Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced a number of new regional routes that have been prioritised as essential.
So now we have RoRS (Roads of Regional Significance) as well as RoNS (Roads of National Significance) – but what does it all mean, and will our road’s get built any faster?
Those paying attention will see the minister is sending some strong signals. Budget overruns won’t be tolerated – there is no more budget. Allocated budgets must be spent on building the road, not fanciful side projects.
This is a return to well-disciplined, structured investment in roading. There are prioritised projects, plans to deliver and very clear expectations on cost management.
That’s a tick in every box.
And as for faster roading?
If they are RoNS or RoRS, then yes, thanks to the proposed fast-track approvals process. There is a lot of arm waving at the moment about the Fast Track Approval Bill, as though consents are being done away with.
In reality, for a select few regionally and nationally significant infrastructure projects, it means that potentially endless consent requirements will be replaced with an expert panel. This panel will be required to seek and consider comments from other ministers, local government, Māori groups, landowners, and other groups listed in the bill, and then provide a recommendation to joint ministers. Approval will be time bound, and we will get critical infrastructure faster.
While announcements don’t pave roads, at least now we have a priority list of roading projects, assigned budgets and a bill underway which when passed, will see them delivered sooner rather than later.
That’s progress.
*Justin Tighe-Umbers is chief executive of National Road Carriers Association.
