9 November 2009
Media Statement

Regional rail and roads suffer to feed Joyce’s hunger for motorways

Another chapter has been written in Transport Minister Steven Joyce’s obsession for motorways in major centres, but the real story is what is happening to regional rail and roads as a result, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Darren Hughes said today.

“Steven Joyce’s hunger for motorways is taking much needed funding from essential maintenance to keep roads in the regions safe,” Darren Hughes said.

“Councils up and down the country are facing the reality that their road maintenance budgets will soon dry up because of the Government’s decision to slash their funding.

“Roads that Kiwi communities rely on every day are at risk of being left unsafe because the money to keep them safe has been redirected into motorways in the major centres.”

Darren Hughes says National’s lack of commitment to provincial transport systems does not end with roading.

“It’s troubling to see the lack of commitment from the Government to reopening the Stratford and Okahukura rail link which was recently damaged by a derailment,” Darren Hughes said.

“Steven Joyce loves motorways. He has no interest in rail being a major part of New Zealand’s transport mix.

“Labour believes in rail. That’s why we took back Kiwi Rail after years of neglect and asset stripping while in private ownership.

“National is not committed to rail. The lack of enthusiasm to investigate getting the damaged rail line up and running is evidence of that.

“The provinces rely on road and rail to keep their communities and economies moving.

“Steven Joyce shouldn’t neglect Kiwis living in the provinces. They deserve to have safe roads to travel on, and reliable rail that takes their products to markets.”

ENDS

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