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Business Advisory Council to PM: Infrastructure 'at crisis point'

Publish Date
Wed, 10 Jul 2019, 10:40AM

Business Advisory Council to PM: Infrastructure 'at crisis point'

Publish Date
Wed, 10 Jul 2019, 10:40AM

The Government's being told to urgently address roading projects across the country.

The Business Advisory Council, chaired by Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon, has presented a damning indictment of New Zealand's infrastructure regime saying there is "no overarching vision or leadership in New Zealand for infrastructure development".

"This means there is no nation-building narrative upon which to build a strategic direction," it says — although it excuses the Ardern Government of any culpability for the mess which it says is intergenerational, the Herald reports. 

It wants the Government to proceed with 12 roading projects that are on hold or under review, and open them to private investment, saying that public sector does not have the funding mechanisms to properly run these projects. 

Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Stephen Selwood told Mike Yardley the plans are in place, now it's time to follow through.

"David Parker has plenty more reform on the horizon. I would just encourage to get on with that and be bolder with the vision."

Selwood says users would have to pay a toll to enjoy the benefits of the roads.

"But much better that the road is there and they can realise those benefits and obviously the significant social and economic returns. So why not get on with it I think is the question."

 

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