Canterbury receives ‘paltry amount’ of national road funding – Waimakariri mayor
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Canterbury receives a "paltry amount" of national road funding, Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon says.
In a submission on the Government's national roading priorities, Gordon said the Woodend Bypass and Ashburton State Highway 1 bridge were the only significant Canterbury projects in the mix.
"The Ashburton bridge and the Woodend Bypass are important for the entirety of Canterbury and for the country," Gordon said.
"We need to advocate strongly for Canterbury. What we receive in Canterbury is a paltry amount compared to the overall funding for roading."
He said maintenance funding and subsidies needed to be at a level that allowed councils to keep roading networks up to speed.
"When we get behind it is very hard to catch up, so it is something we prioritise here."
In the submission on the draft Government Policy Statement on land transport, the Waimakariri District Council supported its "general direction", but said it would like more Canterbury projects in the mix.
The policy statement, released by Transport Minister David Parker in August, sets the Government’s priorities for future land transport investment.
The inclusion of the proposed Woodend Bypass in the plan saw it move into the top three projects in the draft Canterbury Regional Land Transport Plan 2024-34. This guides land transport planning within the region.
The other significant Canterbury project brought forward was the Ashburton State Highway 1 bridge.
In the submission, Gordon welcomed plans to widen the Ashley River Bridge as part of the Woodend Bypass project.
"We hope this will allow for cycling and walking."
However, he called for an underpass to be constructed near the Pegasus/Ravenswood roundabout to improve cycle and walking access across SH1.
Gordon also wanted the immediate purchase of land required for the Woodend Bypass to give property owners some certainty.
He also called for other Waimakariri projects to be given great priority, including the proposed Skew bridge upgrade (west Kaiapoi), Lineside Rd safety improvements, the Rangiora western link, the proposed Rangiora eastern link road and transportation infrastructure to support the development of Māori Reserve 873.
He also advocated the call from Greater Christchurch Partnership’s (a coalition of local government, mana whenua and government agencies) for more funding for public transport and infrastructure enhancements.
Other Canterbury projects in the GPS included funding for public transport, Rolleston upgrades, Brougham St safety improvements, increased public transport capacity on Halswell Rd, rural intersection safety improvements, and SH1 resilience in Timaru.
For now the Rangiora western link, eastern link road and Skew bridge projects sit at numbers 20, 24 and 25 in the draft Canterbury Regional Land Transport Plan 2024/34.
The Greater Christchurch Partnership’s public transport initiatives is in the top four, along with the Conway River bridge replacement in the Hurunui district.
"The benefit of the regional approach is that councils work together effectively to advocate for regionally significant and nationally significant projects," Gordon said.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16% Hmm, maybe?
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11% Yes!
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90.1% Yes
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9.9% No
Secure your homes over summer
Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.
Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”
Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”
If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.
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