Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby is denying a deal is being done to swap the Route K debt for the Welcome Bay tunnel.
The news that the NZ Transport Agency is exploring options other than a tunnel for the Hairini Link broke earlier this month after Ohauiti resident Philip Rumbal said NZTA was polling residents about a ‘traffic bank'.
Mayor Stuart Crosby.
The proposed ‘traffic bank' would send traffic exiting Welcome Bay on a loop past Palmers Garden Centre.
When Philip asked the NZTA project manager about the tunnel or underpass promised by the government, he was told it's not being considered.
It is an election promise made by National leader John Key in 2008.
He promised the government would pay for the tunnel and a replacement four lane bridge over the Hairini causeway.
In March 2010, Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges confirmed to Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Ross Paterson and Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby that the government would keep that election promise.
NZTA principal project manager Andrew Scott says NZTA's preferred option for Hairini will be revealed next month. He refused to comment on ‘rumours'.
Mayor Stuart Crosby says the Tauranga City Council is pushing for Route K to be transferred to the NZTA and for continuing roading improvements to the Hairini Link.
The first he heard about an alternative to the tunnel was when Councillor Bill Grainger told him about Philip Rumbal's experience.
'I found out through Councillor Grainger, who found out through a resident – that's how we found out about that option,” says Stuart.
'I've not been party to any discussion at all with NZTA along those lines.
'I was not informed at all, or a party to the proposed bypass around Palmers – and that's all I can say.
'We were not engaged whatsoever in that concept, either as mayor or elected members.”
SunLive has asked Transport Minister Steven Joyce about his knowledge of the situation and asked him: ‘Why was NZTA looking at other options when the government has promised the underpass/tunnel?'
The reply through a spokesman was: ‘No decisions have been made. NZTA is looking at a range of options and will clarify its position in the near future.'
When it was pointed out that this did not answer the question put, there was no reply.
20 comments
Route K looks pretty dirty
Posted on 18-07-2011 12:28 | By esquire
Get rid of it off the council's books and deal with congestion at the roundabout for a while longer? Seems like a good idea.
Elected on a promise
Posted on 18-07-2011 12:38 | By Persephone
A tunnel is a tunnel. Any other solution is a broken promise, and should see the end of Simon Bridges tenure as an MP. A pertinent question to Mr Joyce would be "why is NZTA wasting money on looking at other options, when the tunnel has been promised?"
logic
Posted on 18-07-2011 12:46 | By Mr bay
Would it not be logical to look at other options if they cost less saving tax payer money.........
Posted on 18-07-2011 12:49 | By Chatboy
Read Crosy's quotes again. Notice that he still does not state categorically that he has nothing to do with a deal with NZTA. 'I've not been party to any discussion at all with NZTA along those lines. (Along those lines but what other lines have been discussed.) 'I was not informed at all, or a party to the proposed bypass around Palmers - and that's all I can say. (OK..so he says he knows nothign of the Palmers bypass. But what else does he know of?) 'We were not engaged whatsoever in that concept, either as mayor or elected members.” (In that concept, but what concepts was he involved with?)
Mr Mayor ~ Sir
Posted on 18-07-2011 14:42 | By Nigel Barker
One hopes that you are becoming very very aware of the 'Power of SunLive' and the power it is giving to 'The Citizens'. One also hopes that you are beginning to notice that 'The Citizens' do not 'spout'n'vanish'....seems to be a common trait with some *wink wink*. The people are gathering strength, they are speaking what they believe and they are returning to ensure the message gets through to you. Our 'elected by the people' TCC representatives. An old fella told me "K.I.S.S.Upfront".He reckoned that you can run but you can't hide".-Citizens Monitoring Council-
To the MP for Tauranga
Posted on 18-07-2011 17:08 | By dgk
Simon Bridges, keep your promise or resign as MP. There are no other honourable options available to you.
@ Mr Bay
Posted on 18-07-2011 17:57 | By Colleen Spiro
Yes Mr Bay....they having been looking at other options since I moved here to Welcome Bay in 1981.....I cannot for the life of me understand how a Mayor of a city is NOT AWARE of what is going on. Also the promise keepers like Simon Bridges and Tony Ryall. But let us rest easy in the knowledge that they will inform us BEFORE the elections, so that if the promise is broken this time, they will make ANOTHER promise. Yeah right....
What is this Citizens Monitoring Council?
Posted on 18-07-2011 19:46 | By Inconvenient Truth
Who elected the Citizens Monitoring Council Mr Barker? I remember an election where I democratically voted for some people. Some got in, some didn't. That's democracy. I like some things politicians do and I don't like other things. That's fair enough too. I don't seem to remember your name on the voting paper. Could you tell us who is on your Council and how they got there?
I Love Route K but do you really need a tunnel?
