Transport and environment big winners in Auckland 10-year budget

Monday, 28 May 2018

Auckland mayor Phil Goff announces his 'transformational' 10-year budget plan for Auckland City.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff has gone big on transport and protecting the environment in his final proposal for the 10-year budget.

In what represents Auckland's largest ever investment in infrastructure, Goff announced on Monday the budget would pump $26.2 billion into the city over the next decade.

$4.3 billion will be leveraged from the Auckland regional fuel tax to go towards the $12b transport investment.

The largest part of that will be going toward transport where Auckland Council plans to commit $12b, of which $4.3b will be leveraged from the regional fuel tax.

That will take the overall transport investment in Auckland to $28b - with Goff also indicating a further $4b could be on the way from the Government to help with light rail.

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'I don't pretend this will solve all of our problems, there is no silver bullet solution, but this will transform our public transport system,' Goff said.

'This build-it budget is going to get Auckland moving with investment of more than $26 billion over 10 years to reduce transport congestion, unlock greenfield housing development, clean up our beaches and protect our environment.'

On the environment front, the budget will look to address the quality of Auckland's waterways and the threats to native forests through targeted rates.

'The consultation showed that Aucklanders care about the environment with strong support for both proposed targeted rates to address serious environmental issues in our region,' he said.

'Time and again we've seen dismay from Aucklanders that say every time it rains there are about 50 or 60 beaches that are no longer fit for swimming in. There was a plan to deal with that but it was a 30 year plan, we have been able to compress that into 10 years.'

That was made possible through Aucklanders getting behind a new water quality targeted rate, Goff said.

$452m from that, plus an additional $400m from Watercare as a result of their normal increases in water rates, would go toward cleaning up beaches and harbours and the building of stormwater infrastructure.

A new natural environment targeted rate would allow a $311m investment to address the spread of Kauri dieback and tackle pests.

Goff acknowledged however that a city was more than its infrastructure and needed to be 'a vibrant, inclusive and interesting' place to live.

Part of that would be a contestable fund of $120m for sport and recreation to work with community groups to increase the provision of indoor and outdoor facilities.

The Auckland Art Gallery will also receive an additional boost of $2m funding per year.

Goff has also kept his promise with regards to restricting the average general rate rise to 2.5 per cent for this term of council.

Council's governing body will decide on Goff's final budget proposal on Thursday before a final decision is taken at the end of June.

_At a glance:

- The budget represents a capital investment of $26.2b

- $12b for transport

- $452m in stormwater infrastructure and beach/harbour clean up

- $311m from a natural environment targeted rate to tackle Kauri dieback

- $40m for a climate change response fund

- $90m for coastal asset management

- $120m for sports and recreation

- $475,000 to Auckland City Mission to fight homelessness_