Transport funding commitments important for investor confidence

27 January 2016

"The Prime Minister's commitment to accelerate major transport infrastructure investment in Auckland, Taranaki, Gisborne and Marlborough announced today will give confidence to the construction sector to ensure the resources are in place to deliver desperately needed projects in Auckland and elsewhere", says Stephen Selwood, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development.

"Fast tracking the Central Rail Link for a 2018 start will lift investor confidence in urban renewal surrounding the rail network and boost commercial development in the central city.

"The CRL will expand the capacity of the public transport system and improve transport choices for Aucklanders commuting to and from the city.

"Accelerating the East West Link for a construction start in 2018 is also very welcome. It will relieve a long standing transport bottleneck across Auckland’s industrial belt and vastly improve east west connectivity from Onehunga to Mount Wellington.

"Certainty of project funding and political commitment to projects of this scale will attract global interest. It is also fundamental to incentivising investment in the people and resources needed to deliver projects on time and on budget and provide best value for New Zealanders.

"It is pleasing that today’s announcements were not just Auckland centric. Important state highway improvements for the regions announced today included by-passes in Taranaki to allow motorists to avoid Mount Messenger and the Awakino Tunnel, along with funding to replace the single lane Motu Bridge on State Highway 2 near Gisborne with a new two-lane bridge and the Opawa Bridge on State Highway 1 near Blenheim.

"However, the omission of Penlink from the list of projects to be accelerated will be a sore blow to residents and businesses in Silverdale and the Whangaparaoa Peninsular and, contrary to media speculation, there were no further announcements on the additional Waitemata Harbour crossing.

"While it is good to finally have certainty about known project priorities such as the CRL and the East West Link, the reality is that these projects merely catch up on investment that should have occurred decades ago in Auckland.

"Much more substantial investment in public transport and roads will be needed to support Auckland’s future growth, particularly across east Auckland where existing transport links are already at capacity and substantial growth but little investment is planned.

"The next critical development will be the completion of the work of the joint Government and Auckland Council task force, the Auckland Transport Alignment Project, which is expected to provide certainty about the long term investment programme for Auckland and how much needed investment will be funded", Selwood says.

ENDS

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