Projects to be unveiled ‘in weeks’
A list of major infrastructure projects receiving fast-track funding from the Government to kick-start the country’s economy will be announced ‘‘within weeks’’.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson told Canterbury business leaders yesterday that projects would be unveiled in waves and work would begin as soon as possible. But there would be ‘‘capacity constraints’’ because of a downturn in migrant labour that New Zealand relies on for such work because of coronavirus travel restrictions. Some projects might also need Kiwis to be trained up to work on them — a hint that there could be a potential delay until that can happen.
Robertson also suggested New Zealand could become a hub for education and attract international students as early as next year.
And he extended a reassurance to Canterbury’s beleaguered tourism sector, assuring operators that last week’s $400 million package was just the start of the help.
Speaking to business leaders in an online seminar arranged by the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, Robertson said the Government received about 1800 submissions for infrastructure projects across the country, which
Grant Robertson Finance Minister
are expected to create thousands of jobs and get cash flowing.
He warned not all would get the handout to help them go ahead, but suggested water infrastructure would benefit — which was among Christchurch City’s Council’s bids.
Authorities in Canterbury submitted a billion-dollar wish-list in April including cash for Christchurch’s stadium, roading projects and flood protection along the Avon River corridor.
The list will be submitted to Cabinet by an infrastructure industry reference group by Friday and ‘‘within weeks’’ there will be an announcement on which will go ahead.
But carrying out the projects has required a rethink on how the work is actually done. ‘‘We’ve become quite reliant on migrant labour for some of these sorts of projects,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘So we do have to make sure we’ll be bringing these projects on force both with the New Zealanders we’ll be training up and with some imported labour as well.’’
New Zealand could attract international students as early as next year.