Posted on 1-67-2004
Auckland
Transport Decision A Disgrace
by Christine Fletcher, Mayoral Candidate 2004
Auckland Mayoral Candidate Chris Fletcher believes Auckland
City Council's
Transport Committee should have abandoned the Eastern Motorway
proposal in
light of the very negative report from council officers, rather
than
delaying the inevitable decision.
The officers' report, which recommended options for the corridor
and was
signed off by senior staff, identifies a huge number of areas
where there
is insufficient information to enable a decision to be taken.
She says though motorway supporters know that almost two thirds
of
Aucklanders are opposed to the project, they are desperate to
delay a
decision until after the local body elections because they are
terrified
they will be kicked out. Chris Fletcher says that given that
this council
is the largest territorial authority in the country, it needs
to take its
statutory obligations seriously. The Eastern Corridor under
the current
council is an embarrassment in terms of the unprincipled political
interference in process, she says."That this committee
is even considering
the issue in the absence of critical information is a disgrace
-
particularly when you consider the concerns associated with
the absence of
details on the funding and cost of the corridor." "This
project is not
even designated as a significant regional infrastructure project.
This
raises issues as to the ability and capacity of Auckland City
to obtain
Transfund subsidies for what is currently regarded as a local
road
project. There is still no clarification as to where the long-term
funding of the corridor sits in the strategic documentation
for Auckland
City." "It's also absurd that Banks has got this far
with the project
without even having had a detailed environmental or heritage
impact
assessment undertaken."
Chris Fletcher has actively promoted public transport solutions
and
opposed the Eastern Motorway for the past 15 years. She says
it is clear
that is what the vast majority of Aucklanders want. "I
identified most of
the issues requiring further research back in 2001. Here we
are again
today, three years later, with council officers still recommending
that
these same issues require answers."
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