25 February 2009

VTNZ closures put a brake on motorists, the army and farmers

“The proposed halving of Vehicle Testing New Zealand’s (VTNZ) Certificate of Fitness (CoF) offsite testing stations throughout New Zealand, will increase traffic congestion and negatively impact the rural economy,” says Donald Aubrey, Federated Farmers transport spokesperson.

“With VTNZ proposing to close 54 of its 127 CoF offsite testing stations, farmers and rural industries will be forced to drive some distance to get a CoF. That’s more time on their trucks and tractors and far less time on the farm.

"With both Linton and Waiouru slated for closure, there will be 'armies' of people on our roads as even military vehicles will be forced into town to get a CoF.

“I also fear for volunteer organisations like the rural fire service. They will have to travel long distances to get a CoF and this reduces their availability for emergency callouts. That’s a big concern.

“We also see this proposal annoying ordinary motorists too. By law, heavy agricultural vehicles cannot exceed 30km/h, so imagine what that will do for road safety.

“This proposal will also have a major impact upon larger trucking firms and dairy companies, as they currently undertake offsite testing under license from VTNZ.

“If these in-house facilities are forced to close, a lot of trucks and trailer units will, like the army, be forced into the larger towns.

“Whatever way you look at it, it’s not good for the economy, other road users or the environment.

“This decision is dumb but presented by VTNZ as safety related. We don’t buy that for one moment and challenge VTNZ to show us how this will make rural roads safer.

“This proposal is all about saving VTNZ money at a greater cost to the wider economy.

“Federated Farmers is submitting against the proposal and will raise this with the Ministers of Agriculture and Transport. VTNZ and its parent, the Motor Trade Association, must be reminded about what its core function is,” Mr Aubrey concluded.

For further information contact:

Federated Farmers transport spokesperson, Donald Aubrey, 03 696 3747, 027 623 7157

BACKGROUND

As a practical example, Fonterra’s Clandboye dairy factory near Temuka in South Canterbury, illustrates how inappropriate the announced offsite testing site closures are.

Fonterra has invested $120,000 into this state-of-the-art testing facility, which is fully compliant with all new requirements except one; it is not open to the public. Being an industrial site with significant heavy truck and trailer movements every hour, a public facility is incompatible. This will force truck and trailers into urban centres for certification that will create traffic chaos.

Heavy agricultural vehicles can be limited to maximum speeds of 30 km/h – the effect on highway speeds and the mood of other motorists is predictable.

Other notable closures include Outward Bound (Anikiwa), the NZ Army (Linton & Waiouru), Selwyn District Council (Leeston), Thames District Council (Coromandel), the NZ Fire Service at (Lake Tekapo, Omarama & Duntroon) and Westland Dairy Cooperative (Hokitika)

Vehicle Testing New Zealand was a State Owned Enterprise up until 1999, when it was purchased by the Motor Trade Association.

LIST OF SITES TO BE CLOSED

Region Location Town/Suburb
AUCKLAND VTNZ – Weddings Earthmovers Airport
UPPER NORTH ISLAND Knight & Dickey Limited Waiuku
VTNZ – Paeroa Paeroa
VTNZ – Kerepehi Transport Kerepehi
VTNZ – Soppetts Maramarua
VTNZ – Dahm’s Tokoroa
VTNZ – Threeway Motors Piopio
VTNZ – Robert Monk Transport Opotiki
VTNZ – Pickering Motors Opunake
Stratford Testing Station Stratford
VTNZ – Thames District Council Coromandel
VTNZ – Brosnan Motors Raglan
Te Akau Garage Te Akau
Mahon Amusements Ngaruawhahia
VTNZ – Richards Heavy Haulage Tokoroa
Transport Services Te Puke
VTNZ – Tasman Pulp & Paper Kawerau
CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND VTNZ – Rangitikei Truck & Diesel Marton
VTNZ – NZ Army Waiouru
VTNZ – NZ Army Linton
VTNZ – Barrett & Taura Transport Raetihi
VTNZ – D & R Mortimer Kimbolton
Bruns Charter Service Wapukurau
Bushetts Transport (1994) Ltd Wapukurau
CHB Works Wapukurau
WELLINGTON VTNZ – D’Urville D’Urville Island
RM Borlase St Arnauld/Lake Rotoiti
VTNZ – Outward Bound School Anikiwa
CHRISTCHURCH Westland Dairy Co-Op Hokitika
VTNZ – Amberley Truck & Automotive Amberley
Selwyn District Council Leeston
Woodley’s Transport Geraldine
VTNZ – Fonterra Clandeboye
VTNZ – Bruce Bartlett Springs Junction
VTNZ – M Condon Mahtahi
VTNZ – City Care Sydenham
VTNZ – Fulton Hogan Duvauchelle
Rakaia Automotive Ltd Rakaia
Atkinson & Dossett Ltd Pleasant Point
VTNZ – Springside Ltd Tokorahi
Lake Tekapo Fire Station Lake Tekapo
DUNEDIN Cromwell Transport Cromwell
NZ Fire Station Duntroon Duntroon
McLarens Transport Ranfurly
Middlemarch Transport Middlemarch
VTNZ – NZ Fire Service Omarama
Andrews Transport 1993 Ltd Riverside
Scobie Transport Ltd Wyndham
Transport Services Ltd Nightcaps
VTNZ – Northern Southern Transport Lumsden
VTNZ – Southern Transport Winton
VTNZ – Waikaka Transport Waikaka
VTNZ – D T King & Co Ltd

ENDS

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