10. Hon DARREN HUGHES (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
How many, if any, projects have had their priority downgraded in the recently announced National Land Transport Programme?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) Link to this
This is the first time a 3-year National Land Transport Programme has been prepared. It is therefore not possible to say that any project has been downgraded.
Hon Darren Hughes Link to this
Why is the Tararua district not getting its upgrade of the Pahīatua track, even though it is a regional priority that ratepayers have spent $4 million preparing for and is the only alternative to the often-closed Manawatū Gorge road, particularly when transporting critically ill patients from Dannevirke and Pahīatua to Palmerston North Hospital?
The New Zealand Transport Agency is charged with prioritising a huge range of projects across the country. If the member has a specific concern about a specific project, then if he contacts me directly I will be happy to find out the situation.
Hon Steve Chadwick Link to this
If the Minister has prioritised the route to the Port of Tauranga as being important for economic growth, then why has Rotorua’s eastern arterial highway, which has similar economic value according to the Bay of Plenty Regional Transport Committee, been left off the list?
The regional transport committee prepares a set of projects and the New Zealand Transport Agency is charged with providing a national priority. In relation to the Rotorua eastern arterial highway, I can advise the member that currently the New Zealand Transport Agency is completing an exercise to reconcile the information based on the assessment to date in relation to that project, and also that the agency is meeting with Rotorua District Council staff in regard to a Rotorua transport strategy later this calendar year. There may quite possibly be progress on this project later in this calendar year.
Hekia ParataWhat investments does the National Land Transport Plan make in State highways and local roading, and how will these investments contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth and productivity?
The 2009-12 National Land Transport Plan makes an $8.7 billion investment in New Zealand’s land transport, which is the largest ever. This includes investment of $4.6 billion in the State highway network, $1.9 billion in local roads, and just under $1 billion in key urban public transport networks. This funding will help advance many projects. Some that spring to mind include the Kōpū Bridge, Victoria Park, the western ring route, Pūhoi to Wellsford, the Waikato Expressway, the Tauranga Eastern Link, and the Christchurch Southern Motorway, all of which, when completed, will greatly benefit economic growth and productivity as this Government works to secure a brighter future for all New Zealanders.
Moana MackeyCan the Minister confirm that he has pulled the funding for the Wainui cycleway in Gisborne because it does not meet his Government’s criterion of contributing to economic growth; if so, why do cycleways that the Prime Minister announces contribute to economic growth, but this cycleway, which has had 4 years of planning and development and was due to be started next month, does not?
I have, of course, done no such thing. It is the New Zealand Transport Agency’s responsibility to prioritise projects around the country, and it does prioritise them according to contributions to economic growth, strategic fit, and a number of other criteria. Again I repeat for members present that this is the largest programme ever, and a huge number of projects have been prioritised for funding.