John Banks calls on Government to chip in for eastern highway

By BERNARD ORSMAN

Auckland City Mayor John Banks is appealing for Government help to continue the $3 billion to $4 billion eastern highway.

He was responding to comments by Auckland City planning director Dr Jill McPherson that notifying the project would make the council liable for property purchases of between $760 million and $970 million.

"This is a project in the national interest. The Government is going to have to pick up some of the cost," Mr Banks said. The highway would be a staged project.

Mr Banks and Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis yesterday denied that the project was on hold, saying a lot more work needed to be done before decisions could be taken on the final route, funding and a timetable for notification by the councils and Transit in June.

Sir Barry said Manukau had $120 million in its long-term financial plan for property purchases and capital works for the highway and it was likely Manukau would notify the part within its boundaries.

"I personally believe that the route is so significant for the region and the nation that it should ultimately be a Transit responsibility with the status of a state highway."

The Minister of Auckland Issues, Judith Tizard, last night said the Auckland and Manukau councils had to make a case for Government funding "and I don't think that case has been made".

She said the highway was not a priority in the Regional Land Transport Strategy. "We have to get Spaghetti Junction done, Grafton Gully, the Upper Harbour crossing, the North Shore busway, the trains, better low-emission buses. All of those things are what Auckland said are the highest priority," Judith Tizard said.

Mr Banks and Sir Barry's campaign has come under attack from other mayors in the region.

Papakura Mayor David Buist, in an opinion piece in today's Herald, says Auckland could do without Mr Banks and Sir Barry pursuing their own political agendas at the expense of a regionally agreed transport plan.

North Shore Mayor George Wood said the region should be focused on improving public transport and reducing the load on roads.