Pipiriki Road $1.3m over-run 'a burden and embarrassment'

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 683, 22 April 1997, Page 3

Pipiriki Road $1.3m over-run 'a burden and embarrassment'

The Pipiriki Road rehabilitationand seal extension projects "have not only become a burden but aiso an embarrassment" for the Ruapehu District Council. That statement is part of a submission, sent to Transfund in preparation for a meeting with Ruapehu District Council representati ves, prepared by the council' s roads asset manager. "Continued funding of the project is of great importance for the council and the council would seek the (Transfund) board's support," states the submission. The original estimates for the work were $1,683,650 for rehabilitation and $1,290,000 for seal extension, but these have now increased to $2,400,000 and $1,900,000 respectively which will have "an extreme negative effect on the Benefit Cost Ratio" (on which Transfund supportis based). "None of the reasdns for the cost increase can be attributed to any action or request from the council but we remain responsible for the final cost of the project," adds the asset manager. "To further complicate the seal extension project a legal dispute with Pratt Contractors developed and is still not solved at this stage. This arbitration will have a definite financial implication for the council and thereforeforTransfund as a financial partner. This is over and above the increase in cost for construction reasons mentioned above." He said the council has spent in excess of $300,000 in the arbitration process which it is unlikely to recover. Low traffic Relative low traffic volumes on many Ruapehu District roads means it is very difficult or almost impossible to get some essen-

tial projects approved for funding from the national body, Transfund, that allocates road works money, according tQ the roads asset manager. Added to the low traffic volumes, high costs of works also tips the balance against Ruapehu. "Ruapehu District not only has long distances to

some of the internal roads on its network, but is also removed from major suppliers of road building material. The transport cost for a 24-tonne load of concrete pipes from Hamilton is $500. Hot mix must come from Wanganui or New Plymouth at a transport cost of approximately $80 per cubic metre. The average cost

for transporting metal is $0.38/m3/km and it is not uncommon to pay up to 50 per cent of the cost for metal on the road just for the transport of the metal." Hard competition This contributes to the cost of works and places the Ruapehu District at a disadvantage in competing for capital funds. The level

of funding for routine maintenance of the roads and bridges is also becoming critical because capital expenditure can not be approved and more and more funds will have to be spent on maintenance to try and retain the assets. "To serve the farming community it is often found that roads over a long dis-

tances only serve one or two properties. The same ap-. plies to certain crossing bridges giving access to single properties. These roads have to be maintained as far as the last property and reduction in maintenance to the last property is likely to

have a compounding effect as farms become less viable. The maintenance of these roads, usually in the back country, is most likely to be affected by slips and dropouts and that again drains maintenance funds.