Wednesday, 14 December 2016

Mayor Goff backs down on election promise

Just one month into the new Phil Goff mayoralty and already he will be disappointing his followers with what appears to be a back down on his strong position on the hustings that he would force the Ports of Auckland to stop using the wharf for motor vehicle importation and relocate that business to North Port.

In his Letter of Expectation to the Chair and Board of Auckland Investments Limited, the Council Controlled Organisation which owns and manages the Councils investment in the Ports of Auckland, he directs ACIL to “investigate with the Ports and any other relevant parties on how the adverse impact of motor vehicles stored on the wharves can be reduced or eliminated.”

Mayor Goff seems to have had a change of heart in regards to the motor vehicle imports into Auckland according to Councillor Dick Quax.

“He now appears to be saying to the Port, it’s OK to have cars there but just make it look pretty”

“He’s promised to keep rates increases to no more than 2.5 per cent and he must now realise that the Council’s income from the Ports of Auckland is fundamental to keeping his rating promises.

If the used car business goes to North Port, as suggested by Mayor Goff that will trim millions of dollars off the dividend that the Port pays to the Auckland Council and helps keep rates down. Moreover, there is a flow on effect to the wider Auckland economy. Thousands of jobs mostly in South Auckland rely on the used motor vehicle industry and it brings millions of dollars to a part of the region that badly needs an economic boost”.

The mayor has clearly come to see the impracticality of his election promise.

Ends

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