Greens plot plan for a fast-tracked light rail in Auckland

The Green Party's plan to fast-track light rail in Auckland has been rubbished by the Minister of Transport, who says the plan is "a bit rich coming from the Greens."

The party today launched the plan to fast-track the building of a new rail line to Auckland Airport to be completed in 2021 in time for the next America’s Cup and the Apec summit.

But Transport Minister Simon Bridges says the party’s plan is “a bit rich,” given its track record of opposing initiatives meant to encourage large-scale projects.  

Greens transport spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter says she’s confident that, if the Greens are in government after the election, light rail will be operational before the America’s Cup and Apec meetings.

In March, the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport revealed they wanted light rail to Auckland Airport to go ahead but Auckland Council has no date set for the project’s start.

The Greens say it needs to be in operation sooner, rather than later.

“Everybody in Auckland, particularly the council, have been frustrated with how central government under National have delayed and delayed plans to progress rail in Auckland,” Ms Genter says.

She says there is no reason it can’t be brought forward to accommodate the influx of people expected to visit the city in 2021.

The full project is forecast to cost $2.3 billion – a figure Ms Genter does not expect to increase if it’s brought forward.

However, the big question is how willing Auckland Council will be to get on board with the proposal.

Asked what conversations she has had with local government, Ms Genter says the mayor’s office is “generally supportive” of the idea.

Labour, the Greens’ would-be coalition partner, is optimistic about the idea but “need to see more details,” she says.

She says “additional funding sources” will be investigated, such as land value capture – where the funding for the infrastructure investment is recouped down the track by the increased property values brought about by the infrastructure investment itself.  

Rubbished by the government
Speaking to reporters this afternoon in Parliament, Mr Bridges scoffed at the Greens’ plan.

“I think it’s a bit rich coming from the Green Party, given it has opposed all sorts of RMA reforms we have ever tried to have.”

He says the Greens have slowed projects down with board of inquiry processes, as well as wanting consultation processes “up the wazoo.”

Mr Bridges defended the government's light rail time frame, saying these sorts of things “take time.”

He also rejects the idea that Auckland’s infrastructure won’t be able to cope with the influx of people from the America’s Cup and the Apec meetings in 2021.

“What is true is [we] have to make sure we’re accommodating big projects and a strong pipeline of projects as we see growth in Auckland.

“We’re doing that and certainly working with the council right now to look at how we might bring some things forward.”

During his post-cabinet press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Bill English was asked if bringing infrastructure funding for Auckland forward was on the cards, he said it was a possibility.