Our Roads & Transport in Northland September 2019

ROADS

SEPTEMBER 2019

IN NORTHLAND 2019

TONY SAVAGE FOR MAYOR For better roads and rail Vote Tony Savage for Mayor of Whangarei Authorised by Tony Savage 68 Mill Road, Whangarei

NORTHLAND

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Coming soon

Matakohe Tutukaka Tikipunga Raumanga Town Basin Northpower Alexander St Ruakaka Marsden Cove Mangawhai Kaiwaka

IN NORTHLAND 2019

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NORTHLAND’S LONG BLACK CLOUD NIAMH MCCARTHY

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he government’s announcement last week allocating $79 million towards a passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland would most likely have left many Northlanders feeling bitterly frustrated and disappointed. While the so called “golden triangle” of trade between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga continues to flourish with support from government Northland’s transport system continues to lag behind. Our roads are not just a barrier to economic prosperity but they are also deadly - Northland has the worst crash statistics in the country. In the five years from 2014 to 2018, there were 143 fatalities and 739 serious injuries on Northland roads.

Regardless of what political side of the fence you sit on, we can all acknowledge that our regional transport system and absolute necessary upgrades certainly pose a challenge. We’ve got over 6000 km of road including 900 km of state highways and 3700km of unsealed road. Both our topography and geology are problematic for creating and maintaining roads that are

fit for purpose. Also our small population means that a mere 180,000 ratepayers are contributing towards the upkeep of this vast network. Even with NZTA subsidies our councils are stretched to the limit financially in order maintain the roads. It’s also worth bearing in mind there are far more traffic volumes on our roads and a lot more distracted drivers than 20 years ago thanks to cell phone use. When you consider the above facts it’s not surprising fatalities and accidents are on the increase in our region and the road safety improvement measures initiated through the NZTA Safe Network Programme definitely has to be commended.

While undoubtedly we face many roading challenges here in Northland it is the appalling state of SH1 that is the most controversial issue. Decades of under investment and lack of strategic planning has left our regions’ vital link south no longer fit for purpose and the consequences are far reaching.

Our economy is stagnant, countless opportunities to grow our region are lost and each week Northlanders lose a loved one, work mate or even an employer thanks to the carnage on this highway.

Overseas travel guides even deter visitors from driving in Northland due to the reputation of our deadly roads meaning vital tourists dollars are spent elsewhere in NZ and struggling local businesses go without. Our business community is hesitant to expand and grow due to concern over poor logistics and a limited marketplace. Frustration is growing at our lack of access to over one million potential customers at our southern border. We are essentially being held in isolation by the road and while opinions vary on how to fix this issue everyone agrees it needs to happen quickly if the next generation of Northlanders are to have any chance of a prosperous future.

So where are we now? It was a bitter blow late last year when Transport Minister Phil Twyford quashed the National Party supported four-lane highway between Whangarei and Te Hana. Instead a safety upgrade programme was rolled out and the government commissioned an Upper North Island Supply Chain Strategy Working Group to investigate the freight network between Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Tauranga. Northland absolutely needs an integrated transport system of roads, rail

and sea freight to boost trade and tourism, ease road congestion and fatalities but at the end of the day it comes down to dollars and priorities.

Infrastructure spending in this country has always had a history of short sightedness. The best-case scenario would be a four-lane highway to Auckland with a dedicated heavy vehicle lane and underground communications and power, essentially a future proof logistics corridor robustly serving the region for the next 20-30 years. Similarly upgrading and future proofing our rail system is estimated to cost over one billion dollars and some economists are sceptical about the benefit of such a spend, it would need subsidising and the relocation of Auckland’s port is another an uncertain factor within this debate. In the midst of this we have governments coming and going while Northland waits, prosperity is stalled and people die. Later this month the Upper North Island Supply Chain Strategy Working Group will release their recommendations and then the government will possibly make some decisions and allocate funding.

Let’s hope the lives and businesses of Northland are top of that agenda.

Authorised by Pete Peeters, 33-35 Robert St, Whangarei.

