Young Jonathan: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeYoung Jonathan: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 February 2016. Volume:711;Page:9064. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has the Government made on progress with the Accelerated Regional Roading Programme?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Transport): The Prime Minister recently announced up to $115 million of funding for regionally significant roading projects in Taranaki Gisborne and Marlborough. Two of the projects are newly identified and on State Highway 3 in north Taranaki which connects with the Waikato. Up to $90 million will be spent building a bypass at Mount Messenger while up to $15 million will be spent on building a bypass of the Awakino Gorge tunnel. Supporting Taranaki’s growth is a real priority for the Government. That is why the bypasses along with other planned safety improvements to the tune of $25 million to $30 million will ensure this important stretch of road is safer more reliable to travel on and supports the ongoing economic growth of this region.Phil Twyford: What about Northland?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Ask your supplementary question.Jonathan Young: What other projects has the Government announced to support regional roading priorities in Marlborough and on the East Coast?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: There is a lot of interest in this and there is a lot of good news from the regions. The existing Ōpawa Bridge on State Highway 1 in Marlborough is an important gateway to Blenheim but can be prone to real delays. That is why the Government is stepping in and spending up to $17.5 million on a new bridge. It will be wider and see traffic flow more freely resulting in fewer delays and road closures. We are also spending up to $5 million to replace the Mōtū Bridge on the East Coast which is the only one-lane bridge on the stretch of road between Gisborne and Ōpōtiki. The new Mōtū Bridge will strengthen the East Coast’s main link with the Bay of Plenty and help boost the region’s economic growth and productivity.Jonathan Young: What reports has he seen on the Government’s recent announcement that it will fund up to $115 million of funding for regionally significant roading projects in Taranaki Gisborne and Marlborough?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Oh well the Prime Minister’s speech has been widely applauded in the regions. For example I have seen a media statement from the Taranaki Regional Council—Hon Member: Ha ha!Hon SIMON BRIDGES: —which the member opposite for some reason laughs about saying that this is the best single decision in several decades for our road network and the economic activity that relies on it. We have been pushing hard for improvements and our expectations are high but today’s announcement exceeded them. The Minister and local MPs deserve our thanks. We are a Government that is putting its money where its mouth is and getting on with supporting regional New Zealand. [Interruption] Ask a supplementary question.Pita Paraone: Tēnā koe. Supplementary question to the Minister and thank you for the announcements—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Can I just have the supplementary question.Pita Paraone: Can I ask the Minister when he will be announcing the allocation for roading in Northland?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I thank the member for the acknowledgment of the great work that we are doing. It may have escaped his attention—I appreciate he is a busy member—but we are spending many many millions of dollars in that important region and indeed the procurement on a billion dollar piece of highwayis going on as we speak not to mention the bridges and the other roading improvements. I think—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question was asked by New Zealand First but with the level of that interjection they are clearly not that interested in the answer.