Hughes Darren: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hughes Darren: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:654;Page:3148] 
6.  
Hon DARREN HUGHES (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: What are his concerns about the impact on the community affected by the decision not to proceed with the previously announced tunnel option for the Waterview Connection? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 I am very concerned about the impact of this proposed project on the community. In this case there are no easy options. Even the twin two-lane tunnels proposed by the previous Government would affect 140 or so houses. It is my job as Minister of Transport to balance the concerns of the local community with the impact on taxpayers across the country. I believe that some of the concerns will be mitigated by the announcement from the New Zealand Transport Agency between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. this afternoon. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Why did he say in his media release yesterday that there will be consultation about today’s decision when he has just ignored the previous consultation with exactly the same people? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: The problem with the previous proposal was that it was completely unfunded and was therefore a wish—and in fact quite a cruel hoax on the community because there was no plan to fund that project. 
Hon David Cunliffe 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The use of the term “unfunded” has already been decided by you and the Clerk’s Office to be inappropriate in this context. It was— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I saw nothing wrong with the answer given by the Minister. 
Michael Woodhouse 
: What reports has the Minister seen on funding methods for a $2.77 billion tunnel for the Waterview Connection? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I have seen a wide range of possible options on how such an expensive roading project could be funded. They have included increased Crown debt with a large interest bill plus substantial tolls; a 20c per litre fuel tax; or a 35-year regional property tax of around $460 per household in Auckland per year. I have not ever seen which one of those options Labour prefers or any indication at all as to how Labour would propose to pay for such a tunnel. I think that meets the definition of unfunded. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Will he compensate landowners whose homes are not demolished but who now face a motorway of up to six lanes eventually running by their homes when such a motorway will affect their property values? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I think it is appropriate as I said before to wait for the New Zealand Transport Agency to announce this afternoon its preferred proposal for the project before responding to that question. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Does National understand what Sheelah Chalklen and her neighbours mean when they say that “These are not houses as the Minister refers to them but homes.”? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: Absolutely yes. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Did he or his office have any influence at all over the timing of today’s announcement by the New Zealand Transport Agency about the Waterview Connection—an announcement scheduled to occur after question time has been held? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: Not at all. The New Zealand Transport Agency met yesterday to make its decision as to the proposed alignment and then it told me that it needed 24 hours to have the first opportunity to contact affected residents in the community. The decision as to the timing of the release this afternoon is the agency’s.