Govt to give update on second Auckland Harbour crossing progress

The Government says an independent business case will be conducted to inform what option is chosen for Auckland’s second harbour crossing.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Transport Minister Chris Bishop have confirmed the Government will search across the globe for the person who will lead the business case, who will answer to ministers instead of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).Cabinet has also agreed to commission a study of the Meola Reef option, strongly supported by Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown.A statement from Bishop notes the study could be commissioned “if the [Auckland] Council is interested” while also pointing to “many” reviews of the Meola Reef option which Bishop says has been discounted as “unachievable”.Luxon and Bishop are speaking to the announcement at 3pm. A livestream will be played at the top of this article.Bishop confirmed Cabinet had agreed an independent detailed business case was necessary, despite NZTA having completed an investment case in May and endorsing a tunnel as its preferred option.“Despite the great progress that has been made, more information and work is required before Cabinet can select a preferred option.“[The business case] will allow us to do further work required on funding and financing, and delivery model options. It will also allow us to consider the Auckland transport network more broadly including NZTA’s Auckland Motorway Plan, any time-of-use charging scheme, and the 30-year Auckland Integrated Transport Plan to be developed as part of the Auckland Transport governance reforms.”The business case, expected to be completed next year, would be led by a Senior Responsible Owner, who would answer to the ministers of finance, transport, Auckland and the wider Cabinet.“We will look globally to find the right person for this critical role – someone with the expertise and experience to deliver who we will hold to account.“The [Waitematā Harbour Crossing] project will likely be the largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken in New Zealand. It is imperative that we get it right because New Zealand’s fiscal position, economic performance, and reputation as a modern, functional, first-world country depends on it.Bishop said the Senior Responsible Owner would be supported by representatives from Treasury, NZTA, National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Ltd, the Ministry of Cities, Environment; Regions, and Transport and the Auckland Regional Transport Committee board chair.Mayor Brown had long opposed a second crossing alongside the existing bridge, advocating for a crossing to be built over Meola Reef, a partially submerged rocky lava flow extending into Waitematā Harbour. Bishop has previously said the option was “not currently on the table”.Bishop today referenced Brown’s “strong view” about how Meola Reef was better than NZTA’s proposals as he expressed the Government’s support to assist with another study.“The Meola Reef option has been looked at many times in the past before and discounted as unachievable, but in the spirit of good faith, and recognising the Government’s responsibilities under the Auckland City Deal, Cabinet has agreed to commission a further study into the option, if the Council is interested.”He said Auckland Council would be invited to contribute to the study’s scoping and procurement, and to fund 50% of the cost of the study.“In addition, the Government has also received a Market Led Proposal (MLP) from a reputable international consortium for an innovative construction methodology to upgrade the existing bridge,” Bishop said.“Officials have recommended that this proposal advance and be integrated as part of the detailed business case phase of work.”Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.