Waterview should be second to CBD rail link

The Waterview connection should not be Auckland's transport priority given its high cost and the fact that traffic volumes are falling because of high oil prices, said the Green Party today.

Responding to the Board of Inquiry's decision released today, Mt Albert resident and Green Party MP David Clendon acknowledged the Board had attempted to include the concerns of the community, but said that the Waterview project should not be the Government's priority.

"It is strange to be rushing to spend billions to finish an old motorway project, when oil prices are high, traffic volumes are down, and we desperately need to get our buses and trains up to scratch," said Mr Clendon.

"Nearly three quarters of submissions were completely or partially opposed to the proposal, so it is disappointing that the Board was not more critical in its analysis.

"The chief economist of the International Energy Agency recently said that we hit peak conventional crude oil in 2006, and the era of cheap oil is over forever.

"This project was planned when oil prices were at historic lows and traffic growth was high. That trend has reversed but the plans of the Transport Agency have stayed the same.

"The Board states in their decision that a high fuel price of $2.75 a litre was modelled for 2026, but we saw prices increase to $2.20 a litre this year.

"A more realistic oil price scenario could be more than $4 a litre in 2026. The new motorway will be nearly empty as Aucklanders search for affordable alternatives to driving.

"Auckland desperately needs to invest in transport modes that are not reliant on oil.

"The new motorway will create a barrier to people trying to walk and cycle, and reduce adjacent residential property values, making it more attractive to move to distant suburbs.

"The CBD rail loop is a better use of our transport dollars and should be fast-tracked, not this old motorway project," said Mr Clendon.