Independent views By Brendan Horan

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges seems out of step with our community, yet instep with his party line. The Prime Minister John Key keeps his election promise but fails to solve the problem; and as expected a Route K announcement.

It appears most in the community, and perhaps nationally, want the Rena and all of its unseen dangers and toxins removed. Mr Bridges is, however, confident all National Party members locally support his view, that calls to fully remove the wreck are 'pointless posturing”.

The PM promised an underpass tunnel between Welcome Bay and the city, but has failed to solve any of the transport problems on the route. Traffic modelling failed to support his promise at the time, and though it is a 'nice to have” the real issue is the two-lane Hairini Bridge and Turret Rd. We all know this and so does the PM. But he can, I guess, say to the community he keeps his promises, and provided a tunnel at a cost of $65 million. The money would have been better spent on the bridge and Turret Rd widening.

Route K, I have been on about for some time. A recent meeting with NZTA representative left me comfortable the loan locals are repaying will be achieved through tolls, but I'm still wondering why locals have to retain the loan. Given NZTA now owns the road, why are we left with a system where NZTA pays the funds over to the city to manage the debt. If the model is a certainty, and given new legislation to allow the agency to take out loans, why haven't they simply taken the debt as well?

If you would like to discuss these or any other issues, please contact me.

Facebook.com/Brendan.horan.336 twitter.com/brendanhoran or Phone Brendan on 07 574 0253.