Andrew von Dadelszen Former Regional Councillor

We live in a great city, and we have many forward thinking people to thank for the vision that has allowed this city to progress.

If it wasn't for the foresight of the likes of former mayor Noel Pope and his then chief executive Paula Thompson we probably would only now be building our motorway infrastructure. The sadness is that our current local government politicians don't seem to have the clout to get Central Government to take their responsibility to fund what our forefathers prefunded just to get things moving. Route K is a prime example. The only reason that it was ‘owned' by Tauranga City was because local ratepayers prefunded this motorway to ensure that it was built at that time. The deal was always for Transit (today called NZ Transport Agency - NZTA) to take over this roading network.

NZTA, while funding much of our state highway infrastructure, is actually holding ratepayers to ransom by only part funding these new motorways. I say this because they insist that local ratepayers fund the proposed interchanges along the likes of the Eastern Arterial Motorway. This is risking bankrupting our council (and hence you as ratepayers), and just isn't right. I am sure the interchanges dissecting Auckland's motorways are not paid for by Auckland ratepayers, and Tauranga ratepayers can't afford it either.

Come on Local Government (TCC, WBOPDC and the regional council); get your collective clout going and put more pressure onto Central Government (including NZTA) to do the job properly, and stop the potential bankrupting of local ratepayers. Start getting them to take over the ownership of the toll road (Route K), and include the Eastern Link interchanges as well.

If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me: andrew@vond.co.nz or visit www.vond.co.nz