Media Release
Vic for Mayor

07 September 2016

The rest of Auckland waits, and gets charged under Goff

Auckland Mayoral Candidate, Vic Crone, says Phil Goff’s uncosted light-rail policy is another city-centric transport project, while the rest of Auckland waits desperately for investment.

She says Goff has taken his emphasis off rail to the airport, and like Len Brown, turned his focus and Auckland’s investment to the central city.

“Like it or lump it, we’ve already got a large investment focus in the city through the Central Rail Link project and we are still waiting for the final price tag,” says Vic Crone.

“In the meantime the rest of Auckland waits, even for basic footpaths and proper bus services. Now Phil Goff wants to add a whole new and expensive transport mode immediately for central areas.

“He’s gambling Aucklanders’ money on light rail with a business case full of holes, and in an area along Dominion Road without intensification plans to support it.

“The full cost for the central light rail project is actually $3.7bn and it doesn’t factor in affordability or how technology changes will affect what public transport looks like in the future.”*

In terms of funding, Crone says increased petrol and congestion charging should be out of the question when there isn’t a good public transport system in place and many have no option but to use their cars.“Schemes introduced internationally have been against a backdrop of much lower car use and high public transport usage - as in London with 86 per cent using public transport to get into the city,” says Ms Crone.

“Auckland is nowhere near that point. Additionally, Treasury modelling shows those who are worst off with congestion charges would be the very people who have no other transport choice, incurring charges of over $2,200 per year (or just over 2 per cent of the average household income).

“I have a comprehensive plan for a world class integrated transport system with a diverse mix of funding that takes pressure off ratepayers and taxpayers.

"My plan includes bringing forward seven key projects right across Auckland, making it easier to use public transport, and taking advantage of innovation and technology to get cars off our road and our network working smoothly.

“Phil Goff needs to tell the rest of Auckland how long they will wait while he fusses about the city, and how much he will charge them while they wait.”

*Aurecon, Project: Auckland Central Access Plan Peer Review, April 2016. It states "Affordability has not been considered. The scale of this investment means that it is likely to be a consideration" and “affordability should be addressed as soon as possible.

ENDS

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