Local Parks bulldozed to make way for Waterview connection

Local parks are being demolished to make way for the Government's new Waterview connection, leaving local families with limited to access to green spaces in their community, Labour MP for Mt Albert David Shearer said.

Today Transport Minister Steven Joyce announced the start of the tender process for the construction of the Waterview Connection, part of the Western Ring Route. At a cost of over $2 billion, this project is clearly going to be the largest this country has seen.

“If the Minister is going to bulldoze Waterview Park, Alan Wood Park and Hendon Park he needs to guarantee access to alternative green spaces. Right now, local residents are bearing all the costs of the new motorway.

"There's been a lot of talk, but so far no money has been set aside for bridges, other green areas or for local residents.

“The Minister can not ask these communities to give up their local parks - places where children go to play and families spend time together - without providing them with a way to access alternative green community spaces in return.

"Last year in the heat of the Mt Albert by-election Steven Joyce estimated the cost of the project at $1.4 million. Now we find with all the other add-ons he didn't announce then the project will be $2 billion, and could go higher.

"I don't think we've seen the last of these spiralling costs. How much more is this project likely to cost before it's finished?" said David Shearer.

ENDS

© Scoop Media