New Zealand's opposition National Party said on Sunday it would increase infrastructure investment by up to an extra 500 million NZ dollars (365 million U.S. dollars) a year above levels planned by the Labour-led government, if it became the government after this year's election.
National Party Leader John Key delivered his keynote address to the party's annual conference in Wellington on Sunday.
He told about 700 delegates that New Zealand has a significant infrastructure deficit, which has resulted in poor productivity and increased pressure on inflation and interest rates.
He said over the next decade local government will face an infrastructure funding shortfall of around 30 billion NZ dollars.
Key said a National government would introduce infrastructure bonds and make greater use of public-private partnerships.
He told the conference a minister of infrastructure will be appointed to oversee a new category of priority state highways called 'roads of national significance'.
Key said National would also streamline consents using a call-in process which would require decisions within nine months.
The conference heard the National Party would reform the Resource Management Act within its first 100 days in government, if it won this year's general election.
National's environment spokesperson Nick Smith told the conference speeding up the planning process is critical to lifting economic growth, Radio New Zealand reported.
"Its about addressing the infrastructure crisis, it's about pulling back on nanny state, it's about delivering on the gearshift that John Key wants in New Zealand's economic performance."
Transport spokesperson Maurice Williamson said Resource Management Act reform would allow new roads to be built much more quickly.
He said National would borrow to pay for new roads and allow private sector investment.
Source:Xinhua
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