Transport spending a top priority
AS NEW ZEALAND’S POPULATION AND CITIES HAVE STEADILY grown, it has become increasingly apparent that the country’s network of mostly two-lane national highways simply isn’t up to the task.
While some big projects, such as Wellington’s Transmission Gully motorway and the Waikato Expressway, are already under way, more investment is needed.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored, yet again, the vital role that the trucking industry plays in keeping the nation’s economy running.
All political parties have pledged to spend more money on transport – but their plans vary.
The Labour-led Government has announced it will spend an extra $5billion on infrastructure projects around NZ, creating more than 20,000 jobs. That’s on top of the $12billion NZ Upgrade Programme and existing Provincial Growth Fund investments.
Included are four major Auckland transport projects worth $182 million – expected to create 800 jobs. The Puhinui Interchange and Stage One of the Ferry Basin Redevelopment are already under construction. The other projects are improvements to the North Western Motorway and a new $37m walking and cycling path connecting New Lynn and Te Atatu in West Auckland.
Investing in public transport and cycling helps get cars off the roads, so that should help the road transport industry.
Meanwhile, a decision on shifting the Ports of Auckland’s freight operations has been deferred until after the election.
National, unsurprisingly, has criticised the Government for failing to deliver on projects so far.
In July, the opposition National Party’s third leader this year, Judith Collins, announced an ambitious $31billion transport policy. Collins called it “the biggest infrastructure programme in NZ’s history.”
The policy is focused mainly on the upper North Island, with projects in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Whangarei earmarked to receive the lion’s share of spending – about $17bn.
The projects would include a four-lane expressway from Whangarei to Tauranga (including tunnels under mountain ranges); another Auckland Harbour crossing; bus rapid transit and a rail link for Auckland; upgrading Auckland’s ferry services; and building Auckland’s Northwest Rapid Transit Bus Corridor.
National ruled out new fuel taxes and pledged to repeal the Auckland regional fuel tax. Funding would come from borrowing and future budgets. Some funding would come from tolls.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson criticised what he called National’s “contradictory position on debt,” and warned that public services would be slashed. He said some “new” National projects were already part of the Government’s plan. The plan was also criticised for being Auckland-centric.
National also announced it would fund a Palmerston North rural ring road.
In early July, short-term former National leader Todd Muller – alongside now-disgraced former National MP Andrew Falloon – promised a $1.5bn upgrade for SH1 between Christchurch and Ashburton, turning it into four lanes, to connect with the Christchurch Southern Motorway.
Muller said the project would be “transformational” for Canterbury, while Falloon criticised the Government for funnelling funding into Auckland transport projects.
Whether that highway gets built is uncertain.
So, what’s the takeaway from all this? On the plus side, all major parties are pledged to improving transport in NZ. As always, the devil will be in the detail. Concerns remain about the amount of money being allocated for Auckland and the north of the country, ahead of other parts of the country…..and about 0where the money will come from.
Whatever the outcome, the Road Transport Association – by bringing members’ concerns to the attention of roading and territorial authorities – and the Road Transport Forum, through lobbying government, will make members’ voices heard. T&D