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Greens support Auckland rail loop

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Greens support Auckland rail loop

3News NZ

The Green Party approves of the Auckland city rail loop project

The Green Party approves of the Auckland city rail loop project

Auckland Council's proposed inner city rail link would transform the city and bring it into the 21st century, the Green Party says.

The plan for the controversial $2.86 billion network was released on Tuesday and shows the council would need to buy 220 houses, apartments and businesses to clear the route from Britomart to Mt Eden.

"The link will at least double the capacity of the Auckland rail system, increasing frequency and patronage, and enable high quality urban development rather than endless sprawl," the Greens' transport spokeswomen Julie Anne Genter said.

"It's much better use of public money than the $12 billion in low and negative value motorways the Government is intent on building."

Ms Genter says petrol is predicted to hit $5 a litre by the end of the decade and traffic volumes are already falling.

"The Green Party would offer 60 percent central Government funding in addition to council money to get the rail link built," she said.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown backs the project and says mapping the route is a big step toward making it a reality.

Funding options are being considered.

NZN

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Comments

3/08/2012 2:19:33 p.m.

barbara wrote:

this is awesome. i honestly cant wait to see this.

6/07/2012 10:29:21 a.m.

Dave wrote:

Yes Paora. If the Greens are in support that can only mean two things. 1) it's going to cost everyone in Auckland a lot of more unnecessary rate rises. 2) It will be at the expense of essential roading development that should have been completed years ago.

4/07/2012 4:41:08 p.m.

Rob wrote:

The Auckland Super City is already unvaluing the true cost of building this rail loop. How can they come up with a figure of $2.86 billion by the time of the year 2021. You have the purchase cost of properties which vary greatly from a minimum size purchase cost of $1,000000 within the given construction zone. So Mr Brown and colleagues are saying they can purchase all the 200+ properties and business costs involved for an average of approx' $1000000 each - I don't think so, given the cost of Westfields downtown property and the size of MediaWorks property and other like size properties. Compensation for relocation and loss of business or the purchasing of businesses to which some have very long leases in place and could not relocate will also have to be factored in. You have the loss of various rate incomes of these properties and businesses as well as the attraction of general sales that some properties and businesses provide for the inner city and citizens as well as amenities and services. This amounts to a huge cost on top of the actual construction costs which we all know will exceed any actual budget forcasts. Mayor Brown and his fellow colleagues will create a legacy that will no doubt have their name/s placed somewhere on a station plaque but also in history for the debt placed against the city rate payers and as the Greens would like tax payers.
The Greens may like this idea but at what cost have they really researched it at and why is mono rail now not a option.Jobs will be lost - another cost to sociaty. Why do they not use existing rail lines but widen those to compensate for extra capacity - future proofing and why didn't they do that in the first place. Why have the council just re-done footpaths and road surfacing in Mt Eden and Eden Terrace when this is possibly going to be all ripped up again - such short sightness or lack of real planning and future proofing. I can tell you as one of those people that will be affected in the zoned area we were only told by post the same day as the major released the plan - talk about "rail-roading"

4/07/2012 2:07:08 p.m.

Paora wrote:

If Lenny's train set wasn't problem enough in itself, now the Greens have given their support that can only signal massive concerns to the whole idea.

4/07/2012 12:17:38 p.m.

GP wrote:

Borrow the big amout money from China and buy their technique to build a very expensive second class unrealistic railway "loop'', it's just for leaving huge debit for the residents in the Auckland area? or just satisfy with mayor's personal benefit?