Auckland Mayor Christine Fletcher used her casting vote to revive plans for a highway through the eastern suburbs to the city.
The council shelved plans in 1999 for a four-lane motorway, and the vote was 8-8 in April on a $200,000 study to look at the options, including the effects on
local communities and the environment.
Mrs Fletcher said the study was the best way for the council to control the agenda. But her deputy, Dr Bruce Hucker, who was absent for the vote, later said the study was a premature tool that could result in the motorway overtaking important public-transport initiatives.
The proposal has polarised opinions. A vocal action group, Stop the Eastern Motorway, predicts it would be an environmental disaster.
But the Business Forum, led by Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett, has mounted a campaign to complete the eastern motorway and the rest of the regional motorway network within five years. Mr Barnett is standing for the Auckland Regional Council.
Of the other main Auckland City mayoral candidates, independents John Banks and Tony Gibson support the project. Mr Banks wants to look at an expensive tunnel under Hobson Bay. Matt McCarten (Alliance) and Metiria Turei (Greens) oppose the motorway.
The councillors who voted on April 26 for a study on the eastern highway were: Mayor Christine Fletcher* (seeking re-election), Doug Astley, Gray Bartlett, Bill Christian*, Catherine Harland* (standing for the Auckland Regional Council), David Hay*, Noelene Raffills*, Jan Welch*.
Those who voted against were: Victoria Carter*, Dame Barbara Goodman, Maire Leadbeater*, Kay McKelvie*, Richard Northey*, Jon Olsen, Faye Storer*, Vern Walsh*.
Local body elections 2001
Feature: Local body elections 2001
www.localgovt.co.nz
