Heart of the City welcomes alignment but seeks new delivery approach
MEDIA RELEASE
15 September 2016
Heart of the City welcomes alignment but seeks new delivery approach
Heart of the City welcomes the alignment between Central Government and Auckland Council to meet the city’s growing transport demands but we are concerned that it’s going to take 30 years to resolve a problem that Auckland businesses face every day, there is a sizeable funding gap and no clear plan to deliver.
"Efficient access in, out and around the CBD is critical for our business members and we are pleased to hear the Minister of Transport acknowledge that it is hard to over-state the importance of Auckland’s transportation system to the New Zealand economy,” says Heart of the City Chief Executive Viv Beck.
It’s clear that a lack of alignment between Government and Auckland has contributed to the problems we are facing with gridlock, poor access to and from the international airport and the impact on productivity and the efficient movement of products and services.
"Businesses are being impacted by siloed activity that does not always have their needs top of mind and we want to see that what has been learned from the City Rail Link project is applied to this one from now on. Even if the money was available tomorrow, past experience says we need a new approach to ensure the needs of different groups are met during the entire project.”
"We want to see evidence that there is a commitment to deliver a fit for purpose transport system in a realistic timeframe with the needs of business well-represented. It’s not just what will be delivered and when, but how that matters.”
Ends
Contacts
Heart of the City – 09 379 8000
Viv Beck, Chief Executive 021 377 734
Note to Editors:
Heart of the City is Auckland’s central city business association, which champions a successful city centre for business and a vibrant place to live, work and visit. Heart of the City is a non-profit Incorporated Society set up in 1996. It delivers destination marketing, events, advocacy and sponsorship activity to promote the central city as a vibrant, diverse and exciting destination.
