Transmission Gully: Build It Now

Thursday 4 Nov 2004

Heather Roy - Press Releases - Other

ACT New Zealand Wellington-based MP Heather Roy today urged Members of Parliament across all Parties to get Transmission Gully built, and Centennial Highway upgraded - and get it done fast.

"Every Party but ACT has procrastinated for too long. The time for political apathy is over. Now we must take a serious look at the options available to solve Wellington's roading problems," Mrs Roy said.

"Kapiti Coasters are again voicing their concerns about the effect of accident-prone State Highway One, and fear that economic growth is being limited as a consequence of political inactivity and apathy.

"In the past year alone, Wellington has twice been cut off by the vagaries of the weather, and it is completely ridiculous that there is only one road leading in and out of one of the country's major centres - the capital city, no less.

"It is also outrageous that this is happening in a region that four Cabinet Ministers, two Labour backbenchers and the leader of a Labour-supporting Party call home. In political terms, the Wellington region is a sea of red.

"Yet we have seen Labour's dominance in this region do nothing for the city's roading problems. These MPs are taking their supporters for granted, and are failing to address serious infrastructure problems.

"Even United Future Leader Peter Dunne has gone quiet now that he supports the Government. Rather than using Transmission Gully as his bargaining chip, he opted for a Commission to tell Kiwi families how to live their lives - families who would be much better served by proper development of Wellington infrastructure.

"ACT believes that this essential political issue must be dealt with properly. If the Resource Management Act is holding up progress on approved Auckland projects, we should spend the money here.

"To date, it has been left to Wellington-based ACT MPs to drive the programme for action, but the time for wider political apathy is over. Procrastination may be Labour's way of saving money, but it is time for action - from across the political spectrum," Mrs Roy said.

ENDS

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