Wednesday, June 25, 2025
News Wave
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World
  • USA
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
News Wave
  • Home
  • World
  • USA
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
No Result
View All Result
News Wave
No Result
View All Result
Home World New Zealand

Auckland Council faces off with Government over Eastern Busway

10 March 2024
in New Zealand
0 0
Auckland Council faces off with Government over Eastern Busway
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Auckland Transport proposed $210 million of funds be used towards the Eastern Busway, pictured, $75 million towards electric trains and stabling and $75 million towards road corridor improvements.

Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter, funded by New Zealand on Air

Auckland Council is calling on the coalition Government to fund the Eastern Busway after pigeonholing what council can do with the remaining Regional Fuel Tax (RFT) funds.

At the council’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee on March 7, Auckland Transport (AT) presented its proposed plans for the remaining $360 million of funding from the RFT.

When the Government repealed the tax this month, it stipulated the remaining funds could only be spent on three of the categories: the Eastern Busway, electric trains and stabling, and road corridor improvements.

AT chief financial officer Mark Laing said there were originally 14 categories that funding could be spent on.

“Do we just look at reprioritising RFT funded projects or the entire capital program. Our strong preference is to do the second – we don’t want the funding to be the tail that wags the dog.”

AT proposed $210 million of funds be used toward the Eastern Busway, $75 million toward electric trains and stabling and $75 million toward road corridor improvements.

Cr Julie Fairey said the Eastern Busway was highly controversial and questioned why the bulk of the remaining funding was being put toward it.

“Electric trains and stabling make sense to me but the [Eastern Busway] deserves much more robust advice.”

AT chief executive officer Dean Kimpton said the contracts for the busway were already under way.

“If we stopped it today and did not start again the minimum cost of doing so would be $50 million,” Kimpton said.

He disagreed there was a lack of community support for the Eastern Busway.

“I know there is some contention with some individuals but to be honest I don’t think we’re reading the room at all well if we think there’s a lot of opposition to the Eastern Busway.

“If you want to call the bluff and say you are not going to support – then the outcome will be the outcome.”

Fairey put forward an amendment seeking Government to fully fund stages two and three of the Eastern Busway.

“Central Government is effectively telling us what we will and won’t prioritise in our own city,” Fairey said.

She said if the project was so important to the Government then it should pay for it.

“[This] gives us a chance to say back to Government, ‘actually Auckland Council, Auckland residents decide our own destiny’.”

Cr Shane Henderson said he felt frustrated and disempowered.

“We are being told what to do with what we have left. We are moving way too fast here.

“We have not even had a chance as a group of councillors to have a yarn about the implications of all of this until today. That’s pretty chilling,” Henderson said.

Cr Chris Darby said east Auckland was totally poverty stricken when it came to public transport.

“It is with some wry amusement that suddenly the Government has fallen in love with the Eastern Busway,” Darby said.

“We need to knock on the door of Government and say these are the consequences of your decision on the Regional Fuel Tax.

“More people will die and be seriously injured, fewer people will be taking public transport, [and] there will be endless congestion.”

Cr Daniel Newman said when Government took over the Mill Road project the result was disastrous and he didn’t want to see a repeat.

“I can absolutely understand people are unhappy about the changing landscape of politics and Parliament but the advice from the staff is this is not the project to step back from.”

Cr Josephine Bartley said she didn’t want to jeopardise the Eastern Busway in order to send a message to Government.

“I can also respect the position councillors are trying to take,” Bartley said.

Chair John Watson said no one should be surprised the RFT was repealed because it was a core campaign promise for the National Party.

“We have had to accept what a change in administration means,” Watson said.

Fairey’s amendment was passed with 11 votes in favour, six votes against and three abstentions.



