Infrastructure investment to kick-start COVID rebuild
About $155 million for transformative energy projects is included in a newly announced $3 billion infrastructure investment package.
Transport (cycleways, walkways, ports and roads) gets about $708m.
“The overall package is expected to deliver more than 20,000 jobs across New Zealand and unlock investment with a project value of more than $5 billion,” finance minister Grant Robertson says.
It includes a $37m investment in a New Plymouth Wastewater Treatment Plant thermal drying facility replacement, designed with Hiringa Energy to be fuelled by a green hydrogen-gas blend which could generate further hydrogen.
The existing natural gas-powered plant produces 2000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, its carbon footprint expected to reduce by about 500 tonnes annually and continue downwards.
Shared pathways which include e-bikes feature in a $20m injection for the Whangarei Rejuvenation, cyclists also gaining better access in a $20m Taupo Town Centre upgrade which transforms its street network, and cycling facilities a part of a $55m Rotorua Lakes District Council and NZ Transport Agency SH30 upgrade.
A 12-hectare Whakatu Inland Port in Hawke’s Bay for the Port of Napier ($20m) and a West Coast ports package ($7m) are also included.
Robertson and infrastructure minister Shane Jones outlined how the $3 billion infrastructure fund in the COVID Response and Recovery Fund will be allocated across regions.
The Auckland region gets about $500m, Canterbury $300m, Otago $260m, Bay of Plenty region $170m, Wellington region $185m, Northland $150m, Waikato $150m, Manawatu/Whanganui $140m, Hawke’s Bay $130m, East Coast $106m West Coast $90m, Southland $90m, Taranaki $85m and Top of the South $85m.
The investment package includes about $210m for climate resilience and flood protection projects, $155m for transformative energy projects, about $180m for large-scale construction projects and $50m for enhanced regional digital connectivity.
Earlier this year, ministers established the Infrastructure Reference Group (IRG) to work with local councils and businesses to identify a pipeline of projects to support the economy during the COVID-19 rebuild.
The IRG received 1924 submissions across about 40 sectors of the economy with a short list of 802 projects presented to ministers.
The projects are in addition to the $12 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme and existing Provincial Growth Fund investments.
About $400 million has been set aside as a contingency and, if not required, will be put towards further infrastructure projects.
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