Iain

LEES-GALLOWAY

Transport Spokesperson

04 March 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT
Another community ignored as road gets sign-off

Today’s decision by the Environment Protection Agency to give the green light to the MacKays to Peka Peka section of the Kapiti Expressway will be a bitter disappointment to the local community, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says.

“The project simply doesn’t stack up – economically, environmentally or socially.

“The people of Kapiti have been battling against the construction of this low-value monstrosity for years. Today’s decision will come as a blow to anyone who supports sensible, sustainable transport infrastructure.

“Labour called on the Government to drop the project when it was revealed it has an appallingly low benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR).

“A leaked report by engineering consultants Beca showed the $515 million investment would yield a return of just $118 million over 30 years – a BCR of just 0.2.

“Residents are dismayed that their community will be sliced in two by a massive elevated concrete expressway that has no place in their environmentally sensitive district.

“National’s obsession with its highways of dubious value is sucking resources away from sensible transport projects and is the cause of the unjustified petrol tax hike, due to kick in next month.

“National, the party of austerity for everyone else, is wasting tax-payers money on these low value roads.

“Gerry Brownlee says taxpayers shouldn’t worry too much about that. Labour says he should admit he got this one wrong and bring the project to a halt.”

ENDS

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