Candidate makes road promise

Auckland Mayoral candidate Craig Lord is vowing to reinstate a $124 million budgetary allocation, that he says was previously promised for roading upgrades and maintenance, but removed from the budget at the 11th hour.

Lord says this in recognition of rural Rodney’s contribution of both property rates and the regional fuel tax.

“This is a direct result of the disturbing practice of foisting urban development on communities with no infrastructural backing,” he says.

“Rodney is the largest and most geographically diverse ward in Auckland, from the highly urbanised areas of Warkworth and Kumeu to remote farming communities.

The centralised governance structure of Auckland and inequitable rates return has done little to abate the historic fears these communities had during the Super City formation – I intend to change that.

“Under my leadership our biggest city will no longer turn a blind eye to the infrastructure woes of the Rodney communities who are paying their way, but suffering the hand of unfair rates return and unprecedented growth without fair budget allocation.”

The local government election will be held on October 8.