Proposals for North to South Cycleway Welcome

Media Release – for immediate release

11 March 2009

New Zealand Contractors’ Federation hails proposals for North to South Cycleway

The New Zealand Contractors’ Federation has hailed proposals for a North to South Cycleway as a potentially vital boost for small and medium sized contractors.

The $50 million Government scheme, proposed at the Job Summit, would run from Kaitaia to Bluff, create up to 4,000 jobs and take two years to build.
Federation Chief Executive Jeremy Sole said the nature of the project, spread across the country, would provide a lifeline for many SMEs.

“There are companies with a large pool of under utilised workers that would greatly welcome this work and are ready, able and have the resources and equipment to deliver the task,” said Mr Sole.

“Larger companies have the motorways, highways, bridges and maintenance contracts to keep them going but the core work for many of our members, such as subdivisions, privately funded developments and council work, has currently dried up.

“A project like this would be tailor-made for small to medium sized contractors. In round numbers, if the project was divided into 50km sections; that would equate to 40 contractors needing to complete 500m a week for two years.

“The green nature of the project also makes it a good test of fast tracking of Resource Management Act issues.”

Mr Sole said it was vital to ensure smaller companies were able to retain staff and a steady cash flow to ensure a healthy industry for when the economy picks up again.

The Federation is currently talking to a number of specialist interest groups with a view to putting a proposal before Government in the near future.

ENDS

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