More tolls will play a key role in delivering the Government's 15 new motorway and highway projects as the Transport Minister says he also wants to "move at pace" to allow congestion charging on existing roads.
Minister Simeon Brown said he would accept "any recommendation to toll any new roads" as part of delivering his big new transport agenda.
Speaking to Q+A, he said the alternative could mean the new roads simply aren't built.
"We need to have new ways of funding and financing infrastructure in New Zealand — whether it's public-private partnerships, with 'Build, Own, Operate, Transfer' [schemes], or increased use of tolling to fund this infrastructure," he said.
"If you read my draft GPS, we have said that as a Government, we will accept any recommendation to toll any new roads because, actually, we need to make sure we have a user-friendly approach to building infrastructure.
"By doing so, we get that investment brought forward because the alternative is we don't do anything. The alternative is we don't do anything as a country, nothing gets built, and we don't reap the economic benefits that this country needs."
The Government has announced it will spend over $20 billion to "get transport back on track", with some funding coming from hikes to vehicle registrations and taxes on fuel. (Source: 1News)
Brown laid out his direction for the transport system in his new Government policy statement on transport (GPS) earlier this month.
Speaking to Q+A, he said: "By making sure that the ones which are tolled are tolled, we maintain our maintenance budgets so that we're able to look after our rural and regional state highways to a better standard as well."
As National's transport spokesperson, Brown highlighted its support for tolls whilst in opposition but also expressed scepticism about them for some new roads.
In Auckland's Silverdale, he and National's local electorate MP promised to review a decision by the previous government to toll the new $800 million Penlink highway.
Govt 'moving at pace' on congestion charging
The Transport Minister said his Government was "moving at pace" to help roll out congestion charging - an extra charge for drivers using the roads at rush hour.
Mayor Wayne Brown said it's about "encouraging a different behaviour". (Source: Breakfast)
Plans to implement the charge have long been on the table for local council decision-makers, however, they cannot happen without legislation from central government.
In 2020, officials drew plans to charge drivers $7 a day to arrive and leave Auckland's city centre, with the scheme then potentially expanding to arterial corridors in the city.
Implementing a congestion charge had been part of National and ACT's coalition agreement. The previous Labour government had also been pursuing legislation for congestion charging whilst it had been in office.
Brown told Q+A: "It's part of one of our coalition agreements. It will be in place this term. We're moving at pace around getting the legislation ready."
He continued: "There are two steps — firstly, we need to pass legislation. We're working at pace around preparing that. The second step is those councils that wish to implement it need to go through a process to implement it.
"I'm talking with the mayor of Auckland about this. He's obviously very interested."
National’s transport and public service spokesperson talks about his party’s plans for the transport network, emissions, and how the party could change the public service if it wins the election. (Source: 1News)
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has repeatedly asked central government for the ability to implement a congestion tax. He has warned the Government's removal of the regional fuel tax will leave the city hundreds of millions short on much-needed transport projects.
Simeon Brown continued: "We want to make sure people who pay a congestion charge get something for it, which is a shorter journey time and more reliable journey time. That's going to be the key focus of it."
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand on Air
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