Pungaere Rd residents welcome seal
Long awaited project completed
he Far North District Council has achieved what chief executive Shaun Clarke described as a significant milestone with the completion of a longawaited road sealing project.
For years locals along Pungaere Rd, north of Waipapa, had been lobbying the council to seal the final 3.5km stretch, a key tourist link to Puket¯ı Forest, and he was delighted to report that the $1.58 million project, partly funded by the Tourism Infrastructure Fund, had been completed.
One campaigner, Megan McCracken, had told council staff that she and the other residents were thrilled with the final result, describing the sealing as making a huge difference to the community from environmental, safety and health perspectives.
“There is less water tank contamination, increased ventilation of houses as windows can be opened without dust billowing forth, creating better-quality air to breathe as well,” she said.
“We feel much safer when large vehicles are on the road, as visibility is so much clearer without dust from oncoming traffic,” she said.
Residents were also enjoying travelling on a mud-free, pothole-free road during winter.
Clarke said contractor Ventia would seal a 100m section once a stock underpass has been completed, and the remaining 100m at the Waiare Rd intersection would have its final seal when weather conditions permitted.
“In total we are sealing 23.3km of six high-priority roads in the district this year, with funding assistance from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, the Provincial Growth Fund and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund.”