Tamihere wants to drop Auckland petrol tax if elected mayor

2:50 pm on 21 August 2019

Auckland mayoral candidate John Tamihere says he will drop the city's petrol tax and build a new harbour crossing if elected.

John Tamihere

John Tamihere Photo: Twitter

Releasing his Road and Rail Transport policy, Tamihere said it was vital Auckland got moving.

He said his policy covered road, rail, ferries and cyclists and has been peer-reviewed by transport industry bosses.

Mr Tamihere said he will build more park and ride facilities and prioritise work on Mill Road, Penlink, Puhoi to Wellsford, the Kumeu bypass and the Port Access.

However, Mayor Phil Goff has labelled Mr Tamihere's plan "unfundable, unworkable and undeliverable".

"There is no business case to back it up, no engineering case to show that it's even viable," he said.

"It's electioneering nonsense costing billions of dollars that the government wont fund and Aucklanders couldn't and wouldn't fund through their rates."

Mr Tamihere said: "There are investors wanting to invest in park and ride facilities that will help get this city out of grid lock,

"This is not an anti-car policy and priority roading like Penlink and Mill Road, will give ratepayers who commute from Warkworth, Wellsford, and Kumeu and from the south on via Mill Road respite."

Rail tracks would be extended for 49 kilometres, which will be funded by the Auckland Transport Alignment Programme, a transport spending deal between the central government and the council, he said.

Mr Tamihere said the Harbour Bridge would be replaced with a $2 billion superstructure.

"The new superstructure will have 10 lanes, two footpaths, two cycleways and four rail tracks," he said in a statement.

He said there will be disruption to road traffic - likely between off peak times, like Christmas and New Year - but it will worth it.

Mr Tamihere has reiterated his intention to sack the Auckland Transport Board.

Under Phil Goff and AT, Auckland had become the city of snails but under Tamihere, Auckland priority projects will be "put on steroids so the city is open for business 24/7", the statement said.

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