DEAR VOTER Since 2008, 19 people have died on the stretch of State Highway 1 From Toetoe Rd just south of Whangarei to the roundabout to Marsden Point. That's 19 grieving families. There were also 40 serious injuries during the same period. First responders say the hardest accidents to deal with are those where children are involved.

That 22 km stretch of road is Northland's most significant link to the rest of the country, but it is also the region's biggest killer.

Last year it was identified as one of the 10 worst black-spots around New Zealand.

Up to 28,000 vehicles travel the road each day. About one in 10 are trucks. The statistics tell us accidents involving heavy vehicles account for a disproportionate share of the fatalities.

A four-lane highway had been planned but the new government says it’s no longer a priority. They say putting in a few passing lanes and florescent poles on the centre line is good enough.

That's unacceptable.

That’s why we are now calling on all local body candidates including the Mayoral candidates, to declare their commitment to a four-lane highway between Whangarei and the turnoff to Marsden Point.

You too can do something to make the four-lane highway happen.

Collectively, we have the power to make it happen. When the voting papers are sent out on the 20th of September, we are asking voters to support those candidates who are standing up for this issue.

We want our politicians to stop the carnage. While some local councillors have been speaking out, and we applaud them for doing so, we believe all candidates standing in the local body elections need to add their voice to the call. We want them to make a commitment that if elected, they will do more than pay lip service to this matter.

W

We want them to have the courage to stand up to the politicians in Wellington on issues that matter to us. We want representatives who will beat on the doors of Parliament until the four-lane highway happens. That's what we expect from our local leaders - and it’s what we should demand from them.

district.

Better! Whangarei was formed in 2017 by locals who want to make Whangarei a better place to live and work.

See betterwhangarei.co.nz

WHILE POLITICIANS TALK, PEOPLE DIE ON OUR ROADS.

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NORTHLAND TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE

MOVING NORTHLAND FORWARD CALVIN THOMAS NORTHLAND TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE MANAGER

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ver the next 12 months more than $100 million will be invested in Northland’s regional 6000 kilometre roading and transport network.

This investment will be made by the four Northland Councils and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) via the Northland Transportation Alliance (NTA).

The (NTA), a collaboration between Kaipara, Whangarei and Far North District Councils, Northland Regional Council and the NZTA, was established in 2016 to deliver a regionally-focused and aligned approach to Northland’s transportation needs and outcomes.

While individual councils remain responsible for setting their own transport strategies and budgets, the Alliance combines the council staff, services and resources for roading and transportation in Northland, to improve consistency and quality of services for all Northland transport users.

Over the next year the NTA will allocate the funding relatively equally across routine maintenance, new projects and network improvements, including the following key regional projects: • $7 million investment in sealing unsealed roads • continuation of Kamo shared path • roading works associated with Kaipara KickStart Provincial Growth Fund project • new public transport ticketing system • speed limit reviews and consultations for identified high-risk regional roads • Porowini Ave/Maunu Road intersection improvements • West Coast Road slip remediation • region-wide routine resealing and remetalling programs

• new and upgraded footpaths.

While $7 million is to be invested in sealing priority sections of road across the region, with 60% of Northland’s regional roading network unsealed, good maintenance of this part of the network is a key priority. In the wetter months of May to August, capital work programs of heavy metalling get underway, using the moisture to assist in the process of renewing unsealed pavements which have worn down or require shape correction. The aim is to get the unsealed roads in the best condition possible before entering summer.

By summer, the season when people are out and about enjoying long days and driving to more remote locations,

there is little moisture to assist grading and reshaping work, so major work of this type is avoided as it generally makes things worse so by the end of summer, the unsealed network is generally at its worst condition.

Work is also continuing across other parts of the network to improve the safety of the transport network for all users, not only those using gravel roads.

The NTA is delivering new footpaths and cycleways, traffic calming and slowing,

speed limit reviews and reductions, and working with other government and community organisations to deliver road safety programs and initiatives.

Identifying effective Public Transport options remains a priority, with new initiatives such as the weekly Kaiwaka to Whangarei bus service being actively investigated and trailed. This coming year will also see the introduction of a new electronic ticketing system for Whangarei’s CityLink buses.

