Friday, March 29, 2024

ALTERNATIVE VIEW: Road policy a boost for regions

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I’ve read the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport and believe it is positive for the provinces.
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I’m also pleased to have a well thought, well written draft blueprint for land transport over the next 10 years.

In the past we had Roads of National Significance (RONS) foisted on us by the then National government.

The total cost of $24 billion came out of taxes and consisted of big ticket items, largely around Auckland to the detriment of the provinces.

I’d actually rename RONS to Roads About Political Expediency or RAPE as that was what it did to the regions.

The Manawatu Gorge is proof of that.

During the launch of the statement we were told transport funding was reduced in Taranaki, Southland, West Coast, Otago, Northland, Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty by up to 30% in the last nine years.

That, as you and I know, is the provincial heartland, the productive area of the economy.

Conversely, spending on state highways increased by 55% over the same nine years, which would have achieved little.

As with any document there are parts I like and parts I don’t but I’m pleased to have a solid outline that I can have input into. 

Under the Role of the GPS section you can read “Transport networks allow businesses, regions and cities to be well connected and productive. Ttransport can be a powerful enabler for new housing opportunities, liveable cities and sustainable economic development in regional NZ.”

Under another section it states for NZ to thrive, regions must thrive.

It also talks about resilience, developing a network that can, as much as is possible, withstand disasters.

So the GPS provides an holistic view of the future. It investigates and comments on all types of transport options, both public and private. 

It is about long-term, sustainable solutions and not political expediency.

Investment in local road improvements will be increased by 42% with a 22% increase in local road maintenance. That is followed by a 96% increase in regional improvements.

So my strong belief is the GPS is really positive for the regions.

Half all vehicle journeys are on local roads, which get only 5% of the funding. Conversely under the Roads of National Significance projects the Government has shelved would have, according to NZ First MP Mark Patterson, been allocated 40% of the road funding for 4% of the traffic.

That’s absurd.

Masterton Mayor, Lyn Patterson is supportive.

“It’s been long overdue to have a government that acknowledges there’s life outside of Auckland. The investment needed in the regions is massive and it’s good to have that fact finally acknowledged.”

What has frustrated me with the GPS is the political positioning by opposition parties.

National’s transport spokeman Jamie-Lee Ross was extremely vocal saying people will end up paying more and getting less, particularly in regional NZ where the nationwide petrol tax increase is paired with a big decline in state highway investment.

Considering the facts, state highways have had a proposed 11% decrease in funding while on the other hand state highway maintenance has increased by 18%. It was capped by the National government.

As I’ve also stated local and regional roads are meant to get big increases, in the case of regional improvements almost doubling to a 96% increase.

We were also told there will be an increase in fuel tax with Ross waxing eloquently on the subject.

I’d make three points; the first is that the GPS is a draft document open for consultation. The second is that it was fine for National to tax everyone to pay for their roads around Auckland, now Auckland pays for its own roads.

Finally the Government is proposing a fuel tax increase of three to four cents a litre for the next three years.

That is no different from what National did while in office.

What I wanted to hear and didn’t was what National would have done differently. What would it do to improve our land transport system?

Building more motorways in Auckland didn’t work. They did it and it achieved little.

In Wairarapa we have the Rimutaka Hill, the now non-existent Manawatu Gorge and an unreliable rail service.

Looking at all components and not just one is, I believe, positive.

What wasn’t positive was the appalling job the Government has done selling the initiative.

Where I have a further problem is with the position of the all-powerful Land Transport Agency. It has prove to be a hidebound, reactive bureaucracy and for the GPS to be successful that must change. Consequently, I was pleased to read about the appointment of experienced director Michael Stiassny as new Transport Agency chairman. Hopefully he can right the ship.

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