5 February 2004

Press Statement

Waitakere City supports transport recommendations

Waitakere City Council has decided to support major transport recommendations being made to the Government.

At a special meeting today, the Council agreed to recommendations made by the chief executives of the councils of the region.

The recommendations are in response to a government package, announced in December, which provides for an extra $1.62 billion in funding over the next 10 years and proposes a new Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA).

The main recommendations to the Government, agreed to by Waitakere today, include introducing further new funding mechanisms.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says that while his Council has supported the proposed new authority, it wants the voice of local authorities to be heard.

“ARTA will need to work with a number of organisations in a co-ordinated way to deliver effective transport solutions for the region.

“Whatever the new authority does will directly affect our communities and as local councils we must have some accountability and responsibility. Because local knowledege is so essential to effective use of public money, we want to see local councils having a strong input to the solutions that are developed and the priorities for spending.”

Auckland, North Shore and Manukau cities and the ARC have also agreed to the recommendations put forward by the chief executives. Papakura District Council will discuss the matter on Monday (February 9). Franklin District Council has said it requires more detail.

Ends

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