Media release: Hon Judith Tizard, Minister for Auckland Issues

24 May 2006

Try reading the Budget Rodney!

"Read the budget Rodney" is the advice from the Auckland Issues Minister Judith Tizard to ACT MP Rodney Hide in response to his comments that Auckland missed out on Budget funding for land transport.

"Rodney Hide needs to spend more time in Parliament," says Judith Tizard.

"Budget 2006 increased land transport spending to $13.4 billion over the next five years to guarantee and accelerate New Zealand's largest ever road building programme as part of the government's economic transformation theme. Auckland's the winner here."

"Budget 2006 allocates an extra $1.3 billion to guarantee the state highway programme and to speed up work on major road and public transport projects to ease traffic congestion in Auckland and other centres."

"These projects include finishing the Western ring route and trans-regional links including the Waikato Maramarua expressway and the route as far north as Whangarei."

The full list of Auckland projects is attached to this email or available at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/Documents/Files/
Key%20Deliverables.Auckland%20roads.Budget2006.doc.

"Rodney Hide is out of step on the dance floor and on Auckland issues. Last week the Auckland Mayoral Forum formally thanked the government for its support for Auckland projects – especially roads and public transport services. They described it as the greatest support Auckland has ever received from central government."

"When we took office in 1999, the National government was spending just over $18m per annum on Auckland passenger transport - that's just $18 per Aucklander. This Labour–led government has allocated $172,850,300 this year – that's $154 million extra per annum under Labour being invested just in Auckland passenger transport."

In December last year the government announced it would fund 100% of the cost of upgrading the Auckland rail network, which is estimated to cost between $450 million and $600 million. The upgrade projects include double tracking of the Western Line, signalling and minor capacity upgrades, linking the southern rail corridor and Manukau City, and reconfiguration of the Newmarket junction.

"I am proud of what this government has done for Auckland and I will continue to work for Auckland's interests," says Judith Tizard.

ENDS

Key Deliverables Expected from the Initial 5-year Funding Package for State Highways (2006/07 to 2010/11)

(Note: Land Transport NZ will decide the precise funding allocations under the new funding package)

Large State Highway Improvements Built and Opened
2006/07 to 2010/11
State Highway Corridor / Projects Built
Auckland Northern Gateway / SH1, ALPURT B2
Auckland North Shore / SH1, Northern Busway
SH1, Esmonde Rd Interchange
SH1, Ramp Signalling
SH1, Northcote to Sunnynook Auxiliary Lane
Auckland Central Improvements / SH1, Central Motorway Junction - Stage 2
SH16, Newton Rd to Western Springs Auxilary Lane
SH1, Auckland Harbour Bridge Moveable Lane Barrier
SH1, Auckland Harbour Bridge Stormwater Upgrade
SH1, Newmarket Viaduct to Greenlane Auxiliary Lane*
SH16, Punganui Bridge Replacement *
Auckland Western Ring Route / SH20, Mt Roskill Extension
SH20, Manukau Extension
SH18, Greenhithe Deviation
Auckland North-western Motorway / SH16, Ramp Signalling

Auckland Southern Motorway / SH1, Waiouru Connection (Manukau City)
SH1, Ramp Signalling
Waikato Maramarua Expressway / SH2, Mangatawhiri Deviation
Hamilton Western Corridor / SH1, Church to Avalon 4 Laning
SH1, Avalon Drive Bypass
* Construction, subject to investigation and design being completed as planned

Large State Highway Improvements Built and Opened - 2006/07 to 2010/11 (Additional to August 2005 State Highway Forecast)
State Highway Corridor / Projects Built
Auckland Southern Motorway / SH1, Papakura Interchange Upgrade Stage 1*
* Construction, subject to investigation and design being completed as planned

Large State Highway Improvements with Substantive Construction Starts - 2006/07 to 2010/11 (1 years construction at least)
State Highway Corridor / Projects Started
SH1, Whangarei to Auckland / SH1, Warkworth Improvements Stage 1*
Auckland Western Ring Route / SH18, Hobsonville Deviation
SH16, Brigham Creek Extension
SH16, Te Atatu - Royal 6L *
SH20, Waterview Connection *
SH20, Manukau Harbour Crossing *
SH18/20, Ramp Signalling*
Auckland Central Improvements / SH1, Vic Park Tunnel *
SH1, Newmarket Viaduct *
Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS)
Waikato Expressway / SH1, Te Rapa Bypass *
SH1, Rangiriri Bypass *
* Construction started, subject to investigation and design being completed as planned

Large State Highway Improvements Being Prepared for a Construction Start - 2006/07 to 2010/11
State Highway Corridor / Projects Developed
Auckland Western Ring Route / SH16, Te Atatu Interchange Westbound off ramp
SH16, Rosebank to Te Atatu 6L
SH16, Waterview to Rosebank 8L
Waikato Expressway / SH1, Ngaruawahia Bypass
SH1, Cambridge Bypass
SH1, Longswamp to Rangiriri 4L
SH1, Huntly Bypass
Waikato Maramarua Expressway / SH2, Maramarua Deviation
Coromandel Gateway / SH25, Kopu Bridge Replacement

Large State Highway Improvements Being Prepared for a Design Start –2006/07 to 2010/11
State Highway Corridor / Projects Investigated
SH1, Whangarei to Auckland / SH1, Schedewys Hill Deviation
SH1, Whangarei to Auckland / SH1, Brynderwyn Hill Realignment
Waikato Maramarua Expressway / SH2, Kopuku Realignment
Hamilton Southern Corridor / Hamilton Southern Links

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