City Rail Link: Main works delayed until 2018

Photo / Greg Bowker

The Auckland Council has voted to put back a start on the City Rail Link by two years.

Mayor Len Brown told a governing body meeting today that a 2015 start was considered too much of a stretch by the Auditor-General.

The council had assumed the Government would begin funding the main works for the project in 2015, when it is committed to a 2020 start date.

"The Auditor-General is looking for greater clarity and more reasonableness around the timing in bringing the Government to the table and getting their assurance around their commitment to funding," Mr Brown said.

The council will still proceed and fully fund "enablement works" late next year or in 2016 costing about $280 million.

That involves digging"cut and cover" tunnels from Britomart and then through Albert St to Wyndham St to clear the way for a major redevelopment of the Downtown Shopping Centre in the path of the 3.5km rail link to Mt Eden.

The main works will now be put forward in a new 10 year budget for a 2018 start.

The draft budget is going out for public consultation in January.