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Auckland Council has drawn up a list of 73 key infrastructure projects that it hopes will attract Government funding to stimulate the economy post Covid-19.
Two north Rodney transport projects are on the list, but have been relatively low priority. They are the Matakana link road and a regional seal extension programme.
Council submitted the projects to the Government’s Infrastructure Industry Reference Group this week. The group is looking for “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects that can start quickly and reduce the economic impact of Covid-19.
The list is made up of two parts – 30 key projects ranked in order of priority and a further 43 projects that are not ranked, but that also meet the Government criteria. Neither the Matakana link road nor the seal extension programme made the top 30.
Council’s top three priority projects were the City Rail Link (CRL), a downtown infrastructure development programme and a Marae upgrade programme (see list attached).
The Government will now decide which projects it will fund.
Rodney Councillor Greg Sayers says it is disappointing Rodney projects did not figure more prominently.
“I find this particularly disappointing for our local families. Government funding would have helped employment to a wide range of local front-line project delivery people, as well as to many other local businesses involved in the supply chain,” he says.
Among the projects advocated for by Cr Sayers was an upgrade to the Hill Street intersection. Meanwhile the Rodney Local Board pressed for a Warkworth park and ride. Neither projects made the final lists.
“However, this doesn’t mean the projects won’t happen. They will remain Council-funded projects rather than getting the emergency Government aid,” Cr Sayers says.
He says the total cost of the top 30 projects being presented to the Government is $392 million. Funding sought for the CRL alone is $105 million.
Board deputy chair Beth Houlbrooke was not surprised by Council’s announcement. She says all Government infrastructure funding in the Auckland region is helpful.
She says even if Government funding is not applied to Rodney projects, it will free up Auckland Council money that could then be applied in Rodney.
At the same time, she was delighted to see one project in west Rodney, an upgrade of roads in Kumeu and Huapai to serve a housing area, had made the priority list at number 22.
Council gave priority to projects that were over $10 million, created significant numbers of jobs, and could be physically started within six months.
