U-turn puts highway back on track

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The proposed eastern highway is back on track after Transfund yesterday committed more money to the project.

Following strong lobbying the Transfund board agreed to pay the cost of identifying the preferred route of the highway, which would run from the city across Hobson Bay, through the eastern suburbs to Manukau and cost between $460 million and $1 billion.

Transfund chairman David Stubbs said in a statement that funding was approved so there could be more certainty on whether the project was viable. Last week, he told the Herald it would be unwise to spend up to $30 million in preliminary work when there was no money for construction within 10 years.

He said the eastern highway and Transmission Gully, just north of Wellington, could soak up to $90 million in preliminary costs - money that could be spent on tangible projects.

Mr Stubbs could not be contacted last night to explain the change of heart.

The board has not agreed on a funding amount at this stage. The Auckland City Council must first define the scope and cost of the work, up to but not including the preparation of notification of design requirements and consent applications.

The Auckland and Manukau councils, with support from road-building agency Transit, asked Transfund to pay all the $13.2 million for a second detailed study into the 25km highway.



Auckland City Mayor John Banks welcomed yesterday's announcement. He was not worried about Transfund's requirement that the scope and cost of the work for the second study be defined.

Mr Banks and Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis have said they are committed to the project, which faces huge funding and environmental hurdles, such as crossing Hobson Bay and destroying more than 300 homes.

Meanwhile, Auckland City chief executive Bryan Taylor has refused to say how much is being paid to some consultants on the eastern highway project. In response to an Official Information Act request by the Herald, Mr Taylor said he was protecting the privacy and commercial position of the project director, Grant Kirby, lawyer Jane Simmonds and engineer Ron Holbrook.

He has revealed an $80,000 salary for another consultant on the project, Tony Garnier, as well as fees paid to other consultants.

Mr Banks has promised consultancy fees will be transparent and critically analysed.