Media statement | 30 June 2005

Safety and route security Land Transport NZ’s focus for Northland

Safety and the ability of the local roads to withstand growth in heavy vehicle and tourist traffic are the focus for Northland 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 $52 million allocated for investment in Northland’sland transport network.

This includes $40 million for maintenance of state highways and local roads and $10 million for construction of state highways and local roads.

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

Regional development funding will continue for upgrading Northland’s forestry roads to accommodate heavy logging traffic. This year’s regional development allocation for Northland and Tairawhiti is $15 million, which is based on the average of $20 million signalled by the government less the additional funding of $5 million advanced in 2004/05.

Other projects continuing in 2005/06 include the alignment of State Highway 1 at Katetoke/Oakleigh (south of Whangarei) to improve safety and the rearrangement of Dent Street/Quay Street to ease congestion and improve access to Whangarei city from the eastern suburbs and airport, the later to be completed in August 2005.

Projects which may be funded during the year include: the construction of the Kerikeri heritage bypass to transfer traffic away from historic buildings; the development and construction of the Old Bay Road between Kerikeri, Paihia and Kaikohe in the Far North district, to address safety problems and high maintenance costs on the existing route; and an intersection upgrade at One Tree Point Road, south of Whangarei, to improve safety and cater for increased traffic to and from the Marsden Point port.

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

Peter Kippenberger
Partnership Manager, Northern
(09) 969 9812
021 913 882