Media Release

3rd August 2012

Dr. Grant Gillon, Member Kaipatiki Board

Auckland Transport Back Tracks on Board Projects.

“The latest transport budget allocation to Kaipatiki Local Board will be welcomed by our community." said Kaipatiki Local Board member Grant Gillon today. “It shows that the Auckland Council has listened to our community’s concerns.”

“However, this process would have been unnecessary if the original projects had been retained as agreed by the Kaipatiki Local Board, thus avoiding a great deal of angst and concern in the community." said Kaipatiki Local Board member Grant Gillon today.

The Kaipatiki Local Board will now receive $579,516 (under the new arrangement) over and above the reduced Auckland Transport budget advised earlier this year.

This amount should result in approximately $5.79 million over ten years, about the same amount ripped from the Kaipatiki Local Board budget in June.

Back in June, the Kaipatiki Local Board was shocked to learn that important local projects had been slashed without consultation by Auckland Transport.

These were budgets for Highbury Town Centre and Glenfield Town Centre projects (including
the Glenfield bus terminal) the Northcote ferry terminal upgrade, and the Beach Haven ferry project.

“The Strategy and Finance Committee considered the 'Allocation of Auckland Transport’s capital budget to Local Board priorities' report at its meeting yesterday and approved a local board allocation fund.” said Grant Gillon today.

The Committee resolved that the $10 million per annum of Auckland Transport capital funding be allocated to local boards on the basis of the population of their respective board areas, (Gt Barrier and Waiheke Islands Boards have different arrangements). This formula provides Kaipatiki with $579,516 per annum.

“I urge Auckland Transport to reinstate the Beach Haven ferry project, at its meeting this coming Monday, as a sign of good faith to the Kaipatiki community” said Grant Gillon today.

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