Transit's $3.5m boon for eastern highway

By NATASHA HARRIS

The second phase of the eastern highway is to go ahead following an extra $3.5 million from Transit New Zealand towards the study outlining the preferred path for the highway.

The funding means Auckland and Manukau ratepayers will not have to bear the brunt of the $14 million cost of the study. Their contribution will remain at $5.46 million. Transfund will pay a total of $8.54 million, including Transit's $3.5 million.

Auckland Mayor John Banks said the project was full steam ahead and the money meant Auckland was one step closer to fixing its traffic problems.

"It's great to have the Transfund commitment, which confirms the need to give Auckland a triple bypass ... the vast majority of Aucklanders want us to delock traffic and get on with the eastern and western corridors."

The study was expected to take about a year and Mr Banks said it would involve extensive public consultation. "We're open-minded and we're going through the process of community consultation."

Transfund's finance raises its total contribution to 61 per cent of the study.

Meanwhile, a plan by Auckland's mayors to raise $5 billion for the region's transport network has had a mixed reception from other public representatives.

Although the regional land transport committee agreed yesterday to support key planks in the plan, such as looking into a regional fuel tax, its members from North Shore City and Franklin District Councils raised strong concerns.

At one stage during the debate, Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis appealed for all concerns to be addressed before the 10-year plan to finish the network went to Transport Minister Paul Swain.

"We must speak with one voice, otherwise it will be difficult to get a positive response in Wellington," said Sir Barry.

The committee decided the plan needed more work by senior council officers. They must prepare a works programme and develop a financial business plan to raise $5 billion from existing and new sources.

Sources include using an Infrastructure Auckland $1 billion grant to repay debts for four years and to investigate paying for the rest with a regional fuel tax, a regional road users' charges levy and tolls for specific projects.

One of North Shore City's concerns, said councillor Joel Cayford, was that the plan would not get people out of cars if it allowed only $1.2 million for passenger transport improvements.

For Franklin, councillor Don Swales said $600 million of "enhancements" mentioned in the plan should be paid for by the locals who would benefit, instead of expecting other residents of the region to fork out.