Ruapehu concerned at possible TNZ funds cut

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 508, 19 October 1993, Page 5

Ruapehu concerned at possible TNZ funds cut

Ruapehu District councillors agreed at their last meeting to approach Transit New ZeaJand (TNZ) about road funding. At their September meeting Council agreed to form a working party consisting of Crs Shaw, Baker and Hawkins to formulate a draft policy submission regarding road funding within the Ruapehu District (see Ruapehu Bulletin 28/9/93). There recommendations were: • While the Council sup-

ports the current system whereby TNZ funds 50 per cent of local authorities' road maintenance, the Ruapehu District Council would not like to see any change in the current subsidy of 58 per cent from TNZin respect of the Ruapehu district. • If the subsidy was to drop from 58 per cent to 50 per cent there would need to be an increase in ratepayer funding of about $730,000 which, in turn, would mean an average rate

increase of 1 5 per cent with some ratepayers paying as much as 25 per cent more. • The Ruapehu District Council is considered to have some special factors to justify the 58 per cent subsidy. These include: high volumes of non-local traffic in winter months ; and high volumes of heavy traffic (logging, market garden-

ing etc) which is likely to increase in the future; a very high proportion of state highways (SH1, SH4, SH49) passing through the district used by non-local traffic; and the climate and the terrain, both of which have a major bearing on costs. In addition to these factors there is also the 'ability

to pay' factor because of the District' s relatively low average income. # The Council would prefer to have the assessment of maintenance needs based on the application of a (different) formula. It feels the relativelyinfrequent surveys by TNZ on a small sample of roads is not enough to determine

the funding requirements throughout the roading network. Mayor Garrick Workman said the issue of road funding had been raised with himself and other councillors during a series of Ward tours. He recalled that in "the good old days" Raetihi received a subsidy of 75 per cent from the

Roads Board. "Concern is apparent out there," he said, "so should we not meet with TNZ to discuss this issue and should we not be increasing our contribution to help TNZ recognise our efforts?" Cr Graeme Cosford said that he could imagine the screams from Auckland and other urban authorities asking why we are getting a 58 per cent subidy. Unless we can show we are putting in an extra effort we will probably lose what we are presently getting". Mayor Workman said it was unfortunate that when the chairman of TNZ visited the area recently, very few councillors turned out to express their concerns, with the result that the chairman went away assuming that Ruapehu roading was not of much concern to the district. However the Transit New Zealand chairman said he would be prepared to consider a submission from the Council. At last Friday's meeting councillors agreed that they would seek to send a deputation to Tranist New Zealand to discuss joint funding of the Ruapehu District foadirig network.