23 Feb 2015

Transport projects edge into favour

7:56 am on 23 February 2015

Aucklanders are narrowly favouring a major programme of transport projects, with new motorway charges being the preferred way of paying for them.

Sky Tower and Southern Motorway viewed from Hopetoun Street, Auckland.

Photo: AFP / Stuart Black / Robert Harding Premium / Robert Harding

The Auckland Council has released feedback provided at the half-way point in consultation over its proposed 10-year budget.

Read the full consultation document here.

From around 3500 thousand responses, 52 percent supported proposed overall rates rises of 3.5 percent.

Fifty-five percent rejected a limited list of new transport projects in favour of an extended list, which requires new ways of funding.

Motorway charges, or a mix of charges and other funding to help pay for the longer list of transport projects, found favour with 49 percent of respondents.

The Auckland Council will soon conduct an opinion survey of 5000 Aucklanders for a more scientific assessment of opinion.

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