MACKAYS TO PEKA PEKA EXPRESSWAY

People live on the Kapiti Coast for a reason, its tranquillity.  Its a lovely beach side town of about 50,000 people, spanning from Paekakariki to Otaki.  The beaches here are beautiful, and living in such a small town lends itself a feeling of almost being on permanent holiday.  Which leads me to the question of why would people want that to be ruined by a motor way being built through the very heart of this wonderful town.
I lived here for 6 years as a teenager, and after the last earthquake in Christchurch, it was the only other place in NZ that felt like home, so decided to settle here once again.  Now when I lived here as a teenager the battle was already raging as to whether this highway should be allowed here, and 12 years on since I left and returned, the same argument is being fought. 
This entire debacle has reached all of New Zealand through the news.  My grandfather in Christchurch has text me several times to find out what it is all about.  So for those of you interested please take a look at the website for the transport agency.  It lays out the information as the transport agency sees it.  Of course being a government agency they do their best to pain it in a positive light.  The main part of concern for those of us in Kapiti is the MacKays to Peka Peka Expressway, which according to the picture provided in the latest information pack received in the mail, shows that it cuts right through the middle of our town.


That blue circle that I have drawn is where my house is, the proposed highway is almost right on top of my home.  Now why on god’s green earth would I want the noise of a motorway to be almost on top of me.  This place is peaceful, beautiful and green, the last thing we need is the pollution of traffic clogging up what we have here!
Next year applications for consents will be publicly notified and the public will have their opportunity to make their submissions. 
In 2013, if the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) give their consent then the construction can begin.  It may seem like a long time to have our say, but the months pass quick.  We as a people need to have our say!  We can’t let this go ahead and potentially ruin what the stunning Kapiti coast has to offer, by allowing a motorway to cut it in half through the middle.
Please sign the petition that is being run by Alliance for Sustainable Kapiti (ASK) and make sure you attend all the upcoming expo meetings.  Please also visit the ASK site for Save Kapiti.