Collins' Comments

Hon Judith Collins, MP for Papakura

Papakura forging towards a bright future

I was so pleased to talk to another group of enthusiastic property developers in the Karaka area recently. Juliet and Frank Reynolds who represent the company that has developed the Karaka Lakes area and enabled Fletcher Homes to develop a large number of quality homes there, have finally obtained approval for their plans to develop a new village of homes for up to 5000 people under the Kingseat Village Plan Change. They are keen to turn the plan into reality and designs for the new sections, homes, local retail and facilities are now underway and will provide a very exciting development for our Electorate.

It will work in perfectly with the developments that are underway for the Business and Industrial Park being developed by Stevensons at the quarry in Drury. Under the Drury South Structure Plan put forward by Stevenson Group, the business park will provide 6900 jobs. Auckland Council also wants to develop industrial areas in Takanini and Manukau as part of its Integrated Precinct Plan. It is estimated that 276,700 jobs will be needed in Auckland by 2041 and 25 percent will be in South Auckland where 1000 hectares of land will be needed for industrial use. In Drury, 361 hectares have already been signed off.

Infrastructure needed to support this is development is underway with the Government spending $268 million on widening and improvements to State Highway 1 from Manukau to Drury that is on-track for an October start date.

Minister of Transport Hon Simon Bridges has just announced a huge $4.2 billion has been set aside for transport infrastructure from public transport to roads and cycling. Of this, $960 million is earmarked for highway maintenance and $1.75 million for public transport. This will continue to facilitate the Southern Western and Eastern motorway links under the Accelerated Transport Infrastructure Improvement that has already started and I will be supporting other essential transport upgrades as they come up.

I greatly enjoy working with the many people involved in designing these big plans for the future including Tommy Parker, General Manager of Highways and Network Operations at the NZ Transport Agency, and Auckland councillors Bill Cashmore, Sir John Walker and Calum Penrose who are amongst those closely involved in making the plans a reality.

Changes to paid parental leave, prescriptions and car registration from 1 July

On a more individual note, there is good news for Papakura families and individuals in the Budget promises that came into effect from 1 July. Paid parental leave has increased to $516.85 per week and since 1 April this year the parental leave entitlement has increased to 16 weeks with a further two weeks to be added next year.

As of July 1, all children aged under 13 are eligible to access free GP visits at any time of the day or night, seven days a week, as well as free prescriptions.

It is very satisfying to know that motorists will be better off too as the registration fee for a car falls by about $130 due to a reduction in ACC levies. This has been possible since ACC achieved a surplus and properly invested it to provide future funding for its services.

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