Mayor Says Message Getting Through

Mayor John law and Councillor Bill Smith have left Wellington in no doubt about the importance of major roading and infrastructure projects to Rodney’s economy.

The pair have returned from Wellington after meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Michael Cullen, and inviting the new Minister of Transport, Annette King, to visit Rodney to see for herself the local roading issues commanding national attention.

Mr Law described the meeting with Dr Cullen as fruitful. He said the Deputy Prime Minister was clearly aware of the coverage given to local issues such as Warkworth’s Hill Street intersection and the importance of Penlink and the Northern Motorway on-ramps to Silverdale North development.

Mr Law says that up to $2 billion of existing and predicted development in the district was being stymied or delayed by a combination of intransigence, budget cut-backs and planning limitations by roading authorities and other groups. “Regardless of the reason for these delays, the fact of the matter is that urgent action is needed on such projects as Hill Street and Penlink,” says Mr Law.

“What I am getting now from our trips to Wellington is a growing acceptance of that. The National party has already agreed to build Penlink and take action on other projects, I am hopeful of a similar promise from the Labour Government.”

No firm date had been arranged for the planned visit to the district by the Minister of Transport, but Mr Law is hoping it will be soon.

“The Minister of Transport in the previous Labour Government promised a return visit by an incoming minister within six months of the election. That didn’t happen with David Parker. But, in Annette King we now have a new minister and I think she is going to be receptive to Rodney’s needs,” says Mr Law.

ENDS

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