Outskirts worry over funding

Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Residents on the outskirts of the new Super City are concerned that most funding for major transport projects is being funnelled into central Auckland.

Big infrastructure projects like the CBD rail tunnel and the second Waitemata Harbour crossing, plus money being spent on the Newmarket Viaduct and Victoria Park tunnel, make up the bulk of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority's priority projects.

Rodney mayor Penny Webster said: "I would hate to think all the money [is] going into Auckland roads."

North Shore mayor Andrew Williams acknowledged that Auckland City was the crossroads of the region so might be expected to have a higher concentration of projects. "But if it's seen to be disproportionately in favour of the CBD then that will be unfair."

The authority said there would be a process for prioritising but could not comment until the new council had been formed.