Former city councillor Clayton Mitchell has told city councillors he will be advising on Tauranga's roading issues in parliament.
Speaking in the public forum this week, Clayton promised to continue working on behalf of the city over the 15th Avenue Turret Road issues.
Clayton Mitchell, MP.
The state highway will revert to city ownership next year when Route K is taken over by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
The ownership swap will see ratepayers paying for $30 million worth of roadworks that many believe the government already promised to pay for.
The Government is paying for the $68 million Welcome Bay underpass, which is about to begin construction. The NZ Transport Agency announce the successful tenderer for the Maungatapu underpass before Christmas, and construction is on track for mid-2015.
Now it's looking like the government will pay only the standard 51 per cent subsidy for the $60 million final stage to four-lane Turret Rd and 15th Ave.
With the council due to take over ownership of Turret Rd and 15th Ave from the New Zealand Transport Agency, the remaining $30 million will need to come from ratepayers.
Clayton wants to hold John Key's government to their 2008 pre-election promise of funding a $100 million central corridor upgrade involving the four-laning of Turret Rd and the Hairini Causeway Bridge and the widening of Fifteenth Avenue.
The promise also included the Welcome Bay underpass.
Clayton told the council and the house during his maiden speech that Tauranga needs a strong voice, and someone who is prepared to stand up and fight for these issues and many more.
'One of the biggest issues we are currently facing in Tauranga is the growing pains and problems associated with rapid growth, and the financial implications that this is causing rate payers in Tauranga, who are currently paying some of the highest rates in the country,” says Clayton in parliament.
'The single largest debt we have on our cities balance sheet to date, is the $63 million of debt associated with a ‘Nationally Significant' stretch of Road namely ‘Route K'.
'This road brings traffic and products in from Auckland and the Waikato, to New Zealand's largest and busiest port.
'This Road of national significance, is one of the reasons I am in Parliament today as I have been working hard along with others to get this debt off our City's books.
'Now that this has been achieved with the recent announcement of the NZTA agreeing to take over the debt of Route K, I feel I must finish what has been started and get the tolls removed also.”
9 comments
How about paying for the byelection?
Posted on 11-11-2014 15:35 | By Annalist
It's fine to get elected to parliament but you already had a deal with the Mount community who elected you as a councillor. Only fair that you now pay the costs of the byelection. After all your MP salary and perks will be far more than a councillors and you can use the spare money to repay the ratepayer. That's what I'd call working for the city.
an easy promise
Posted on 11-11-2014 16:47 | By BullShtAlert
Promising to continue working for something is easy, especially when you're not in government. But John Key and our two local National MPs should honour the promise made.
Key promised the same, and look what happened.
Posted on 11-11-2014 17:08 | By dgk
As John Key and Simon Bridges have already broken their promises, I really hope that Clayton can succeed where those others have failed so badly.
I
Posted on 11-11-2014 19:55 | By Capt_Kaveman
didnt want Route K it was a lemon to start with, the main problem with TCC is mismanagement and even with some new faces the slide continue
Hope he brings a shovel
Posted on 11-11-2014 20:11 | By How about this view!
That will be the only way that we will get any help from Government.
highest rates in the country?
Posted on 12-11-2014 07:32 | By YOGI BEAR
Hello ... like we have been saying that now for how long. Good to see that at least acknowledged.
Add this query too Clayton
Posted on 12-11-2014 08:56 | By Paul Melhuish
Ask some questions as to why the TEL runs right by (and I mean bang up next to it) Papamoa Easts vast housing development and yet there is no link to it for 10 to 15 years?
Paul Melhuish asks
Posted on 12-11-2014 13:04 | By Murray.Guy
"Papamoa Easts vast housing development and yet there is no link to.." Just one of the significant reasons I personally oppose tolling of roads and the NZTA mind-set that these are about intercity economic benefit NOT best outcomes for communities. This is why it is virtually impossible to increase entry and exit opportunities of Route K, as many would recommend. A $455m project with a $100m tolling component for 35 years - NUTS! Allegedly to bring the project forward 5 years!
Yes Murray I agree
Posted on 13-11-2014 10:33 | By Paul Melhuish
I tried to get a slip lane considered so that at least traffic could have another way out and head east as an evacuation route. Tony Ryall's words when I met with him: 'you'll be whistling for that to happen'. Sums things up really. As you say, community safety is down on the list with central govt and many in TCC are happy to go along with that. I know though, that if one or two EM's or a MP were to live out here, this would not be a low priority.
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