Posted on 18-07-2011 20:37 | By steve_of_greerton
One of the reasons I decided to live in Greerton was Route K. Its fantastic but unfortunately most kiwi's who haven't lived overseas in big cities which is a hell of a lot of people in this town, don't understand that when time is a precious commodity an alien idea like paying a whole dollar to get across the city twenty minutes faster is actually really good value. Instead they choose to live in their little bubble and continue to deny the marvelous success that route K actually is. I didn't buy in Welcome bay because its traffic woes at the time were intolerable to consider putting up with. So yes the intersection really needs sorting out but do you REALLY need a tunnel? As for the total lack of ammenties out there I'd push for that getting sorted instead then you wouldn't need to drive to town as often and reduce the pressure on the roads. Someone REALLY needs to build a shopping mall on one of those empty subdivisions up the back of Kaitemako Road!
DES[PERATION REVEALED
Posted on 19-07-2011 00:10 | By TERMITE
AGAIN ... Like no surprise here of course, "where there is smoke there is fire" that is the saying that applies here, it is obvious that Mayor Crosby will do anything to get rid of Route K so as to off load the debt at is now a hopelessly unsustainable $70 million odd now and no more users. Mayor Crosby has to get rid of the debt somehow so as then there is a bit of spare money to have another spend up again on other silly things.
DESPERATION = ADMITTING GUILT?
Posted on 19-07-2011 12:22 | By WOFTAM
It was such a "wonderful" scheme back then and it got shunted through on borrowed money, never "going to cost teh ratepayer anything", yet now in hindsight the obvious becomes apparent with 20-20 vision. It may not be in the rates bill yet but the amount of debt affects the amount of rates and other income that TCC must have. The TURKEYS OF TAURANGA get all the debt and interest and rates increases again.
@ Inconvenient Truth
Posted on 19-07-2011 19:32 | By Nigel Barker
Thanks for your interest. "Citizens Monitoring Council" is just that. An increasing number of citizens that are very concerned about the overall performance of TCC. For example 1) - Zelch upfront, all the story openness/discussion of financial issues in relation to ratepayer funded TCC owned business's. 2) - TCC being in business's that are in opposition to the private sector. 3) - what we perceive as a total lack of respect for the concerns of ratepayers. 4) - Spending money like there is no tomorrow. Spending on what appears to be items to satify personal ego trips. So ... thats just four issues that I have. Other contributors have concerns of their own and comment accordingly. "Inconvenient Truth" are you aware that MANY citizens (and some Councillors) have approached TCC for information and their request has been turned down and/or completely ignored? Of course some citizens will have the opinion that all things are good within TCC....So be it! In the meantime we will continue to be concerned ~ "Citizens Monitoring Council"
Democracy the art of Deception
Posted on 20-07-2011 11:51 | By Investigator
Inconvenient Truth # You have now got some answers on the Citizens Monitoring Council. As you cannot be identified please tell us which Council candidates including mayoral that you voted for at the last elections. What TCC projects and initiatives you have supported over the past 4years. This will enable an assessment to be made on your bona fides.
Inconvenient Truth TCC
Posted on 21-07-2011 08:38 | By Investigator
It is understandable you would not want to answer the questions posed.I guess the revelations would be too embarrassing to admit you support current Council majority and the failing projects.Just drift off into the sunset with Al Gore.
ROUTE K Win Win Solution
Posted on 21-07-2011 09:08 | By MINDER
Solution floated previously is still the best I have seen.Namely persuade NZTA to take over responsibility for ROUTE K, NZTA receives all the tolls and meets the full interest bill on TCC Ratepayers $60million current capital debt. TCC retain the Debt which keeps its credit level in check and prevents further crazy spendups on idiot magnet projects.The capital debt to be taken over or paid off by NZTA by 2021.If TCC are incapable of negotiating such a deal let the private sector handle it.
I believe in Democracy
Posted on 21-07-2011 17:48 | By Inconvenient Truth
To answer some questions, I believe in a democratically elected council, even though I don't support everything. I can't understand how you can hold a council to account for promises made by MPs over a road. How about some facts and specifics if you've actually got any?
DENIAL ?
Posted on 21-07-2011 18:07 | By WOFTAM
I heard that this idea was floated as the "final solution" to offload K Road?
Both are dvious enough to do any deal
Posted on 21-07-2011 20:52 | By Hebegeebies
ROUTE K is the TCC $60m albatross and the Welcome Bay underpass seems to be an NZTA concern and never the twain should meet.Any secret meetings over the two would be an absolute NO NO particularly if trade offs were being made by TCC and NZTA.
@ HEBEGEEBIES
Posted on 23-07-2011 15:05 | By YOGI
$60 million, ya what, it is over $70 million, in fact it was $58 million at 30/6/10 then add a years losses and more then add teh $12.8 million for the Pyes Pa road to nowhere. So that must be atleast $70 million of dead in the water debt slung like a trye dead weight burden on ratepayers that sooner or later will have to be faced up to. Of course meanwhile the dreaming continues about NZTA ...
THE LOOK ON THE FACE
Posted on 25-07-2011 19:22 | By Crash test dummies
Says it all, there has to be a deal here that "no one knows about"!
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