O'Connor Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeO'Connor Simon: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 02 July 2013. Volume:691;Page:11414. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.SIMON O’CONNOR (National—Tāmaki)to theMinister of Transport: How will the Government progress the delivery of the next generation of transport projects for Auckland?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Transport):On Friday the Prime Minister announced this Government’s commitment to begin work on a new generation of transport projects to futureproof the development of Auckland as our major urban centre. We have taken an approach that incorporates rail roading public transport and some tunnelling solutions. Combined they will greatly expand the capacity of Auckland transport to carry people and freight as the population expands. We look forward to other parties supporting these excellent initiatives.Simon O’Connor: What are the Government’s priority projects to enhance and futureproof the Auckland transport network?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: The Government sees an opportunity to build on the work already started in Auckland by speeding up the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative project and combining it with the East-West Link project. These projects will improve connections to the State highway network and upgrade the links connecting to the eastern suburbs East Tāmaki’s industrial area. The Government’s other key priorities are the second Waitematā Harbour crossing and the City Rail Link. Route protection on the City Rail Link began earlier this year and we expect to have the preferred alignment for the Waitematā Harbour tunnel by the end of this year. The Government also intends to speed up three motorway projects that will one deliver a complete motorway to motorway link between the upper harbour highway and the Northern Motorway at Constellation Drive upgrade the Greville Road Interchange and improve the Northern Busway; two widen the southern motorway between Manukau and Papakura; and three reduce delays on the final stage of the State Highway 20A link to the airport from the north by upgrading it to motorway standard. We look forward to the support of other parties particularly New Zealand First which seems over-eager to get these jobs done.Simon O’Connor: What enhancements has this Government undertaken so far to develop the Auckland transport network?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: The member will be aware that this Government has taken a very proactive approach to developing a transport system in Auckland. We take a network-wide approach. We have supported the route protection for the City Rail Link funded the purchase of new rolling stock for the train network and fast tracked new major new roading projects such as the Victoria Park Tunnel. In 2017 we will see delivery of the Waterview Connection. That is a project that will be New Zealand’s largest roading project ever. Along with this the State Highway 16 upgrade which of course Phil Twyford opposed will greatly enhance connections and improve movements in and around Auckland. The Government sees Auckland transport in a network sense not in the narrow sense projected by other parties.