Southern roading budgets better than expected: mayors
THE roads funding cupboard is stocked a little better than southern mayors had feared, but doubts about the system’s viability linger.
Planned investment of $1.1 billion for land transport in Otago and Southland for 202124 was announced by the NZ Transport Agency yesterday.
Fears that constrained revenue from fuel tax would result in the agency putting the brakes on some spending favoured by councils were not fully dispelled, but several mayors were pleasantly surprised.
Southland Mayor Gary Tong gave the programme ‘‘a big tick’’, Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks was pleased, Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult was not unhappy and Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher was relieved the amount allocated for local roads maintenance was slightly above forecast.
Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins said the package appeared better than the Dunedin City Council had expected, particularly for roads maintenance.
However, the transport agency had done its ‘‘level best’’ to lower expectations before releasing the information.
Mr Hawkins said building of the new Dunedin hospital presented an opportunity for city and government goals to align.
‘‘It remains to be seen whether Waka Kotahi will seize that opportunity, or if it gets trumped by shortterm funding constraints,’’ he said.
‘‘We’ve stepped up through our investment in the 10year plan and look forward to Waka Kotahi doing the same.’’
Mr Hawkins said there was a widening gap between funding available through fuel taxes and the investment required to meet government transport and climate objectives.
Mr Kircher had doubts, too, about the ongoing viability of the fuel tax model.
However, transport agency regional partnerships director James Caygill said the $1.1 billion planned programme was up 12% on three years ago.
‘‘Safety is a top priority for Waka Kotahi, so we will be investing $61 million in Otago and Southland during the next three years to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the region’s roads,’’ Mr Caygill said.
That included safety improvements on State Highway 1 between Palmerston and Herbert.
Planned investment in Dunedin included $19 million to accelerate development of urban cycleways and $18 million for SH88 and the shared path out to Port Chalmers.
Work is expected to start reasonably soon on the new $28 million twolane Beaumont Bridge over the Clutha River, replacing a 140yearold singlelane bridge.
Work in Queenstown, includes bus projects and a new arterial road announced previously.
Mr Boult said the transport agency’s programme did not present surprises.
In Fiordland, work started on a $25 million upgrade to the Homer Tunnel.