In May 2025 the Long Bay Residents’ Association (LBRA) attended a Hibiscus and Bays Local Board (HBLB) meeting where Auckland Transport (AT) presented updated plans for Vaughans Road remediation in order to remove the road closure at #189.
Please Have Your Say at Vaughans Road, Okura – Safety Improvements and Proposed Reopening or attend the Community Information Sessions:
- Tuesday 10 June, 6:00–8:00 PM – Graceway Baptist Church, Okura
- Wednesday 11 June, 6:00–8:00 PM – Long Bay Primary School
This post is the 6th in a series – see links to prior posts at the bottom of this article.
The plan focuses on seven areas of localised widening to meet a budget of approximately $2.6 million with two additional areas added due to additional funding of around $600,000 from the Local Board Capital Transport Fund. Internal consultation took place between March and June 2025. Community consultation is taking place now in June 2025 with AT then presenting designs and plans to the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board in July 2025. The goal is for the budget to be available July 2025 – 2026 for construction, dependent on consultation feedback and other aspects. The road will be closed until construction is complete. The AT provided documents with details are attached to this post.
This is a further positive step towards re-opening Vaughans Road, with improvements to allow for safer traffic movements, and this additional safe access has been planned since the Long Bay subdivision was proposed! However, the latest plan is still majorly scaled back from the prior presented options, with no change from prior updates:
- There are no shared paths (footpaths) and a bridleway is not included.
- Previously noted Pavement, Strength, Stormwater, Lighting and Speeds safety concerns are not mentioned, essentially just “Width” in five localised areas are addressed.
- Nothing is mentioned relating to the capped 3% maintenance allocation to the road surface despite the projected increase of traffic from ~691 to ~5,600+ vehicle movements per day.
- There are no road calming measures related to the formally reported undesirable vehicle activities of “boy racers”, which are expected to worsen once the road is opened to Piripiri Point Drive. There are separate ongoing discussions for these issues which are occurring on a regular basis.
- No relative impact/coordination is proposed in relation to the Glenvar Road/East Coast Road realignment project which is expected to start soon.
- No mention of legal considerations related to the Long Bay Structure Plan and required 4 access points to Long Bay.
- The background doesn’t mention the full project and plans from around 2015, nor the more comprehensive plans from May-2024 Options 1 and 2.
- The 18-24 months closure timeframe is not represented.
During the meeting the local board raised questions around:
- Background of the history including the specified four access points in LBSP, consultation on land purchases
- If any further issues were found during the project, on Okura and Vaughans Roads would there be any ability to use the Security fund to address any further items?
- Whether flexi-posts (“hit sticks”) could be put in place.
- Are the any funds available to address “boyracers” and illegal activity issues, e.g. funds that can be tapped into for speed calming measures.
- AT responded on speed limits: Road Safety Team from AT would review speed limits, with 60 and 50 kmph, and noted formal resolution from local board to be raised. Process to be worked through with HBLB.
- Re antisocial behaviour: AT confirmed the CCTV/Camera that is at the Closure point now would be able to be left there.
- A request for signage for rural / take care due to difference in roading would be reviewed by AT.
- The road corridor is within land corridor so no land purchases are needed.
- Road visibility improvements were noted as good to hear!
- Opening up the road will provide better access for schools, and for the new youth park, so there are likely to be more community activities (biking, walking), therefore need to see how that plays out with narrow roads, no footpaths etc.
- HBLB requested whether the output/details of the risk levels be shared – how many are being addressed, how many are being left unaddressed.
- HBLB requested for AT to provide the plan for Long Bay / Okura plan for community consultation. E.g. mail outs, meetings.
Please see the applicable minutes for any further details.
Community Action
Long Bay residents are called on to take action now!
- Have Your Say at Vaughans Road, Okura – Safety Improvements and Proposed Reopening
- Attend the Community Information Sessions:
- Tuesday 10 June, 6:00–8:00 PM – Graceway Baptist Church, Okura
- Wednesday 11 June, 6:00–8:00 PM – Long Bay Primary School
- Send your feedback by emailing ATEngagement@at.govt.nz with “Vaughans Road Closure” in the subject line and cc longbayra@gmail.com
- Support our feedback to HBLB and AT – email your interest to longbayra@gmail.com, let us know of any other residents and local organisations that could help.
- Be active and advocate for the causes that impact you:
- Join or donate to the LBRA at https://longbay.nz
- Share your ideas with residents: join the Long Bay Community Facebook Group
- Advocate for your community: Share your views with us at longbayra@gmail.com so we can represent your concerns.
Our community’s unity and involvement are essential as we navigate this situation together. Let’s work collaboratively to ensure our voices are heard and our neighbourhood remains vibrant and accessible for all.
The Seven Sections
For reference the seven sections for localised widening are as follows and in the prior image:
- Site 1: Intersection of Vaughans Road and Okura River Road. Proposal to widen the road, provide a flush median and localised patch repairs.
- Site 2: 59–69 Vaughans Road. Proposal to widen the road and provide a flush median.
- Site 3: 94–96 Vaughans Road. Proposal to widen the road, provide a flush median and new retaining wall on south side.
- Site 4: 124–159 Vaughans Road. Proposal to provide localised passing bays. This is the lowest priority of the five prioritised sites.
- Site 5: 173–189 Vaughans Road. Proposal to widen the road, provide a flush median and adjust levels of the road.
- Site 6: 5 – 59 Vaughans Road. Widening to fit a flush median and shoulders.
- Site 7: 110 – 120 Vaughans Road. Flattening the crest curve to aid visibility.
Related Posts
This post is the 6th in a series on the Vaughans Road Closure, you can find the prior posts here:
Vaughans Road Closure – Feb-2025 Update
Vaughans Road Closure – July-2024 Update
Vaughans Road Closure – May-2024 Update
Vaughans Road Upgrade – Call to Action – Sep 2023
Vaughans Road Closure – Aug 2023
Referenced Documents