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

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Transmission Gully Legislative Delay

Transmission Gully Legislative Go-Ahead Will Not Happen This Year

Ohariu Belmont MP and United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says he was shocked to learn at a private meeting this afternoon between Wellington Regional Councillors and Wellington MPs that the Government will not pass legislation enabling the Transmission Gully highway to proceed this year.

Mr Dunne says that the Government has been saying for months that it will be introducing legislation shortly that will enable Transmission Gully to go ahead more quickly than presently planned.

"Indeed, that was the main argument they used to defeat my own legislation seeking to fast-track the highway's construction."

"Yet now we are told that the legislation is still some months away, and even then will not be passed this year."

"The timetable keeps slipping, and what is more alarming is that the Wellington Regional Council now seems happy to accept these fresh delays to getting on with Transmission Gully."

"Surely, we have a right to expect the Regional Council to be fighting for the region's interests, not acquiescing in the Government's dithering and lack of commitment?"

"After all, the Regional Council has for years protested its impatience at delays in getting on with Transmission Gully, and I am stunned that it now seems to have given up the fight," Mr Dunne says.

Mr Dunne says that waiting until next year for the legislative authority for Transmission Gully sadly means that it would 2008-2009 at the earliest before the project could be completed, making a mockery of claims yesterday by the Regional Council chairman Stuart Macaskill that Transmission Gully could be just 5 years away.

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.

"If the Council really wants Transmission Gully in five years, as I certainly do, it will not get there by following the government's ever slipping timetable."

"Wellington people are impatient, and are sick and tired of the constant petty game-playing by politicians - they just want us to work together to get on with it, and I am at a loss to understand why my political colleagues will not heed the public's message," Mr Dunne says.

Ends


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

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.