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Wairarapa can gear up for more transport projects with its share of around an extra $202 million over ten years from the new government package announced today.
It increases the excise on petrol by 5 cents a litre from 1 April 2005.
Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer said diverting two thirds of the $2.07 billion to be raised over 10 years to the regions and a third to Auckland makes sense.
"The reality is all regions need extra funding for roading and other land transport."
Ms Beyer said the Government wanted it to be transparent that two-thirds of the new excise increase will go to regions, and that Auckland - with around a third of the nation's population - will get the balance.
"Based on Statistics NZ population projections, the broader Wellington region can, over the next 10 years, expect around $202m from the new petrol excise and accompanying lift in road user charges for diesel vehicles."
She said since taking office the Labour-led Government had moved to address infrastructure constraints as a key element towards economic growth and innovation. Earlier this week, Ms Beyer released Transfund data showing Wellington's three-year land transport allocation went from $152m in 1994-97 to $332m in 2003-06.
Wairarapa people are gaining from projects such as the realignment of State Highway 2 from Kaitoke to Te Marua ($14.4m), Dowse to Petone interchange ($56m) and scheduled projects such as Muldoon's corner on Rimutuka Hill Rd ($4.4m) and the Waiohine Bridge replacement ($2.4m).
"The spending budgeted for the next three years is around $131m above what we inherited for land transport in this region," said Ms Beyer.
The new funding could accelerate projects such as the rail upgrade needed in the Wellington region and further improvements to public passenger transport and the regional roading network.
"But the demands of land transport are just like those of hospitals; no matter what you put in, there's always more that could be done if there was extra funding.
"There's little unallocated money in Transfund's budget of $1.6b and ever more need for better, safer roads and other transport options. Everyone will see the benefits from the average petrol excise increase of around $1.60 a week per household.
"At the same time, it's crucial for the economy that our major city ends the years of neglect and infighting and seizes the opportunity provided by the government to get Auckland moving," said Ms Beyer.
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