Maintenance and operation of the State Highways remains as NZTA’s responsibility however, under the Alliance model, NZTA’s Northland staff work closely with Council NTA staff where projects and activities overlap. The teams are based in the same office in Whangarei, working alongside each other.

Work to refine and streamline this approach has continued since the NTA’s inception in 2016. Over time the NTA has moved to a full collaboration model, away from the geographic council-based structures to a function-based model.

This has moved the focus to asset planning and strategy (including safety), project planning and delivery, maintenance delivery and performance and wider business performance and customer responsiveness.

The new, functional structure, enables the Alliance to develop existing employees and recruit more effectively, with combined roles enabling greater scope and opportunity to share expertise across the region than was previously available within the individual councils.

TRANSPORT

A G R I C U LT U R E

INDUSTRIAL

PA S S E N G E R

F O R E S T RY

TRUCK ALIGN

4 W D & AT V

IN NORTHLAND 2019

5

TONY SAVAGE FOR SENSIBLE TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS roads and many people have been showing me their bad and unsafe roads. Council is not investing enough in upgrading and maintaining rural roads. Changing this will be a big priority for me.

Rural ratepayers know that less and less money is being spent on fixing up and maintaining rural roads.

Rural voters are getting short changed.

Rates review is a must.

Our rural economy is the backbone of the District. Council must change and start supporting and working positively with farmers as issues arise.

M

y transport policy offers a smarter solution for a better Whangarei. It’s about putting you first.

Smart planning and a balanced approach to our future transport needs are vital.

It is no surprise that we need to work smarter on transport. The behind closed doors and undemocratic “forums” aren’t delivering for Northlanders.

The truth is that Whangarei needs good reliable roads and also rail from Northport to Auckland. The growth of Northport opens development opportunities for Whangarei and many local jobs.

CONNECT NORTHPORT TO THE RAILWAY NETWORK

UPGRADE SH1

Just how we get more funding for improvements for our road link to Auckland needs fresh, new thinking and energy or it will languish as it does now.

We desperately need to upgrade SH 1!

Government has said that it wants to start major improvements from Whangarei South. We need to be on board with that and be effectively represented with NZ Transport and Government. Otherwise

money will continue to leak away to other projects South of here, just like it does now.

We are doing badly under this Council for critical infrastructure and road investment.

We can do better.

INCREASE FUNDING FOR RURAL ROADING

Rural ratepayers see very little from Council for their rates. It is not fair.

I have been travelling around our country

My smarter transport policy priorities are: 1. Upgrading SH1.

2. Connecting Northport to the railway network.

3. Increasing the funding for rural roading.

4. Making our roads safer for our communities.

Doing things like we’ve done them so far isn’t going to allow us to grow and express our unique place in the world. It’s time for a change.

Getting our rail link to Auckland to be safe, fast and reliable is a key priority of mine.

My leadership in advocating for Northland Rail means that we can get on with making the most of the opportunity offered to us.

With the major developments set to take off at Marsden Point and Northport, we need to start getting ahead of the curve and start planning for growth.

SAFER ROADS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES

Local road safety improvements are badly needed in Whangarei. Many people have been pointing out to me accidents waiting to happen throughout the District. We need to get on and fix these so Whangarei is safe and accessible for all ages and abilities.

I am committed to revitalising Councils culture from “can’t do “ into one focused on achievement.

You can elect to continue with the politics of waste, division and posturing or we can get on with the real work of improving the lives of people that live here.

I am asking you to be more aspirational than the status quo. Tick Tony Savage this election.

VOTE

TONY SAVAGE FOR MAYOR My smarter transport policy priorities for Whangarei include: Upgrading SH1 Connecting Northport to the railway network Increasing the funding for rural roads Making our roads safer for our communities Integrated transport solutions Authorised by Tony Savage 68 Mill Road, Whangarei

EI R A G N A H W

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WINTER CHALLENGES ON THE STATE HIGHWAY NETWORK IN NORTHLAND

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inter can be a difficult time on Northland’s state highway network because of the region’s topography, challenging geology and high impact seasonal rainfall.

NZ Transport Agency Northland System Manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult is responsible for ensuring the 800 kilometres of state highway are open and safe for travellers, tourists and freight movements.

