A joint report by Auckland Council and the government released today is a step forward in agreeing Auckland’s transport investments for the next 30 years.
Auckland Council hopes to have a future transport funding and development agreement for the city in place with the Government by August this year.
Mayor Len Brown says the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) foundation report released today shows that Government and Auckland Council already have a high level of agreement on the key issues.
“With the government support for the Central Rail Link and now the first stage completed of the alignment project, we are on track to deliver that common view of Auckland’s transport future by August this year,” says Brown.
“We will be able to conclude the five years of work on alternative transport funding sources by reaching an agreement with the government,” he says.
“The ATAP represents the removal of the final hurdle for bridging that $12 billion transport funding gap,” says Brown
The foundation report outlining current and future transport challenges for the region mark the end of the first stage of the ATAP.
This report sees the end of decades of bickering between past councils and governments over the city’s transport issues according to the Mayor.
“We are working well with the government with the housing accord and have an excellent working relationship with Simon Bridges, Bill English and their colleagues on this transport agreement, says Brown.
He says the government and council recognise the pressure on Auckland’s infrastructure and the importance of the city to cope with its growth as the engine room of the New Zealand economy.
Auckland’s population is growing at 3% a year, or more than 800 new people a week. Over the past two years, Auckland’s economy has been growing at an extra $3 billion a year.
