Bennett David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Bennett David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:656;Page:5975] 
5.  
DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: What investments have been announced today in New Zealand’s land transport network? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 I am very pleased to inform the House that today the Government announced an $8.7 billion programme of investment in the New Zealand land transport network by the New Zealand Transport Agency that will be managed through the National Land Transport Programme for 2009 to 2012. It is the largest land transport investment in New Zealand’s history. It also represents a 17 percent increase or $1.4 billion increase on the previous 3-year period and is a crucial milestone in securing New Zealand’s future growth and productivity. 
David Bennett 
: What are some of the highlights of the 2009 to 2012 National Land Transport Programme? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: This excellent document records a number of highlights. Over the next 3 years $4.6 billion will be invested in building and maintaining the State highway network; that is a nearly 20 percent increase. There will be a $1.9 Crown investment in local roads which is a 14 percent increase and a $900 million investment in key urban public transport networks which is a 21 percent increase and is in addition to the $1.85 billion capital investment the Government is supporting into the Auckland and Wellington rail networks. The Government believes land transport plays a pivotal role in underpinning the economic performance of this country. This investment will help drive long-term economic growth through improvements to key freight and tourism routes access to markets journey times and easing severe congestion. 
David Bennett 
: What progress will the National Land Transport Programme see on the roads of national significance? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: Within the National Land Transport Programme priority has been given to advancing the Government’s seven roads of national significance. It will improve access and safety within and through New Zealand’s largest cities. Around $1.36 billion will be invested in those vital routes over the next 3 years. Priorities include completing the Victoria Park project; advancing the western ring route with construction on the first stage of the Waterview Connection; the Waikato Expressway; getting work on the Te Rauparaha bypass under way this year; construction of the Rangiriri and Ngaruawahia sections; construction on the Tauranga Eastern Motorway subject to tolling approval; and construction of the Christchurch southern motorway extensions. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: If the Minister plans to spend an increased amount on building roads knows that there is a projected rapid growth in freight movement and is floating ideas to allow heavier longer and wider trucks on our roads how does freezing the spending on the maintenance of roads in years 2 and 3 of this plan make any sense at all? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: The New Zealand Transport Agency has taken a view to not allow cost pressures to be passed on automatically in years 2 and 3 of the programme. The economic environment has changed there is a lowering of cost pressures in most categories of the programme and the agency is quite entitled to expect continuing improvements in efficiency. The other side of the House will not be familiar with the concept but it is called value for money. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: What percentage in ticket price increases for public transport passengers does the Minister expect given the plan announced today is funded for patronage at current levels and does not allow for cost escalations meaning that all the cost of public passenger growth—and in Auckland alone it is the highest in 20 years—will be falling on the travelling public? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I do not accept the member’s proposition on public transport revenue growth but I can tell him that unlike the previous Government we will expect a fair box policy to be developed in the process of applying for public transport funds. That seems only reasonable and appropriate.