Auckland City council cool on $1.6b traffic plan

By BERNARD ORSMAN


The Government's $1.62 billion transport plan for Auckland has received a cool response from the region's largest council, Auckland City.

A preliminary assessment by the council raises concerns about the ability of a new transport body to improve traffic woes and the life of Aucklanders.

Prime Minister Helen Clark last week told councillors throughout the region that the extra $1.62 billion for roads and public transport depended on their accepting a new body to manage Auckland's transport needs.

But Auckland City is far from happy with the proposal.

It is opposed to the Auckland Regional Council's having a majority on a panel to appoint the board for the new Auckland Regional Transport Authority.

The authority, to be operating by July next year, would be overseen by an independent board of directors, but would be accountable to the ARC, which will have overall responsibility for transport planning in Auckland.

The council is concerned that the panel of elected representatives will not be involved in other governance matters, such as the statement of intent and reviewing the performance of board directors.

And it does not know how the authority will integrate planning for state highways, local roads and public transport when its main role is for public transport.

Mayor John Banks said the council unanimously agreed that the proposed governance structure would not work without proper integration of the region's transport infrastructure and functions.

"We want a structure that works," he said. "We don't want something that suits Treasury in theory but doesn't work in practice."

Council chief executive Bryan Taylor has been asked to report back on concerns to a special meeting on January 29 when the council will consider a formal response to the plan.

The seven local councils, the ARC and the Auckland Regional Land Transport Committee have until February to respond.