Hurunui’s roading quandary
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
How to fund rural roads and make them resilient is an ongoing challenge for the Hurunui District Council.
The council maintains one of the largest roading networks per capita in the country with 1460km of local roads, excluding State Highways 1 and 7, with a relatively small ratepayer base.
The population is about 13,000, meaning there was about 112 metres of road per person.
Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said the roads were designed for an earlier time and were not equipped to cope with today’s heavier vehicles and more frequent rain events.
Roading was funded 52 percent from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s One Network Fund (ONF), but when there was a funding shortfall ratepayers were left to pick up the full cost.
The funding was largely for maintenance, though the council could apply for emergency funding after severe weather events.
‘‘Hurunui roads have been rated lowly in the ONF and historically we have had low maintenance costs due to being a dry weather district,’ Dobbie said.
‘‘But with more frequent weather events, our resilience is being impacted. Our network is not designed for those events, so it needs capital works rather than maintenance.’’
Mayor Marie Black said larger vehicles, such as stock trucks and milk tankers, provided economic value to the country, but the council did not always get the funding support it needed.
‘‘We are stuck in the bind of not being able to meet the needs and expectations of our community.’’
While the push was to low emission vehicles, Dobbie said those options did not work as well in rural areas due to the distance, the nature of the rural sector and vehicle design.
‘‘Small vehicles are designed for urban roads, so rural communities are pushed more to SUVs and four-wheel drives.’’
Incentives for moving to electric vehicles were introduced under the previous National government and Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey said it was time to rethink how roading was funded.
‘‘As we move to Net Zero (emissions) by 2050, we’ve got to make sure we maintain our roading network.
‘‘The whole thing needs to be looked at, including the settings around small councils with a low ratepayer base and high kilometres to fund.’’
A spokesperson for Transport Minister Michael Wood said the government had increased investment in low emission transport choices, including walking and cycling, public transport and electric vehicles, as well as infrastructure.
A total of $1.2 billion was forecast to be invested in Canterbury in the 2021–24 National Land Transport Programme.
A Waka Kotahi spokesperson said the agency was developing a Climate Change Adaptation Plan in the wake of climate change and increased severe weather events.
It hoped to release the plan by the end of the year, before developing a separate implementation plan.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Poll: Is it rude to talk on the phone on a bus?
Buses can be a relaxing way to get home if you have a seat and enough space. However, it can be off-putting when someone is taking a phone call next to you.
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Paddy Gower seeks ‘bloody great Cantab’
The Kiwi journalist drilling deep into the country’s biggest issues is on a mission to find the local greats.
Paddy Gower is looking for the Good Kiwi in every region to feature in his show, The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour.
To nominate a Good Kiwi, email reporters@press.co.nz with the name and a description of why your nominee should win. You an also share the local issues you think Paddy needs to tackle in the comments below.
It could be the woman whose knitting circle has made 3800 items for victims of domestic violence, the guy running the length of Aotearoa for mental health, or the woman with terminal cancer who spends her time campaigning to raise awareness and save lives.
“Basically I am looking for ... a bloody great Cantab who just gets on and gets things done. The criteria is somebody who has a positive attitude and makes the community a better place," Gower said.
“I will give this person the 'Big Ups' they deserve, and the community can celebrate them with me.”
A Good Kiwi will feature in each of Gower’s live shows in 14 centres through November and December. He will name the Cantabrian Good Kiwi at his Christchurch show on the evening of Friday, November 22, at St Margaret’s College.
The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour is a sort of book tour, sort of stand-up comedy, some journalistic yarns and memoir, and some motivational speaking - with a fair bit of local in each show.
Gower also wants to know about topics of interest in the region.
“I’m ... going to be taking on a big issue facing Canterbury and offering up solutions.”
A stinky suburb, a neighbourhood needing a round-about or a cathedral in disrepair - “I will make your views count”, he said.
“I'm touring the nation to spread positivity, optimism and good vibes.”
*For tickets to the The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour visit paddygower.co.nz
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