Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Aucklanders will soon be saving more money at the petrol pump, but they are wondering at what cost.
The government has promised to end the city's regional fuel tax in June, which would save drivers 11.5 cents per litre or between $5 and $10 for each full tank.
But some residents in East Auckland and the North Shore fear that if the tax is scrapped there will be less money to fund infrastructure upgrades.
Mitchell Wolford worked in Pakuranga, where the Eastern Busway project was well underway. He worried the project would lose funding and be delayed once the tax was scrapped.
"Anything that's going to delay the project any further is just frustrating," he said.
"It's disappointing, we're going to lose a few projects that would have been really good for Auckland. I'm a bit gutted about it."
Botany resident Rob Boyd said the tax was a useful way to raise money for road and transport upgrades. He said the government's plan to remove it was pointless.
"I think it's a waste of time, they should just leave it and continue to fund the roading and transportation projects.
"I'm lucky, I'm retired so I don't have to fight the traffic every day. It's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous."
Mayor Wayne Brown pushed back against the government's decision, concerned that it would force the council to abandon dozens of planned projects.
Pakuranga resident Trish Heikoop agreed.
"It's always a concern if something stops progress, I agree with the mayor that there are concerns," she said.
"I think Aucklanders have got used to the petrol price, so it seems silly to drop it in the faint hope they'll get the money from somewhere else."
Eastern Busway project, artist's impression. Photo: Supplied to LDR
Another resident, Toni Dickson, said she loved the idea at first but was having second thoughts.
"Initially it sounds really really good," she said.
"Hearing some of the comments this morning about how it could impact on infrastructure... I don't know how I feel about it."
Dickson said she was happy to pay more for fuel if it contributed to better public transport.
"My partner and I have lived overseas, lived in London and those sorts of cities where public transport is just what you use, and it's great," she said.
"So I think the public transport system needs to be upgraded."
Upgrades that had been planned for Lake Road in Takapuna were likely to be on the chopping block.
David Kelly, who had lived in the area for 30 years, said it would be a shame if the plans fell through. He said it would be a shame if the plans fell through.
"[Lake Road] is quite congested, and there are many more people living in the area so I think we need better roading to cater to the population," he said.
"I would prefer if they kept the tax and spent it on improving the infrastructure."
Takapuna resident Nicky Adlington said it would be nice for fuel to be cheaper, but she wasn't sure if it was worth missing out on future road upgrades.
"If we could get a little bit of gas that would be great," she said.
"[But] I personally feel that money should be infused into those public systems. Using the bus, riding a bike, having more access to these things is probably more beneficial to me than shaving $10 of the gas price."
In a statement on Friday afternoon, Transport Minister Simeon Brown said the government was committed to finishing the Eastern Busway.
"On public transport, key priorities will be on the completion of the City Rail Link and Eastern Busway, followed by the Northwest Transit Corridor and the Airport to Botany Busway," he said.
But Brown indicated the upgrades to Lake Road were likely to be scrapped.
The regional fuel tax is set to end on 30 June.
