12 December 2000
Transport / Environment Reporter
Transit jumps the gun with massive new Auckland roading plan
Auckland Green MP Keith Locke today said that Transit NZ was jumping the gun by announcing massive new spending before
the government had revamped its transport funding strategy. Transit today unveiled their Auckland State Highway Strategy
which allocates $1 billion of spending for new roading projects in Auckland over the next 10 years.
"Somehow the government can afford $1 billion for new roads, while it turns a deaf ear the cry of Auckland local bodies
for financial assistance to develop a suburban rail network," said Mr Locke, who is the party's spokesperson on Auckland
transport issues.
"The government should ask Transit to defer its roading plans until it announces the new criteria for Transfund funding
of transport. The Minister of Transport has stated that public transport infrastructural spending will be easier under
the new criteria.
"Why blow $1 billion dollars now, when much of this money may be needed to solve Auckland's public transport crisis. If
we can get Aucklanders out of their cars, there won't be the same need for new motorway spending.
"New motorways will quickly be used by a rapidly expanding Auckland population. Just as quickly they will become
congested and the number of cars entering downtown Auckland will increase.
"The Green Party are opposed to the mentality of building more and more roads. We challenge the Government to face up to
the challenge of building a sustainable public transport system, rather than burying our future under asphalt," said Mr
Locke.
Keith Locke MP: 04 470 6710, 025 528 353 Jonathan Hill (press secretary): 04 470 6719, 021 440 090