Friday, 17 December 2004

Baldock pleased with Tauranga Link progress

United Future Transport spokesman, Larry Baldock, a resident of Tauranga, welcomed the announcement today that the consultation process for the new harbour link proposal is able to get under way.

“After much discussion and negotiation, it will now be time for Tauranga residents to be presented with all the information and to make their decision.

“The proposal to part-fund the harbour link with tolls and a substantial contribution from the national Land Transport Fund is only possible,” Mr Baldock points out, “because of United Future’s work on the legislation to allow tolling to occur on the existing bridge if the Tauranga community agreed with that approach.

“While our attention is certainly focussed on the harbour link project because it is a congestion point within our city, it is important we recognise this is only one of the major projects which need to be constructed over the next ten years and I will be continuing to work for funding options over the whole range of projects, amounting to almost $650 million.

“Those who are criticizing Government proposals to toll the bridge and avoid making a contribution ought to be silenced by the 50 percent contribution coming from the National Transport Fund.

“It is simply a matter of whether we want the bridge built now or later, and whether we want to use all of the available money to Tauranga on one project rather than also having the ability to advance other much-needed construction projects.

“I have confidence that the people of Tauranga will reject any shallow approach to this issue and will discuss the issue thoroughly and make an informed decision in the New Year.

“I am pleased to have played my part in assisting the Council and Government agencies in arriving at this point,” said Mr Baldock.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>