$2 billion on Waterview a waste, say Greens

Protesters demonstrate against the Waterview connection last year. Photo / Herald on Sunday

The Green Party says Auckland's $2 billion Waterview connection motorway is an outdated project that won't solve the city's transport problems.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) announced today that its board had made $2 billion available for what it says will be New Zealand's biggest roading project, the last link in Auckland's western ring route.

NZTA also said it hoped to save about a year in the construction by running the tender and the consenting process at the same time.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the ring route would create 19,000 jobs and was essential for the continued growth and economic development of Auckland.

But Green MP David Clendon said the project, which connects the end of State Highway 20 at Maioro Rd in Sandringham to SH16 at Waterview, much of it through a tunnel, was a waste of money.

"Pouring billions of dollars into a few kilometres of motorway and destroying a well-established community is the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

"It will lower property values and attract more cars into the city, condemning Auckland to more congestion and higher transport costs."

Mr Clendon said parks would be destroyed, residents would be dealing with increased pollution and children at Waterview Primary School would be playing on fields next to a busy motorway.

"This is the time to be providing Aucklanders with a viable and affordable alternative to the car," he said.

"We need a sustainable vision for the future - the planned CBD rail loop from Britomart to Mt Eden would achieve many more benefits for less money and transform Auckland into a world class city with a 21st century transport system.

"It's not too late for this Government to show some leadership and stop throwing more money into an outdated and expensive project that won't solve our transport problems."

NZTA chief executive Geoff Dangerfield said tenders for the road would be called for next month, and application for statutory approvals through the new national consenting process would be run at the same time.

It was hoped construction would begin by the end of next year and that the road would be finished by 2016.

The Automobile Association's Auckland chairman, Paul Hesseling, said the Waterview connection would significantly reduce traffic through suburban roads, making those roads safer and more pleasant for local drivers, walkers and cyclists.

"To finally get this commitment to complete the Western Ring Route is great," Mr Hesseling said.

"It will be both a safer and faster route for drivers commuting through the city."

Road Transport Forum chief executive Ken Shirley said the financial commitment to the road would be welcome news to trucking operators.

"It is a vital step in easing the congestion that has increasingly plagued all Auckland road users and trucking operators for many years," he said.

Other parts of the western ring route, a 48km link between Albany and Manukau which avoids the CBD, are either already built or under construction.

The Manukau Harbour bridge project should be completed by next month, the Manukau connection between SH1 and SH20 should be ready by the end of 2010, and the Hobsonville motorway project should be ready by 2012.

- NZPA