Councils are in the dark over roading projects
Councils around the country have been left on a road to nowhere while the Government delays providing important details
on national land transport funding for the next three years, National’s Local Government spokesperson Jacqui Dean says.
“Local authorities are currently in the process of finalising their ten-year plans, but with key roading expenditure
details in the Government’s National Land Transport Programme still a couple of months away, councils are working in the
dark.
“This is a major slip-up from central government and shows just how little regard they have for councils in the regions,
with their main focus being on Auckland and its roading issues.
“Central government should be working in partnership with local government to safeguard economic growth and development
in the regions, and yet we can see where the loyalties lie for the Ardern-Peters leadership.
“Roading expenditure is one of the core functions of local authorities. They need certainty from Government now in order
to set their rates and make vital decisions on future roading projects, they do not deserve to be left in the dark.
“It is unacceptable to take roading funding from the regions in favour of Auckland, while the Government leaves 78 local
authorities to make significant decisions without the information they vitally need.”