Jane Patterson (RNZ)
Gisborne, February 23, 2018
Five regions will receive just over $60 million in the first chunk of money allocated out of the Provincial Growth Fund, officially launched in Gisborne today.
The government has also confirmed a feasibility study into moving the location of the Ports of Auckland to Northport.
The $1 billion a year fund is a part of the coalition agreement between Labour and New Zealand First.
Moving Auckland Port
Money has been committed to forestry initiatives, tourism ventures and rail and roading projects in Northland, Tairawhiti-East Coast, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu-Whanganui and the West Coast of the South Island.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters campaigned on moving container cargo and car import businesses from the Ports of Auckland to Northland by 2027.
Regional Economic Development Minister and New Zealand First MP Shane Jones said that the future of the upper North Island ports, including the relocation of Ports of Auckland, would be considered as part of a wider transport and logistics strategy.
As per our coalition agreement, we are committed to exploring the feasibility of moving the location of the Ports of Auckland, including giving Northport serious consideration. We are also committed to investigating a rail line to Marsden Point and Northport and upgrading the North Auckland Line to take pressure off the roads in Northland, Mr Jones said.
Tree Planting Programme
And he said the $1 billion tree-planting programme was already underway, with 55 million trees being planted this year, 70 million in 2019 and 90 million in 2020.
An Independent Advisory Panel has been established to oversee projects, costing between $1 million and $20 million, to be chaired by Rodger Finlay.
Regional Rail
$8.75 million to reopen the Wairoa-Napier line for logging trains, upgrade the Whanganui line for mainline locomotives carrying exports and fund feasibility studies for three further regional rail projects ($250,000 each for three feasibility studies on KiwiRail projects in Kawerau, Southland and New Plymouth).
$250,000 for three feasibility studies on KiwiRail projects in Kawerau, Southland and New Plymouth – $750,000 in total.
Northland
Support for two cultural centres in Opononi and Whangarei.
$450,000 for a Totara industry pilot to explore a new market in the forestry sector.
$2.3 million for the construction of a new tourism hub in Kawakawa.
Up to $9 million for roading project at the Waipapa Intersection to improve safety, reduce congestion.
Gisborne/Hawkes Bay
A broad tourism package, including $2.3 million to redevelop Gisborne Inner Harbour and $1 million toward a programme to commemorate the first encounters between Mori and Europeans.
$200,000 to kick-start the creation of a $20 million Wood Processing Centre of Excellence in Gisborne, which the government said would create 167 jobs.
Manawatu-Whanganui
$3 million towards revitalisation of the Whanganui Port
Subject to a business case, the government will support works to the port planned by Whanganui District Council and identified in the 2016 Manawatu-Whanganui Economic Action Plan – Accelerate 25.
Plus, an additional $90,000 to assist with further technical and design work, including undertaking a geotechnical assessment.
West Coast of the South Island
$1 million investment towards further development of two Great Rides cycle trails- the West Coast Wilderness Trail and the Old Ghost Rd trail.
$100,000 to help Punakaiki develop a master plan to future-proof the township.
$350,000 to assist in understanding the opportunity of a waste-to-energy plant in the Buller District.
Jane Patterson is Political Edition of Radio New Zealand. Indian Newslink has published the above Report and Picture under a Special Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz
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Photo Caption:
- Prime Minister Jacinda Arden (second from right), Winston Peters and other ministers in Gisborne (RNZ Picture by Jane Patterson)
- Shane Jones in Gisborne (RNZ Picture)
