New Zealand Upgrade Programme: Difference between revisions
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== References == |
== References == |
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== External links == |
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{{Official website|https://www.beehive.govt.nz/feature/new-zealand-upgrade-programme}} |
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{{Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand}} |
{{Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand}} |
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Revision as of 20:45, 1 February 2020
On 29 January 2020, the New Zealand Upgrade Programme was announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The programme is a $12 billion infrustructure package to improve roads, rail, hospitals and schools around the country.[1]
Background
![[icon]](/enwiki/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2020) |
Contents
Transport
The government has allocated $6.8 billion into transport: $5.3 billion on roads and $1.1 billion on rail. Auckland will recieve $3.48 billion of the transport funding.[1]
Roads
Seven highway projects in the North Island will cost $4.63 billion and are to be built over the next five to eight years.[2] Auckland will recieve $2.2 billion to be put towards roads,[3] which mayor Phil Goff says will be put toward the $1.3 billion Mill Road highway, set to begin construction in late 2022,[4] and the $411 million Penlink toll road between Whangaparaoa Peninsula and State Highway 1, set to start in late 2021 and be complete by 2025.[1][2][4] Additionally, $991 million will be spent in Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, and $692 million will be spent in Northland on a motorway from Marsden Point to Whangarei.[1] Wellington will recieve $1.35 billion, including funding for the $258 million Melling interchange which will start construction in late 2022 and is expected to be completed by 2026, as well as $59 million going towards the improvement of State Highway 58 between Hutt Valley and Porirua.[4] The Tauranga northern link, connecting State Highway 29 to Te Puna, will cost $478 million and start construction in late 2020, set to be completed by 2025.[1][4] State Highway 1 between Ōtaki and Levin will be increased to four lanes to improve safety; this project will cost $817 million and start construction in 2025 with an estimated completion date of 2029.[4]
In the South Island, Canterbury will recieve $159 million mainly for highway safety projects, while Queenstown will recieve $90 million to improve public transport into the town centre.[4]
Pedestrian
Auckland will put $360 million of its $3.48 billion towards its first walking and cycling path across the Waitemata Harbour known as SeaPath, providing one of the "critical links" in completing the city's walking and cycling network.[4]
Rail
Three large rail projects have been announced: $371 million towards extending electrification of Auckland's rail network from Papakura to Pukekohe, $211 million towards improvements to the rail system between Wellington, Wairarapa and Palmerston North, and $315 million to build a third rail line between Wiri and Westfield in South Auckland.[1]
Healthcare
Hospitals have been allocated $300 million, which includes $96 million on mental health and addiction services and $83 million on child and maternal health. A further $75 million will be put towards addressing poor conditions in hospitals and $26 million will go towards regional and rural services.[5] The spending on child and maternal health will include ungrading neonatal care facilities in Counties Manakau, Auckland, Hutt Valley, and Wellington, while maternity facilities will be upgraded in South Canterbury and the Hutt Valley. A new acute mental health care unit will be funded in Whakatane.[5] A further $5.2 million will be made available for hospitals to replace coal boilers used for heating with biomass boilers.[3]
Education
Schools have been allocated $4.8 million to replace coal boilers used for heating with biomass boilers.[6]
Estimated impact
NZTA estimates that between 7000 and 9000 jobs would be created by the first five transport projects.[3]
The government estimates that the programme will give a $10 billion boost to New Zealand's economy over its first five years.[6]
Reactions
Jacinda Ardern said the programme was "a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest in New Zealand – modernising our infrastructure, preparing for climate change and helping grow the economy".[1]
Opposition leader Simon Bridges criticized the government for "pick[ing] up where National left off",[3] saying that it "has realised it has no infrastructure ideas of its own that it can deliver on, so it has copied the plans I put in place when I was Transport Minister".[2]
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said the programme was the largest infrastructure investment in decades.[3]
Phil Goff praised the government's plans as "wise", saying "I commend the Government for delivering on our calls".[4]
Labour MP Grant Robertson called the programme "the biggest boost to infrastructure spending in New Zealand in more than a generation", adding that "a decade of under investment ... was a 'handbrake' on the economy".[3]
Greenpeace criticized the spending, saying that spending more on roads "will only contribute to more of the dirty emissions that are driving the climate emergency".[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Coughlan, Thomas (29 January 2020). "Government announces billions of infrastructure spending, with roads the big winner". Stuff. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d Orsman, Bernard (30 January 2020). "Jacinda Ardern kicks off the election campaign pledging billions of dollars for new roads". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Patterson, Jane (29 January 2020). "Govt's $12b infrastructure spend: Rail, roads and DHBs the big winners". Radio NZ. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Small, Zane (29 January 2020). "New Zealand Upgrade Programme: A closer look at the $8 billion transport spend". Newshub. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ a b Cooke, Henry (29 January 2020). "Government pumps $300m into maternity, mental health, and other health infrastructure". Stuff. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ a b "The New Zealand Upgrade Programme". The Beehive. New Zealand Government. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
