Labour’s Opposition To The Puhoi-Wellsford Highway Upgrade Neglects The People Of The North - Mayor

Rodney Mayor Penny Webster is disappointed by the Labour Opposition’s continued lack of support for the proposed upgrade of Puhoi-Wellsford highway north of Auckland.

“This upgrade is vital to our region’s future and Labour’s reluctance to support it is tantamount to neglect, as it will be an important key to the future well-being of both the economy and people of the northern region.”

Mrs Webster made her comments following today’s speech by Darren Hughes – Labour’s spokesman on transport and infrastructure – at the NZ Council of Infrastructure Development’s conference in Auckland, where he restated his party’s opposition to the Government’s plans for the northern highway upgrade.

“This road is a vitally important and strategically significant part of New Zealand’s state highway. It is a key economic link between Auckland and the North.”

Mrs Webster says upgrading State Highway One from Puhoi to Wellsford is important for the economic future of Rodney, Northland and Auckland as a whole.

“Darren Hughes’s claims about costs for this highway upgrade being too high on a per kilometre basis compared to other roading projects, ignores the fact that it presents unique, geotechnical challenges that will need to be overcome,” Mrs Webster explained.

“It seems Labour is happy to see $100 million-plus spent on the 4 km Waterview bypass in vote-rich suburbs Auckland, but it is not in favour of a similar amount being invested on a 40 km upgrade of the main arterial route in the less populous North.”

Mayor Webster says Labour’s attitude on the Puhoi-Wellsford upgrade reinforced her view that Wellington-centric MPs needed to familiarise themselves more with how their decisions can have such a negative impact on the regions and its people.

ENDS

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