Genter Julie Anne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeGenter Julie Anne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 27 June 2013. Volume:691;Page:11363. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green)to theMinister of Transport: Does he agree with Auckland business leaders Michael Barnett and Kim Campbell that the Auckland City Rail Link is a “game-changing project … which is ready to go”; if so will he prioritise the project so that it can be up and running by 2021?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Associate Minister of Transport)on behalf of theMinister of Transport: In part yes. We have prioritised the project and we will be working with the Auckland Council to advance work to begin construction in 2020. However there is considerable work required before the first shovels go in the ground.Julie Anne Genter: Has he changed his mind on the Auckland rail link because it is essential to double the capacity of the entire network allowing for trains every 5 minutes all across the region; if so why will he not reprioritise his spending so the project can be up and running by 2021?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: I would not agree that there has been any change of mind about whether the project is required. In fact I think that great champion of National Government policy Len Brown said it best this morning when he said: “Right from the get go the Prime Minister was saying ‘Look it’s not really about whether we agree or disagree - we agree on the overarching need its about the timing and the funding.’ ”Julie Anne Genter: Has the Government finally changed its mind on the Auckland rail link because it will significantly cut travel times for Aucklanders from the west and south by up to half an hour per trip; if so why will he not reprioritise the transport budget so the project can be up and running by 2021?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: There has been no change of mind in respect of the need for the project and the benefits that will accrue when it is finally completed. There are a number of reports that raise questions about the timing of the implementation of the project. We have chosen 2020.Julie Anne Genter: Has the Government changed its mind on the Auckland rail link because it is the best way to reduce congestion on Auckland’s roads and it can move more people during rush hour than 12 lanes of motorway; if so why will he not reprioritise the transport budget to ensure that the project can be up and running by 2021 when it will be needed?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: I repeat: the Government has not changed its mind on the need for the project or the benefits that will accrue when the project is finally delivered. That will be when the cost-benefit ratio suggests that it is and that is 2020.Julie Anne Genter: Has he changed his mind on the Auckland rail link because it is necessary for the expansion of the rail network to Aucklanders living on the North Shore and to link the airport to the city with a fast reliable service; if so why will he not reprioritise the transport budget so that the project can be up and running by 2021 when it will be needed?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: There has been no question about the benefits from the project when they accrue but this is a significant investment of ratepayer and taxpayer money and it should be invested at the right time in the right place.Julie Anne Genter: Is he aware that modelling from Auckland Council shows that the Auckland bus services are going to be over capacity by 2021 without the rail link; if so why will he not reprioritise spending so the project can be up and running by 2021 so that people can move around Auckland and the bus capacity will not be overrun by demand?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: The Minister is aware of a number of reports and analyses that highlight the congestion problems in the Auckland transport infrastructure which is why this Government has made a significant investment in road rail and the soon to be announced central rail link.Julie Anne Genter: I seek leave to table this research from—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am sorry; I could not hear because of an interjection within the Chamber. Could the member please start again.Julie Anne Genter: I seek leave to table this research from Auckland Transport which says that the bus network will be over capacity by 2021 traffic speeds will drop to 7 kilometres per hour—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is enough of a description. Leave is sought to table that particular study. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Julie Anne Genter: Given that vehicle trips all across New Zealand are down and public transport boardings are up why will the Government not reprioritise the unbalanced transport budget so that this rail project can be up and running by 2021 so that it can benefit the people of Auckland and the country of New Zealand?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: The last time I looked buses travelled on roads and roads are a significant part of the public transport strategy for Auckland which is why we need to invest not only in rail but also in roads.Julie Anne Genter: I seek leave to table this data from the Ministry of Transport and the New Zealand Transport Agency which shows that vehicle trips per capita have been falling—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Is it available on the Ministry of Transport website?Julie Anne Genter: No. This is an analysis done by an independent transport engineer of the data that is available.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular graph. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Julie Anne Genter: I seek leave to table this graph showing the National Government’s transport spending over the next 3 years and how unbalanced it is.Mr SPEAKER: What is the source of that document? Is it the same?Julie Anne Genter: An independent transport engineer did an analysis—Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table it. Is there any objection? There is.Julie Anne Genter: Will he accept the congratulations of the Green Party on finally recognising the huge economic transport and climate benefits of investing in rail after years of debate in this House that stretches all the way back to 2008 when Jeanette Fitzsimons first called for investment in this rail project?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: I would be very happy to accept the congratulations from the Green Party on the continued investment in rail in Auckland.Julie Anne Genter: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek your guidance on this issue. I have a press statement from 2008 from Jeanette Fitzsimons calling for—Mr SPEAKER: No. [Interruption ] Order! We are not tabling that. It is available.