Public Private Sector Partnership could see Auckland’s Western Ring Route Completed Before 2012

“The Auckland western ring route linking Manukau to the northern western motorway via Mt Roskill and Avondale could be completed within 7 years”, said Stephen Selwood Chief Executive of the NZ Council for Infrastructure Development, “- even though the Auckland Regional Transport Committee has deferred its construction beyond 10 years through lack of funding.”

“New Zealand simply cannot afford to continually defer projects of national importance. The social, environmental and economic costs to the nation are simply too great”, he said.

“If we can’t fund critical infrastructure through public funds, the obvious alternative is to follow the Australian model where major capital works projects are jointly funded and managed through private public partnerships.”

“You only have to compare the lack of progress in Auckland where it takes more than a decade to construct a small motorway link with what they’re doing in Sydney.”

“The 40 kilometre M7 Western Sydney Orbital motorway will be completed as a toll road within 5 years from the time of the original environmental impact assessment through to construction.”

“The project's Environmental Impact Statement went on public exhibition from 8 January to 5 March 2001. On 28 February 2002, the NSW Minister for Infrastructure and Planning approved the project. In February 2003, the WestLink Motorway Limited consortium entered an agreement with the Roads & Traffic Authority to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain Westlink M7 motorway. The Federal Government is contributing $356 million towards the construction of the link with the remainder of the cost being met by the private sector. The road is due to open in 2006.”

“The solutions for Auckland are really quite obvious. If there isn’t enough central government funding for both public transport and roading improvements it’s time to look at alternative approaches like the Australians have done”, Mr Selwood said.

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