Waimakariri Unimpressed As Timaru Wades In On Bypass Toll

Friday, 26 September 2025, 6:47 am
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

A Canterbury council submission supporting the proposed Woodend Bypass toll has caught the Waimakariri District Council by surprise. 

The Timaru District Council has submitted in support of the proposed bypass toll, with mayor Nigel Bowen calling it ‘‘a fair, sustainable funding mechanism’’. The Waimakariri District Council has submitted against the proposal and its chief executive Jeff Millward said he was surprised to hear of Timaru’s submission through the media. 

‘‘I’ve had no contact with their chief executive as to their rationale. 

‘‘It does come with a bit of a surprise they have commented on the bypass as they wouldn’t be aware of our specific situation. 

‘‘If the situation was reversed, it would not be our protocol and I doubt very much we would comment on their district without first understanding their needs and circumstances.’’ 

In its submission, the Waimakariri District Council said imposing a toll would come at a significant cost to ratepayers. It said there was no suitable alternative route, with the council likely to be left with the extra costs of making the proposed alternative route through Williams and Smith streets in Kaiapoi viable. 

The council fears Woodend, Kaiapoi and Tuahiwi will be left to deal with the extra traffic from motorists ‘rat-running’ to avoid paying the toll. The Timaru District Council has been contacted for comment.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

© Scoop Media

Local Democracy Reporting

Content from the Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) service is published by Scoop as a registered New Zealand Media Outlet LDR Partner.