Tunnel option stays top of councillors' list

The Auckland City Council's transport committee has reaffirmed support in principle for motorway tunnels through Waterview, after a call by business lobbyists for a cheaper but more disruptive surface road.

But it also voted to support a Transport Agency investigation and audit of all costs and benefits of completing Auckland's western ring route, of which a 4.5km Waterview motorway connection would be the final link.

A proposed amendment by committee chairman Ken Baguley was opposed by centre-left City Vision members until he agreed to make it subservient to the statement of support for tunnels. That secured unanimous support for the overall resolution.

The City Vision councillors suggested the committee simply note, rather than support, a review of the tunnels project commissioned by Transport Minister Steven Joyce after he learned of a cost blowout to $2.77 billion for a pair of two-lane structures or $3.16 billion for three lanes in each direction.

The review is substantially complete and Government announcements are expected within two or three weeks.

But Mr Baguley, of the ruling Citizens and Ratepayers group, said he was keen for full disclosure of costs of all options after a report from the Auckland Business Forum estimated a surface road would be at least $1 billion cheaper than tunnels.

He said assumptions in the report were "very arbitrary" and he wanted "to get a bit more depth than the business forum".

The forum report said a surface motorway of three lanes each way could be built for just $950 million, using bridges for major road and rail crossings, but a superior result could be gained for $1.2 billion by adding short tunnels and paying "premium" compensation for 400 demolished homes.

Mr Baguley was also unhappy a business case prepared by Treasury and Ministry of Transport officials broke traditional practice by adding $525 million in financing costs and $240 million for widening the Northwestern Motorway to earlier estimates for Waterview.

"It was a bit disingenuous - that study lumped in a lot of costs that were not there before - so a lot of politics are going on here."

That increased the need to get all the facts on the table.

Despite the council's support for tunnels, he said it would have to consider the loss of more than $800 million in annual economic benefits if the ring route was not completed.

City Vision councillor Graeme Easte said it was muddying the waters to talk about supporting the Government's investigation.

"We are the Auckland City Council, not a branch of central Government, and we need to be a voice on behalf of local residents."

Mr Easte said the Waterview link was bound to be "hideously expensive" no matter what its form.

ROAD RATES

Government estimate for twin tunnels
* $2.77 billion for two lanes each way
* $3.16 billion for three lanes each.

Auckland Business Forum estimates for surface motorway, three lanes each way
* $950 million using bridges as road and rail crossings
* $1.2 billion using underpasses or tunnels for key crossings, plus "premium" compensation to homeowners.