5. PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) Link to this
to the Associate Minister of Transport
Is Transit going to ensure that the fumes from the venting stacks of the proposed motorway tunnels project through Waterview in Auckland are filtered; if not, why not?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD (Associate Minister of Transport) Link to this
Transit’s proposal to build twin tunnels to connect State Highway 20 at Mount Roskill with the north-western motorway at Waterview is only at a preliminary design stage. The community has recently been consulted on Transit’s preferred option. The final design of any proposed ventilation system will be subject to international best practice and local consent processes, including compliance with the New Zealand air quality standards.
Is the Minister aware that there is a school in close proximity to the proposed tunnel, and that that school, as well as others, is prohibited from incinerating rubbish in order to reduce emissions of tiny particles, yet Transit is considering building a chimney stack that is unfiltered; is that acceptable to the Minister?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
Yes, indeed, I am. In fact, I met with Waterview School principal, Brett Skeen, and the board of trustees, together with Transit officials, about a fortnight ago to consider a range of issues around community consultation over this project. I was delighted at the agreement that was reached, that the local community will be consulted on all stages of design, and I expect that to happen.
Dave HereoraHon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
The Government has undertaken an extensive range of work to improve air quality from vehicles. This includes the 2007 vehicle emissions rule improving fuel qualities—especially for diesel—which introduces a visible smoke check at warrant of fitness level, and public education campaigns. The Government is also exploring further measures to reduce the level of harmful emissions, especially those from diesel vehicles. I make the point on this specific, that having the motorway at surface level would certainly not result in better air quality than having the tunnels. All of these issues are being investigated as this project proceeds.
Will the Minister give a straight answer; is it satisfactory to her that billions of dollars can be spent on a tunnel, yet consideration can be given to building a chimney without a system for filtering air particles?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
This project is at the design stage. Transit New Zealand works to the best international levels that it can find. Transit is aware of many tunnels around the world that have unfiltered systems and it is aware of one filtered tunnel system in Japan, but the filtering is actually to remove soot to improve the air quality within the tunnel, rather than to improve the air quality above the tunnel. All of these issues are being considered. Transit will work with the local authorities, including the Auckland Regional Council, which is responsible for air quality, and we will do our best to provide Auckland with a good motorway system and the people of Waterview with the cleanest air possible.
Noting that the Minister has already met with the school, is she aware that there is huge public concern about this issue, and will she front up to a public meeting and explain what she has just explained to us in this House?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
Transit New Zealand reports that 75 percent of the people who responded to its proposal favoured the Waterview Connection tunnel proposal, 8 percent were neutral, and about 17 percent opposed the proposal. Transit New Zealand’s board intends to have an open meeting in Auckland early next month to consider the submissions and the proposals. All of that will be in public. I am very happy to front at any stage, but I suggest that the best process is for the Transit New Zealand board to be open in its discussions as the design proceeds.
Keith LockeFollowing the admission of the Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues during question No. 3 that transport emissions have stabilised and will presumably decline as the petrol price rises, at what point does the Government think that spending $2 billion on 4.5 kilometres of a motorway to Waterview is not cost-effective or of net benefit to the community, including the local school?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
This Government is determined to provide Auckland with a decent public system of roading that will include busways, walkways, and cycleways. For the first time we have put social and environmental concerns into the road building process. Buses could well use these tunnels and, given that the vast majority of people consulted prefer the tunnel option because it will not destroy several suburbs as most of the National Party’s motorway projects have, I think it is a great step forward.