Genter Julie Anne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Genter Julie Anne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 31 July 2012. Volume:682;Page:4074. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
12. 
JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: What alternatives did the Government investigate before committing itself to the Road of National Significance between Puhoi and Wellsford which is now projected to cost $1.76 billion up from $1.69 billion two years ago? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Associate Minister of Transport) 
: 
 on behalf of the Minister of Transport: Prior to 2008 14 studies had been undertaken to look at improvements between Auckland and Wellsford including providing a completely new route or upgrading along the existing route. The Puhoi to Wellsford option which involves a new route running parallel to the existing State Highway 1 was confirmed as the preferred option by assessing the strategic options against criteria such as economic development safety regional integration access and mobility network resilience sustainability and cost efficiency. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: Given that up to 50 people could die on the Puhoi to Wellsford route before the new motorway is completed why is the Government not prioritising saving lives with urgent safety upgrades to the existing highway? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES 
: I think the short answer is that we are getting on with this just as soon as we can. In fact progress is being made on this highway. The Puhoi to Warkworth section of the project is about to progress with a planning alliance preparing the necessary documentation to obtain designation and consents. This is envisaged to be submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority mid-2013. And the Warkworth to Wellsford section of the project is undergoing further investigation due to the challenging terrain and geotechnical conditions. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: Why has the Government not adopted the Operation Lifesaver proposal endorsed by the Auckland Regional Council in favour of the new motorway which would save dozens of lives and could be quickly implemented at a quarter of the cost of the new motorway? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES 
: I am not personally aware of Operation Lifesaver but if the member would write to me I am sure we would look at it. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: I seek leave to table the Operation Lifesaver report that was presented to the Auckland Regional Council and identifies that up to 50 lives could be lost in the 10 years that we wait for the new motorway to be built. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: Given that the New Zealand Transport Agency has already been able to scale back the Otaki to Levin expressway and deliver safety benefits at one quarter of the cost will he now consider saving dozens of lives this decade by improving State Highway 1 north of Puhoi now rather than pushing ahead with the uneconomic new motorway? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES 
: I have already intimated we are progressing I think reasonably well on this road of national significance and the member I think mentions the benefits. Of course there are economic benefits but there are also much wider benefits in terms of connecting communities to communities and with education health and so on. I think the people of the north deserve and want this road of national significance. 
Julie Anne Genter 
: I also seek leave to table the State Highway 1 to 16 Auckland to Wellsford strategic study that was undertaken in 2008 and delivered to Transit New Zealand. It was released under the Official Information Act and it shows that the new motorways’ costs outweigh the benefits. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.