$800m transport investment for Bay of Plenty
MEDIA RELEASE
WEDNESDAY 29 AUGUST 2012
$800m transport investment for Bay of Plenty recognises its contribution to national Economy
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has
today announced the details of an approximate $800 million
programme of investment in Bay of Plenty’s land transport
system over the next three years. The 2012-15
National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) aims to improve the efficiency and safety of Bay of Plenty’s roading network, maximise freight movements and reduce deaths and serious injuries on the roads.
The NLTP is a partnership between
local authorities (who invest funding from ratepayers and
propose activities and projects for funding) and the NZTA
(which develops the programme and invests funds from
road
users through the NLTF – the National Land Transport
Fund).
NZTA Regional Director, Harry Wilson, says the investment in the Bay of Plenty region will also ensure the region’s number one priority, the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL), stays on track for completion in 2016.
“Approximately $300 million will go to the ongoing construction of the Tauranga Eastern Link, the Bay of Plenty region’s Road of National Significance (RoNS),” says Mr Wilson.
He says the completion of the Tauranga Eastern Link will provide long-term benefits, reducing the length of the journey for freight and other road users in the region.
“The construction of the Tauranga Eastern Link also provides more immediate benefits - such as real jobs for real people.” Mr Wilson adds that the transport investment in the Bay of Plenty region is also part of an overall $6 billion investment in the Upper North Island (Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty combined) over the next three years. Mr Wilson says other regional highlights from this round of the NLTP include:
• $265 million will be
invested in maintenance, operations and renewals on the
whole network, with $136
million of this on local roads
– an increase of 5% on investment in the 2009–12
period.
• Progression of improvement projects including
the Maunganui–Girven Intersection, Hairini Link – Stage
4
and the Rotorua Eastern Arterial.
• Delivery of the
Safer Journeys action plan as part of the development of the
State Highway 2 North and
State Highway 29 (on the
eastern side of the Kaimais) safe system programmes.
•
The NLTF will contribute approximately $15.5 million to the
operation of the Bay of Plenty passenger
transport
network.
• Work to ensure a more secure and resilient
transport network will include a particular focus on:
•
the eastern Bay of Plenty sub-region
• meeting the demands of heavy vehicles using the Port of Tauranga.
The
investment in the Bay of Plenty region is part of a $12.28
billion investment in New Zealand’s land transport system
set out in the 2012/15 National Land Transport Programme
(NLTP), including $9.38 billion
from the National Land
Transport Fund (NLTF).
Mr Wilson says the 2012/15 NLTP
follows the direction outlined in the Government Policy
Statement on land transport funding (GPS), with a focus on
creating transport solutions that will support economic
growth,
improve safety, provide people with a range of
transport choices and deliver the best possible value for
money.
While the 2012/15 NLTP represents a significant investment in New Zealand’s transport system, with the country facing tight economic conditions not all proposed activities could be funded, he says.
“However, this round of the NLTP demonstrates a substantial increase in investment for the Bay of Plenty region overall –reflecting the region as a key contributor to New Zealand’s economy.”
“That doesn’t mean we’ve
lost sight of the pressures that funding our roads puts on
individual households, we know these are tough times.
However, building our economy is important even during a
recession.
Ensuring our roading network is safe,
accessible and secure for all road users including freight,
is essential in achieving this for all New
Zealanders."
“We’ve also been working closely with our
council partners to ensure that funding is carefully
targeted to the areas and the activities where it is needed
the most and where it will deliver the best outcomes for
the
greatest number of people in the region.”
The
preparation of the 2012/15 NLTP has been informed by the Bay
of Plenty Regional Transport Committee. “We’d like to
thank them for their hard work and effort that has led to
this significant investment in the
region’s transport
system,” says Mr Wilson.
“We will continue to work closely with councils as the NLTP is implemented over the next three years.”
National and regional NLTP documents, Q&As and other information is available on the NZTA website at www.nzta.govt.nz.
ENDS