[ACT] Labour Should Honour Roading Promise -- Dr Muriel Newman

[a...@parliament.govt.nz]

Labour Should Honour Roading Promise

Wednesday 28 Jul 2004
Dr Muriel Newman
Press Releases -- Other
(view HTML version at: http://www.act.org.nz/item.jsp?id=25912 )

ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Northland-based MP Dr Muriel Newman
today criticised Labour for forcing a toll road onto a community that
had been promised a motorway extension funded completely by Transfund
New Zealand.

"North Auckland residents and motorists were promised that the
completion of the Northern Motorway Alpurt project, from Orewa to
Puhoi, would be paid for from their petrol tax money. Petrol taxes
have historically funded all work on State Highway One - the country's
premier highway - and Alpurt should not be an exception," Dr Newman
said.

"While Labour originally reneged on the promise that the motorway
completion would be a priority, once resource consents were obtained,
it has now realised that the roading shambles at Orewa is a national
disgrace that cannot be allowed to continue.

"The petition I presented to Parliament on behalf of region's people,
as well as the advocacy of Northern mayors and community leaders, has
helped make the Government change its mind, see sense and re-classify
the completion of this project as an urgent priority.

"To try now to break yet more promises to the region, by forcing
motorists to pay a toll for the completion of this State Highway One
project, is unacceptable. Alpurt should be a priority project for
petrol tax and road user charge funding - not separate funding by
motorists," Dr Newman said.

ENDS

Dr Muriel Newman MP
muriel...@parliament.govt.nz
Phone: 04 470 6633 / 021 800 111
Fax: 04 473 3532

Chas Te Runa, Press Secretary
chas.t...@parliament.govt.nz
Phone: 04 470 6648 / 027 289 4080

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or
contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at a...@parliament.govt.nz.