It’s Political

many challenges – many of them influenced by Government policy.

Apart from the many problems currently created by the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s the ongoing driver shortage, the worsening state of the nation’s roading network and looming emissions reduction legislation…

So, who among our political parties offers any salvation for the industry in these situations?

To have some insight into what politicians are thinking about issues impacting the road transport industry, NZ Truck & Driver has offered each of the major political parties the opportunity to voice their views on trucking matters each month.

This month it’s only the ACT Party who have taken up the opportunity to offer their views. T&D

By Simon Court, ACT Party spokesperson on transport

farms. A major storm in early February closed SH67 Westport to Mokihinui and the local road beyond to Karamea.

Milk tankers were unable to reach the dairy farms, so farmers were forced to dump milk at a time when dairy prices are at near record highs. They must feel gutted at the waste, as well as the lost income.

After six days light vehicles were able to travel the road in a convoy escorted by local contractors. Heavy vehicles had to wait longer until the road was prepared for them. Contractors removed 30 large slips and widened critical areas to allow vehicles to safely pass through the most severely affected sections of the highway.

Some farms were flooded for the second time in a year by the latest storm. Community water supplies were damaged again. But it’s not just the weather that is against these farmers and local people, it’s the state of the road as well.

In January, before the latest storm, I travelled to Karamea on ACT’s bus to meet with local people and hear their concerns.

Every person I spoke to said that road access is their main concern. Because without access, it is not just tourists and milk tankers which are stuck. The road is also a lifeline for ambulances, for midwives, and for the social services which help elderly people to remain in their own homes.

Essentially, without the road, their town and their district cannot exist.

The 2017 West Coast Lifelines Vulnerability and Interdependency Assessment stated that the West Coast road network is perhaps the key lifeline utility in the region. Critical road links includes the Buller Districts Karamea Highway.

Even though the road is prone to slips, slumps and flooding, the report goes on to state that it is not practical to invest in Major Improvement Works along the bluff’s section of the Karamea Highway due to difficulties accurately planning and forecasting the nature and location of failures.

Karamea people told me that something urgent and durable needs to be done to secure this vital lifeline route. They told me is not fair that other New Zealanders are promised bike bridges and light rail, but all they need is a road for an ambulance, a midwife, and a support person for the elderly.

Healthy communities and a healthy economy depend on sound transport connections. It is time to give up on the experiment of leaving Wellington politicians in charge and allow local communities to set their infrastructure priorities. That is the only way we will level up the infrastructure deficit around the country.

ACT proposes a system of 30-year infrastructure partnerships between regional and central government. Local councils would partner with their neighbours to form coherent regional alliances.

These alliances would then enter into long-term contractual arrangements with central government to provide them with funding for their infrastructure priorities.

On the West Coast, and in similar regions around New Zealand, I am confident people would put securing lifeline routes and improving the state highway network at the top of the priority list. Because they know that is what they need for a healthy community and healthy economy. T&D Simon Court