Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says the city's residents should have more influence on decisions about their transport system. Photo: 123rf
Auckland Council has come out in united in its support over legislation that will put Aucklanders back in charge of the city's transport system.
The Governing Body voted to accept mayor Wayne Brown's recommendation that the council support the legislation.
Brown said there was a strong sentiment in Auckland that its residents did not have enough influence on decisions made about their transport system.
"Too many things we do and spend money on are dictated to us, and too much time is wasted on mega projects imposed by Wellington rather than the smaller-scale initiatives that will really help Aucklanders get around easier. This has to stop."
Transport accounted for more than 30 percent of Auckland Council's budget over 10 years, he said.
"Despite this, Auckland Council is the only council in New Zealand that does not have a formal role in preparing and approving the strategic direction for transport and the allocation of funding to support that direction.
"The Auckland Transport Board itself has acknowledged that the governance and funding arrangements for Auckland are no longer working and have asked council to give serious consideration to how a more simplified, transparent, and robust planning and funding framework for Auckland can be created. We've acted on that," said Brown.
He said the proposed bill would establish a Joint Transport Committee between central government and Auckland Council and a new Auckland Regional Transport Committee.
"This will provide a legislative basis for Auckland Council and the Crown to agree to an Auckland Integrated Transport Plan which will set the long-term direction.
"We have made some good progress on this already with the government, but it needs a legislative basis to have the most impact."
"The legislation would also mean Auckland Council will have the lead role in preparing and approving the Regional Land Transport Plan, which sets the strategic direction for transport and the allocation of funding in support of that direction and that the council will also be able to make other key regulatory decisions about the Auckland transport system, including setting parking fines."
Previous attempts by the council to take back control of transport decisions have not worked, he said.
"I have done the groundwork and already engaged with both the government and opposition and, while there is detail to work through, both have expressed support of the direction we are heading in with this change."
Brown said he and the council would be seek to confirm support for these change from all political parties prior to the election.
More information on the progress of the Auckland Integrated Transport plan would be released soon, he said.