Bennett David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Bennett David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:668;Page:15435] 
9. 
DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: What progress has been made on the Puhoi to Wellsford road of national significance? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 Today the New Zealand Transport Agency announced the next stage of route development for the road of national significance between Puhoi and Wellsford. The first stage will take traffic from the top of the new Northern Gateway Toll Road—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to the Minister. The Speaker is terribly concerned that he cannot hear the answer and the Speaker is very interested in hearing the answer. 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I appreciate that this matter may be of interest to the Speaker. The first stage will take traffic from the top of the new Northern Gateway Toll Road to Warkworth and will eventually stretch all the way to Wellsford. Very little design work had been done on this project prior to the start of last year so the progress so far has been commendable. 
David Bennett 
: What economic benefits will the road bring to Northland and Auckland? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: Once finished the new road will improve economic growth in Northland Rodney and Auckland. By improving the movement of freight and people between our largest city and the districts to the north of it—the key growth areas in Rodney for example—economic linkages become more efficient reliable and secure. I know that not all members in the House agree with me but the residents of Northland have just as much right to benefit economically from improved transport linkages as central Aucklanders. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Has the Minister given serious consideration to the Operation Lifesaver proposal of the Campaign for Better Transport which offers two safety options for Dome Valley and Schedewys Hill that could be delivered in a faster time frame and at a much cheaper cost; if so what is his view on those proposals? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I have two views. Firstly I have seen some of the numbers and the numbers I have seen so far seem incorrect and out of date. The second issue is that the volumes specification of the existing road is nowhere near the capacity required for that highway which carries something like 24000 people per day plus very very significant freight. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: On holidays. 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: No that is every day. I think you are being a bit condescending to the people of Northland and northern Auckland. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think it is outrageous on a pork-barrel project like this that you be accused of being condescending as the Minister of Transport has just done. He is an expert on that matter. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will take all this in the humour in which I think it is intended. 
David Bennett 
: What other progress has been made on roads of national significance in Auckland? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: Yesterday the New Zealand Transport Agency announced a short list of two consortia for the construction of the Waterview Connection which is a key part of the western ring route road of national significance. Both short-listed parties have plans to deliver a fully operational road on time which means that after decades of debate and congestion Aucklanders and the economy will finally feel the benefits of a motorway network that should have been completed decades ago. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Does this project still have a benefit-cost ratio of less than one? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I am not sure which project the member refers to but I can— 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am referring to the project in the primary question which is the Puhoi to Wellsford road of national significance. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I accept that. The question refers to the primary question. 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: No the Puhoi to Wellsford national road—or road of national significance— 
Hon Annette King 
: Yes the “National road”—that’s it. 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: That road of national significance has a benefit-cost ratio of greater than one with wider economic benefits included.