Manukau North Link Back Off to the Strategy and Finance Committee

 

Again

 

I am waiting for the resolution from the Transport Committee that basically kicked the issue of the Manukau North Link back to the Strategy and Finance Committee (so the North Link Duplication project can get its budget reallocation in order for it to be done) however what gives. Is Auckland Transport up for a second round of rejection on this project or something?

The crux of the situation can be seen in my “AUCKLAND TRANSPORT HAS A MOMENT” post where I highlighted the situation with the Manukau North Rail Link Duplication:

Manukau Rail Link Double Track Connection

16. Auckland Transport is requesting approval to re-prioritise $2.6 million in the current year 2012/2013 and $1 million in 2013/2014 for construction of a double track connection between the northbound Manukau Rail Link and the main line at Wiri junction.
17. Construction of the existing northbound Manukau Rail Link (double track) was completed in 2012 with a single track connection to the double track main line.
18. Passenger rail services currently operate at 20–30 minute intervals. This work would allow the line to deliver 10 minute service frequencies in support of the Auckland Plan objective of doubling public transport trips to 140 million by 2022.

 

A resolution at the Strategy and Finance Committee to:

Approves the Manukau Rail Link Double Track Connection project funded by reprioritisation of Auckland Transport capital budgets of $2.6 million in 2012/2013 and $1 million in 2013/2014.

 

In which this happened:

The Chairperson put clause f) separately on request of the meeting.
MOVED by Member JT Tamihere, seconded Cr MA Hartley:
That the Strategy and Finance Committee:
f) Approves the Manukau Rail Link Double Track Connection project funded by reprioritisation of Auckland Transport capital budgets of $2.6 million in 2012/2013 and $1 million in 2013/2014.
The Motion was declared Lost on  voices

I was told the motion failed due to lack of information on costing for the project (I’ll have to go dig up the commentary that came out of that committee at the time). So Auckland Transport fronted up before the Transport Committee and gave a better explanation of the costs and reasons why the budget reallocation needs to happen for the duplication of the North Link to be built. Questions were asked why this should happen, as well will affect any provision for the eventual Manukau South Link (the project I am fighting for). AT said it would not affect the provision of the South Link (I beg to differ) and that it was needed so that six trains per hour rather than three can run in and out of the Manukau Line via the North Link which to me is utter crap given patronage, operational proposals and where Manukau passengers actually come from (not the north).

 

So the Transport Committee resolved by resolution to send the matter back to the Strategy and Finance Committee for budget reallocation and the North Link allowed subsequently to be built.

 

However I can see the Strategy and Finance Committee rejecting the proposal for the North Link again – especially from North Shore, South Auckland and East Auckland Councillors at the minimum let alone the rest…

 

And if a conversation I am in the middle of at the moment is anything to go by that “fear” of the rejection back at Strat and Finance is basically going to happen. The crux of the conversation is AT are muddling the information sell to the Councillors leaving the Councillors confused. What I am also gathering by witness of the debate today on the North Link is that I am wondering if Councillors will and are holding off any further progress on the North Link UNTIL the South Link Business Case is out and all comparisons on both links can be considered – TOGETHER.

 

I shall write some questions for Councillors to ask Auckland Transport when the North Link pops up at the relevant Strategy and Finance Committee – or I will ask myself via the Public Input section of the meeting

 

More on this over the rest of the week and weekend