Young Jonathan: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeYoung Jonathan: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 10 March 2015. Volume:703;Page:2031. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth)to the Minister of Transport: What update can he give on Government investment in bridge infrastructure in Northland?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Transport):The Government is committed to ensuring that Northland has the infrastructure and the services it needs and deserves. [Interruption] I know that there is a lot of excitement about this. That is why yesterday I was proud to be part of an announcement with the National Party’s Northland candidate Mark Osborne committing to replace 10 single-lane bridges—Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is the last time I am going to rise to my feet and ask members to my left-hand side to quieten down. Next time I will be asking a noisy member to leave the Chamber. This is a question that has been asked. It requires an answer and I want to be able to hear the answer. That is the last warning I will give to members on my left-hand side today.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I was proud to be part of the announcement with National’s Northland candidate Mark Osborne yesterday committing to replace 10 single-lane bridges on Northland’s twin coast highway over the next 6 years. This is an excellent commitment for the north. Mr Osborne deserves credit for advocating this. This is a party that is enabling economic growth in the north. Unlike others the Government has backed and will continue to back Northland to succeed.Jonathan Young: How much has been committed to the upgrading of the 10 bridges and what are the expected benefits?Andrew Little: Tell us about State Highway 3.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: You go back to your deal making Andrew.Mr SPEAKER: Order!Hon SIMON BRIDGES: The Government wants to ensure that Northland is ready for the influx of visitors and businesses that will come off the Pūhoi to Wellsford highway and on to the twin coast highway. That is why we are committed to the next logical step spending between $32 million and $69 million to replace 10 single-lane bridges on those twin coast highways with modern two-lane bridges that are fit for purpose. This investment will make sure that Northland has safer and more resilient roads and bridges that will enable the region to take increased freight coming out of the region as well as increased tourist traffic across the region. I repeat: this is a party that backs the regions unlike the latte-sipping St Mary’s Bay folk over the other side.Phil Twyford: What reports has the Minister seen on the transportation of pigs in Northland; and does he have any figures showing the amount of additional pork that these new bridges will take to market?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: The member should not talk about his colleagues in that way. Frankly this is something that the people of Northland do not see in that way. They think that it is important for their region. I saw firsthand with my own eyes the safety issues of these single-lane bridges and the way they are a lifeline to communities. When flooding comes communities cannot access emergency services and double-laning the bridges and improving them will enable economic growth for many years to come in a region that this side backs while the others ignored it.Jonathan Young: How much money has the Government invested in State highway and local roading projects across Northland?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Heaps. This National-led Government has invested $750 million in State highway and local roading projects across the north. That is some 40 percent more than Labour did in the same equivalent period—and that does not include the Pūhoi to Wellsford highway a $1.7 billion project that this Government unlike the others who call it a holiday highway will promote. Yesterday’s announcement shows that the National-led Government is committed to making sure that Northland succeeds and it is the only one offering the level of investment in First-World infrastructure to ensure Northland delivers on its abundant potential.