More money for metal

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 624, 20 February 1996, Page 5

More money for metal

£ £ The Ruapehu Dis trictCouncilshould moveswiftlytorectify difficulties in the District Ruapehu roading network," says mayor Weston Kirton. It has been identified that over 1 0 per cent of unsealed roads need urgent work to be brought to a satisfactory standard. The Funding Review Committee has recommended to Council that $430,000 worth of additional funding be included in the Annual Plan to improve poor standard roads in many parts of the District. The lack of metal, water tabling and general maintenance will be a priority. It is envisaged that $230,000 will be redirected from seal improvement

funding already programmed and an additional $200,000 could be subsidised by Transit New Zealand. "Rural ratepayers have seen a decline in maintenance and a lack of metal - this needs urgent attention

without rate increases. Obviously due to the change of traffic patterns on country roads there needs to be ongoing reviewing of resource allocations", said Mr Kirton. Ratepayers will benefit more from money allocated

to roading improvements which qualify for subsidy rather than spending limited funds for sealing projects. Once the overall standard of roading increases then sealing should become a priority, said the mayor.