Nats heavy spending on roads out of touch

The National Party’s heavy spending on unnecessary new road puts it out of step with the 70 percent of New Zealanders wanting more money invested in public transport infrastructure, says the Green Party.

Green Party transport spokesperson Gareth Hughes said the Colmar Brunton poll’s findings backed up the Greens’ vision of a clean green New Zealand with a world class public transport system.

“The public knows it’s irresponsible to borrow billions for motorways with poor business cases when traffic is down, petrol is up and public transport patronage is growing.

“The Colmar Brunton poll shows there is an appetite for investment in public transport that isn’t being addressed by the current Government. The Green Party would make investment in public transport a priority.

“Despite what transport minister Steven Joyce says, there is the money to do it. It’s just being spent on motorways instead.

“Shifting money from unnecessary new motorways into public transport is not only smart, but popular as well.

“I’m confident the Government will see sense one day, and on that day, we’ll have the policy ready to meet the nation’s needs.”

“New Zealand can’t sustain a forever-expanding roading system. We need clean green solutions for our transport needs — not just more asphalt.”

Mr Hughes said a large number of polls during the past two years showed people valued better public transport more than having new motorways.

The Green Party this week launched its transport policy which included its commitment toward the Government providing 60 percent of the funding for Auckland’s CBD rail loop.

Links Greens Auckland Transport Plan http://www.greens.org.nz/transport/auckland/plan

Greens Wellington Transport Plan http://www.greens.org.nz/transport/wellington

WWF-New Zealand / Colmar Brunton media release and poll info: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1111/S00376/poll-shows-most-kiwis-disagree-with-big-spending-on-roads.htm

© Scoop Media