Thursday, 7 February 2008

Dunne: about time for Waterview PPP

“Baby-steps towards a Public-Private Partnership along Auckland’s Waterview Connection are long overdue,” says UnitedFuture leader, Peter Dunne.

Mr Dunne was responding to the announcement today of a feasibility investigation led by the Government for a PPP. Should the investigation prove positive, this will be first land transport PPP, despite legislation enabling them passing in 2002.

“While I am delighted that the Labour Government seems to have loosened its ideological belief that the Government knows all and the public must own all public amenities, it has taken an excessive length of time for even consideration of a PPP to begin.

“I am wary that this is only an investigation into the feasibility of a PPP and there is no guaranteed outcome. I know how long road projects can take to be built - I’ve been waiting twenty years for Transmission Gully and we’re still not there yet.

“UnitedFuture has always supported PPPs, especially in roading. We’re not interested in who owns what, we care more that it gets built and people can make use of it.

“A PPP for Waterview Connection means Auckland may not have to sit through Wellington’s wait for Transmission Gully,” said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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