12 March

"The New Zealand Transport Strategy to be announced later this year could delay or even halt roading projects currently on the books", says George Fairbairn.

Under the proposed Strategy, Transfund and Transit will be required to review all currently planned major roading projects, to ensure they meet the Strategy's objectives, which the Government has not yet detailed.

"What is going to be the effect of reassessing all these projects - will projects be stopped halfway because of new criteria being introduced?" asks Mr Fairbairn. "Will there be further examples of half-completed sections of road being left, not able to be used?"

"Transit must be allowed to proceed with current projects without delay. Delays have a detrimental effect on the economy, on communities, and on the road toll."

Transit and Transfund as independent agencies have performed their tasks in an efficient and fair manner to all areas of the country. Any suggestion that in future, roading decisions may become the subject of political directives, must be strongly refuted.

With road users paying more tax on petrol, they want to see the money spent, as soon as possible, on making the improvements to the road network that are necessary and essential for safer travel, and for more efficient carriage of people and goods.

Ends

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