Green Party Reconnect Auckland Launch

Green Party Reconnect Auckland Launch

By Kyle Church and David Christie

On Sunday the Green Party launched a campaign aimed at pressuring the Government to provide funding for 60% of Auckland's $2.4 billion City Rail Link. The campaign is set to involve thousands of Aucklanders pledging their support for the project.

The campaign was launched at the Green Party's central Auckland office which, ironically enough, is one of the properties set to be demolished should the City Rail Link go ahead, making way for a new Karangahape Road train station.

Representatives at the launch were from a variety of Auckland groups, including Auckland Council, First Union and the K Road Business Association, all of which support the initiative. There was a strong focus on the job creation benefits of the project as well as a need for local control and guidance of Auckland's transport needs. Auckland Transport Blog columnist Patrick Reynolds called for Auckland Council to reject Government subsidies for new motorways and focus instead on projects they could fund locally such as public transport and cycling.

Greens' Transport spokesperson Julie Ann Genter outlined the rationale behind the project, which is estimated to double the capacity of Auckland's rail network, while highlighting the meagre funding public transport receives in comparison to the billions allocated to new motorways. Investing so heavily in one transport mode to exclusion of all others, she argued, robbed Aucklanders of choice and left them with few options but to drive. She also made the point that an improved rail system would reduce congestion, meaning it would also be a benefit for motorists. Genter also focussed on the economic rationale of such a project. “The business case for the rail link is overwhelming. It will create jobs, increase productivity and free up the motorways. It is a much better spend than the Government's proposed motorway expenditure.”

Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman said that a viable rail network was necessary to transform Auckland into a “modern, vibrant city”. He pointed out that Auckland was an international city, and as such it needed a, “world class rail network that provides fast and frequent trains all over the city.”

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