Client: Opus International / Eastern Transport Corridor Project Group

Date: March 2004

Author(s): Kel Sanderson, Mat Arcus, Dr Ganesh Nana, Jason Leung-Wai, Mark Goodchild

BERL completed a detailed investigation of the economic and strategic importance of the multi-modal Eastern Transport Corridor to Auckland and New Zealand. The investigation and analysis pursued most areas or objectives as required in the NZ Transport Strategy, and explored the international literature on urban density and agglomeration; and the partial decoupling effect of economic development from transport investment in the Corridor. In particular we investigated the complementary effects of urban transformation and multi-modal transport on the potential economic (and social) development.

The work includes detailed case studies in Glen Innes/Panmure, and in Manukau City, particularly the East Tamaki area, and development of Te Irirangi Drive and Te Rakau Drive as transit boulevards. The conclusion from the case studies was that the opportunity exists for GDP to be increased by $2 billion to $3 billion per annum by 2030 as a result of commitment to urban intensification and economic development around the Eastern Transport Corridor. (This is 1.5% to 2% of New Zealand’s current GDP.)

The study was a component of a range of studies, especially the Opus International design study. These contributed to the consideration by various regional committees.

BERL # 4297