Two major transport projects directly connected to east Auckland have been announced in the Government’s fast-track consenting for 29 “critical” road, rail, and port projects across New Zealand.
They are the busway from Auckland Airport to Botany, and the Mill Road upgrade, projects Transport Minister and Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown believes will “boost economic growth”.
Connecting the Auckland International Airport precinct to Botany Town Centre will involve construction of 15km of rapid transit busway, including walking and cycling facilities.
The new Mill Road corridor in south-east Auckland, a mix of new road and upgrades to existing roads, Brown says, “will provide for housing and business growth, as well as enable safety improvements”.
“NZTA will progress early construction opportunities within the next three years.
“New Zealand has an infrastructure deficit, and our government is working to fix it,” says Brown.
“Delivering the transport infrastructure Kiwis need is part of our plan to boost productivity, reduce congestion, and unleash economic growth.
“Enabling fast-track for these projects will allow them to be built quicker and more efficiently.
“New Zealand needs fast-track legislation to establish a steady pipeline of consented infrastructure projects, including the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) and Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS).”
Once completed, the 29 projects will result in at least 180 kilometres of new road, rail and public transport corridors nationally, Brown says.
“Through the Fast-track Approvals Bill, the Government is cutting through the red tape to rebuild the pipeline of transport infrastructure projects.
“We’re providing travel options by investing in public transport and rail, and unlocking growth by increasing capacity at ports.
“There’s plenty of work to be done, and the inclusion of these projects for fast-tracked consents means that Kiwis will experience the benefits of these projects sooner rather than later.
“These projects are critical to reducing travel times, unlocking land for thousands of new homes, and enabling goods to get to marketplaces in New Zealand and abroad.
“Including these projects in the fast-track approvals process provides a much more efficient way of getting them approved and consented,” Brown says.
“This announcement will give confidence to NZTA, KiwiRail and the wider construction sector there’s a strong pipeline of projects to work on and deliver over the coming years.”
