FROM THE NEWS DESK

Down the road in Hamilton, National MPDavid Bennett is doing his best to keep alive hopes of extending the Waikato Expressway past Cambridge through to Piarere. Long term, the Nats had hoped to build the expressway through to Tauranga, to allow a better route for freight to travel. Labour does not seem to have the same appetite for roads, and is focusing on rail. Bennett’s petition on the matter has claimed to have recorded 4000 signatures, showing support for the extension to go ahead. Taupo MP Louise Upston, whose constituency includes Cambridge, has also been working hard to collect petition signatures. Meanwhile down the road again but towards the east, Matamata-Piako district, which sits between Cambridge and Tauranga, is complaining about the poor condition of its state-owned roads. Some feature a series of pot holes long forgotten by those who were suppose to repair them. There’s a perception all of the roading funding has gone into the expressway with little left over for maintenance of rural state highways.

Lawrence Gullery

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