7. DARIEN FENTON (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
What update can she provide on progress on Auckland land transport infrastructure?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Transport) Link to this
Today I released a report from the Waterview Connection procurement steering group and welcomed its finding that procuring the Waterview Connection of Auckland’s western ring route as a public-private partnership could deliver greater value than conventional procurement. The Government has asked officials to undertake further work as quickly as possible to enable a final decision to be made consistent with international best practice.
I have seen a transcript from the Agenda programme last Sunday, where Maurice Williamson said that tolling the new Kōpū Bridge was an example of National Party policy. Under the existing legislation that is not possible, because a free alternative route to any toll road must be provided. We now know what National thinks a free alternative route is—it is a 47 kilometre drive on a mixture of local roads or on State highways to bypass the bridge, or a 60 kilometre drive just on State highways. The truth is the Kōpū Bridge will be built anyway, starting in 2010-11. It will be fully funded by the Government, and it will not need any toll from Mr Williamson or the National Party.
Hon Jim AndertonIf the Government were to introduce a $50-a-week toll for using roads, how much would be left over from a $50-a-week tax cut?
Well, obviously not very much if a person were to travel on just one of National’s toll roads. But imagine if one had to travel on one of them that cost $5—or $50 a week—and then one went across the Auckland Harbour Bridge, which the National Party believes ought to be tolled. That would probably cost another $5 each way, and now one is paying up to $100 a week—in fact, one is out of pocket.
Hon Bill EnglishWhy is the Minister able to comment on everyone else’s tolling policy but not tell the House today what Labour’s policy on tolls is, except that it looks like its $2 toll on the Waterview Connection would wipe out the tax cut Labour has promised?
If my mother was talking to Bill English she would say he had cloth ears. I have set out very clearly where this Government stands on tolls. National wants to charge at least $5 a week, and as much as $10, if it is going to fund all toll roads and all major roads out of tolls.
Peter BrownAm I correct in thinking that a public-private partnership will borrow money at a higher rate of interest than the Government, and that it will need to make a profit, which over a 30 or 35-year time frame will make a significant cost on a $2 billion project?
It very much depends on how the public-private partnership is constructed, and that is why we have been doing extra work and getting additional information before we make the final decision. But there are different ways of funding a public-private partnership, and obviously that is part of the mix. I seek leave to table the report Progressing the Waterview Connection as a public private partnership—