Auckland Council wants to hear what you think about the proposed regional fuel tax and the projects it could fund. The good news for us is that the remaining funding needed for the proposed cycling and pedestrian feeder link from the Gowing Drive area to the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path has made it into the plan. Now we need one last push from you to submit in support of this fantastic project (click here to submit).
What’s in it specifically for Meadowbank and St Johns?
The Draft RLTP has some very good news for us, (on page 64, if you want to read it!): it shows $5 million allocated for the Orakei Local Board’s #1 initiative: the walking and cycling link between Gowing Drive and the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive Shared Path. This is fantastic news! It’s what many of you told us and the OLB you wanted, which is why it was supported. It’s actually the first time Orakei has had its #1 initiative accepted for funding. This will open up access from half of Meadowbank to the Train Station, St Thomas’ School, Selwyn College, the spectacular Pourewa Valley and the waterfront among other things.
So what are we being consulted on this time?
This consultation is on two proposals, the Regional Fuel Tax (RFT) and Draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP). We here at MBSJRA want to strongly encourage you to click here to say YES to the RFT and yes to the RLTP, noting in Question 5 that you support the Gowing Drive link.
Didn’t we already give our views on that?
Yes, 26,000 of us returned “Have your say” forms giving our views on the fuel tax in principle (not knowing the list of what we would get for it). Which is a decent enough number, but still less than 2% of Aucklanders. You could also say a few 100,000 more of us voted on the fuel tax when Mayor Phil Goff was elected after campaigning on this very point. But this week, the Governing Body voted to consult on the fuel tax again, and the Draft RLTP, now that the content is known.
So what was the feedback from those 26,000 people?
On the proposed regional fuel tax (11.5c/l including GST), across Auckland 46% said yes, 48% no; in Orakei Ward (of which we are a part) 56% said yes, 37% no.
We also gave feedback on other things, right?
Yes, click here to see the results of the votes on targeted rates for water quality, natural environment, accommodation providers and the general rates increase.
So… what are we being consulted on this time?
This consultation is about the specifics: now we can see the list of projects proposed to be deliverable by the regional fuel tax, what do we think about that? And for each project, do we strongly support / support / not support it. So, again, our feedback counts, big time!
Where can I read the list?
At www.akhaveyoursay.nz
Where can I read the Draft Regional Land Transport Plan?
Also at www.akhaveyoursay.nz
But it’s only a Draft RLTP, right?
Right. Hence the consultation. Please be sure to “have your say”!
So this matters?
Yes, For one thing, Councillor Desley Simpson will cast her vote according to feedback from Orakei residents.
If we vote against the regional fuel tax, will the Draft RLTP be delivered?
Quite likely the draft plan would not be delivered in full without the regional fuel tax.
So does that mean our Gowing Drive link won’t be delivered?
We’re very concerned about that. It may still be possible one way or another. You could ask Desley Simpson about that, at our meeting on Tuesday 8 May (7:30-8:30 at St Chads)!
When is the deadline?
14 May, so don’t delay! Final decisions on the introduction of a Regional Fuel Tax will be in June.
One more thing: isn’t the government paying for some of Auckland’s transport developments?
Yes. The bulk of the $ 28 billion plan is funded by central government (from general taxation, including national fuel taxes, road taxes, GST and income tax). The regional fuel tax tops up that funding, and in practice, many projects are co-funded one way or another through matching funding.
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