January 30, 2020
Whangarei prepares for investment surge
Road, rail and next to the navy.
That's the wish list from Whangarei mayor Sheryl Mai as new funding is unveiled for the region.
Yesterday it was given almost $700 million to make State Highway One between Whangarei and Port Marsden into four lanes.
Today it was $110 million to lower the rail tracks in the tunnels between Auckland and Whangarei so they can take containers.
Ms Mai says the next step needs to be invested in the port, including moving some functions north from Ports of Auckland.
"We're really hopeful the navy will relocate from Auckland to Whangārei so that will provide career options for our young people in the north looking to go into the defence forces for example but all the associated ancillary services that are provided when you get new investment, it needs to work for the benefit of everybody while protecting our precious environment," Ms Mai says.
She says it's important iwi and hapū are involved early in the planning process for the wave of investment and jobs in the north that will be unleashed by the Government's infrastructure spend.
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