Hold back the cash says Britomart study

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The $261 million Britomart project faces an uncertain future after a damning report recommended that no more public money should go into the transport centre at this time.

Staff at the funding agency Infrastructure Auckland have urged the board to delay any grant until there is certainty about what kind of trains will use Britomart and better figures on numbers of people.

They predicted a financial benefit of $13.2 million if the project is delayed for one year.

The seven-member board will today consider an application from the Auckland City Council for a grant of $91.5 million. Sources have indicated that the board will make a grant, as long as its concerns are met.

The 140-page report sent shockwaves through the city council, which had hoped to call tenders for the downtown transport centre next month and start work before local elections in October.

Mayor Christine Fletcher said she did not want to pre-empt any decision the Infrastructure Auckland board would make today.

But in a terse letter to the board members last night, Auckland City chief executive Bryan Taylor said the report contained inaccuracies and unjustifiable comments and could add to a long list of transport-related blunders caused by underfunding.

"The two-lane harbour bridge is a classic example. On Auckland's behalf, we urge you to take a broad and long-term view to the funding of this project, and to see past the unjustifiable negativity contained in the evaluation report," Mr Taylor wrote.

A spokesman for the Heart of the City business group, Alex Swney, said: "This is an absolutely vital project for Auckland. We have to get it right and not cut corners.

"If history has taught anything when it comes to transport planning, we just have to look at the harbour bridge, which was built to a budget rather than an eye to the future growth of the city."

The national road funding agency Transfund will announce tomorrow how much money it is giving Britomart. The council is seeking $25 million but is braced for less.

The Infrastructure Auckland report has identified two concerns about the council application that "strongly suggest" the board should get more information before handing over any money.

Even though councillors from across Auckland last week agreed to a mix of light rail similar to trams and conventional trains using Britomart, the report is highly sceptical about the final transport mix.

"Even if one were 99 per cent certain that heavy rail will be included, there is an economic case for delaying a decision to commit to this project," the report said.

The second concern is over the "highly speculative" modelling the council did to forecast the number of people who would use Britomart.

The report said some of the numbers were based on a single day's observation of people using the Auckland Railway Station.

Infrastructure Auckland staff have also come up with a maximum figure of $55.5 million to give Britomart, if their concerns are met.

This would lead to a $36 million shortfall and force the council to drop a subway and architectural features.

Feature: Getting Auckland moving

Herald Online traffic reports

Rideline Auckland public transport information