Media statement | 30 April 2007

Transport project shifts truckloads of freight onto trains

An Environment Waikato project to shift increased freight carried by large truck and trailer units off the region’s roads and onto rail has been granted $1 million of Land Transport New Zealand funding.

Environment Waikato chairman Jenni Vernon said the council was delighted the Alternative to Roading project had received funding over three years to boost the volume of woodchips being transported by rail.

‘It is projected that the volume of woodchips being transported from Whangarei to Kawerau will almost double over the next three years,’ she said.

‘Shifting this volume from road to rail will bring huge benefits – it can be expected there will be fewer road accidents involving trucks and road users can look forward to improved travel times, as well as reductions in greenhouse gas and particulate emissions.

‘This is in line with our Regional Land Transport Strategy which aims to increase sustainability by promoting a range of alternatives to roading designed to increase road safety and reduce traffic congestion and emissions.’

If financial assistance from LTNZ was not available, road users would be meeting more and more trucks on the state highways running through the Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions between Whangarei to Kawerau.

Environment Waikato has been proactively working on the economic and strategic analysis required to support the funding application since mid last year. Last December, the Waikato Regional Land Transport Committee supported the application to Land Transport New Zealand.

Cr Vernon said Environment Waikato had worked closely with Carter Holt Harvey, to ensure a sustainable transport outcome was achieved.

David Fox from Carter Holt Harvey Pulp and Paper Limited said the company was delighted with the support received from Environment Waikato and Land Transport NZ.

‘Rail is a good transport option for bulk cargos over longer distances, and this route is one that rail should be competitive on over the longer term,’ he said.

To secure the funding the project had to demonstrate clear cost benefits to the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Auckland and Northland regions. These benefits include less congestion, improved travel times, less frustration at getting 'stuck' behind a truck, reduced numbers of road accidents involving trucks, reduced greenhouse gas and particulate emissions, reduced heavy metal emissions from transport and reduced road maintenance costs.

In announcing the funding approval for the project Rosalie Orr Regional Partnerships Manager from Land Transport New Zealand has invited Environment Waikato to discuss a barging trial as another potential alternative mode that could offer similar benefits.

For media queries:

Rosalie Orr
Partnership Manager, Midland
07 958 7840
0274 523 230