Desert Road work planned

Ruapehu Bulletin, 11 August 1992, Page 5

Desert Road work planned

An environmental impact assesment on a proposed project to upgrade parts of the Desert Road was presented to the local conservation board recently. Transit New Zealand submitted the Assessment to the the Tongariro-Taupo Conservation Board's July meeting which detailed the work Transit wanted to carry out and what effect that work would have on the environment. The Desert Road runs through the Tongariro National Park at this part. Transit are targeting seven areas on the Desert Road that have a reputation as problem areas for motorists. Transit' s Regional Highways Engineer for Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Graham Taylor, said the worst of these were the gullies known as the Three Sisters, and the Waikato Stream valley. But even if the Board approves the project from an environmental perspective, Transit NZ still must submit the proposal to the govemment for funding approval. "Our requests for funding will be considered along with every other in the country," Mr Taylor said. The Waikato Stream Valley is of major concem as it has claimed five lives and been the site of eight injury accidents in the past five years. Particular areas of environmental concem were the effect on water quality and trout spawning in streams. Mr Taylor said Transit NZ had had a good response from DoC and they had discussed getting the work under way this year. r— — — — — —