Road upgrade supported, but $16m cost concerns

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 527, 15 March 1994, Page 1

Road upgrade supported, but $16m cost concerns

Raetihi ratepayers expressed concerns about added financial burdens with the Ruapehu District Council's proposed upgrading programme of the ;District's roading network. Ratepayers who attended last Monday's puplic meeting also expressed concerns about the future of roads if no improvements are forthcoming. No formal motion was made at this, the first of

three meetings to be held in the three wards, to obtain public feed-back about the funding of these upgrades. Proposed upgrading includes seal extensions, road widening, corner straightening, and improvements to road alignment. 16 million in 16 years Total expenditure for work is estimated at $1 6.4

million over a 16-year period, with a loan term of 20 years. The Ruapehu District Council's efforts to get a bigger subsidy from Transit New Zealand have been unsuccessful, ratepayers were informed. At present the Council is on the second lowest subsidy in the North Island, for road maintenance. Ratepayers heard that Pipiriki Road would be

unable to sustain the use of'logging trucks in its present state. Forests in the region are earmarked for milling in the near future. The road is being monitored at present to estimate road usage with the general feeling from the meeting being that the need for improvements is vitally important.