NZ Urban Development news from the media | 4 June 2024 | Investing in transport for growth

Investing in transport for growth

Budget 2024 confirms a $2.68 billion investment in roads, rail, and public transport to unlock economic growth and enable Kiwis and freight to get to where they want to go quickly and safely, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.

“This funding includes a billion-dollar increase over that signalled during the consultation on the GPS on land transport. This funding has been secured to accelerate the delivery of priority projects including the Roads of National Significance.

“We want construction firms to know that this government will get on and build roads and we have prioritised funding in place to make this happen.
“Investing in transport infrastructure is critical to our plan to rebuild the economy so we can lift incomes and afford the health, education, and other frontline services New Zealanders depend upon,” Simeon Brown says.

Other transport investments in Budget 2024 include: 

• $1.0 billion to accelerate the delivery of the Roads of National Significance and major public transport projects. 
• $939.3 million to repair roads damaged by last year’s severe weather events in the North Island
• $266.9 million to upgrade and maintain the metropolitan rail networks in Auckland and Wellington
• $200 million to support KiwiRail to carry out maintenance and renewals on the national rail network
• $10 million for Airways New Zealand to complete the minimum operating network of Ground Based Navigation Aids
• $44 million to support the Civil Aviation Authority to carry out core functions while fee and levy rates are under review
• $23.1 million to support critical frontline rescue services to respond to severe weather events and emergencies
• $63.6 million to support Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand
• refocusing $59.7 million of existing funding over the next four years towards decarbonising the bus fleet, including zero emissions buses and charging infrastructure, and improvements to bus driver safety and working environments.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/investing-transport-growth

Government invests in 1,500 more social homes

The coalition Government is investing in social housing for New Zealanders who are most in need of a warm dry home, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.

Budget 2024 will allocate $140 million in new funding for 1,500 new social housing places to be provided by Community Housing Providers (CHPs), not Kāinga Ora, thanks to savings found by ending the First Home Grant.

“Funding for new social housing places under the previous Government ends in June 2025. This is yet another unexpected situation that the coalition Government has had to confront,” Mr Bishop says.

“The Government’s new investment in 1,500 social housing places will start to become available from July 2025 onwards, giving the community housing sector much-needed certainty about the social housing pipeline, allowing them to plan for the future, and scale-up their build programmes.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-invests-1500-more-social-homes

Have your say on the future of transport in Auckland

Want to help shape the future of transport in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland? Now is your chance to have your say on the major transport plan for the future of our city. 

The draft Regional Land Transport Plan is open for public feedback. This major plan sets out the projects, programmes, and activities that Auckland Transport, along with NZTA Waka Kotahi and KiwiRail are seeking to fund, or partly fund, from the National Land Transport Fund. It proposes $63 billion worth of investment in transport over the next 10 years. 

Chief Executive of Auckland Transport, Dean Kimpton, says this is the chance for all residents of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to share their views.  

“This is a major programme with some big choices and a lot of investment, so we need to hear from as many people as possible. We want to know what your priorities are. Unfortunately, we can’t provide everything, so we have some hard choices to make. We need Aucklanders to help us make those decisions about what we prioritise. 

https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2024/05/rltp-have-your-say-on-the-future-of-transport-in-auckland/

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