18 August 2014 | NZ Transport Agency - Waikato & Bay of Plenty
Partnership cements future of Route K
A partnership between the NZ Transport Agency and Tauranga City Council (TCC) will see the Route K debt removed
from the city’s books when the road transfers to the Transport Agency.
The Transport Agency and TCC have reached an agreement where Route K and its tolling operations will be transferred to
the Agency in mid-2015, with all but $1million of the $63million debt associated with the express bypass removed from
TCC’s books.
The Transport Agency’s Waikato Bay of Plenty Regional Director, Harry Wilson, said the decision meant Tauranga
ratepayers would not be burdened with the Route K debt and the Agency would be able to commit to electronically tolling
both Route K and the Tauranga Eastern Link together.
“Route K is a strategic link and bringing it into the state highway network
will ensure that it is used in a way that will provide the greatest benefit to the entire region.”
As part of the agreement, the Transport Agency will compensate council with a one-off payment that will remove all but
$1million of the Route K debt at the date of transfer.
Mr Wilson said the payment would be made from existing Transport Agency funds, and would be recovered from future
tolling revenue.
“This arrangement means the Transport Agency avoids taking on debt and there will no impact on any other Bay of Plenty
roading projects.”
The payment recognises the council’s loss of future tolling revenue due to the change of ownership. The remaining
$1million recognises the reduction in council’s financial costs due to the payment.
Mr Wilson said the two parties had formed a partnership to change the status of Route K to a state highway many years
ago.
“The initial plan was for the Route K debt to stay with TCC and be repaid through tolling after the Transport Agency
took over the road, however recent legal advice has made it clear that was not possible,” he said.
“So we went back to the drawing board and worked together to find a solution that would work for both Tauranga
ratepayers and road users,” he said.
“Timing was crucial; the decision had to be made before September so the Agency could commit to timelines for the
opening of the TEL in 2015.
“This agreement means the Transport Agency is now able to commit to electronically tolling Route K and the TEL together,
which provides a savings of $750,000 for road users.”
Mayor Stuart Crosby said the transfer of Route K assets to the NZ Transport Agency was a win-win situation for all
involved.
“The NZ Transport Agency gets to fill a gap in its strategic roading network and has the ability to collect tolls, while
Tauranga City Council is eased of the burden of ownership,” he said.
“This is a great day for the ratepayers of Tauranga, the motoring public and sub-regional economic development.”
Mayor Crosby said the decision to construct and open Route K in 2003 required foresight and courage but was the right
decision for the city.
“This was about the long term benefits for a growing city. Route K opened up an alternative route across the city and
particularly to the Port of Tauranga. Council's long-term plan was always for ownership of Route K to switch to the NZ
Transport Agency, it was just a matter of when and how.
Today’s decision, which is subject to statutory approvals, is the culmination of a series of conversations between the
Transport Agency and TCC.
Mayor Crosby said the Western Bay of Plenty’s collaborative approach to strategic roading had provided tangible benefits
to local communities and this would continue into the future.
ENDS
Editor’s note:
How will TCC get the funding?
TCC will apply to the Regional Transport Committee to include the arrangement in the Regional Land Transport Programme
(RLTP).
Funding will be provided by the National Land Transport Programme’s New and Improved Infrastructure for Local Roads
Activity Class. The Programme is the government investment in transport, with funds coming from fuel excise duty and
road user charges.
How is the Transport Agency funding the arrangement?
The Transport Agency will make the payment through its cash-flow management and does not require a debt facility. The
Transport Agency will retain the tolling revenue from the road to cover all its costs. The tolls will be paid back into
the National Land Transport Programmes’ Fund.
What is unique about Route K?
Route K is a part of the nationally important transport journey that includes State Highway 29 as an inter-regional link
between the Bay of Plenty and the rest of the upper North Island for the movement of people and freight.