7. Earthquake Kaikōura—Transport InfrastructureJACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) to the Minister of TransportEarthquake Kaikōura—Transport Infrastructure7. JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) to the Minister of Transport: What updates has he received on damage to transport infrastructure following the Kaikōura earthquake?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Transport): This morning the MP for Kaikōura Stuart Smith and I joined the Prime Minister for a briefing and fly-over of the widespread devastation caused by the Kaikōura earthquake in the early hours of Monday morning. It is clear that there has been incredibly significant damage to local roads and State Highway 1 between Picton and Christchurch. Crews are working hard to repair roads where it is possible and safe to do so and although alternative access routes are being established it is now very clear that it may be many months before roads are fully operational especially given what is now likely to be an unprecedented level of damage to the State highway network. I just want to thank all those who are working around the clock to clear and repair the State highways and local roads.Jacqui Dean: What progress has been made on repairing and restoring transport infrastructure and services?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: As the Prime Minister has said it is clear that there has been widespread devastation and that the transport links with some towns have been cut—Kaikōura being the biggest example of that. I just want to reassure those who are currently cut off that our absolute priority at the moment is to restore transport to them. Crews are working around the clock in the upper South Island and in and around Wellington to repair transport infrastructure and to get services back up and running. The current priority is to open the inland road to Kaikōura so that people can get in and out by vehicle and so that we can get more supplies into the town. It is hoped that we will have this inland road open by this weekend and as I say people are working around the clock to ensure that. The Transport Agency is also working closely with local authorities and local contractors to understand the extent of damage to local roads and to reopen links where it is possible and safe to do so.Denis O'Rourke: Will the Government fund new roll-on roll-off facilities and a passenger terminal at Lyttelton to enable KiwiRail and other ferry operators to ship freight and passengers to and from Wellington?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I think it is far too early to make those kinds of predictions. We are doing the work and I think the member can be rest assured in terms of the underlying issues of getting freight in and around the South Island—the Mainland—that we will make sure that happens.Denis O'Rourke: Will the Government carry out a comprehensive inquiry into a possible new road and rail connection along the Awatere Valley and the Molesworth Road from Seddon to Hanmer Springs including a tunnel at Wards Pass if necessary as a means of providing faster high-capacity and resilient road and rail routes to Christchurch and the rest of the South Island in the longer term?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Our absolute commitment is to have a safe resilient and very efficient network for transport in the South Island including road and rail. The member it is important to note should recall that State Highway 7 is open. That is getting freight through from Canterbury to Picton and vice versa. Of course we are also as I said yesterday actively exploring other options to as I say make this the strongest most resilient network it can possibly be.James Shaw: Given the future risk to State Highway 1 and to the rail line from climate-related storm surges and rising seas would he be willing to do a full evaluation of alternative inland routes as an option alongside the business cost ratio for the full rebuild of the existing route?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I think the member can be rest assured that we will be doing thorough work in relation to the roading network and the State highway network in particular. I think there are good reasons though why State Highway 1 is broadly speaking where it is. But as I have said now and in the media a number of times in the last 24 hours the exact route where it is may require realignment and I think there will be—to ensure that safe resilient network that he and I both want—some necessity for improvement and change on what is there.