Te Awamutu Courier

Shovel-ready projects: nice entre´ e, now time for the main course

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The AA is keenly waiting for the full list of infrastruc­ture projects in the Covid-19 recovery package to be revealed, following the initial announceme­nt.

The Government identified 12 of the more than 150 projects from around the country that will be included in the $3bn fund, and broke the investment down across regions and across sectors.

Details on the rest of the projects, however, were not included, as the Government undertakes “final due diligence to ensure the projects are viable and offer the benefits stated by applicants.”

AA principal advisor Barney Irvine welcomed the initial projects, and the associatio­n is pleased to see that $700mn has been earmarked in the fund for transport infrastruc­ture.”

“But the big question for us, and for other stakeholde­rs, is whether the projects we put up to the Fund have made the cut,” he says.

“In particular, the AA wants to know whether the two national programmes it had called for — a five-pronged road safety programme, and a big increase in investment in road maintenanc­e — have been included.

“Investment in these areas is an excellent way to deliver infrastruc­ture that really matters to everyday Kiwis, achieves the Government’s transport objectives, and generates jobs.

“In our view, these are critical projects, but until we see the full list, we’ve got no idea of whether or not they’re part of the mix. We’ve had a nice little entre´ e — now it’s time for the main course.”

The AA had also recommende­d a list of local transport projects from all parts of the country — based on feedback from the AA’s district representa­tives — that could be covered by the fund, and the AA will be very keen to see which of these are going forward.

Along with the full list of projects, Barney says, stakeholde­rs need informatio­n about timing of delivery, and alignment with other infrastruc­ture programmes, especially the NZ Upgrade Programme.

“It’s about making sure there’s a proper strategy around all of this, so we know the investment is well coordinate­d and that we’re making the most of the opportunit­y,” says Barney.

In road safety, the AA recommends five separate initiative­s:

1. Electronic speed signs outside all New Zealand schools;

2. Adding 200km of median barriers on state highways every year for five years; 3. Upgrading highways that have a two-star safety standard to at least three-star rating; 4. Engineerin­g work to support safer speeds; 5. Installing at least 20 new red light cameras in main centres outside Auckland.

In road maintenanc­e, the AA wants to see an increase in investment nation-wide.

There is an undeniable link between the quality of the road surface and improved road safety.

AA surveys show that, around the country, members are feeling increasing­ly concerned about the declining quality of the road network.

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