PENLINK TOLLING
The Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency tolling consultation document was delivered into Rodney mailboxes. It may come as a surprise to Aucklanders that Government funding for roads is only for planning and construction and not for maintenance or operational costs.
Whether this policy also applies to other major roading projects around Auckland and the country was not mentioned.
Questions must be asked: where is the ‘‘Auckland-only’’ petrol tax money going and how much is being collected? It seems ratepayers and residents are now being asked to pay twice – through tolls and taxes.
Benefits of tolling claimed in the consultation document, such as shorter traveling times, safe journeys, fewer emissions and faster freight movements also apply to any new roads, regardless of tolls. The document is misleading. Other claims, such as benefits through multiple variable tolling locations, are irrelevant and it smacks of ‘‘Wellington speak’’.
The agency is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Hibiscus Coast, Rodney and Peninsula travellers. All Aucklanders have the right to ask where our money is going and how much is received from our Auckland-only petrol tax. This tax should be used for projects such as Penlink.
The agency needs to publish income estimates from prospective Penlink tolls, how they are going to be spent and if they are to be used to benefit residents to make our journeys more efficient. We need to know, before any council elections.
Brent Marshall, Whangaparaoa