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Clayton Mitchell New Zealand First MP |
Leading up to the budget release, during Wednesday's Question Time, I raised concerns regarding the Tauranga Central Corridor, specifically relating to 15th Ave/Highway 2A.
Namely, whether the Government remembers its promise to create a four-lane highway along 15th Ave by 2015, what the Government is doing to prevent 15th Ave from becoming a local road and how the Government intends to protect the ratepayers from absorbing the costs.
The Minister for Transport was emphatic about the Government's $100 million commitment and then stated that 'whether [15th Ave] is a state highway or a local road…from Government's perspective is neither here nor there.”
However, for all of us living and commuting in Tauranga, the promised relief from the 15th Ave congestion is of great significance and the Government's apathetic attitude is no reason for them to break their commitment to this plan.
Furthermore, Friday's Budget Release announcing the Government has only allocated $97 million for the entire country's provincial highways, equating to a mere 30km of state highway throughout the country, makes the expected highway expansion along 15th Ave unaffordable.
I fail to see how they plan to fit this in along with all of the other projects promised.
This budget lacks long-term planning and thought and certainly doesn't have anything in there for the provinces.
We must demand that promises are kept. The Minister for Transport's childish and condescending remarks during Question Time shows the typical arrogance of a third-term Government and makes me question whether he will stand up for what has been promised? The proof is in the pudding.