access for the movement of people and goods
• Provide travel choices to encourage a shift to active modes (walking and cycling) and public transport
• Provide a safe transport system for all users
• Ensure the transport network is well integrated with the land use.

Our planning work will integrate with Auckland Council’s land use plans including the draft Spatial Land Use Strategy for Dairy Flat and Silverdale and the Silverdale West Dairy Flat Industrial Area Structure Plan(external link) to support future growth for these areas. 

Auckland Council also consulted on their Future Development Strategy (FDS) from 6 June 2023 to 31 July 2023. The FDS aims to provide long term guidance on how the Council plans for the location and timing of urban development and the timing and sequencing of infrastructure to support development. The FDS seeks to provide a long-term strategy for growth that responds to factors such as climate change and natural hazards.  

Our decision to lodge is aligned with Auckland Councils officers’ recommendation on the FDS to retain Future Urban Zoning (FUZ) in North Auckland.

You can find out more about the FDS here:

https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/future-development-strategy

What long-term projects are we proposing?

Notices of Requirement have been lodged to protect land for the following future strategic transport projects:

1. A new Rapid Transit Corridor (RTC) between Albany and Milldale, including new walking and cycling path
2. New stations at Milldale and Pine Valley East with associated facilities. The RTC will provide the opportunity for future stations once more detailed planning of the future urban area has been undertaken.
3. Improvements to State Highway 1 (SH1) between Albany and Ōrewa
4. New SH1 crossing at Dairy Stream – providing a new east-west crossing of SH1
5. New connection between Milldale and Grand Drive
6. Upgrade to Pine Valley Road between the rural urban boundary and Argent Lane
7. Upgrade to Dairy Flat Highway between Silverdale and Dairy Flat
8. Upgrade to Dairy Flat Highway between Dairy Flat and Albany
9. Upgrade to Wainui Road between Lysnar Road and SH1.
10. New connection between Dairy Flat Highway and Wilks Road
11. Upgrade and extension to Bawden Road
12. Upgrade to East Coast Road between Silverdale and Ō Mahurangi Penlink (Redvale) Interchange

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