On Friday last week, I was excited to join National Party leader Judith Collins as she delivered her first major speech since taking on the role, announcing a massive $31 billion investment into infrastructure should we win the election on September 19.
Our Upper North Island Transport Package will receive around half of that, with $17b injected into the local economy and just under $13b of that for Auckland alone, creating jobs and building the infrastructure needed to adequately handle regional growth.
Despite what the Government claims, this package is not just about roads. National will deliver a proper balance between roads, rail, ferry services, busways, and cycleways, as we understand that the solution to congestion issues starts with choice and reliability.
Locally in Pakuranga, I am particularly pleased to see National’s commitment to several key projects I have been advocating hard for over the last three years.
Chief among these is the completion of the full Eastern Busway, which National will ensure is delivered on time by 2025, and the Reeves Road Flyover, which will be built as originally promised connecting Pakuranga Road directly to the Pakuranga Highway, instead of an inferior alternative such as that suggested by Auckland Transport.
We have also committed to putting the East West Link back on the table, as this project will deliver significant improvements around Auckland’s industrial and manufacturing centre in Onehunga-Penrose. This will have a flow-on effect for Pakuranga residents by improving travel times to and from the airport and major employment hubs in the surrounding area.
Further improvements for Pakuranga come with the $300 million National has promised to upgrade and expand capacity for Auckland’s ferry services. I will be advocating for improved ferry services from Half Moon Bay as part of this package.
Unlike the current Government, when National says we will do something we will actually deliver and I look forward to finally welcoming progress on local transport issues once Judith Collins is elected Prime Minister in September.
Simeon Brown
MP for Pakuranga
