Investing in our future

Hon Steven Joyce

The National-led Government is making the largest ever investment in New Zealand's transport system, with $8.7 billion being spent on projects across the country.

Late last month the NZ Transport Agency unveiled the transport investment plan for the next three years. This will deliver real gains both in the short term - as we move out of recession - and in the longer term, by boosting the productivity we need to support prolonged economic growth.

This sustained boost to investment reflects the importance of transport to our economic prospects and represents a 17 percent increase in spending from the previous three year period.

The $8.7 billion investment includes:

• $4.6 billion to be spent on improving the state highway network (representing a 19 percent increase.)
• $1.9 billion to be spent on in local roads (representing a 14 percent increase.)
• $900 million to be spent on key urban public transport networks (representing a 21 percent increase.)

The $900 million invested in public transport networks is in addition to the $1.85 billion in capital investment currently being made into the Auckland and Wellington commuter rail networks.

In terms of roading, the National Land Transport Programme has prioritised routes that need work to reduce congestion, improve journey time reliability and improve key freight and tourism routes.

By investing in the upgrade of our nation's state highway network we can boost production and drive economic growth.

In particular, priority had been given to advancing the roads of National Significance and over the next three years, we will see significant progress on five of the seven of these vital routes, with all seven to be substantially advanced within ten years.

Within three years, we will have completed the Victoria Park project, started construction on the first stage of Western Ring Route. We will have made significant gains in the Waikato Expressway, with work on the Te Rapa bypass starting this year, and construction on the Rangiriri and Ngurawhaia sections starting before 1012. We will have started work on the Christchurch Southern Motorway and a number of other projects in Canterbury and the rest of New Zealand. We are continuing design work continues on the Levin to Wellington corridor.