18 June 2004

Regional Funding for Major Projects

Waitakere City’s planned transport hub has been offered a grant of $9.5m from Infrastructure Auckland (IA).

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey is delighted with the decision and says that it shows real commitment by IA to address the transport woes of Auckland.

Waitakere City and Auckland Regional Transport Network Limited (ARTNL) jointly applied for the funding. The total granted includes $4.6m for a new railway and bus station, and $4.9m for associated track work, signalling and bridging of Henderson Valley Road.

“Henderson is the hub of the Western Line and developing it into a first class transport centre will see the whole town centre take off.”

“This is the kick start that Henderson has been waiting years for,” says Mayor Harvey.

“Rail passenger numbers are already way up and this development will make travelling by train or bus so much easier and comfortable. That in turn means less cars on our already congested roads.”

Mr Harvey adds that Waitakere City Council and other organisations such as the Auckland Regional Council and ARTNL have spent many months planning the development and preparing the funding application and that the grant is the “starting gun” which means the project can now begin in earnest.

In addition to the grant for the railways project, IA has offered the City a further grant of $5.2m for 16 kilometres of two metre wide walkways/cycleways along the banks of the Oratia, Waikumete and Opanuku streams to Henderson City.

ENDS

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