Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 


Realistic funding options critical for Auckland transport

Monday, 13 February 2012, 2:04 pm
Press Release: Employers And Manufacturers Association

February 13, 2012

Realistic funding options critical for Auckland transport

The debate over the funding options required to develop Auckland's transport should cut straight to the chase, says the chief executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association, Kim Campbell.

"Several of the so called funding options in the Mayor's paper are simply not going to happen and should be discarded right away," Mr Campbell said.

"These include more taxes just for Auckland which the council can't implement anyway. Its simply alarmist and unhelpful to the discussion.

"But it is important for Auckland to have such a process as this so we can all pool our ideas.

"The city needs all the projects identified and the community has to accept the only way they will be built is to agree to fund some extra contribution.

"Business favours a low level toll to apply to the whole of our highway network and for the projects funded to be across all modes and for both public and private transport.

"Important for the debate too is that Aucklanders understand the major transport project priorities for where and when the funding will be invested.

"Without this understanding its difficult to see Auckland willing to invest in developing the new transport assets that are nevertheless urgently needed.

"So we call on the Mayor to state the priorities and timelines for the investment projects envisaged.

"Business already has such a list, strictly in the following priority order:

1. Completing the Waterview project - though underway this needs more urgency - the return on investment is well over $4 for every dollar invested.

2. Developing an eastern transport corridor connecting through to a four lane east/west highway from East Tamaki to Onehunga.

3. The central rail loop provided it is justified by a sound business case.

4. The third harbour crossing - a wide ranging debate is needed as there's no business case for a tunnel.

"A funding omission is the possible sale of council selling non- core assets. This needs to be added for serious debate as part of the funding options"

ENDS

Home Page | Politics | Previous Story | Next Story

Copyright (c) Scoop Media

 
 
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS > >


 

Elections: Time Running Out to Take Part in Electoral Commission’s MMP Review

Time is running out to have your say on improvements you’d like to see made to our MMP voting system. With only two weeks to go until the first consultation period of the MMP Review closes, the Electoral Commission has received more than 3700 submissions ... More >>


Christchurch: More Green Zoning And More Red Zoning

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced the final decision in almost 11 months of flat land residential zoning in Canterbury…

“It brings the number of residential properties zoned red because they are unsuitable for residential occupation to 7256.” More >>

Gerry Brownlee also announced the green zoning of 421 residential properties in the Port Hills, leaving 1679 houses still under review. More>>

ALSO:


Budget 2012: Squeezing Every Drop Out Of A Zero Budget
The Government is trying to squeeze every drop of publicity out of its ``Zero Budget’’ ahead of its delivery next Thursday.More >>

Gordon Campbell On the Politics of Austerity: Later this month, New Zealand will be subjected to its second austerity Budget in a row. Zero budgeting is being presented as the only path of virtue. This is despite the fact that - elsewhere in the real world - it has been a very bad week indeed for the politics of austerity.More >>
Also

  • Business.Desk - Smokes, booze and property tax breaks prime targets for Budget
  • Labour - User Pays Plan Confirms Failure
  • Labour - Cuts to classes result of government failure
  • ACT - Performance Based Pay for Teachers Long Overdue

  • Budget 2012: Recovery of Canterbury on Track
  • Budget 2012 - Prescription Charges Help Fund Health
  • Budget 2012: Education – Larger Classes For More Money
  • Budget 2012: $144m more for disability support

    • Housing: Social Housing Money Handed Out
    People in need will get the most benefit from Government funding for new housing projects, to be developed by non-government providers. Housing Minister Phil Heatley has announced the successful applicants to the $25.3 million Social Housing Unit ... More >>

    ALSO:

    Budget 2012: Prescription Charges Help Fund Health
    Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the Government will increase the $3 prescription charge to $5 per item up to a maximum of 20 items from 1 January 2013. The savings will be reinvested in the health sector. More >>
    Also:

    Court of Appeal: Govt Should Pay Family Caregivers
    The victory in the Court of Appeal for families caring for disabled family members should be taken notice of by the Government says Green MP Catherine DelahuntyMore >>

    ALSO:

    Police: 120 Positions Axed In Fine Tuning
    The New Zealand Police budget will not be cut this coming financial year but the organisation is planning some modest reductions in non-sworn support staff to live within its means, the Commissioner of Police, Peter Marshall, said. More >>

    Also:

    LATEST HEADLINES

    More RSS  RSS
     
    More RSS  RSS News AlertsNews Alerts
     
     
     
    Politics
    Search Scoop  
     
     
    powered by newsagent
    NZ independent news