Waterview surface option balanced, reasonable

Media statement Wednesday, May 13th 2009

Waterview surface option balanced, reasonable - $800 million matters

The surface route selected for linking through to the north western motorway at Waterview mitigates most concerns and is a very good option, the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

"The motorway option selected is pretty damn good," said Alasdair Thompson, EMA's chief executive.

"It mitigates most concerns by being partially a tunnel, partially cut and cover, and partially on the surface.

"From an environmental impact point of view, it represents a reasonable and balanced outcome.

"Twin tunnels were never a long term solution, and unaffordable in any case.

"The extra $800 million they would have cost does matter; taxpayers would have been saddled with the added debt for decades.

"It was disingenuous for the previous government to create false expectations for the tunnels without any plan for how they could be funded.

"The extra value to the country from completing the Auckland ring route at Waterview is reliably estimated to be more than $830 million annually.

"Our city's forefathers drew up the first plans for this alternative north south route around 1965 because they could see it would improve travel times enormously, and keep traffic moving, which are also strong benefits for our environment."

ENDS

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