Concerns raised about dusty rural roads in the Whangarei and Far North District Councils’ areas have forced the two organisations to update concerned residents.
The Whangarei District Council (WDC) is working with forestry companies, councils and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to address the issue.
“We welcome the offer by forestry companies operating in the Pipiwai area to collaborate to provide dust suppression to affected roads including supply of water trucks, working with the Whangarei District Council, the Far North District Council (FNDC), and the residents,” WDC chief executive Rob Forlong says.
Forlong says his council is also taking advantage of new funding criteria recently released by government, and will be considering spending more ratepayer funds on dust suppression.
Last summer Whangarei District Council diverted funding to seal parts of Wright Rd and has been working with the NZTA to put in a successful application for funding for more dust suppression work.
“Prior to September dust was not a criteria considered by the NZTA when it assessed applications for funding,” he says.
“The agency undertook a study and changed its criteria in September, and we are the first council to apply for funding for this kind of work. A lot is riding on us getting the application right so we have been working together on it.”
The WDC hopes to hear by mid-February whether the application for funding to seal more of Wrights Road has been successful.
It is also working with the Northland Regional Council to monitor dust levels.
The issue was raised by Northland MP and New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters earlier this month.
