John MacDonald: If you believe this, you'll believe anything

If you believe National’s promise to put $800 million in next year’s Budget for the Woodend Bypass project, you’ll believe anything.

All up, 11 kilometres of road, north of Christchurch. With four kilometres of the existing highway widened and the rest being the new four-lane bypass diverting traffic away from Woodend township.

National has announced that, if it’s re-elected, there will be $800 million in next year’s Budget so all of that work can begin.

But do you really believe that’s going to kick off next year if National forms the next Government? I don‘t. Because how many times has National made the same commitment? Four times.

The last time was three years ago, ahead of the 2023 election. But it didn’t deliver. And anyone who thinks it’s going to be different this time, is dreaming.

Which is why I think we’d be much better off if we handed-over big infrastructure decisions to an independent outfit like the Infrastructure Commission and left the politicians out of it.

Because, if all we get is promise after promise with nothing to show, why bother?

Although, as National’s Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey would point out, NZTA has already approved $127 million and land has been bought and initial work has been done.

I can just hear Matt Doocey saying, “If that isn’t a sign of commitment, I don’t know what is”.

But, as we know, Governments blow money on infrastructure projects that go nowhere all the time.

Example: the $50 million Labour poured into the Auckland Harbour Bridge bike lane project. All that money and nothing to show for it.

Which is why I don’t share Matt Doocey’s view that the money spent so far on the Woodend project is some sort of guarantee that it’s going to happen.

It’s also why I agree with Labour’s position on the Woodend Bypass and other big projects. Saying it won’t commit to it and that the independent Infrastructure Commission should decide which projects get funding.

Not that Labour has a record of infrastructure delivery to be proud of.

Nevertheless, I agree that politicians need to stop using infrastructure projects like the Woodend Bypass as election sweeteners.

Taking him on his word, that means, if he was in charge, it would be the Infrastructure Commission deciding whether the Woodend Bypass is even needed.

How much better does that sound? Compared to what we have at the moment, where politicians trot out all sorts of pre-election infrastructure promises, but don’t deliver.

Just like the promises time-and-time again to build the bypass at Woodend. Promises that go nowhere.

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