The Rodney Local Board has compiled a wish list of transport projects it hopes will attract government funding in a drive to stimulate the economy post Covid-19.
At the same time, it hopes to keep cherished projects such as the Matakana link road alive in the wake of expected Auckland Council budget cuts due to declining revenues following the Level 4 lockdown.
The list of projects was drawn up after the Government announced earlier this month that it was seeking infrastructure projects which were “shovel ready” or likely to be within the next six months.
Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones says the Government will seek out larger projects that would have an immediate stimulatory effect on the construction industry, its workforce and the economy.
Rodney Local Board deputy chair Beth Houlbrooke says all the projects on the wish list are important for local transport infrastructure.
“The Board has been advocating for these local transport projects for many years and now is the time for the government to step into fund and accelerate them,” she says.
But she adds that identifying projects for the list was as much about trying to preserve them from budget cuts as it was about securing extra government money.
“Without a doubt both central government and Auckland Council will be looking at budgets with the economic impact of Covid-19,” she says.
“If we can get any of this Government funding directed into Council projects, we won’t be impacted as much by any cuts the Council have to make.”
The submitted projects include:
Matakana link road
Ms Houlbrooke says the road will facilitate the planned growth of Warkworth, improve safety and access to east coast settlements and beaches, and bolster employment.
Seal extension projects
In particular, for Ahuroa Road (Ahuroa), Ngarewa Drive (Mahurangi West) and Underwood Road (Port Albert). Ms Houlbrooke says there are clear safety benefits in sealing these roads. Accelerating the sealing programme would make a strong contribution to local employment.
Road safety improvements
Ms Houlbrooke says Rodney has the highest rates of deaths and serious injuries on the roads in Auckland, but a current safety improvement programme is at risk due to a likely reduction in regional fuel tax income. “A lot of medium sized contractors could be engaged to carry out these projects,” she says.
Warkworth park and ride
The Board was set to fund a park and ride in Wakworth from its transport targeted rate with the goal of increasing public transport use. Ms Houlbrooke says if the government was to fund the park and ride instead, then the Board could re-direct targeted rate funding to bolster bus services.
Unsealed road upgrades
Ms Houblrooke says Auckland Transport has been working on different ways to improve unsealed roads that does not involve expensive sealing. She says this has led to more robust, safer roads that are easier to maintain. Ms Houlbrooke says such a programme would dramatically improve the road network in Rodney. “Work can start quickly as no planning or consents are required,” she says.
