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iv)
note that at a 3.5 per cent general rates increase there is
still a significant loss in transport investment relating to the key
criteria and principles to guide the emergency budget proposals, including:
a. protecting
public health and safety
b.
preserving asset integrity
c.
protecting the most vulnerable
d.
supporting our communities
e.
climate change
v)
The board has serious concerns on the
proposal to reduce the Local board Transport capital Fund (LTCF) to
$5million. The board and community have invested in consulting with the
public, planning and advocating to gain traction over the past years on
these important local projects that have a bearing on the regional
transport network too.
The board
would not want to see key projects sliding back at a critical time, when
these also generate employment and help the local economy.
Key
projects in Māngere-Ōtāhuhu are completing the Ōtāhuhu
town centre and streetscapes, Walter Massey Park - Pathway and Totoia
– Ōtāhuhu Portage route.
vi)
Safety is a high priority within
Auckland Transport, the local board and Central Government as clearly
stated in the draft Regional Land Transport Plan 2020. For this
reason the board is disappointed that even with the reduction of the transport budget to $700million, the proposal is to cut the
local board component of that budget from the current $30 million ($20m of
LBTCF and $10m of Community safety Fund) to a net $5million, an almost 85
per cent reduction.
vii)
recommend using an equity approach when determining transport
projects that will be deferred or reduced, to support vulnerable
communities that will be disproportionately affected by the correlating
impacts of reduced transport investment.
viii)
endorse in principle an interim reduction to the Local Board
Transport Capital Fund, with the understanding that the entire funding
(including deferred entitlements) will continue to be available to local
boards in the remainder of the triennium.
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