Waterview fast track to the 1950s

The Waterview connection is not the transport project 21st century Auckland needs to be fast-tracked, said the Green Party today.

Minister for the Environment Nick Smith announced today the Waterview project has been recommended by the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be of national significance, and therefore its resource consent applications will be fast-tracked and decided by a Board of Inquiry.

“Pouring billions of dollars into a few kilometres of motorway and destroying a well-established community is the exact opposite of what we should be doing,” said local Green Party MP David Clendon.

“It will lower property values and attract more cars into the city, condemning Auckland to more congestion and higher transport costs.

“It is ironic the John Key Government is so keen to fast-track a project left over from the 1950s, but dragging their heels on the CBD rail loop.”

The two projects are anticipated to have similar costs of approximately $1.4b, however, the CBD rail loop will enable the Auckland rail network to carry the equivalent of 20 motorway lanes of people at peak hour and has the potential for powerful economic transformation of the city.

Mr Clendon said the Waterview connection will be the most expensive motorway ever built in New Zealand, at over $300m per kilometre, and will destroy a well-established community.

“It will only carry 2 lanes of traffic in each direction, and make it more difficult to walk cycle and take public transport into the city,” he said.

Mr Clendon also expressed concern about the limited time available for the public to submit on the project, and limited rights of appeal.

“There are a lot of question marks over the independence of the EPA and the robustness of the fast-tracked consent process.

“This highway will fundamentally alter the shape of Auckland, and will have significant impacts on the future of our economy and environment. We support an inclusive and integrated process for consenting projects of national significance, but it’s the wrong project to rush into,” said Mr Clendon.

“We need a sustainable vision for the future — the planned CBD rail loop from Britomart to Mt Eden would achieve many more benefits and transform Auckland into a world class city with a 21st century transport system.

“Around the world cities are stimulating economic revitalisation by removing their urban motorways and creating liveable, vibrant neighbourhoods where there are better options for getting around and doing business.

“It’s not too late for this Government to show some leadership and stop throwing more money into an out-dated and expensive project that won’t solve our transport problems.”

ENDS

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