The Government has declared war on potholes, complete with a $500 million war chest to combat them. But there are concerns that funding cuts to other areas could derail the pothole mission.
In the Government’s draft transport plan, spending on railways could reach as low as $20m per year – an 80% drop on the Labour Government’s promised minimum investment.
KiwiRail boss Peter Reidy said about $120m per year had been needed to keep the trains running and pay for “basic renewal”.
The Government plan, released by Transport Minister Simeon Brown last week, said KiwiRail should focus on railway lines around Auckland, Waikato and Tauranga – an area known as the “golden triangle”.
