Turning a sod a week is not a bad ambition for any Transport Minister to have, and while we haven’t quite reached that stage in New Zealand yet, there is now so much investment in land transport that it almost seems like I am going from one sod turning to another.

And, as far as I am concerned, that is something to celebrate. Every sod turning signifies progress, and for individual communities they also signal greater levels of convenience, safety and prosperity.

They can be for small and difficult stretches of road; they can be for a rail level crossing; or, as in this case today, for a nationally significant roading development that will eventually make a huge difference on a daily basis to the lives of tens of thousands of people.

Before I talk specifically about the importance to Auckland of this crossing, I want to acknowledge a number of people here today, including my colleague Associate Transport Minister Judith Tizard.

I also want to acknowledge Manukau City Council kaumatua Jim Rauwhero and Eru Thompson, Auckland International Airport chief executive Don Huse, Mangere City Councillor Alf Filipaina, Transit board member James Hill and Transit Auckland regional manager Peter Spies.

When it is completed, the State Highway 20 Manukau Harbour Crossing will make up part of the Western Ring Route --- a single 48km motorway that will bypass Auckland city and link the cities of Manukau, Auckland, Waitakere and North Shore, relieving congestion and providing a viable alternative to State Highway One.

Ask just about any Aucklander about the challenges of living in a big city, and ‘getting around’ it is bound to be high on the list of answers.

The Government is committed to supporting Auckland as a world-class international city. This is our main gateway to the world and the country’s economic hub, and as the population and economy keeps growing, urban regions will become even more spread out. Getting from A to B quickly and efficiently will become even more of a key factor in Auckland being a desirable place to live and do business.

As Prime Minister Helen Clark said when she opened the Northern Busway in February, there are many pieces to the jigsaw that makes up transport in Auckland. We have to make sure all these pieces fit together, whether public transport, highways, pedestrian access, cycleways or harbour crossings. Each piece has a valuable role to play, and we need to educate the public to make choices that work for them now, and that are sustainable in the future.

This project is scheduled to be completed in 2011 in time for New Zealand’s hosting of the Rugby World Cup. People from all over the world will be here to watch the All Blacks win, and this crossing will play a large part in getting visitors to their destinations, and will help to showcase Auckland as a vibrant city that is easy to get around in.

The Manukau Harbour Crossing is one of a number of key projects that make up the core of the Western Ring Route, and good progress is now being made on all of them.

The Mount Roskill extension is near completion, and the Manukau Extension is expected to be finished in 2010. Of the Upper Harbour Highway Projects, both the Greenhithe Deviation and the Upper Harbour Bridge Duplication are completed, and were formally opened by the Prime Minister in December last year. Work on the Hobsonville Deviation is set to begin in September. Additional lanes on the Northwestern Motorway are in the early planning stages.

And, last but certainly not least, Transit has also recently finished investigation around the Waterview Connection and is currently consulting on preferred design options, while the Government has set up a steering group to look at the feasibility of progressing Waterview as a public private partnership. This will be our largest roading project ever, and it is essential to consider a range of viable procurement options to deliver value for money.

The cost of constructing this entire bypass is currently about $3.1 billion, and, when complete, it will be a fantastic piece of infrastructure.

In the broader context of Waterview, I want to comment briefly on the Land Transport Management Amendment Bill currently before the Select Committee, and due to be reported back to the House next month. The Bill simplifies the funding and planning framework for land transport, and allows regions to levy a fuel tax, if they wish to, to accelerate new public transport and roading infrastructure that would otherwise not be completed within the region's desired timeframe.

The proposed regional fuel tax for Auckland is in two five-cent parts. Up to 5 cents a litre will be determined by the Auckland Regional Council, and may be used for new and upgraded Public Transport equipment, facilities and integrated smartcard ticketing. Up to another 5 cents a litre will be determined by Ministers and may be used for the new track and electrification work and contribute toward other government priorities in Auckland, such as Penlink and Waterview.

The Regional Fuel Tax will be applied as it is required and it is envisaged that it will be a number of years before it is at the ten-cent maximum level.

I know how much the ARC and Auckland Regional Transport Authority need and want this regional fuel tax to electrify the Auckland rail network. Auckland has the Government’s support and I urge you to tell other political parties how important this proposal is for Auckland’s future.

The benefits of this specific harbour crossing project are multiple and far-reaching.

Increased capacity for motorists travelling across the Manukau Harbour and reduced congestion on this part of State Highway 20 will shorten travel times to and from Auckland Airport, so tourists and commuters alike can spend more time at their destination rather than trying to get there.

For Aucklanders, access to and from south and central Auckland will be improved, while there will be better links between the Mangere and Onehunga town centres.
This harbour crossing also has a strong focus on sustainability and offers realistic alternatives for people wanting to get out of their cars. Dedicated priority bus lanes will run in each direction, provision has been made for a future rail link running underneath both bridges, and improved pedestrian and cycle links are also factored into the design.

This Government recognises the importance of integrating our transport structure, and while building roads is important that is only one of a number of factors that will give us a transport system that is accessible, sustainable and offers value for money.

Since 1999, this Government’s investment in land transport has increased by more than 150 percent from just over $1 billion in 1999/2000 to a forecast $2.75 billion in 2007/08. In Auckland alone that amount has more than quadrupled from $230 million in 1999 to almost one billion this year. More than $590 million of this is being invested in State Highways and local roads in the region.
On top of this, our investment in public transport in 2007/08 is almost 12 times higher than in 1999/2000. Including capital investment in rail infrastructure, public transport spending is forecast to be around $490 million in 2007/08, an almost 1100 percent increase from the $41 million spent in 1999/2000.

This investment is large, but ensuring New Zealand has an affordable, integrated, safe, responsive, and sustainable transport system is important to us all.Now is the time to be bold with our vision for the kind of cities we want and we must lay the groundwork by continuing to invest in transport infrastructure to support this economic growth.

Transit has done much work so far to protect and enhance the natural and physical environment around the project area. I know that there are some aspects of this project still to be resolved between Transit and some Onehunga community groups, but I’m sure these parties will continue to work together to ensure that the best ways to integrate the project into the urban landscape are employed.

I want to wish all those involved in this project all the best for the construction ahead and I look forward to travelling over the Manukau Harbour Crossing soon --- on my way, I hope, to watching the All Blacks win the Rugby World Cup! Thank you again for inviting me to join you today.