Transport Committee's decision a disgrace, says Fletcher

Auckland Mayoral Candidate Chris Fletcher believes Auckland City Council's Transport Committee should have abandoned the Eastern Motorway proposal in light of the very negative report from council officers, rather than delaying the inevitable decision.

The officers' report, which recommended options for the corridor and was signed off by senior staff, identifies a huge number of areas where there is insufficient information to enable a decision to be taken.

She says though motorway supporters know that almost two thirds of Aucklanders are opposed to the project, they are desperate to delay a decision until after the local body elections because they are terrified they will be kicked out.

Chris Fletcher says that given that this council is the largest territorial authority in the country, it needs to take its statutory obligations seriously. The Eastern Corridor under the current council is an embarrassment in terms of the unprincipled political interference in process, she says.

"That this committee is even considering the issue in the absence of critical information is a disgrace - particularly when you consider the concerns associated with the absence of details on the funding and cost of the corridor."

"This project is a significant regional infrastructure project. This raises issues as to the ability and capacity of Auckland City to obtain Transfund subsidies for what is currently regarded as a local road project. There is still no clarification as to where the long-term funding of the corridor sits in the strategic documentation for Auckland City."

"It's also absurd that Banks has got this far with the project without even having had a detailed environmental or heritage impact assessment undertaken."

Chris Fletcher has actively promoted public transport solutions and opposed the Eastern Motorway for the past 15 years. She says it is clear that is what the vast majority of Aucklanders want.

"I identified most of the issues requiring further research back in 2001. Here we are again today, three years later, with council officers still recommending that these same issues require answers."

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