Simeon Brown resists killing off Auckland mayor's bridge idea

Tuesday, 17 September 2024

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown urges the Government to cancel the Waitemata Harbour tunnel plan and build a second bridge instead. David Long reports on the difficulty Brown faces in gaining support for his proposal.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown says he doesn’t “have a view” on Auckland mayor Wayne Brown’s bid for a second bridge across Auckland harbour instead of a tunnel.

The Government is investigating a possible second crossing of the harbour. While it has yet to make a decision, as of August last year the “emerging preferred option” was two road tunnels and a light rail tunnel beneath the Waitematā Harbour.

The National Government has scotched light rail, but continues to pursue a second crossing.

Wayne Brown has in past week begun campaigning on a second harbour bridge instead, saying a tunnel would be a costly “bad idea” and a bridge from Meola Reef to Kauri Point would be cheaper.

“Wayne Brown's always got a view, is what I'd say, and none of us should be surprised,” said Simeon Brown on Tuesday.

While not committing to a view either way on the mayor’s proposal, Simeon Brown indicated such a bridge might be more complicated than the mayor suggested.

“I mean, there's complexity as well in terms of the location and in terms of the associated connecting infrastructure, which would need to be considered.”

Simeon Brown did not expect construction work would begin on a second Auckalnd harbour crossing before the 2026 election. (File photo)

He said the NZ Transport Authority was continuing its investigation into a second harbour crossing, and there would be more to say “in due course”.

“There's a couple of options which were being considered and which were announced into last year. One was a tunnel, one was a bridge. There's obviously more work that needs to be done, particularly around geotech and other things, to actually identify the practicalities of those solutions.”

But Simeon Brown did not expect construction work would begin on a second harbour crossing before the 2026 election, as investigations into how a tunnel beneath the Waitematā had a way to go.

“There's significant work around geotech design, you know, route determination, and a range of other things that needs to be considered prior to.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown is proposing a second harbour crossing at Meola Reef near Pt Chevalier across to Kauri Point on Auckland’s North Shore.

“Ultimately, the question around geotech is quite a critical element around that particular issue, actually understanding what's under the water.”

Also coming in “due course” was the outcome of an investigation into a “long tunnel” underneath Wellington.

“That option was discounted by the last government due to the fact that they were not prioritising the efficient movement of people travelling via private motor vehicle. They discounted it,” Simeon Brown said.

While Labour’s North Shore-based MP Shanan Halbert has said he did not think the bridge proposed by the mayor would “make sense”, the party’s transport spokesperson said “everything’s on the table”.

“We need to be thinking about a range of options,” said Tangi Utikere on Tuesday.

“We’re all waiting for the Government to identify what their preferred option is, because they haven’t done that themselves either.

“What's important is there needs to be something that's timely, and it needs to obviously be cost effective as well … What's important also is ensuring that there is a sustainable option for Aucklanders to be able to get about.”

He said there was a possibility Labour could agree with the Government on the preferred option.