A legally-required three-yearly review has begun of what is effectively the master plan for land transport right across Northland.
The regional land transport plan (RLTP) 2015-2021 details local roading projects proposed by Northland’s three district councils, state highway projects put forward by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and strategic projects and public transport matters dealt with by the Northland Regional Council (NRC).
Regional councillor John Bain says both the RLTP itself – and the review of it every three years are a legal requirement.
Bain chairs the Northland regional transport committee (RTC), and says the latest review will focus on determining if the region’s land transport problems, objectives and outcomes have changed significantly during the past three years.
“It will also ascertain if any new large roading projects may need including the plan,” he says.
Bain says while the primary responsibility to compile and review the RLTP lies with the regional council, the process is, in fact, a very collaborative one.
“Over the coming months, the review process will involve a tremendous deal of support and input from our partner organisations; the three district councils, NZTA as the state highway and national road funding body and the New Zealand Police,” says Bain.
He says the RTC acknowledges every effort must be made to secure the necessary funding assistance and ensure the spending of it, where it will deliver the most benefit.
Bain says several tough land transport-related issues still need resolving, following the first three years of the RLTP.
“We’re still faced with securing regional route resilience and security, addressing dust from unsealed roads, striving to reduce the region’s poor road safety record and a continuing increase in the number of heavy vehicles on our streets,” says Bain
He says the harsh reality is that there will never be enough funding – locally or nationally – to undertake all the desired construction, upgrading and maintenance work across the region’s transport infrastructure.
Further complicating this is another serious issue; weather-related damage.
Bain says Northland was struck by some damaging severe weather events in the past and unfortunately these will continue in the future.
“History has shown that the damage inflicted on land transport infrastructure is significant and has the potential to cause extensive and extended personal and economic hardship,” he says.
However, Bain says, despite these challenges, Northland has also enjoyed some significant transport gains over the past two years including The NZTA is taking over Northland’s ‘Inland Freight Route’ and turning it into State Highway 15.
That initiative freed much-needed funding for local road initiatives, and there is increased funding for road maintenance.
Bain says other positive gains included the completion of the SH1 safety works on the north side of the Brynderwyns, increased traction on the Northland to Auckland State Highway and the Twin Coast Discovery Route; and commencement of the Mid-North Trial Bus Service.
He says this all helps Northland provide a better driving experience for locals and visitors alike as well as allow for easier movement of freight.
Bain says given there’s the potential for including some new large-scale project in the RLTP review, and there will be a draft of the resulting revised RLTP releasing for region-wide public comment.
“I expect this consultation process will begin later this year, early next year with the finalised RLTP scheduling for release on July 1, 2018,” he says.
