13 February 2012

The Auckland transport choice: To invest or not to invest

"The Mayor's transport funding paper released today outlines a number of options to fund transport investment and gives Aucklanders the opportunity to determine the future of their city. In the end it comes down to a simple choice. Either we employ new tools to fund the level of investment to get Auckland moving, or, we do what we've always done - underinvest - and get the same congested, low productivity, low income results", says CEO of the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development, Stephen Selwood.

"The paper highlights a funding shortfall of at least $10 billion. A deficit of this magnitude cannot be funded by tweaking up council rates, petrol taxes and road user charges. It requires acceptance that new approaches are necessary.

"The Mayor is correct in promoting public debate on this critical issue. This is going to be one of the key issues that needs resolution to enable implementation of the Auckland Plan, once it is finalised", Selwood says.

NZCID submissions and media statements can be found online: www.nzcid.org.nz

ENDS

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