The recent news that the Government and Auckland Council have delayed the completion of the Eastern Busway by two years is gutting news for East Auckland.
East Aucklanders have been waiting for many years for the Eastern Busway and Reeves Road Flyover but will now have to wait until at least 2028 for this project to be completed.
It comes despite the fact we’ve been paying the Regional Fuel Tax, which we were told would ensure the Eastern Busway project could be funded and completed to its original timeframe.
It is daylight robbery that we are paying the Regional Fuel Tax and not having the project delivered on time.
It also comes on the heels of the Government’s proposed cycle bridge across the Auckland Harbour, something they claim will cost around $800 million but which will likely cost far more, as is often the case with large vanity projects.
The Government’s decision to promote this vanity project has meant significant amounts of money were not available for projects like the Eastern Busway, meaning they have been delayed.
The people of east Auckland have been ignored for far too long. We pay some of the highest taxes and rates in the country but have received almost nothing in return under this Labour Government.
It’s time the Government takes a hard look at its priorities and realises that when our economy is in recovery mode and we are taking on large amounts of debt to keep us going, we should be investing that money wisely to add real value to our country.
East Aucklanders should be rightly upset with this decision and must make their voices heard.
(Botany MP) Christopher Luxon and I will be holding a public meeting to discuss these changes and will announce details of this meeting shortly.
- Simeon Brown
MP for Pakuranga
