The Far North District Council (FNDC) has announced it is joining a Northland Transportation Alliance, which is expected to save $18 million in the region’s roading costs over the next ten years.
FNDC Mayor John Carter revealed the plan after confirming FNDC capital works expenditure of $51.5 million for the new financial year.
The Northland Transportation Alliance (NTA), an initiative of the four Northland councils and the NZ Transport Agency, will be the first of its kind in New Zealand. The NTA will go ‘live’ from 1 July this year.
The development of the NTA is an idea that has developed over several years. All four councils and the NZ Transport Agency believe its establishment is the best way to make more headway with transportation and road services.
More than 50 staff from FNDC, Kaipara District Council, Whangarei District Council, the Northland Regional Council, and the NZ Transport Agency will be working together within the Transportation Alliance.
Some staff will co-locate to Whangarei.
Carter also says the NDC 2016/17 capital works programme is $8.3 million less than the planned programme of $59.8 million.
A runway upgrade at Kaitaia Airport and improvements to waterfront facilities at Mangonui and Russell are among capital works proposed by the Far North District Council in 2016/17.
“We plan to begin construction of a new Kerikeri sewerage plant in October, and we are establishing a Northland Transportation Alliance, which is expected to save $18 million in regional roading costs over the next ten years,” says Carter.
“However, we are still rebuilding organisational capacity and investigating affordable ways of improving rural water supplies, so there is some way to go before we have addressed gaps in critical infrastructure,” he says.
