5 Cent Fuel Tax Increase Not Enough

Transit Plan Shows 5 Cent Fuel Tax Increase Not Enough to Fix NZ Roads says NZCID

Thu, 3 Mar 2005

The draft Transit NZ 10 year projection reveals that the proposed 5.6 cent petrol tax incerase will not be sufficeint to complete critical road corridors _____

5.6 Cent Petrol Tax Increase Not Enough to Fix NZ's Roads

Media release, 3 March, 2005 A 5 cent per litre increase in petrol tax will not be sufficient to fund New Zealand's road infrastructure deficit, says Stephen Selwood, Chief Executive of the NZ Council for Infrastructure Development.

"Toll roads will help bridge part of the funding shortfall but Government will also need to consider diverting more of the existing tax on petrol or road users will face further tax increases to advance essential projects." Selwood said.

"Transit New Zealand plans show that even with the fuel tax increase, vital projects like Auckland's Western Ring Route, Tauranga's Strategic Roading Network and the Waikato Expressway will not be fully funded within 10 years".

"Major projects like Wellington's Transmission Gully or Centennial Highway or an Auckland Harbour crossing aren't even on the funding horizon."

"The cost to the nation of not completing these works in a more timely way is simply not sustainable. It is demonstrated on a daily basis in congestion costs, lost productivity, air pollution and lives lost."

Critical Projects Not Funded in the Transit 10 year plan include:[1]

Project Cost

Expected Expected Start Completion

SH20 Avondale Extension $850m 2011 2017 SH1 Waikato Expressway $710m 2015+ Unknown SH2 Maramarua Expressway $300m 2015+ Unknown SH2 Tauranga Northern Corridor $140m Unknown Unknown SH1 Centennial / Transmission Gully $1 billion Unknown Unknown Auckland Harbour Crossing $3 billion+ Unknown Unknown

"It's clear that additional funds will be required if NZ's roads are to be fixed within an acceptable time frame. Greater private sector involvement could both finance and build projects sooner.

With a membership of prominent private and public sector organisations committed to infrastructure development, The New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development is ideally placed to work closely with Government to achieve faster progress for the benefit of all New Zealanders" Selwood said.

ENDS

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