Media statement | 30 June 2005

Repairs and maintenance Land Transport NZ’s focus for Manawatu/Wanganui

Repairs and maintenance of flood damaged roads in the Manawatu/Wanganui district continues to be the focus in the 2005/06 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

Land Transport NZ today announced $1.7 billion in transport spending for New Zealand in 2005/06, including nearly $75 million allocated for investment in the Manawatu/Wanganui land transport network.
This includes:

• $52 million for maintenance of state highways and local roads
• $21 million for construction of state highways and local roads
• $1 million for passenger transport services.

This year’s allocation for Manawatu/Wanganui has reduced from last year, due to the significant emergency works expenditure in 2004/05 resulting from the February 2004 floods.

Land Transport NZ chair Dr Jan Wright says the agency and its partners are committed to making Manawatu/Wanganui’s major routes safer and more efficient, and making passenger transport more attractive as an alternative to using the car.

Funding has been committed for the continuation of the realignment of State Highway 1 at Hihitahi Bluffs, south of Waiouru, to improve safety and route efficiency; the completion of restoration and repair work arising from the February 2004 floods in the Wanganui, Tararua, Manawatu and Rangitikei districts; and the construction of passing lanes on State Highway 3 at Santoft Road and on State Highway 1 at Whirokino. A new cycling and walking pathway will be developed at St. John’s Hill in Wanganui.

Projects which may be funded throughout the year include the reconstruction of seven urban roads in Palmerston North to improve traffic flows and safety and numerous seal extension projects throughout the Ruapehu, Wanganui, Rangitikei, Horowhenua and Tararua districts.

Other state highway projects that may commence during the year include the construction of O’Donnell passing lane on State Highway 3 west of Palmerston North and intersection improvements on State Highway 3 (Awahuri Road and Stewart Road), State Highway 1 (Makomako), State Highway 54 (Newbury), State Highway 56 (Opiki) and State Highway 57 at Makerua.

This year’s NLTP is the first to include regionally distributed funding raised from the 5c per litre increase in petrol excise and the associated increase in Road User Charges for light vehicles introduced on April 1 this year. The distribution of regional funding has been determined on the basis of population.

Dr Wright stressed that regionally distributed funding will be allocated over a 10 year period, with all regions receiving their full allocation over the 10 years.

“While this extra funding will be allocated and approved through the usual NLTP processes, Land Transport NZ is seeking increased regional involvement in setting priorities for this funding. Allocation of this funding has begun slowly because some regions need time to set their priorities, and the more expensive construction phase of projects will occur later in the 10 year period.”

This year’s NLTP is the first to be prepared by Land Transport NZ, created by the merger of Transfund New Zealand and the Land Transport Safety Authority in December 2004. Dr Wright says the activities funded through the NLTP reflect Land Transport NZ’s objective of contributing to an integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system.

“New Zealand faces huge transport challenges. The $1.7 billion allocated by this year’s NLTP, together with the extra transport funding of $100 million per year for three years from 2006/07 announced in this year’s Budget and the further $500 million announced last week, will help us meet those challenges.”

Dr Wright said an announcement would be made in August detailing how the extra $500 million in transport funding will be allocated.

Regional newsletters, a fact sheet and the NLTP book, which details all projects in the 2005/06 NLTP, will be available at www.landtransport.govt.nz from 6pm today.

For more information:

Andy Knackstedt
Land Transport NZ Media Manager
(04) 931-8822 or 0212 763 222

Ian Hunter
Partnership Manager, Central
(04) 931 8900
0274 506 966