Penlink is the nickname for a roading project that is to create a quicker route between the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and central Auckland in New Zealand. It would provide a second access off the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, and is claimed by some to be needed to unlocking large amounts of commercial land and to contribute up to $173 million to GDP during the build of the Penlink project and the estimated employment of more than 5000 jobs. It has been proposed variously to be a toll road, and then was envisaged to be paid for by a part of the income from a regional fuel tax[1] (which was then cancelled later by the National government).
The project's planning was originally being undertaken by Rodney District Council, Auckland Regional Council, and Transit New Zealand before 2010. With the creation of the Auckland Supercity on the 1st November 2010 the project now sits with the Auckland Council.
Penlink would connect Whangaparaoa Peninsula with State Highway 1 at Redvale, effectively connecting the urban area referred to as Hibiscus Coast and Bays, which is predicted to run from Waiwera south down the eastern coastline into Campbells Bay. Although Whangaparaoa is part of Metropolitan Auckland, no roads directly connect it with the rest; commuters have to leave the metropolitan limits to travel via Silverdale, further up the Northern Motorway.
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The proposed road is expected to disrupt the natural habitat of a range of species, and bring more housing and development to Whangaparaoa, considered by many to be a case of further spawl. For this reason a range of environmentalists are against the Penlink project and have threatened with protests. Greenpeace have confirmed that they have no official opinion on the Penlink project. Flax snails, or as they are locally known 'Pupuharakeke' is the mains snail species that will be affected. Before human settlement, these giant snails were once widespread around the top and near the east coast in Northland. However, all three species are no longer common and inhabit a more restricted area ofNorthland and nearby offshore islands.
A range of surveys conducted by the relevant council has indicated that there is a significant amount of groups that are against the construction of Penlink. The Forest Preservation Group Inc. are one of the main groups against Penlink. In their opinion, Penlink will use money that could be used to plant more trees and create more forests. These forests will provide natural habitats for indigenous species and decrease the carbon footprint of NZ.
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