Acquiring the land for the Welcome Bay underpass, including eight Hammond Street homes, is the focus of a hearing at Tauranga City Council today.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is seeking a Notice of Requirement to proceed with the land purchase process to attain land to build the underpass linking Hairini and Welcome Bay.

The new Hammond Street intersection to Welcome Bay.

Eight Hammond Street homes, the Welcome Bay Scout Hall, and a vacant hillside and gully are the properties affected.

The house sites will be buried under the embankment that will bring the road down the hill from the underpass to the new intersection and new bridge that crosses the Kaitemako Stream, and continues across the site now occupied by the scout hall.

The city council planner has recommended approval of the Notice of Requirement.

The two day hearing begins today, Independent Hearings Commissioner Greg Hill is expected to announce his decision after 15 working days.

There are four submissions opposing the underpass. Des Heke, Kaitiaki Tangata Whenua, opposes the mixing of stormwater from the proposed collecting pond into the Kaitemako Stream, and siting the pond in view of the urupa. He wants the pond relocated outside of the natural waterway surrounding the urupa.

Angela and Grant Miller from Langstone Street are challenging the whole reasoning for the underpass, saying the population is not large enough to warrant it and there are no traffic issues even during peak periods.

Hammond Street resident Christine Dean protests the loss of the neighbourhood, the affect it will have on her property value and that there is inadequate visual and landscape management.

Eris Hussey at Awanui Place says the road could instead follow the coastal reserve, re-joining Welcome Bay Road near the dairy. It would require the taking of only one council owned property.