Highway extension vital, Northland mayors say

Far North Mayor Wayne Brown. Photo / Northern Advocate

Mayors north of Auckland are adamant the Puhoi to Wellsford motorway extension is vital to the Far North economy and must in no way be compromised by Auckland's transport infrastructure needs.

Len Brown swept to power in last month's Super City election promising greater focus on Auckland's rail network - including a central city tunnel, harbour crossing to the North Shore and links to the airport - however the Government has signalled it will not be bankrolling his ambitious projects.

Speaking with the backing of Whangarei Mayor Morris Cutforth and Kaipara Mayor Neil Tiller, Far North Wayne Mayor Brown said the extension was absolutely essential to the future growth of the region.

"There are rumblings from Super City Mayor Len Brown about the estimated $1.3 billion for the extension being better spent on Auckland's rail system, and we're here to tell him, and the Government, 'no way, it's not on and we won't allow it'," Mr Brown said.

"The motorway extension is another step on the way to connecting Northland with the rest of New Zealand - it's hugely important to our future in terms of economic and social development and it's much, much more than the 'holiday highway' some people like to call it."

Wayne Brown said Northland's three mayors represented all sectors of their communities, including the economic sector, and Northland was an exporter, unlike Auckland.

"We're not happy with the cuts that have already been made to our road funding up here in order to feed Auckland's, insatiable transport needs," he said. "These reductions have come at a time when our forestry and dairy exports are booming and our roads are taking a hammering - the last thing we need is to be further disadvantaged."

Wayne Brown said Aucklanders would benefit from the extension in any event because they flocked to Northland in summer and added to the pressure on already inadequate Northland roads.

He said Auckland's traffic congestion eases during school holidays as parents are not ferrying their children to and from school.

"They don't need a central city rail loop - they just need to get their school children on buses.

"They would be better focusing on that issue than trying to undermine the State Highway One extension, which will greatly assist Northland's development and benefit all New Zealanders"

- NZHERALD STAFF