Passes 15-7, Transport Projects to be discussed at Strategy and Finance
Earlier today the Budget Committee Resolved 15-7 (Cameron Brewer, Ross Clow, Denise Krum, Dick Quax, Sharon Stewart, John Watson and George Wood voted against the Transport Levy) to send to the Governing Body (for ratification) in support of the Interim Transport Levy/Package.
From Auckland Council:
Auckland Council agrees interim levy for new transport fixes
Auckland Council’s Budget Committee today agreed to introduce the Mayor’s interim transport levy to begin immediate work on Auckland’s transport challenges.
The Budget Committee agreed 15 votes to 7 to the interim levy of $99 ($114 incl GAT) a year for non-business ratepayers and $159 (183 incl GST) for business ratepayers for the first three years of the Long-term Plan (LTP) 2015-2025, the council’s next 10-year budget.
The Mayor’s interim levy was in response to the majority of Aucklanders opting to pay more for the Auckland Transport Network Plan during public consultation and in an independent survey earlier this year.
“Today is an historic day for Auckland. We have responded to the clear message from Aucklanders – start fixing our transport problems and that is exactly what we can now get on and do,” Len Brown said.
To fill the $12 billion funding gap for the full Auckland Plan network, Auckland also opted for a Motorway User Charge.
Given that a user charge would require legislation and take a number of years working with government to put in place, the three-year interim levy allows for immediate new investments of $500 million in transport.
These new investments will include:
- Increase in walking and cycling funding across Auckland of $124 million
- $43 million for North-western busway and additional 45kms of bus lanes
- Park and Ride extensions at Silverdale, Pukekohe and Papakura. New facility for Westgate
- Delivering arterial and local road networks
- Public transport safety improvements for rail crossings.
An interim levy was first signalled in the draft LTP published in December 2014.
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Note: This DOES INCLUDE the construction of the Manukau, Otahuhu AND Te Atatu Transport Interchanges. Two of them to be completed by end of 2016 early 2017.
Source: Auckland Council
Generation Zero reacts:
Mayor’s 10 year budget passed – Generation Zero
Youth organisation, Generation Zero, is supportive of the 10 year Budget that Auckland Council’s Budget Committee endorsed today, specifically welcoming the focus on essential cycling, walking and public transport projects.
Spokesperson Dr Sudhvir Singh explains; “This budget prioritises the essential public transport, walking and cycling projects that Aucklanders have called for, and is another step in the right direction for our city.”
The Mayor’s budget is proposing to fund immediate new investment in transport of $500 million over the next 3 years with an interim fixed levy of $2 per week on Aucklanders.
Today’s vote came after over 20,000 pieces of community feedback on the Draft Long Term Plan were analysed. This feedback clearly called for prioritisation of public transport and cycling above other transport modes. This budget has also taken on the recommendations made in Generation Zero’s report Fix Our City, which proposed prioritisation of walking, cycling and public transport projects. Over 3000 Aucklanders submitted in favour of the essential transport budget proposed in Fix Our City.
Dr Singh; “Aucklanders have called for greater transport choices and the Council has responded with this budget. We now call on the government to get on board with Auckland’s agenda and to begin funding the City Rail Link in this year’s budget”
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Source: http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/mayor%E2%80%99s-10-year-budget-passed-generation-zero/5/220604
Talking Southern Auckland 