My Account
Work going on behind the scenes to push the building of the Penlink Road is beginning to bear fruit, with local board members and developers involved saying there is a significant shift in attitude among the powers that be – including Government and Auckland Transport (AT).
Currently, the building of the road between Whangaparaoa and Redvale has been deferred, with no public investment before 2025-45.
Hibiscus & Bays Local board chair Julia Parfitt and member Janet Fitzgerald, and Top Harbour’s development consultant Michael Webb-Speight are among those working with the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to get Penlink funded and built sooner.
Mrs Fitzgerald says that Auckland Transport is looking at how the Build Own Operate and Transfer model (BOOT) could work for Penlink.
A BOOT is a form of Public Private Partnership that does not require public funding. Ownership of the project extends over a considerable length of time (49 years has been suggested here) so that the company can make a profit on its investment by tolling the road before handing it over to public ownership.
Mrs Fitzgerald says that interest in a BOOT means that the working party set up by the Chamber could produce a proposal for AT.
Mr Webb-Speight says he has also seen a “significant change in position” regarding Penlink on the part of central and local Government, and AT.
He says a BOOT, which he thinks would be a first for this type of infrastructure in NZ, is favoured by companies such as China State Construction, which has previously shown interest in Penlink.
He says that a major construction company could potentially build Penlink as a two-lane road, which is more financially viable, with the designation protected that would enable two more lanes to be built in due course. The four-lane route has been protected, and is estimated to cost $387.8 million.
Last week it was revealed that a high level meeting will soon take place between AT and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce with Penlink on the agenda.
