Source: Radio New Zealand
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has told Auckland leaders the government’s not “shagging spiders” as it progresses work on a second Auckland harbour crossing.
Public discourse about another Waitematā Harbour crossing was reignited this week after the Infrastructure Commission suggested a toll as high as $9 per trip to help pay for it.
Bishop went on a self-described “rant” during a question-and-answer session at the International Convention Centre after being asked when the harbour crossing would be tolled.
“The mayor’s about to self-combust down the front here,” Bishop joked in response.
Bishop said a decision on the crossing – be it a bridge or a tunnel – would be made later this year “with Auckland” and “in conjunction with the opposition”.
He added it would “almost certainly be tolled”.
“It’ll be the biggest project ever built in New Zealand, no matter what shape or form it is – it’s [an] extremely large amount of money, and I’ve said publicly that it will almost certainly be tolled.
“The idea that you ask people to pay to use a new bridge or tunnel is [not] unreasonable. It’s how the original one was paid for.”
Bishop was then asked if people would have to pay to use the old crossing.
Bishop said there were several factors to consider when it came to tolling the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Tom Kitchin
He replied there were several factors to consider: what was built, the direction of travel across both and congestion pricing the council was working on.
“There’s any number of different things that factor into all of those calculations and I’m trying not to get ahead of any of it because unlike previous times we’ve confronted this debate, we’re going to do the work first.
“Rather than just me spout off and say we’ve got a plan, and by the way I’ll work out how much it costs later and we’ll work out all the details and make a big, flashy announcement and stand up and say, ‘We’re building this and we’re building that,’ and everyone go, ‘Oh, that’s great,’ I’m trying not to do that.
“I’m trying to work through it in a proper way; actually look at what’s deliverable, what do we need, how long has the current bridge got, how does congestion pricing factor into it, what sort of toll do we need to charge, what’s economically sustainable, what about the diversions, what about congestion pricing?
“There’s any number of different complicated things you have to think about, and we’re trying to do it properly and facile debates about – you know – this and that, aren’t helpful.
“Anyway, rant over,” he finished, before ramping up again.
Bishop stressed the government was “a wee way away” from a decision and “everyone just needed to taihoa a bit”.
“Everyone says they want politicians to make comprehensive, well-informed, evidence-based, reasoned decisions and go through a thorough process. Well, that’s what we’re doing.
“Then the same people who say we really need to take our time on this and get this and get it right go, ‘What are you doing? Why can’t you tell me? How much will it cost? What will it be?’
“You can’t have it both ways. There’s a tension there. I get people want certainty, but when you’re spending 15 billion bucks of government money on a new bridge or tunnel – not saying one or the other – people would want us to take a proper process around it.
“I don’t think that’s unreasonable. We’re not shagging spiders here – we’re creating a massive multi-generational infrastructure project for the next 50 years of New Zealand. So let’s get it right.
“Sorry about the rant, but anyway, it’s been an interesting week.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
