1. CRAIG FOSS (National—Tukituki) Link to this
to the Minister for Infrastructure
How is the Government’s infrastructure investment programme supporting jobs?
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister for Infrastructure) Link to this
Very successfully. The Government’s multibillion-dollar investment is providing direct and indirect work for thousands of New Zealanders. Construction industry leaders told the Independent newspaper last week that the Government’s investment in building roads, hospitals, schools, and prisons has been a lifeline for the sector. The investment is sustaining the construction sector through the recession and helping to keep contractors’ books full.
What projects have been recently announced as part of the Government’s infrastructure investment programme?
The Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport earlier this month announced the successful tenderer for the Victoria Park tunnel project in Auckland. The 4-year project will cost $340 million, and it is being put in place at least 12 months earlier than originally scheduled. It is estimated that 120 people will be working on the project within 6 months, with that number rising to 340 workers by the middle of next year. I can also confirm that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport will tomorrow launch the $47 million Kōpū Bridge replacement near Thames, a project that will employ up to 50 people full-time.
What other areas of infrastructure investment are supporting jobs as part of the Government’s economic plan?
The list is quite long, but I will give members a brief summary. The Government is looking at further investment in hospitals, schools, broadband, and housing. In housing, for instance, the Government has brought forward $125 million of investment in order to upgrade State houses and to build extra ones. By the end of May work was under way on upgrades of 1,227 houses, with $31 million of fast-tracked housing work under way, employing 1,341 people. The Government had to fill a gap there because the previous Government directed all the deprecation money to buying new houses and not upgrading the houses the Government already owns.
Hon Shane JonesĀ, e Te Kaihautū, i te tuatahi me mihi ahau ki a koe mōu i pai ai te whakahaere i ō kōrero i te tīmatanga i roto i te reo Māori. Before I ask my question, I would like to acknowledge that Mr Speaker used our reo Māori as part of today’s proceedings. It is testimony to the power of evolution.
Is it not true that promised jobs have not materialised, and that National’s smoke and mirrors show in February has finally been revealed for its lack of substance in relation to infrastructure?