Transport Minister Simeon Brown is celebrating Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s confirmation of increased ring-fenced funding for pothole prevention.
Speaking at his Pakuranga electorate office, Brown hailed the news that NZTA’s board had signed off on a 91 percent increase in indicative allocation for pothole prevention on state highways, and a total 50 percent increase for local roads.
It amounts to more than $1.6b in additional funding for pothole prevention, bringing the total to more than $3.9b.
The funding comes from the National Land Transport Fund, which is paid for largely through petrol excise taxes and road user charges. It forms a pool of funding to be allocated for transport maintenance and upgrades across the country, and would be used for other transport projects if it were not allocated towards potholes.
“We have ringfenced this record investment in the Pothole Prevention Fund to resealing, rehabilitation, and drainage maintenance works to ensure that NZTA and councils get our State Highways and local roads up to the safe and reliable standards that Kiwis expect,” Brown said.
“Kiwis want potholes fixed and our roads properly maintained, and this funding boost will deliver real results across the country. Boosting investment in pothole prevention will deliver a safe and efficient network for New Zealanders that increases productivity and supports economic growth.”
RNZ
This is much needed, after the last Government diverted roading funds to pet projects like cycleways. The potholes were starting to resemble the legendary potholes in the streets of Suva.
But part of me wonders if we aren’t just going to get a whole heap more road cones, and maybe they could fix the potholes faster if they just shoved all the road cones into them.
And I also wonder at the merit of calling something the “Pothole Prevention Fund”. It’s rather third-worldy, isn’t it?
Maybe we will fill up the potholes and then have a massive blackhole in the country’s budget as the roading companies see this as a golden goose laying lots and lots of golden eggs for them?
Still, I suppose you have to start somewhere. Might as well be here.
Cam Slater is a New Zealand-based blogger, best known for his role in Dirty Politics and publishing the Whale Oil Beef Hooked blog, which operated from 2005 until it closed in 2019. Cam blogs regularly on the BFD - where this article was sourced.
2 comments:
Cam, you need to pose your comment to the People of both Waipukurau & Waipawa and any person who traveled SH2 in that area, when "pot holes reigned supreme" and there was little or slow effort to repair.
There was at the time I recall a story in the paper Hawkes Bay Today about the incidents of damage to private cars & a Police car caused by potholes.
And it was only after this story appeared, so did the road crews.
My concern with "Dear"" Simeon Brown, is that he has the opportunity to redevelop The Brynderwins - NOW - not 'patch it up for redevelopment in 10 years (his statement)'.
Sadly can I put it "out there" I see this MP/ Minister as being "whimp, flaccid, not showing any mettle" just like the Minister's for Police & Education.
How about making the Kenepuru Rd in Marlborough operstIonal again. It just keeps going so far down the list there have even been suggestions to do nothing ie let it fall into the sea. It was severely storm damaged several years ago and has had temporary works for residents access only. No business or commercial use.
Too bad it is in the South Island I guess.
And too bad for the people whose lives and businesses don't matter. They can't even have visitors unless they come by sea.
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