Transport / Roading

Maps showing the routes – Source: Google Maps (an excellent resource for accurate navigation and planning).

The current application does not require truck drivers to avoid transiting through Cambridge or to cover their loads. The Applicant states in the application that they do not have control over truck drivers once they leave the site.

The routes shown below, taken from Google Maps, highlight some of the logical paths the trucks are likely to take. The shortest, safest, and most cost-effective route is through Carters Flat and Victoria Street in Cambridge, en route to Hamilton, Auckland, and other destinations.

Furthermore, in previous quarry consents involving Fulton Hogan, most transport conditions placed upon them were later appealed and removed after the consent was granted. Refer to this case for more details: Fulton Hogan Appeals Conditions Over Operating New Quarry.

Transport route 1 - Quarry location to the North including Hamilton, Auckland etc (through Carters Flat & Victoria St)

Transport route 2 - Quarry location to the TA area (via Shakespeare) and the rubber roundabout

Transport route 3- Quarry location to Tauranga

Transport route 4 - Proposed by Fulton Hogan (via Hydro Road turnaround) - Hamilton

Distance Comparisons

- Route 1 (Fastest/Shortest to Hamilton via Cambridge): 29.9 km each way (59.8 km round trip)
- Route 4 (Longer via Hydro Road Turnaround): 37.6 km each way (75.2 km round trip)

Difference:
An additional 7.7 km each way or 15.4 km for a round trip via Hydro Road (as suggested by Fulton Hogan).

Cost Impact:

15.4 km x NZ$4/km = $61.60 in additional travel costs (excluding additional time) per load/trip if using the longer Hydro Road route instead of the shorter, faster option through Cambridge town – making it impractical due to the added cost, time, distance, and risk.

Other Concerns:

1. Inconsistent Numbers:
Fulton Hogan has presented figures that contradict their own application, sometimes significantly reducing the actual numbers.

2. Incorrect Traffic Routes:
The proposed traffic routes do not match real-world navigation, such as Google Maps, which does not even list Hydro Road as an available option.

3. Contradictory Arguments:
They emphasize that the resource must be local, yet propose transporting materials to Tauranga, which is over an hour away.

4. Dangerous Route Proposal:
One suggested route involves a U-turn on SH1 at Hydro Road for northbound trucks, adding unnecessary distance, time, and risk. This section of SH1 is a known high-risk zone where trucks would merge directly into traffic without a safe merging lane. Watch the video below to see how hazardous this area is.

5. Lack of Control Over Third-Party Trucks:
Once trucks leave the site, Fulton Hogan has no control over third-party contractors. These contractors will likely choose the most cost-effective routes, regardless of safety concerns or community impact.

6. Previous Appeals on Trucking Restrictions: Fulton Hogan recently appealed restrictions on truck movements under previous consents. You can refer to the case here: Fulton Hogan Appeals Conditions Over Operating New Quarry.

These appeals included:

Condition 40 (traffic routing) and
Condition 43(d) and (e) (not requiring loads to be covered).

These conditions were appealed after the consent was granted.

Additionally, new traffic forecasting tools are available that could have been used for more accurate planning, but these have not been suggested or implemented. These tools utilize real-time data sharing from vehicles, which is readily accessible today, the below short video shows what these systems can do: