Auckland trams may cost $29 billion
The Herald reported:
The Government’s plans for light rail in Auckland could cost up to $29.2 billion, according to Treasury papers released this morning.
That is $15,000 for every household in New Zealand. So every family in Gore and Hastings and Levin will be paying $15,000 more tax so Auckland gets some trams to the airport!
If it costs $29.2 billion, then that is a cost of:
- $1.22 billion per km
- $1.22 million per metre
- $12,167 per cm
- $1,217 per mm
Think of the opportunity cost. A new four lane motorway costs around $50 million per km. For what the Government may spend on trams in Auckland you could construct a 630 km long four lane motorway. That is approximately the distance from Auckland to Wellington.
Other things you could get for $29.2 billion:
- 314,022 kgs of gold
- Two aircraft carriers
- 60 747-8s
- 16.2 million hectares of pines
- 1,500 brand new primary schools
- 20 new tertiary hospitals
- 5,220 wind turbines providing 15,700 MW
But instead Labour want to spend that on a 24 km long tram track.