Official Information Act Request – Melanesia Road Resurfacing

Dear Auckland Transport,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request all information relating to the recent resealing of Melanesia Road, St Heliers, which was surfaced with chipseal despite being a busy bus route and arterial road.

Melanesia Road connects to other asphalt roads, carries scheduled bus services, and is heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists. I am seeking to understand the engineering, safety, environmental, and policy basis for the decision to use chipseal on this section of road.

Specifically, I request the following information:

The reasons chipseal was selected rather than asphalt for the resurfacing.

Any policies, guidelines, or engineering standards regarding surfacing types for roads carrying buses or acting as arterial routes.

Traffic volume data, including bus volumes and heavy vehicle counts, used to determine the appropriate surfacing.

Any lifecycle cost comparisons, maintenance modelling, or budget assessments comparing chipseal and asphalt.

Expected lifespan of the chipseal compared with asphalt under similar traffic conditions.

Any safety, pedestrian, cyclist, bus-operation, or heavy vehicle assessments undertaken prior to resurfacing.

Assessments of noise, vibration, dust, or environmental impacts associated with the chipseal.

Criteria or thresholds used to determine when roads carrying buses should be asphalt rather than chipseal.

Classification of Melanesia Road within Auckland Transport’s road hierarchy (arterial, collector, bus corridor, etc.) and how this influenced the resurfacing decision.

Any internal reports, engineering advice, or recommendations prepared regarding the resurfacing.

All internal communications, including emails, meeting notes, or memos, relating to the decision.

Any engineering recommendations prepared prior to the decision, including whether asphalt was considered or recommended.

Any documents indicating whether budget constraints or cost-saving measures influenced the decision.

Any assessments or engineering advice regarding stormwater runoff, drainage capacity, gravel loss(gravel is likely to go into drainage system with heavy downpours as the road is in a valley), dust, and noise, including how heavy rainfall events and impacts on pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles (e.g., gravel causing damage to brakes or other vehicle components) were considered in the decision.

Time frame: 1 January 2022 to present

If any of the requested information is withheld, please cite the specific section of the Official Information Act 1982 relied upon.

I would appreciate receiving the information electronically if possible.

Kind regards,

Donna