10. Hon DARREN HUGHES (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
When will the New Zealand Transport Agency make a decision on the roading issues through Kapiti that they are currently consulting on?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) Link to this
I am advised by the New Zealand Transport Agency that strategic decisions on that particular piece of road, and also the whole Wellington-Levin corridor project, will be made before the end of this calendar year.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Why has the Government not included any proposals to push electrification of rail further north to Ōtaki, Levin, or Palmerston North in this transport plan, given that it is prepared to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on roads that shave a few minutes off travelling time?
Of course there are transport projects in both modes proceeding on the Kapiti Coast, with electrification proceeding to Waikanae, but it is very important that we develop a strategic plan for State Highway 1. It is our most important national route and carries the most traffic and freight through the district at the same time, and that must be done.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Which option has the member for Ōtaki communicated is his preferred option for the roading proposals through Kapiti?
He actually has not communicated his preference. He has been active on behalf of his constituents in ensuring that the consultation goes well and he is undertaking a number of public meetings himself, some of which I have attended. The important thing is that this is a very difficult project to look at through the Kapiti district, and it is a pity that it was not done some time ago. Unfortunately, we are now faced with trying to come up with a strategic plan where if it had been endorsed by the previous Government for the State highway, we would not have the difficulty we have now in trying to get a plan through the district.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Why did National campaign on agreeing with Labour about the Western Link Road being a local road, Transmission Gully, and the electrification of rail, only to get into office and push proposals that no one in the community had ever heard of?
That perhaps shows the member’s age, because this particular project has been discussed as early as the mid-1970s and before, and that—
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I am sure that if I made derogatory reference to the Minister’s advanced age and elderly status, you would pull me up.
Mr SPEAKERI hear the honourable member, and I ask the Minister to please not make such comment on the question, and to come quickly to the answer.
I am sorry; the attractiveness of the member’s youth overtook me in answering the question. I point out to the member that the potential alignment through the Kapiti district has been talked about for many, many years. Unfortunately, the previous Government did not develop a strategic plan for the State highway through the district. The member and certainly some on the Kapiti Coast District Council are now trying to say that that particular decision should be postponed. The difficulty with that is, as we are seeing, it makes it very difficult for people who have properties along prospective routes if they do not know what will happen.