4. DARREN HUGHES (Labour—Otaki) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
What are the key features of the Government’s land transport programme announced yesterday?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) Link to this
The published National Land Transport Programme for 2006-07 includes a record $24 billion in spending for land transport infrastructure and services over the next 10 years—$2.3 billion for 2006-07 alone. This represents a 14 percent increase on last year and includes Crown and regionally distributed funds.
Has the Minister seen any reports of changes to priorities in the Wellington region, particularly in relation to Transmission Gully motorway?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Yes, I am pleased to report that Transmission Gully now has a high priority for funding and action. I wish to congratulate the MPs for Otaki, Mana, and Ohariu-Belmont on their efforts in securing this.
Hon Peter DunneCan the Minister confirm that the confidence and supply agreement with United Future enabled the Government to set aside the funding in the Budget, which has in turn enabled Transit to elevate Transmission Gully to the top of its Wellington priorities?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Yes, and of course had the alternative Government been in power, that money would now no longer be available, because it would have been given away in tax cuts on 1 April.
Does the Minister therefore consider the comment by a senior Wellington regional councillor earlier this week, that a decision on Transmission Gully is at least 5 years away, to be consistent with both the spirit of that confidence and supply agreement, and with yesterday’s announcement by Transit?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
No, I do not. I would hope that we could complete the investigation work as quickly as possible to make a final go / no-go decision in relation to Transmission Gully.
Dave HereoraWhat elements of the Government’s land transport package announced yesterday will contribute to economic transformation in the Auckland region?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
There is one major element in yesterday’s announcement, and an associated element. Obviously yesterday’s announcements mean we are picking up the Auckland network provision construction, and that is crucial. An associated matter, of course, because it is no longer part of this particular vote, is that massive expenditure is going into the Auckland rail system over the next 2 or 3 years in view of the double tracking of the western line in particular.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
How will the Minister explain to passengers crammed into insufficient, dilapidated, full trains and buses that in these days of accelerated climate change and rising petrol prices she is spending only 14 percent of the total money on passenger transport, and how long will the Government hide behind the mantra that it is spending more now than the pathetic amounts that National used to spend?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I think the increase is something like eightfold, and in 2006-07 we are spending $300 million on passenger transport. What is more, to a very substantial extent that is demand-driven, so that if the private owners of those trains and buses—certainly, the buses are privately owned—care to buy more buses and put on more routes, then the Government will find itself almost certainly funding a greater degree of support for those services. But it is not our job to buy the buses for them, as well.