New Political Force Pledges To Stop Motorway

Action Hobson, a new political vehicle launched tonight, has pledged to stop the planned Eastern Motorway. It says Auckland is at the crossroads and will face worsening congestion unless there is a serious commitment to Rapid Transit Systems instead.

The new political vehicle, which is contesting the three Auckland City Council seats in the Hobson ward, and the six seats on the Hobson Community Board, was launched at the heritage Jubilee Building in Newmarket. Its three candidates for the Auckland City Council are community and environmental advocate Christine Caughey, businessman and community leader Greg Liggins and infrastructure consultant and heritage campaigner Richard Simpson. All are Hobson locals.

“This new motorway can be stopped, and a Vote for Action Hobson will stop it,” Christine Caughey told Action Hobson supporters tonight. “The motorway would destroy much of Parnell, Hobson Bay and Orakei but do nothing to solve Auckland’s traffic woes. The way to stop it is by ticking Action Hobson in this very ward.”

Greg Liggins said Auckland had made decades of mistakes in planning for its transport future. “In the 1950s, we built a four-lane Harbour Bridge that wasn’t adequate and we forgot the train tracks,” he said.

“Then in the 1960s, our city fathers decided against first-class rapid transit and opted for third-rate motorways instead. Under Mayor Banks and Citizens & Ratepayers, history is repeating itself and we’re making all the same mistakes again. We have to get it right this time face gridlock that gets worse every year.”

Richard Simpson said Action Hobson expected the election to be tight and that every vote would count. “You cannot justify spending $3 billion on a motorway that won’t work and peanuts on Rapid Transit Systems that would,” he said. “We’re not against spending more on upgrading Auckland’s existing roads, but it can never be an answer to the gridlock we suffer everyday.

“We have to put at least as much into developing the modern rail, better buses and faster ferries that every other international city enjoys. It doesn’t make sense that it’s currently easier to get around and do business in the bustle of Hong Kong than it is in our city of Auckland. Geographically, Auckland is an isthmus and is a city built on narrow strips of land. Motorways are as ill-suited to Auckland as they are to Hong Kong and Singapore.”

Action Hobson candidates for the Hobson Community Board are Kathryn Carter, David Grove, Jennie Hayman, Paul Ockelford, Mervyn Schamroth and David Simpson. They pledge to use that forum to oppose the motorway, promote Rapid Transit and be a voice for the Hobson Community on issues such as infill housing, traffic control, maintaining the heritage of the city, wastewater, safe school buses and preserving parks.

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