13 October 2005

Rates in action on Auckland City's key projects

Substantial progress on key capital projects in the city was reported to the Finance and Corporate Business Committee today.

Chairperson of the committee, Councillor Vern Walsh, said such progress in the first two months of the financial year shows how Auckland city's rates are being put into action on the priorities facing the city.

"We are committed to providing value for money to ratepayers, and utilising rates to address the issues that Aucklanders have told us are important," said Mr Walsh.

Capital improvements ahead of schedule include:
* maintaining the city's pavements and roads to provide safe pedestrian environments
* introducing bus priorities to continue to make bus transport an attractive travel choice
* widening Fanshawe Street to support bus priorities from the North Shore
* a central transit corridor connecting Britomart with Newmarket
* a Remuera Road streetscape upgrade
* the Bowden Road floating litter boom, this is a coarse sediment and litter trap designed to reduce pollution from local industrialised catchments into the Tamaki river
* the Lunn Ave quarry redevelopment to provide housing and mixed-use development to accommodate 6000 people.

Auckland City collects $489 million from rates and other income that goes towards funding capital projects and keeping the city running.

Mr Walsh said limited funding and increased pressure on resources has meant the council has had to make some tough decisions to prioritise projects that require immediate attention.

"The council faces some major challenges ahead, for example decisions around the redevelopment of the Aotea Quarter and setting long-term plans for the next 10 years," said Mr Walsh.

"Our progress to date shows we're ready for that challenge."

ENDS

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