3. TIM BARNETT (Labour—Christchurch Central) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
What progress has been made on State Highway 1, between Picton and Christchurch?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Transport) Link to this
Considerable progress has been made in the last few years. New Zealanders and visitors to one of the most beautiful parts of our country can enjoy the realignment and replacement of the narrow bridge over the railway line at the elevation just south of Picton, the Ōkiwi Bay realignment, the Saltwater Creek realignment, and the main north road four-laning project just south of the Waimakariri River—to mention just some of the improvements that have happened under this Government.
The Awatere Bridge was completed in 1901 and has served the community well. But by the early 1990s there were intensified calls for the one-lane road-rail bridge to be replaced with a bridge suitable for State Highway 1. Under this Government, those calls have been heeded. Construction of the new bridge started in February. It is the largest roading project in the district in recent history—long awaited. Nine months into the project, all the foundations are in place, the road deck is under way, and the rail bridge is preserved alongside the new road bridge. That is due to the good work of the previous Minister of Transport, who got the project off the ground, whereas the National Government only talked about it.
Colin KingCan the Minister tell Parliament that while in Opposition Labour spent 9 years complaining about the Awatere Bridge, and then on becoming the Government took 7 long years before it did anything about it?
The Labour Government has done something about it. I just ask why the National Party, which has represented that district for most of its existence—most of the time since the bridge was built in 1901—and which had 9 years to do something about the bridge when the people of that member’s district were saying it was a problem, did nothing. It took this Government to take that matter seriously. The bridge is under way; it is being built and will be opened—no thanks to the National Party, at all.
Gerry BrownleeThat is a very good question, because I happened to see a report, which I am sure Colin King has seen as well, in the Marlborough Express following a visit by Dr Brash to Marlborough. He made a speech to the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, and said: “It’s unacceptable to have a one-lane bridge on State Highway 1 and I’m going to work towards its replacement.” Well, I say to Dr Brash that it is too late; the bridge is almost finished. And he is going to work towards its replacement? I need to ask Dr Brash what he is going to do. Will he dig some holes? Will he put a plank on the bridge? I tell the member that if he is serious about helping the people of Marlborough, he ought to become better informed.