Council could contribute more to roading network
The Mackenzie District Council plans to spend $300,000 per year to make improvements to the district’s roads.
Plans were outlined in the council’s Long Term Plan consultation document, which was released to the public on Wednesday, the same day the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) ruled out a review of speed limits in the South Canterbury township of Burkes Pass.
Mackenzie mayor Graham Smith and residents have been campaigning for the speed limit through Burkes Pass to be reduced from 80kmh to 60kmh following numerous reports of near-misses in the area.
The annual spend has emerged as officials’ preferred option in the hunt for better roading in the district, the document says.
The money can be used for projects such as bridge improvements, or in areas experiencing pressure from growth, a consultation document, prepared as part of the council’s long-term plan process, says.
The option reflects the council’s current strategy and work programmes for making minor improvements to the roading network, the document says.
Under this option, the council would borrow to fund its 49 per cent share of the $300,000 for roading improvement projects.
The idea may only survive the council’s long-term plan process if the community supports it. The council’s share would be $14,000 per year.
The Mackenzie District Council has a co-funding arrangement with the NZTA, which provides a large portion of council revenue, and is a significant factor in determining the maintenance programme in the district’s roading network, the document says.
Overall, council staff said this was their preferred option because it allows them to make improvements to the roading network in response to the growth in the district.
The council’s infrastructure assets, which include transportation, stormwater, sewerage, and water are worth nearly $140 million.
The consultation document says the council prefers the $300,000 option because it will keep rate increases within the limit set in its financial strategy. Smith said the proposed rates increase for 2018/19 is 8 per cent.
‘‘We are also proposing a modest annual budget for making improvements to our roads, over and above standard maintenance, in areas experiencing more pres- sure from growth.’’
He said council considered spending more on roading improvements.
‘‘We have set rates limits in our draft plan for the next 10 years and the proposed rates increases for each year sit within those limits.’’
The major portion of cost to maintain the network is for resealing unsealed roads.
The council will consider feedback as to whether the $300,000 is included. Borrowing for all roading improvements, co-funded or not, was an option but would come at a cost. It would increase debt levels, and rates could increase by 9.65 per cent by 2022/23 instead of the proposed 8 per cent, the document says.
Public consultation for the LTP has begun. All feedback will be considered, before the council adopts it in June, the document says.