Parmar Parmjeet: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeParmar Parmjeet: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 01 July 2015. Volume:706;Page:4979. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.Dr PARMJEET PARMAR (National) to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made on investment in New Zealand’s land transport network?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Transport): Yesterday I was pleased to welcome the release of the National Land Transport Programme. The $13.9 billion programme of investment over the next 3 years is the largest investment in land transport in New Zealand’s history and is a 15 percent increase on the previous 3 years. The programme is nationally consistent and regionally responsive. It will deliver on the Government’s priorities of increasing economic growth and productivity improving safety strengthening regional transport networks lifting investment in public transport and cycling and ensuring great value for money.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: What are some of the highlights of the 2015-18 National Land Transport Programme?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: There are too many highlights to list in the time that I have got but I can tell the member that $6.3 billion is planned for investment in the State highway network over the next 3 year; $4 billion is planned for investment in local roads which is a 6 percent increase; $4.2 billion is planned for investment in Auckland’s transport system and services; almost $2 billion is planned for spending on public transport a whopping 21 percent increase; and investment in cycling will more than triple. All of these investments will help drive long-term economic growth through improvements to key freight and tourism routes access to markets journey times and the easing of congestion.Dr Parmjeet Parmar: How does the 2015-18 National Land Transport Programme support regional New Zealand?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: It is a strong statement of the Government’s commitment to regional New Zealand. The Government’s accelerated regional roading package will be significantly advanced with $197 million being made available to replace for example the Whirokino trestle bridge in Manawatū replace the Taramakau road and rail bridge on the West Coast make safety improvements to the Loop Road on Smeatons Hill in Northland and make safety improvements to the Mt Messenger and Awakino Gorge corridor in Taranaki. We will also be making a strong start on our commitment to upgrade 10 single-lane bridges on Northland’s Twin Coast Discovery Highway over the next 6 years and with funding approved already for the Matakohe Taipā and Kaeō bridges.Rt Hon Winston Peters: In terms of total investment in all regions thorough the National Land Transport Programme 2008-09 compared with just last year 2014-15 why is it that there is a massive drop in the Bay of Plenty a massive drop in Northland and a massive drop in the West Coast if anything he says is halfway true?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I do not necessarily accept that but what the member will know well is that this National Government has seen unprecedented investment in Tauranga—some $750 million completing the Harbour Link the Tauranga Eastern Link and very shortly for example the overpass near Bayfair. We are going to keep going because we are absolutely committed to supporting the great local MPs in that region.