Baldock hugely encouraged by Land Transport Bill

United Future transport spokesman Larry Baldock today welcomed the tabling of the Land Management Transport Bill in Parliament.

“This Bill opens up many alternative sources of funding which are absolutely crucial for the future economic development of New Zealand. New Zealand’s roading infrastructure is now so under-developed it’s acting as a major bottleneck to business activity in this country,” said Mr Baldock.

“If we can use these new methods of funding to more rapidly develop our roading, we could see economic growth in this country riding on the back of infrastructural development started by Sir Julius Vogel in the 19th century.

“Evidence we have already received shows that reducing the costs of transportation has a direct benefit on the country’s GDP and we must have those benefits if we are to fund our nation’s goals for the family, the health and education systems.

“I am especially pleased,” he said, “that the Bill allows Transit New Zealand, with the permission of the Minister of Finance, to borrow forward to fund different projects. This greater flexibility in funding options means local bodies, for example, will be able to plan their roading programmes ahead with much greater certainty.”

Mr Baldock said he looked forward to receiving public submissions on the Bill when it goes to a Parliamentary select committee so that it can be improved even further before being passed by Parliament next year.

© Scoop Media