Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Greens' comment on war park sad, cheap - Brownlee

Updated at 11:44 am on 8 August 2012

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee says the Green Party is playing cheap politics by criticising the decision to fast-track the construction of a National War Memorial Park in Wellington.

The Greens say the Government is abusing its powers by speeding up the consenting process to build the park within three years.

MP Gareth Hughes says the process is questionable.

"Given this project's been on the cards since 2004, and the National Government scrapped it entirely in 2009, we think it's disturbing they've left it to the last minute and now they have to ram it through with legislation."

Mr Brownlee says it's being fast-tracked so it can be finished in time for the centenary in 2015 of the Gallipoli landings in Turkey, and the Greens' comments were predictable.

"I think it's sad and cheap politics and unfortunately nothing there that you couldn't have expected and anticipated."

Mr Brownlee says work on the $82 million project will begin in October.

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