Bennett David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBennett David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 01 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:19032. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East)to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has the Prime Minister made regarding the Government’s commitment to transport infrastructure in regional New Zealand?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Transport):On Sunday the Prime Minister announced an accelerated regional roading package of $212 million which fast tracks 14 important regional projects throughout New Zealand. This is in addition to the Government’s recently announced draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2015/16 - 2024/25 which includes a specific regional fund of up to $360 million over the first 4 years of that plan. Between the Government policy statement and the accelerated regional roading package the Government is making over $3.7 billion available to local and regionally important roads in New Zealand over the next 4 years.David Bennett: What are some of the projects included in the package?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Although our opponents on the other side of the House are determined that these projects should not go ahead they are projects that communities have been wanting for a very long time. One of these projects is the Normanby Overbridge improvements which will straighten the approach road and create traffic underpasses below the rail track. Another is the Ōpawa and Wairau bridges in Blenheim where those two bridges will be replaced. Time does not allow me to extol the virtues of all 14 projects but what New Zealanders will know is that if they want them we are whom they will vote for not that lot.David Bennett: What has been the reaction to this announcement?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: I think we have seen much of the reaction expected this afternoon in the House: crying and weeping from the Opposition which is accusing the Government of pork-barrel politics but it is a surprise—and then they say we should have funded all this out of the normal transport funding from the National Land Transport Fund. Somehow though if someone goes out there and builds an electrified railway network in Auckland or an electrified railway network in Wellington outside the National Land Transport Fund that is OK; it is not pork barrel.Phil Twyford: Does he agree with Ken Shirley of the Road Transport Forum that the lack of analysis of these projects points to “pork-barrelled politics and just throwing money into marginal electorates. That’s the old days.”; if not will he release the benefit-cost ratios of each of those projects or at least the polling data that he based the decision on?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: I do not agree with Mr Shirley and the statements he has made and I am quite sure he finds himself in disagreement with the people who pay his salary. Frankly if we want to talk about benefit-cost ratios I will put the benefit-cost ratios up for the rail loop and if the member agrees they are as bad as they are and is so concerned about them I expect Labour to change its policies.