$30m boost for transport project

The Auckland region won $30 million yesterday for access to Auckland rail corridors but the path towards a congestion-beating rapid transport system still looks rocky.

The regional funding body, Infrastructure Auckland, approved a $30 million grant for access to Tranz Rail lines but the money will be delivered only if strict conditions are met.

Auckland local body leaders had asked Infrastructure Auckland for $40 million towards a $65 million deal with Tranz Rail for access to the southern and western corridors and a $1 billion rapid transport scheme.

Auckland Mayoral Forum chairman Bob Harvey called the $30 million "a good start" but that there was still some way to go before the cash was handed over by a target date of December 8.

Infrastructure Auckland said the $30 million would be available only if the national roading and public transport financing body, Transfund, approves another request by Auckland leaders for $35 million to make up the $65 million deal.

Infrastructure Auckland said its grant justified Transfund coming up with its $35 million.

At yesterday's Infrastructure Auckland board meeting, director Gary Taylor successfully proposed a further grant condition on Auckland leaders for an "expeditious roll-out" of a rapid transport scheme

"We've handed the ball over to Transfund," he said. "It's a relay. They've got to make the tape."

Both Infrastructure Auckland and Mr Harvey were looking forward to a "positive outcome" from a Transfund board meeting tomorrow.

But Transfund chief executive Martin Gummer said late yesterday that Transfund got the Auckland application for $35 million only on September 25, and the board would still be grappling with the application in a preliminary way.

"Our [legislation] really wasn't designed to consider applications of this nature. There are a number of legal issues which will require some further working through before we are in a clear position to address the application."

Asked to comment on the Infrastructure Auckland view that its grant provided justification for a Transfund grant, Mr Gummer said: "What one's view of what the other should do is probably not especially relevant."

While Infrastructure Auckland decided to grant $30 million towards the $65 million deal, the North Shore City Council was calling for the body to put its decision on hold.

North Shore Mayor George Wood said: "Infrastructure Auckland money is our money just as much as it's anyone else's money in Auckland. We want to see the best deal for Auckland and as it stands now we have doubts and we have legitimate grounds to raise those doubts."

North Shore City councillors, concerned at the impact of Tranz Rail getting out of its passenger transport business nationwide, also voted to ask the Government to buy a controlling interest in Tranz Rail.

The Associate Minister of Transport, Judith Tizard, said: "Sitting in the sun and dreaming of what might be is not going to get us a better transport system in Auckland."

On the $30 million grant she said she was still not happy with what was being proposed.

She was aware that some Auckland councils had reservations not only about the cost of the project but the project itself.

"My reading of the Infrastructure Auckland deal is that it is a very tentative decision. They are saying the money will be available if a whole lot of other things happen ... We are not prejudging the outcome.

"I think there is some very positive work being done but I don't think the project is so clear in everybody's minds so we can line everyone up."

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