Alarmed by shock drubbing in the recent 1 News-Colmar-Brunton poll, National Party has come out with an announcement to launch a National Infrastructure Commission that will oversee delivering major infrastructure projects critical to the social and economic well-being of New Zealand.
The National Party will turbocharge the Government’s $32.5 billion infrastructure investment by creating a new National Infrastructure Commission to lead more public-private partnership (PPP) projects and ensure Kiwis get faster access to new schools, hospitals and roading, National Party Infrastructure spokesperson Steven Joyce said.
The party is proposing to merge two units from the Treasury to form the core of the Commission, with an additional $2.5 million a year in funding to operate it.
Many experts argue that the National Party is feeling the heat on record net migration and falling behind infrastructure development to match up with an increasing population – a fact vehemently rejected by the Party.
National has a great track record of delivering transformative infrastructure investments, like the Roads of National Significance, the electrification of Auckland’s commuter rail network, Ultra-Fast Broadband, and the Waterview Tunnel,” Mr Joyce said.
“PPPs can provide new facilities at a lower whole of life cost than traditional development models,” Mr Joyce further added.
The Commission’s job will be to make sure the innovation and savings PPPs bring are applied to all parts of government, regardless of whether the project is a major hospital development, a school or a new road.
Initial projects to be considered as a PPP include:
· The $50 million rebuild of Whangarei Boys High School as part of a larger school development package
· Defence Estate Refresh: a $1.7 billion project to modernise and upgrade defence bases throughout the country
· The recently announced $1.4 billion re-development of Dunedin Hospital
· East West Link: $1.9 billion project linking State Highway 20 and
State Highway 1 in Auckland
· Penlink: Construction of a new local road linking the middle of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula with State Highway 2 at Redvale
· Waikeria Prison: A new 1,500 bed facility due to commence procurement this year
The Employer and Manufacturers Association (EMA) have welcomed the move saying that it is a significant step in the right direction.