Clutha District Council home.

Clutha District Council

Home

YOUR COUNCIL COUNCIL SERVICES NEWS/NOTICES FORMS/PUBLICATIONS CLUTHA COMMUNITY

Welcome to Clutha District Council

Contact Us   |   Search the Site   |   Site Map A-Z   |   Disclaimer

HOME

 

COUNCIL SERVICES A-Z

Animal Control

Building Services

Cemeteries

Civil Defence

Clutha Country brand

Community Development

Community Directory

Community Housing

District Development

District Plan Online

Food Safety

Funding Schemes

Libraries

Liquor Licensing

Noise Control

Parks and Reserves

Rates

Resource Consents

Roads

Rubbish & Recycling

Rural Fire

Swimming Pools

Water

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Monday 31 August 2009

National programme slashes Clutha roading budgets

 

Road users in the Clutha District face a massive $7.8 million reduction in planned spending on their roads in the next three years – an overall reduction of approximately 15%. 

 

This is the result of the National Land Transport Programme released last week by the New Zealand Land Transport Agency. 

 

Mayor Juno Hayes said the reduction in the required spending was a disastrous result for the Clutha District’s local roading network.

 

The government’s focus appeared to now be on state highways at the expense of local roads in rural areas such as Clutha. Unlike state highways, local roads are partly funded by rates.

 

“It is very disappointing that Clutha will get 15% less than anticipated, especially given an overall increase of 14% for local road funding across the country in the next three years.  Clutha acknowledges the 3.4% increase on previous budgets, but this will result in less work being able to be carried out than was planned,” Mayor Hayes said.

 

Council’s District Assets Committee Chairman Peter McPherson said the funding reduction was a huge blow for areas such as Clutha, which had the potential to lead New Zealand’s economic recovery through the export of primary produce and needed investment in roads for this purpose.

 

“About three-quarters of Clutha’s 2,916km roading network is made up of gravel roads which can deteriorate very quickly. The best highways in the world will be of no use if trucks cannot get to them,” Mr McPherson said.

 

“It appears that the powerhouse of the New Zealand economy - the southern rural sector – is being left in the cold as funding in other areas has been given a higher priority.”

 

The overall shortfall of $51 million of funding over the three year period across the Otago region has filtered down to the Clutha District’s local roading network with the following impact on planned work over the three years of the Land Transport Programme:

 

  • Roading Renewals (resealing/rehabilitating) reduced by $3 million (12%).

  • Maintenance & Operations reduced by $1.9million (13%).

  • Minor Improvement projects reduced by $1.0million (30%).

  • Bridge Renewals reduced by $0.5million (32%).

  • The Nuggets Seal Extension has been listed as a possible project, but all indications are that due to a change in the application of the “R” (Regional) fund, it has little chance of being funded in the near future.

  • Walking/Cycling (new footpaths) request has been reduced by $1.2million (66%).

  • Community Focused Activities (Road Safety Coordination) has been reduced from $63K to $56K for 2009/10 with no further commitment beyond due to this activity being reviewed by the minister.

  • The Special Purpose Roads budgets have been approved as requested.

 

Council will be assessing detailed budget allocations from the New Zealand Transport Agency and the impact this reduction will have on future roading levels of service to be provided.

 

Quick Navigation


YOUR COUNCIL

Mayor & Councillors

Council Staff

Community Boards

Meeting Dates

Meeting Agendas

Job Vacancies

Elections Information

Rates

Youth Council


COUNCIL SERVICES

Community Leadership

Roading Services

Water Services

Rubbish and Recycling

Community Services/Facilities

Planning & Environment

Emergency Services

Online Services

Tuapeka Ferry


NEWS & NOTICES

Media Releases

Council Newsletter

Public Notices

Consultations

Current Projects

Road/bridge closures

Events Diary


FORMS/PUBLICATIONS

District Plan

Long Term Plan

Annual Plan

Annual Report

Application Forms

Bylaws

Key Policies

Information Brochures

Other key documents


YOUR COMMUNITY

About Clutha

Community Directory

Community Development

Clutha Photo Galleries

TrustPower Awards

Lawrence 2011

Events Diary

Home

Search the Site

Contact Us

Site Map A-Z

Disclaimer

www.newzealand.govt.nzClutha District Council, PO Box 25, Balclutha 9240

Some of this website may be subject to copyright © Clutha District Council 2010