True cost of transport plan revealed

April 30, 2015. 4:25pm

Central and local government must both take responsibility for the shock caused by a planned rate increase and new transport levy, says ACT Leader and Epsom MP David Seymour.

“Central government must get real and allow Auckland Council to replace the transport levy with smarter transport pricing, such as time-sensitive motorway tolls, tuned to ease rush-hour congestion without encouraging detours through suburban corridors.

“I asked Transport Minister Simon Bridges in the House today whether he would consider allowing such options. He acknowledged the options were interesting but deferred the discussion. I’m sure many ratepayers will be following his position on these issues closely.

“The proposed transport levy comes as Auckland Council has manufactured consent for an extravagant 10-year transport plan. It’s easy to make a project sound popular when the real cost to ratepayers isn’t announced until the final hour.

“The good news is that the levy will be charged as a uniform fee across all households. Rate increases however are charged according to property values – a very poor indicator of ability to pay.”

ENDS

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