9 September 2004

Ram Wants The Auditor-General To Put A Stay On Alpurt B2 Proceedings

"RAM - Residents Action Movement has requested that the Auditor-General's office place an immediate stay on ALPURT B2 proceedings" said Elaine West, Auckland ARC candidate.

"RAM wants the Auditor-General to urgently investigate central Government's continued disregard to collate, anaylse and distribute data regarding regional petrol taxes that New Zealanders have requested for years." "Central Government says it can't differentiate regional petrol taxes - RAM says it can!" Elaine West said.

"Tolls are just another tax that will hurt ordinary people the most" said Ms West.

"And we believe that central Government through Transit New Zealand, the Auckland Mayoral Forum, and advise given by officers to the Auckland Regional Council show clear bias in favour of imposing tolls on SH1 at Orewa - no matter what people think."

"ALPURT B2 submissions presented to Transit clearly show that people want existing petrol taxes and existing road user charges to pay for land transport infrastructure" she said.

"Central Government is holding the people to ransom when they say that tolls are the only way to get the Orewa-Puhoi motorway extension underway."

"And the new Land Transport Management Act (2003) makes new road user charges not only possible, but dead simple" says Elaine West.

"RAM has also made a second request to the office of the Auditor-General. We want to know if Ms Jo Anne Brosnahan, CEO of Auckland Regional Council, Dr Robin Dunlop, ex-Transit CEO and now Secretary of Transport, and Mr Russell Kilvington, Director of the Maritime Safety Authority, have conflicts of interest because of their private business affairs" she said.

Ms West said "The Auditor-General has been asked to advise RAM - Residents Action Movement, central Government, local Government and members of the New Zealand public about a stay being placed on the ALPURT B2 proceedings as soon as possible."

ENDS

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