KEY POINTS:
Most Aucklanders are concerned or very concerned about their general environment, a survey shows.
The Auckland Regional Council environmental awareness survey found 80 per cent of 1600 people questioned felt that way.
Topping a list of six concerns was traffic congestion followed by vehicle emissions, air pollution, lack of public transport, and waste, rubbish and air pollution.
Almost two-thirds said they were concerned or very concerned about the potential for a disaster in the region in their lifetime.
Those most likely to find the region a great or good place to live were more likely to be Maori. Those more likely to be worried about the environment were aged 25 and over.
Traffic congestion was a major worry for those aged 65 and those living in Rodney and the North Shore.
Nine out of 10 agreed better public transport would make it easier to get around Auckland but 52 per cent said more roads would help too.
Women were the most concerned about loss of streams and wetlands, bush and forest, and the effects of infill housing. Pacific Island people were the most concerned about loss of native animals and plants.
Earthquake and volcanic eruption were feared by half of those surveyed as the most likely disasters to happen in the region and one-third also believed a tidal wave/tsunami could occur in their lifetime.
This year, Auckland's civil defence officials hope to treble their budget for disasters to $1.77 million.
The Government says vehicle emissions cause 400 premature deaths a year nationally, including 250 in Auckland.
The survey asked what respondents had personally done to help improve air quality. Some 28 per cent believed they had helped by tuning their car regularly. About 22 per cent said they had also started walking or cycling instead of using their car.
The Auckland region has 1.37 million people. Green MP Keith Locke said the answer to the top four complaints was rail electrification.
"People are more directed towards improving public transport because there is a realisation that while more roadworks help to smooth the traffic flow, traffic growth will put us back to where we started."
National Party spokesman on Auckland issues Wayne Mapp said it was ridiculous to wait another decade to complete the western ring route.
"Everyone says it is the key route to fix congestion and the Government must make strategic decisions to use some of its $11 billion surplus to do that and make the whole city work better."
AA spokesman Simon Lambourne said investment in completing the road network and improving public transport was the cure for congestion, vehicle emission and air pollution.
Top concerns
* Traffic congestion, 20 per cent.
* Vehicle emissions, 14 per cent.
* Air pollution, 10 per cent.
* Lack of public transport, 9 per cent.
* Waste and rubbish, 8 per cent.
* Water pollution, 5 per cent.
