2. MARTIN GALLAGHER (Labour—Hamilton West) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
What significant announcement has she made recently which contributes to both road safety and infrastructure development?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Transport) Link to this
Last week I officially opened the long-awaited $83.5 million Mercer to Longswamp section of State Highway 1 in the Waikato region—a magnificent feat of engineering. This was an important event in terms of both road safety and infrastructural development. Not only has this project eliminated the Meremere crash black spots but it has also taken us a step closer to the completion of the Waikato Expressway. That is a vital project to reduce congestion and provide a more efficient long-haul route through the Waikato to Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.
That is an excellent question. The additional $1.3 billion announced in the Budget, as well as the extra $215 million for the Waikato region from the Waikato joint officials group process, means that every remaining component of the Waikato Expressway is now moving forward. Over the next 5 years the additional funding will allow further investigation, then the design and construction of the Rangiriri Bypass, the design of the Ngāruawāhia, Cambridge, Huntly, and Hamilton bypasses, and the Longswamp to Rangiriri four-laning project. As well, a number of other projects in the Waikato region are aimed at improving safety and reducing congestion. I know that the National member from the Waikato ought to be pleased, but I do not hear much gratitude from him.
Metiria TureiIf the Minister is so obviously concerned about both money and road safety, will she prioritise Green Party initiatives to get as much of the intercity freight off and out of trucks and on to the rail network, which would help to save some of the $3.2 billion over the last 4-year period spent via accidents, and—much more important—would help to save the lives of some of the nearly 100 New Zealanders killed every year on our roads through truck accidents?
Madam SPEAKERBefore I call the Minister, I remind members that questions should be started with a question, not a statement.
I certainly am very encouraging of freight being carried on rail. However, we will always need trucks and roads, because rail does not go to every part of the delivery system. But I am very encouraging of freight going on rail, as this Government has shown, first of all by buying back the rail tracks of New Zealand, then by investing the money to ensure they are able to be operated.
Peter BrownNoting that answer, is the Minister in a position to assure the House that, in the wake of the axing of the Overlander, no rail freight will transfer from rail to road?
I was not aware that the Overlander carried a lot of freight, and I do not actually see there being a lot of change in terms of the freight carried by rail. The main thing is that the main trunk line is retained in a good order, and this Government has been investing millions of dollars to ensure that happens.
Yes. Even though the amount of money this Government is spending on the Waikato region is far in excess of anything the National Government ever spent, at the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee hearing on the Vote Transport estimates the member for Hamilton East complained that the additional $215 million on top of the budget for transport spending in the Waikato was not enough. However, his colleague Bob Clarkson is much more discerning and thankful. He acknowledged with satisfaction this Government’s commitment to the Bay of Plenty. That is a man who will go a long way.