Planning for EWL cost $50m
The controversial East-west Link (EWL) motorway cost taxpayers $51 million before being sent to the scrap heap.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) clocked up the hefty price tag in planning the EWL since 2014, figures released under the Official Information Act show.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Auckland mayor Phil Goff confirmed last Tuesday the project would be cancelled.
The EWL was a $1.85 billion priority roading project of the last Government, connecting State Highway 20 at Onehunga and State Highway 1 at Mt Wellington, with a four-lane highway.
It was still in the design phase and had just gone through a lengthy consultation process.
More than $39m was spent on professional services, which included all planners, engineers, lawyers, and experts hired for the planning and consulting phases of the project.
Construction of stage one improvements to Onehunga totalled more than $10m.
This package of work included the widening of SH20 between Neilson St and Queenstown Rd, and replacing the old Neilson St rail bridge, all identified in a detailed business case as providing early transport benefits to the area.
Internal project costs such as catering, travel, phones and venue hire amounted to $487,183.
Stakeholder engagement, like open days and newsletters cost $368,625.
Cancelling current plans for the motorway was a key priority for the Greens.
Associate Transport Minister and Green MP Julie Anne Genter said it was ‘‘incredibly irresponsible’’ of the previous National government to spend so much money on the project.
‘‘Money can now be prioritised in far better projects like completing the rapid transit network and accelerating light rail to the airport.’’
Greater Auckland spokesperson Matthew Lowrie said the $51m in expenses was probably in line with other big projects.
Congestion in the area did need to be addressed, but it didn’t require a ‘‘$1.8b pseudo-motorway’’ to do that, he said.
Scaling to something more appropriate - like upgrading local roads such as Neilson St and Church St would deliver the same benefits for a cheaper price, he said.