New roading programme great news for Taranaki
The region can celebrate inclusion of the Normanby overpass and improvements to SH3 north in a major new roading
programme announced today, says the Taranaki Regional Council.
“This is the best roading news to come out of Wellington for quite a number of years,” says the Council Chairman, David
MacLeod. “The Council and the Regional Transport Committee have long advocated the need for action on both projects.”
The overpass project and improvements to SH3 at Mt Messenger and Awakino Gorge are part of a $212 million ‘Accelerated
Regional Roading Package’ to be funded by the proceeds of asset sales.
The projects are in addition to the proposed regional highway funding programme that was included in a draft Government
Policy Statement (GPS) announced earlier this month
Mr MacLeod says the Council and the Regional Transport Committee sent a clear message to the Government in 2012 that
Normanby ranked equally with the Vickers to City project as a top priority for Taranaki.
“They’re both needed and both stack up well on cost-benefit ratios. We suggested there was a case for making national
funds available, because regional funding has not been able to cover both.
“We’re pleased that this message has been taken on board, so top marks to Wellington for today’s announcement. We also
acknowledge the efforts of local MPs in advocating the region’s important highway projects .”
The Normanby project and improvements to SH3 north were also highlighted by the Taranaki Mayoral Forum this month as one
of this region’s key matters for any incoming Government to address after the General Elections in September.
The Chair of the Regional Transport Committee, Taranaki Regional Councillor Roger Maxwell, says discussion over the
Normanby and Vickers to City project had been wrongly portrayed by some as a ‘north versus south’ debate.
“It has never been anything of the sort,” says Cr Maxwell. “Taranaki’s representatives have been standing together on
this. And the Government now sees merit in our argument.”
He says inclusion of improvements at Mt Messenger and Awakino Gorge is also pleasing, as it shows the Government has
accepted the Committee’s strong case that SH3 north is a strategically important route for a region that is one of New
Zealand’s economic powerhouses.
ends