Forgotten World Highway funding welcomed
Taranaki tourist operators, politicians and the transport industry have welcomed the extra $13.4m funding to upgrade the region’s remote Forgotten World Highway.
The funding for State Highway 43, between Stratford and Taumarunui, was announced by Regional Development Minister Shane Jones at an infrastructure seminar on Friday.
Stratford District Council mayor Neil Volzke said the extra funding from the Provincial Growth Fund was ‘‘out of the blue but extremely welcome’’.
‘‘A number of Stratford mayors have spent many years intensely lobbying the Government for improvements to State Highway 43,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s great news for us.’’
Volzke said the upgraded highway would provide an safer transport link for people in the Central North Island wanting to visit Taranaki.
‘‘The Tongariro Crossing struggled with the volume of tourists and by upgrading SH43 it would allow people to directly travel to Taranaki attractions.’’
The extra funding will be used for improved signage, way finding, safety barriers and road markings.
In December the Government allocated $9.6m from the PGF to seal 12km of SH43.
In an emailed statement Taranaki Regional Council road transport committee chair Matthew McDonald said the region had been pressing for such improvements for many years.
McDonald said he hoped the funding would encourage the NZ Transport Agency to revise a proposed three-year timeframe and deliver all the improvements in one package as soon as possible.
Venture Taranaki chief executive Justine Gilliland said the additional investment into the region’s infrastructure was ‘‘extremely welcome.’’
‘‘These roading enhancements will further support the private investment that has gone into developing tourism and other commercial enterprises through the highway, and safety and access enhancements have the potential to help further extend the area’s visitor economy,’’ she said in an emailed statement.
Forgotten World Adventures chief executive Ian Blame said the roading upgrade would benefit the whole area.
‘‘It’s part of on going recognition to the benefits of tourism in the central North Island,’’ the Taumarunui-based tourism operator said.
‘‘The connection between the Taranaki and Ruapehu regions is at the forefront on this investment.’’
Balme said his company had applied to the PGF for funding to build a cycleway alongside the state highway.
‘‘Our timing could not be better. It is another part of the jigsaw to increase tourism in the region.’’
Taranaki Chamber of Commerce chief executive Arun Chaudhari tourists would now find Taranaki more accessible when driving from the central North Island.
He urged the Government to continue to provide funding for more future infrastructure upgrades in the region.
The announcement means a total of $23m is now available to improve road safety for motorists on SH43, with more passing opportunities, upgrading a single lane bridge, and replacing culverts.
In an emailed release, Jones said the improvements would provide resilience for the Central North Island’s transport network, as an important alternative to SH3, between Taranaki and the Upper North Island.
The Forgotten World Highway is promoted as a tourist destination and sealing the Tangarakau Gorge section is expected to drive GDP gains into Taranaki of up to $45 million over 40 years, he said.
The projects are forecast to increase visitor numbers to Taranaki by around 13,000 annually.