Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Video | Agriculture | Confidence | Economy | Energy | Employment | Finance | Media | Property | RBNZ | Science | SOEs | Tax | Technology | Telecoms | Tourism | Transport | Search

 

Bill Won’t Deliver Faster Network Completion

Land Transport Management Bill Won’t Deliver Faster Network Completion.

“Where is the leadership and where is the commitment to solve Auckland’s disgraceful transport problems once and for all?”

It certainly is not to be found in the changes made to the Land Transport Management Bill reported back to Parliament yesterday.

Michael Barnett, chief executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, was expressing strong disappointment at the overly cautious changes made to the Bill by the Select Committee.

“A number of key changes sought by Auckland business have been made, but in many cases they are so heavily qualified they will make little difference to achieving faster progress and could make things worse.”

For example, business will welcome moves to make it easier for private/public partnerships to be formed to bring forward projects.

However with Auckland facing a massive funding shortfall to achieve timely network completion, the submissions of the business community have been ignored in this key area, including no inclusion of provisions for providers to borrow to debt fund projects on a “network basis”;

“However, there is a glimmer of hope that not all is lost,” said Mr Barnett. “The Minister Paul Swain makes clear in his media release on the changes made to the Bill that further legislation may be forthcoming next year on proposals now being worked on to provide further funding options for transport.”

In September last year, Mr Swain said that the land transport legislation would have significant benefits for Auckland because “getting transport right in Auckland is critical” to the growth of the New Zealand economy.

In theory, the Minister has delivered – the Bill does allow public/private partnerships and tolling to fund infrastructure, as he promised. “In practice, however, there is too much room left open for interpretation, which at the end of the day will add to the uncertainty rather than help business move Auckland forward with the required sense of speed and urgency,” concluded Mr Barnett.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Business Headlines | Sci-Tech Headlines

 
GenPro: General Practices Begin Issuing Clause 14 Notices

GenPro has been copied into a rising number of Clause 14 notices issued since the NZNO lodged its Primary Practice Pay Equity Claim against General Practice employers in December 2023.More

SPADA: Screen Industry Unites For Streaming Platform Regulation & Intellectual Property Protections

In an unprecedented international collaboration, representatives of screen producing organisations from around the world have released a joint statement.More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.