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The building of the Penlink Road has been placed even further down the transport priority list and other local projects are not even mentioned in an agreement that prioritises Auckland’s transport infrastructure.
The Auckland Transport Alignment Project, an agreement between Government and Auckland Council as to how Auckland’s transport system should develop over the next 30 years was signed yesterday, on September 15.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown has previously said that the agreement could result in projects that include Penlink, the Curley Ave extension into Silverdale Village ($25 million) and the widening of Whangaparaoa Rd ($20 million) being brought forward to “very high priority”, however this is not the case. (Although the widening of Whangaparaoa Rd has since been taken off the table, replaced by a trial of dynamic lanes, expected to begin early next year.)
The suggested timeframe given for Penlink in the Alignment Project is 2028–38.
Previously the building of the $384 million road between Whangaparaoa and Redvale was in Auckland Transport’s plan but with no public investment before 2025-45.
However, local politicians including long-time Penlink campaigner and local board candidate Janet Fitzgerald, say those timings are flexible.
While Mrs Fitzgerald says the suggested timeframe in the Alignment Project agreement is “not good enough”, she says work currently underway with the Auckland Chamber of Commerce is aimed at bringing Penlink forward – even further forward than 2025.
She says that the two leading Auckland mayoral candidates, Vic Crone and Phil Goff, are both looking at alternative ways of funding transport.
As part of the Alignment Project agreement, Government has agreed with Council that road pricing may be a focus for filling a $4 billion funding gap between the cost of transport infrastructure over the next 10 years ($24 billion) and the $20 billion expected to be available.
Options include congestion charges, tolls and a regional fuel tax and agreement on those issues is expected from council and government by the middle of next year.
Mrs Fitzgerald says that she supports a regional fuel tax as a fairer means of funding transport – it is also anticipated that Penlink could be one project brought forward by such a tax.
She says the fact that Penlink is a toll road to be built and funded as a Public Private Partnership is also key aspect in its favour.
Albany Ward candidate John Watson says that although the timeframe in the agreement is disappointing, some projects could be brought forward and he is confident that Penlink will be one of them.
“The Unitary Plan decision to rezone land in Wainui for intense development means that in order for that to proceed, Whangaparaoa traffic will have to be diverted; that means expediting Penlink,” he says. “It’s also the only project in the group that’s ready to go, with consents in place and land purchased.”
Once the new council is in place, Mrs Fitzgerald says lobbying by Penlink supporters will be needed.
