Infrastructure Spending boost for HB
February 12, 2009
12 February 2009
Hawke’s Bay MP’s, Craig Foss and Chris Tremain, are today lauding the National Government’s confirmation that almost $500 million dollars worth of publicly funded building projects will be accelerated under the Job’s and Growth Plan
Covering the areas of Education, Transport and Housing, Hawke’s Bay stands to gain significantly from this plan.
‘Announced yesterday,’ said Craig Foss, MP for Tukituki, ‘are projects that will not only create work in our region while we ride through the economic downturn but importantly will also provide a platform from which the region can launch itself forward in a competitive manner. The spending is aimed not only at providing short-term benefits but also long-term gains.’
Transport efficiencies will be increased under the state highway accelerated work programme with construction and maintenance activities to be carried out. These include the Matahoura Gorge Realignment, the Expressway Southern Extension and Dillon’s Hill.
‘The total cost of these three roading projects alone is $56 million dollars and that is without the ongoing investment programme on the regions accident blackspots” adds Foss. “Hawke’s Bay has long needed such investment”
“Isolation of the upper reaches of my electorate due to bad roading has been a constant concern,’ says Napier MP, Chris Tremain, ‘especially during bad weather. The Matahoura Gorge is notorious and its realignment will make a huge
