Editorial: Route K plan sounds enticing

Photo / John Borren

New Zealand First's announcement that Route K's $62 million debt could be wiped off the council's balance sheet if it forms part of the Government after the next election will no doubt have city councillors salivating.

The party also says it will remove tolls from the road, which has become a financial millstone around Tauranga City Council's neck.

New Zealand First's Tauranga candidate Clayton Mitchell, who is also a city councillor, says party leader Winston Peters will support his fight for a new Government to take ownership of Route K and its debt.

Tauranga's case would be strengthened if Mr Mitchell was high on New Zealand First's list, boosting his chances of becoming a parliamentarian and exercising some influence on post-election coalition deals. The party's list has yet to be announced.

Mr Peters is to meet councillors on Thursday to discuss the issue.

When Mr Peters did a coalition deal with Labour in 2005, one of the conditions was to axe the resumption of tolls on the Harbour Bridge to fund the second Harbour Bridge and flyover - saving commuters about $1000 a year each in tolls.

The council is negotiating for the New Zealand Transport Agency to take ownership of Route K from July 1 next year, but the deal does not include the debt, which will stay on the council's books to be funded from tolls. Cr Rick Curach wants a coalition agreement to include the words: "The designation of Tauranga's Route K road as a fully state-funded state highway and the transfer of any associated council debt to Treasury."

Such a move, if New Zealand First gets the required number of votes, will drastically improve the council's balance sheet and that's good for ratepayers.

However, I'm not convinced Bay voters who are not already New Zealand First supporters will be so swayed by the offer that they will give up their party allegiances.