Source link

Loading spinner
Tags: AucklandBuswaycouncilEasternFacesgovernment
Previous Post

Expected Yankees’ starter Clarke Schmidt testing things out in camp

Next Post

Ukraine Could Deploy F-16s as Soon as July, but Only a Few

Related Posts

Northland paedophile James Parker’s jail time extended after new victim comes forward
New Zealand

Northland paedophile James Parker’s jail time extended after new victim comes forward

by My News Wave
25 June 2025
0

A convicted paedophile and former deputy principal, James Parker, had his sentence increased after another victim came forward, revealing more serious offenses that included a "sadistic flavour" and predatory behavior. The charges involve the sexual violation of two young boys between 2009 and 2011, during which Parker used a taser to exert control over one of the victims. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: A man who hurt children and was almost let go...

Read more
Auckland motorway crash: Truck overturns, blocking lane on SH20
New Zealand

Auckland motorway crash: Truck overturns, blocking lane on SH20

by My News Wave
24 June 2025
0

A truck carrying 10 tonnes of dirt rolled over a barrier on Auckland's Southwestern Motorway, causing traffic delays in the southbound lane near the Puhinui Rd off-ramp around 2:15 PM. Fire and Emergency NZ responded with three fire trucks to assist police at the scene after being alerted at 1:53 PM. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: A truck carrying dirt crashed on a big road in Auckland, causing some traffic delays for people...

Read more
Govt instructs Auckland Council to allow buildings of at least 15 storeys near key train stations
New Zealand

Govt instructs Auckland Council to allow buildings of at least 15 storeys near key train stations

by My News Wave
24 June 2025
0

The Government has directed the Auckland Council to permit the construction of apartment buildings at least 15 storeys high near key train stations as the City Rail Link (CRL) nears completion. Housing Minister Chris Bishop emphasized the need to maximize housing and development around CRL stations to leverage the economic benefits of this significant investment. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: The Government wants to let people build tall apartment buildings near train stations...

Read more
Thousands of over-65s earn more than 0,000 – should they get NZ Super?
New Zealand

Thousands of over-65s earn more than $200,000 – should they get NZ Super?

by My News Wave
24 June 2025
0

More than 9,000 individuals over 65 earn over $200,000 annually, with an additional 33,000 earning between $100,000 and $200,000, prompting the Retirement Commissioner to question their eligibility for NZ Super. The 2023 Census revealed an increase in workforce participation among those aged 65 and older, rising to just over 24%, with the most significant growth in the 70 to 74 age group. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: Some older people are earning a...

Read more
Jailed British scammer who refused to name co-offenders may inherit share of 7k theft, judge warns
New Zealand

Jailed British scammer who refused to name co-offenders may inherit share of $337k theft, judge warns

by My News Wave
24 June 2025
0

As a professional summarizer, create a concise summary of A British man who helped steal $337,700 from 21 mostly elderly Auckland scam victims refused to cooperate with police and stands to inherit his share of the loot when he’s released from prison, a judge says. The judge has thrown out Jack Hennessy’s appeal against the length of his sentence, warning the incarcerated fraudster “it could well have been higher”. The 26-year-old is serving three years...

Read more
Prototype sports car in New Zealand for secret winter testing crashes near Queenstown
New Zealand

Prototype sports car in New Zealand for secret winter testing crashes near Queenstown

by My News Wave
24 June 2025
0

A prototype sports car involved in a secret winter testing program in Cardrona Valley crashed near Queenstown, colliding with a Subaru around 9:30 am on Saturday. The heavily damaged camouflaged vehicle was part of a convoy from the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds, with staff in AMG-branded clothing quickly working to conceal the scene and other test vehicles present. Need More Context? 🔎

Read more
News Wave

News Summarized. Time Saved. Bite-sized news briefs for busy people. No fluff, just facts.

CATEGORIES

  • Africa
  • Asia Pacific
  • Australia
  • Business
  • Canada
  • Entertainment
  • Europe
  • India
  • Middle East
  • New Zealand
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • UK
  • USA
  • World

LATEST NEWS STORIES

  • Ten killed and several injured after shooting at religious festival in Mexico
  • Don Cherry, 91, signs off podcast after 313 episodes, future uncertain
  • Turkey breathes easier as Iran-Israel truce eases fallout risk
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 News Wave
News Wave is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World
  • USA
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Technology

Copyright © 2025 News Wave
News Wave is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In