Faafoi Kris: Land Transport Management Amendment Bill — Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFaafoi Kris: Land Transport Management Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 08 May 2013. Volume:689;Page:9785. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]KRIS FAAFOI (Labour—Mana): Wow—limited applause for the member Dr Cam Calder who just took his seat. In the regulatory impact statement for this bill the Land Transport Management Amendment Bill one of the first bullet points where they say what the main objectives of this bill are emphasises value for money within each activity class. That is very interesting given that the Kapiti Expressway has a benefit-cost ratio of just 0.2 percent and that it is one of the projects that the Government is crowing about—the roads of national significance. A leaked report last year by the engineering consultants Beca Group showed that the $515 million investment would yield a return of just $118 million over 30 years or as I said a cost-benefit ratio of just 0.2 percent. So I wonder in terms of the Government’s objective of emphasising value for money within each activity class in this bill whether the Kapiti Expressway meets that objective. Because it would seem to me on the face of it that when you are spending $515 million on something and you get a cost-benefit ratio of $118 million over 30 years that is a pretty awful investment.I want to acknowledge the people in the communities of Raumati South Raumati Beach and the Kapiti Coast because this bill proves the fear that they have held since December 2009 that this Government is blinded by its roads of national significance agenda pushing through massive roading projects against economic argument against environmental argument and most of all what is most concerning against the communities and the communities’ transport needs. This bill shows that this Government is hell-bent—come hell or high water—on huge roads of national significance going through and ruining people’s lives people’s communities and they make no economic sense.This bill will allow the Government to do more borrowing for this roads of national significance scheme. We were already told that the cost-benefit ratio of these roads simply does not stack up—simply does not stack up. I just want to again repeat the leaked report from Beca Group last year that a $515 million investment would yield areturn of just $118 million over 30 years. The economic case does not stack up with the Kapiti Expressway and the environmental case does not stack up.I have here with me just in front of me the signatures of 4072 people mostly from the Kapiti Coast who are opposed to the Kapiti Expressway—opposed to the Kapiti Expressway. Let me go through some of the comments that have come through here. I have picked just a random page but I am sure it will be awful for the Government: “To Minister Steven Joyce”—it is quite simple—“Stop the proposed motorway going through the Kapiti Coast.” Another one is from Joe Donovan: “I agree with this petition and hope that the Government will think carefully to do what’s best for this thriving community.”—I agree with this petition and hope the Government will think carefully to do what’s best for this thriving community. But as we know this Government has not done so; it has pushed on with the Kapiti Expressway.I find it very interesting given some of the messages that were sent to the people of the Kapiti Coast by the Government in terms of what the roading solution was going to be for the Kapiti Coast. In December 2009 Steven Joyce dropped the bombshell on the people of Raumati South and Raumati Beach that the expressway was coming but let us look at what Nathan Guy said in February of that year: “I am working hard with Mayor Jenny Rowan to get this project started this year as the funding has already been allocated. The transport Minister”—sorry he says here “Steve Joyce”; they must be friends—“will be briefed on this project when he visits the Ōtaki electorate next month to understand how important it is.”As we all know Nathan Guy got rolled. The last and I think the most important quote here from his press release says: “I see the Western Link Road rail electrification to Waikanae and extending the safety barrier from MacKays Crossing to Paekākāriki as a really important package for our region.” Well in February 2009 Mr Guy thought that but in December 2009 this Government changed its tune and broke its promise to the people of Kāpiti.