ACT launches Transmission Gully policy

Heather Roy Friday, 3 June 2005 - Transport

A final decision on the future of Transmission Gully must be made now, Wellington-based ACT MPs Heather Roy and Stephen Franks said today in announcing their party’s Wellington transport policy.

The MPs released the policy in conjunction with a visit to the Paremata roundabout, the scene of frequent traffic delays for motorists leaving Wellington in peak hour and holiday weekends.

“Wellington needs to know now exactly when the terrible state of State Highway One will end. This stretch of road has been closed four times in the last 18 months by the vagaries of the weather, not to mention the many times it has been closed for long periods due to accidents,” Mrs Roy said.

“This serious roading problem has been tossed backwards and forwards throughout this government’s six years in office. Our region has the political representation of four Cabinet Ministers, two Labour backbenchers and the leader of a Labour-supporting party, who have all taken Wellington voters for granted”.

“It’s unacceptable that Wellingtonians are still waiting for a decision on the proposed motorway after all these years. The region needs political action, not political apathy,” Mrs Roy said.

Mr Franks said: “For ACT the first step must be a conclusive geo- technical and engineering assessment to find out whether engineering constraints rule out Transmission Gully. Decisions have been deferred for years always by people claiming to ‘need more information’.

“The geo-technical assessment would be followed closely by an authoritative, independent and definitive report on the costs and benefits of building the motorway. That should be completed by the end of 2006.

“The final step would be a firm decision, within six months of that report, on whether to proceed with the Transmission Gully option. This would include a timetable for the construction of the motorway if the decision is to proceed.

“ACT would reform Labour’s useless law for private-public partnerships so that the private sector could be involved in the financing and construction of Transmission Gully.

“With dithering and buck passing and petty politicking over essential public services we New Zealanders are telling ourselves that everything is too complex and too hard. We were once a ‘can do’ intensely practical people.

Today we are ruled by nannies and their lawyers, the RMA their happy feeding ground. I want to see a conclusive decision because of the symbolic importance of supporting the Wellington communities that have clearly said they wants action not words. Let us get moving. The Aucklanders can stay stewing in indecision and hand wringing if that is what they vote for,” Mr Franks said.

Both MPs promised: “ACT doesn’t equivocate. We will fast track a final decision on Transmission Gully. No more excuses for procrastination”.

ENDS

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