Helicopter operations are underway to move gears required for geotechnical investigations to hard-to-access areas in the Penlink designation area.

PENLINK NEWSLETTER FOR DECEMBER 2021

Upcoming public consultation on tolling Penlink 

Waka Kotahi will soon seek public feedback on a proposal to toll Penlink.

Waka Kotahi assesses all new state highways for tolling and New Zealand Upgrade Programme roads like Penlink are no different.

Following the Government’s confirmation of Penlink as a proposed toll, two-lane road with a shared path for people walking and on bikes, Waka Kotahi has evaluated Penlink’s suitability as a toll road. Findings from the tolling assessment show that tolling Penlink would provide for safe and reliable journeys and reduce travel times with fewer carbon emissions.

Government funding for the Penlink project has been provided for the planning and construction of the project only, so the ongoing costs of maintaining and operating the road need to be found from other funding sources to ensure the road remains safe and resilient.

Tolling revenue from Penlink could be used to pay for maintenance and operations costs rather than seeking funding from the National Land Transport Fund, which is under increasing pressure.

The decision to seek consultation on tolling Penlink follows approval from the Minister of Transport on our proposal to consult with the public and Waka Kotahi Board approval on the tolling assessment.

Based on feedback from public consultation and technical tolling reports, the Government will make a decision on tolling Penlink. The decision making process for tolling Penlink may take more than a year. If the Government approves tolling Penlink, the tolling scheme would be in place when the road is open in 2026. 

Public consultation on tolling will be underway between Monday 17 January and Sunday 13 February 2022. More information on a proposed tolling scheme will soon be available on www.nzta.govt.nz/penlink.

If you or your groups want to know more or talk to us about the tolling proposal, please contact us at penlink@nzta.govt.nz or 0800 PENLINK to arrange an online meeting.

Waka Kotahi is committed to the Government’s pathway to a net zero-carbon land transport system by 2050.

Committing to reducing carbon emissions

Waka Kotahi is creating a transport system which supports growth, reduces emissions and keeps people safe. Our future network will support Auckland as it grows over the coming decades, providing real transport choice while reducing our impact on the planet.

One of the areas where Waka Kotahi can more immediately lower carbon emissions is through changes to construction of infrastructure projects like Penlink. Construction of infrastructure projects uses significant resources. Concrete, steel, asphalt, and fuel used in earthworks are the biggest sources of emissions from building transport projects. Penlink is the first Waka Kotahi project to foster a new approach to lowering carbon emissions created through construction. The contract to build the project, which is currently in the tender phase, will include a financial incentive for meeting a carbon reduction target.

Empowering the industry to use their expertise to tackle this issue is key, so we will work with our partners and suppliers to innovate and come up with ways to lower emissions by at least ten per cent. As part of the tender process, the candidates are particularly encouraged to look for ways to make even greater reductions in carbon emissions from steel, aggregate, bitumen and concrete.

Waka Kotahi is committed to working with the Government, the industry, communities and our iwi partners to make the changes needed on the Government’s pathway to a net zero-carbon land transport system by 2050.

As Procurement Lead for Penlink, Johann helps to take our partners and suppliers on this new and exciting journey together with us through a fair and transparent procurement process.

Introducing Johann Steyl

As Procurement Lead for Penlink, Johann Steyl is responsible for managing the tender process to select a preferred candidate that will build the new road and shared use path for people walking and on bikes.

Johann works with many transport planners, environmental specialists and project managers to develop the contract specifications and requirements to deal with Penlink’s challenging landscape and soil conditions as well as building the bridge crossing over the Weiti River.
Now the tender is underway, Johann is busy responding to many technical inquiries from the shortlisted candidates while managing the tender process. He will also be involved in assessing the final tender proposals.

“The tender process for Penlink is a critical step for the candidates to develop their construction plans and high-level design works. It’s also a dynamic process that integrates many Waka Kotahi principles and the aspirations of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme for the future. The tender process has created a platform to take our partners and suppliers on this new and exciting journey together with us,” says Johann.

The shortlisted candidates will submit their proposals by February 2022. Waka Kotahi will then select a preferred candidate and form an Alliance mid-2022 to progress detailed design and start construction.

Penlink is part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, the Government’s $8.7 billion investment in growing areas across the country. Communities can look forward to transport improvements that provide more travel choices, help people get where they’re going safely and grow our economy, while responding to the impacts of travel on the environment.

ABOUT PENLINK

Penlink will form a vital connection for north Auckland, linking the Whangaparāoa Peninsula with wider Auckland. The 7km road will offer greater transport capacity and travel choice and support planned growth in Silverdale, Dairy Flat and the Hibiscus Coast in the decades to come.

The two-lane road with a shared use path for people walking and on bikes will also provide surrounding communities more sustainable transport choices by supporting better transport access and providing a safer journey.

Penlink is part of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, the Government’s $8.7 billion investment in growing areas across the country. Communities can look forward to transport improvements that provide more travel choices, help people get where they’re going safely and grow our economy, while responding to the impacts of travel on the environment.

Thank you!

It has been another challenging year for New Zealanders with COVID-19. However, our partners, stakeholders and the community have remained resilient and provided continuing support for the project.

We want to thank you for your guidance and will come back with more updates on project progress in 2022 when a lot of actions are scheduled including construction start!

Please visit our webpage for the updates. You can also check out our lastest visual update on the helicopter operations at nzta.govt.nz/projects/penlink/visual-updates.

Thank you again and we wish you a Happy Holiday season!

Contact us

For more information, please contact us at penlink@nzta.govt.nz or 0800 PENLINK (0800 7365 465).

You can also visit www.nzta.govt.nz/penlink for general information on Penlink and to subscribe our e-updates.