10. Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON (National—Pakuranga) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
Is he concerned that Transit New Zealand’s active opposition to a number of commercial investment projects is significantly impeding economic development right across New Zealand, and what does he intend to do about it?
Hon PETE HODGSON (Acting Minister of Transport) Link to this
No, but I freely acknowledge the tensions between the desire for local economic development and the desire for Transit to ensure that State highways are not congested within a decade or two of being built.
Hon Maurice Williamson Link to this
Is the Minister concerned that the Rodney Economic Development Trust, which is contracted to implement the Rodney District Council’s economic development strategy, has calculated the cost to the district of Transit’s policy at 6,251 lost jobs and $129 million in lost export earnings?
I am aware of issues in general around the Rodney district, particularly in Wellsford and Warkworth. Warkworth is a very interesting case in point, because now the proposition is that there be a bypass built around a bypass because of earlier land-use mistakes.
If it was built 50 years ago, I ask Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith whether that means that in every town in this country we continue to build a bypass around a bypass around a bypass.
Hon Trevor Mallard
Hon Mark GoscheCan the Minister give a good example of Transit New Zealand working in close cooperation with developers to achieve economic development in the region?
Yes, I can give many examples, but the member asked for one example. So I would offer the successful Smart Growth programme in the Western Bay of Plenty, which to date has been predicated on a strong commitment to collaboration and partnership between Transit, local authorities, and developers. That partnership is called Access, from memory. It is a significant level of cross-agency collaboration, and the benefits of Smart Growth are apparent in a number of planning exercises currently under way in the Western Bay of Plenty area.
Peter BrownNoting the Minister’s answer in regard to Warkworth, is he aware that for some considerable period of time Transit gave the developers and the Rodney District Council encouragement for that development, and pulled the plug at relatively the last minute; if he is aware of that, can he explain why Transit took such an action?
I suspect there is a measure of truth in the member’s question, and I suspect that the reason for that will be the passage of the Land Transport Management Act. The point about Warkworth or Wellsford, if I may say this, is not that the locals decide on a particular solution, right or wrong, but that the locals and Transit work together for a solution, and if there is anything I can do to facilitate that I am happy to.
Hon Maurice Williamson Link to this
Does the Minister agree with the Rodney Economic Development Trust that Transit’s ability to listen to local concerns is so bad that “meaningful consultation is dead”, and “there is no point in working hard to encourage international companies and investment if a Government department is hell-bent on stopping them.”?
I am aware of tensions in that particular relationship. But it does take two to fight. I would instance a few other examples: MasterFoods, just south of Wanganui; Frankton Flats, just out of Queenstown, which itself was a difficult relationship until more recently; and Milton, south of where I live in Dunedin, etc., where Transit and the local planning folk have managed to work together to a mutually successful outcome.
Hon Maurice Williamson Link to this
Does the Minister recall giving a commitment to the people of Warkworth before the last election that: “If I am still Minister of Transport after the election, or if not, my successor, will come to Rodney in October for 2 days. We will travel between Wellsford and Warkworth, meet with everybody, and bring the Auckland Regional Council and other interested parties to get this resolved.”, and given that we are only 1 day away from April of the following year, has he done so yet?
It would be a pleasure, indeed, to return to Rodney and meet with John Law and others again. Just now my diary makes that a little problematic.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Does the Minister believe it makes sense for a knowledge economy zone in Rodney, the largest industrial development in Auckland, to proceed with only 15 percent of the planned investment because Transit New Zealand refuses to spend $5 million on motorway on-ramps and off-ramps?
Intuitively my inclination is to challenge the figures, because if $5 million would buy an 85 percent improvement in economic development it would be the sort of thing that Transit would want to fund.
David BennettHow does the Minister explain the large increase in legal services incurred by Transit, being an overexpenditure of $2.5 million in 2004-05, and Transit increasing its legal fees budget by $2 million for the 2005-06 year—costs that related to submissions on land-use applications—and what will the Government provide to applicants in those hearings so that they have equality of representation in any court or council hearing?