Key John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Key John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:629;Page:1715] 
6.  
JOHN KEY (National—Helensville) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: What is the Government’s assessment of the findings of the Greater Wellington Regional Council/Transit New Zealand Hearing Sub-committee in favour of Transmission Gully and will he make the funding available to ensure that Transmission Gully will be built? 
Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 In addition to more than doubling the annual funding for State highway construction since 1999 the Government has committed to making an extra $405 million available for the western ring route once the Wellington region has decided on its preferred option. I welcome the subcommittee’s report as a significant step forward in resolving this important regional issue. 
John Key 
: What impact will the $685 million shortfall already identified in Transit’s 10-year plan have on the Government’s commitment to building Transmission Gully? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: None because as the Minister of Finance has already indicated the Government intends to make good that shortfall. 
Darren Hughes 
: What are the next steps in making a final decision about Transmission Gully? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: It is now for the regional land transport committee to consider the proposed western corridor plan and the impact it may have on other projects. This will then be considered by the Wellington Regional Council and as appropriate be incorporated into its regional land transport strategy. 
Nathan Guy 
: Does the Minister agree with Transit saying that it has obtained the necessary designation and purchased most of the land to build Transmission Gully and that therefore Transmission Gully is an easier build than Centennial Highway; if not why not? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: I am considering the proposed plan including the alternatives that are traversed into it and I have asked the Ministry of Transport to provide me with advice on its implications including the matters that the member raised. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does the Minister believe that the proposed western corridor plan which commits 92 percent of funding to roading over the next 20 years and a pitiful 8 percent to public transport and which will increase congestion carbon emissions urban sprawl and our dependence on oil is consistent with the  
New Zealand Transport Strategy 
; if so why? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: I am sure that issues such as those will be the subject of advice to me from the ministry but I would note that in addition to the $405 million that the Government has made available for the western ring route the Government has committed an additional $480 million in addition to the increases in baseline spending on State highway construction and public transport and a considerable portion of the $480 million extra funding for the Wellington region can go towards public transport initiatives. 
Mark Blumsky 
: Does the Minister agree with the Hon Marian Hobbs when she was reporting on behalf of the Wellington Labour caucus last week that the talking should stop and the construction begin; if not why not? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: I do agree that we need to get to finality as to which option is chosen be it the coastal route or Transmission Gully. The Government has already done its bit by promising that it will make $405 million available to the option that is chosen by the region. 
Nathan Guy 
: Will the Minister commit funding to the construction of the entire route of Transmission Gully that 90 percent of Kapiti and Horowhenua written submissions support; if not why not? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: As I said in earlier answers in addition to doubling the amount of money made available for State highway construction in addition to $480 million for roading and public transport the Government has already promised to make an extra $405 million available to the region for the construction of the western corridor. 
Mark Blumsky 
: Does the Minister also agree with the Minister of Local Government who said last year at the local government conference that: “Labour believes the people in New Zealand like to make their own decisions about their local community” and does this mean that he will more than take into account the views of the 82 percent of the 6000-plus submitters who were in support of Transmission Gully? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: As I have already said we do welcome the completion of the latest stage of the decision as to where the route should run. But I repeat that the Government in addition to doubling State highway funding and in addition to commiting $480 million over and above that for local highways and local public transport has promised $405 million as its contribution to the cost of the western corridor link.