After years of relentless campaigning on behalf of the Shore, I’m pleased to see progress towards a rail link between Takapuna and the city-centre, and beyond.

Likely to be the largest transport project in New Zealand’s history, it has come one step closer with a positive strategic business case finalised by Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi/NZTA. It points to real progress on rail for the Shore.

Realising my vision of this multi-billion dollar project takes careful planning, which as Planning Committee Chair I have devoted much of my time to as councillor. I’m pleased to see government and council front with an evidence-based case to move us to the final planning stage and make this transformational change a reality.

The plan is for the Shore to be connected to the rest of Auckland like never before. Combined with the construction of SkyPath across the Harbour Bridge, residents will soon be able to walk, cycle, ferry, drive, and by mid-2030 take modern light-rail into the central city.

The Shore has never been closer to city centre jobs and education than it will be once this transformational project is realised.

I’m proud that my vision to have Takapuna included as a metropolitan centre was recognised in the business case as the catylyst for it becoming a prime candidate to be a rapid transit connections hub.

All this means that Shore residents will have much greater choice over which mode they prefer to take; cheaper options; and more frequent services taking them not only to the city centre, but further south to the airport and further north to Albany and beyond.

Shore businesses will also rejoice as the number of both Aucklanders and visitors alike will increase exponentially and come knocking on their doors.

I’m looking forward to working with my fellow North Shore councillor Richard Hills, government ministers, newly minted North Shore-based MPs Simon Watts and Shanan Halbert, the mayor, and local board members to turn this into a rail reality.

Change can sometimes take time, but this is transformation worth waiting for.