Input from people who live in the community this motorway goes through is an important part of ensuring this project meets the needs of its community. Waka Kotahi is committed to working with the community to find the most appropriate outcomes for CSM2.
Effective consultation would not be possible without community participation – so thanks to all those who have been involved.
Consultation overview
We started consulting with the community on route options for this project in August 2010. In August 2011, we ran a second round of consultation on the chosen route for the motorway. The project then went through consenting in 2013 using an Environmental Protection Authority process before a Board of Inquiry. The public where invited to make submissions and a hearing was held in July 2013. During 2014/15 we will continue to work with affected parties to fine tune the design.
Throughout this project, we have listened to and analysed all the community feedback we received. We have also worked closely with affected land owners and key stakeholders like the local councils and community, business and advocacy groups. Then after considering all the ideas and views we made changes where safety, function and resources would allow.
Thank you to all those people who took the time to provide feedback.
Consultation in 2014–2015
While the route and alignment had been decided, the detailed designed phase allowed us to still work on the details of individual project components and work closely with affected parties, to find the most appropriate solutions to concerns.
Cultural Advisory Group
A Cultural Advisory Group (CAG) has been established with representatives from local rūnanga to provide a tangata whenua perspective and cultural advice to the project team as the design of the project develops.
Consenting process/Board of Inquiry – 2013
We lodged the consent and designation applications for this project with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) as a proposal of national significance and The former Minster for the Environment (Hon. Amy Adams) directed the application to a board of enquiry. The EPA notified this proposal publicly and invited submissions early in 2013. As part of this process members of the public could make a submission and be heard at a public hearing. This hearing was held over 6 days between Monday 1 July and Tuesday 16 July 2013. The Board of Inquiry then prepared a draft report and the decision, which was released in September 2013 and in November 2013 the Board of Inquiry approved the NZ Transport Agency’s application for the Christchurch Southern Motorway Stage 2 project.
We also asked the EPA to appoint an independent “Friend of the submitter” to help people understand the submission process and to guide them through it. Their role was purely advisory and not to comment on the merits of the proposal.
Read more about the EPA(external link)
Consultation activities carried out earlier in the project
Phase 2: August–September 2011
Based on project work and the feedback we received a route for the new section of motorway (CSM2) was chosen that is located almost entirely within our original study corridor. The alignments can be viewed on the October 2010 map.
View the October 2010 map [PDF, 569 KB]
For Main South Road, it was decided to widen the road to the west (towards the existing railway).
A newsletter was distributed to all stakeholders and local residents at the beginning of August 2011.
Read the consultation newsletters (external link)
During this phase there was an opportunity to provide feedback on aspects of the project at three project Open Days held on 24, 26 and 27 August. The open days also allowed more detailed information to be displayed. Feedback could also be given online from 24 August to 16 September 2011.
Open day resources
- Timeline for the project [PDF, 42 KB]
- Noise [PDF, 2.3 MB]
- Groundwater [PDF, 2.3 MB]
- Stormwater [PDF, 5.2 MB]
- Landscape design [PDF, 6.8 MB]
- Key feedback [PDF, 6.4 MB] from the consultation held in Oct-Dec 2010.
(This phase 2 of consultation was delayed because of the Canterbury Earthquakes.)
This was because many Christchurch residents were not in a position after the earthquake to devote time to responding to a consultation - and we wanted to make sure everyone had an opportunity to have their say.
Earlier information on phase 1 of the consultation for this project – October–December 2010
Phase 1 of the consultation for the project closed on 13 December 2010. This consultation focused on the broad alignment and design options for the motorway.
A high level of interest was shown in the project from the community, with approximately 280 parties providing their feedback. There was also excellent attendance at the three project Open Days (held on 5 and 6 November and 2 December).
Waka Kotahi would like to thank the community for their feedback and for visiting the three open days. Feedback is valuable to the project and all the feedback was summarised and analysed, with key points taken to influence the project design. All those who provided feedback were acknowledged in early 2011.
Earlier information on the development of and consultation on this project
A Southern Motorway has been proposed in some form for many years. Most recently in 2002 to 2007, it was part of the work done in the ‘Christchurch, Rolleston and Environs Transport Study’ (CRET) which, looked at the long-term transport needs for areas south and west of Christchurch.
The general route for this new motorway was identified through this study.
Waka Kotahi then investigated a number of alternative alignments for the motorway in a strategic study and consulted with potentially affected parties in 2009. As a result of the strategic study, two alignment options were progressed as potential routes for Stage 2 of the Christchurch Southern Corridor – the Northern Alignment Option and the Southern Alignment Option.
