Kim Campbell: English plan fails on detail

Kim Campbell, chief executive, Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) SUPPLIED

Opinion

Kim Campbell, chief executive at the Employers and Manufacturers Association, responds to the Bill English infrastructure plan

The Minister of Finance has today revealed yet another glossy new report outlining a plan, which suggests we will have to invest $110 billion over the planning period of 30 years.

It's author, Treasury, are well assisted by private interests and advisers .

It is an elegantly presented mix of tables pictures and diagrams supported by interesting case studies. One could well be lulled into thinking it actually addresses the numerous infrastructure issues we face now and will continue to face as we grow.

It outlines what needs to done in some sectors and why, but it lacks a hard edge.

It holds a lot of store on getting reliable data for management decisions. But It is silent on what is to be done about the rigormortis which has beset our planning systems and the institutions supporting them.

It sets a timetable which cements into place a Pedestrian pace of development and some items appear in the plan for discussion in 2025 when they are already overdue today. The Panmure Corridor road, the Third Harbour crossing, CRL, in Auckland to name a few. A cynic might conclude that the report chose 30 years for its horizon that by the time we get to the end no one will have remembered what we set out to achieve in the first place!

The report fails to address the issues with rail, road and sea transport and does not pave the way for alternative funding options other than mention they need to be looked at.

Without policy options, legislative timetables,suggested orders in council ,and other Initiatives driven by ambitious timetables this report/plan will be unable to deliver on the needs it clearly articulates.

Let's use this as the start of a serious debate about what we are actually going to do NOW and find devices which speed the path to regulatory reform.