“Safety and resilience are our top priorities and I’m proud of the efforts our teams make in all weathers to look after the travelling public and keep our state highways open.”

ROAD MAINTENANCE

In the last 12 months, the Transport Agency has made the biggest ever investment in road maintenance in Northland with more than 250 lane kilometres of state highway resurfaced.

In the 2019-20 financial year, there will be 213 lane kilometres resurfaced.

“Maintenance is not just about resurfacing and fixing pot holes. It’s about monitoring high risk areas and hillsides

for slips. It’s about balancing the need to respond to unexpected events with carrying out a programme of work that gets best value out of our resources and money spent. Most important of all is that we keep the state highways open and safe for our customers.”

“Road closures can isolate communities and detours can be long and add significant time to journeys. We’re Northlanders too, We understand the frustration and inconvenience that closures can cause but our communities are also resilient in these times and they know we do all we can to help.”

Ms Hori-Hoult and her team are currently dealing with an unexpected event on SH1 over the Brynderwyn Hills. A retaining wall on the south side of the hills has failed. Repairs start this month with traffic management in place and should be completed by the end of November, weather permitting.

“This is a key north-south route so we need to minimise disruption and get the repair done as quickly as possible.”

■ Caption: The SH1/Loop Road intersection with work under way to build a temporary alignment for traffic while the roundabout is constructed

CONSTRUCTION

It’s been a year for building bridges in Northland. Two new two-lane bridges opened at Matakohe in July, while the new two-lane bridge at Taipa will open before the end of the year. Another new two lane bridge and roundabout at Kaeo is in the design and consenting stage.

On SH1, construction of the roundabout at Loop Road is on track to improve safety and access to the highway for freight and logging trucks. The project team is busy creating a temporary road alongside SH1 to allow construction of the roundabout.

“The footprint for the roundabout is single lane but it’s being future-proofed to allow for two lanes if it’s required in the future,” says Ms Hori-Hoult.

Improvement works at the SH1/Tarewa Road intersection continue in Whangarei and enabling works for the roundabout at the Waipapa Road intersection on SH1 are due to start in October.

ROAD SAFETY

Meanwhile, the flexible centreline safety posts installed in July 2018 on SH1 between Toetoe Road and Springfield Road have significantly reduced crashes. The posts help deter vehicles deliberately crossing the centreline along a 10km stretch where there have been a number of fatal head on crashes.

TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL SPEND:

More safety improvements are on the way on SH1 from Whangarei to Port Marsden (SH15). Funding under the Safe Networks Programme has been approved for improvements that include centre line flexible median barriers, widened centre lines, additional roadside barriers and turnaround facilities. We are currently in detailed design but the plan is to start work early next year.

Further south, there’s good progress on the first stage of safety improvements on SH1 through the Dome Valley.

Another safety initiative in Northland are the speed reviews currently under way on SH10 (Awanui to Taipa), SH11 (Haruru to Puketona) and SH1 (Moerewa to Kawakawa). The reviews are in response to local communities calling for slower speeds because they don’t feel safe. Community engagement sessions were held early in August and there will be further consultation before a final decision is made.

Meanwhile Ms Hori-Hoult says it’s everybody’s responsibility to drive safely this winter.

“Staying safe during winter is about driving to the conditions, watching your speed and wearing your seatbelt. No matter what causes a crash, speed can be the difference between walking away or being carried away. We want everyone to make it home safely to their loved ones”

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RAIL SET TO BOOST NORTHLAND’S PROSPERITY Northland has become New Zealand’s Cinderella of the regions. Through lack of investment in Northland’s infrastructure, unemployment prevails, bringing with it the social problems of poverty.

With investment in rail by the Labour - New Zealand First Coalition government, producers in Northland will be able to reduce costs, encourage more investment and move goods to markets at competitive prices.

SMALL INVESTMENT FOR LARGE GAINS WITH RAIL

With investment of just $150 million, the railway line to Auckland could be brought up to the same standard as the Auckland to Tauranga line. For another $200 million, a line could be built to Marsden Point.

In 2006 when the Whangarei port was transferred to Marsden Point, rail lost 6000 tonnes of freight per week. That freight all transferred to large trucks and has grown to about 10,000 tonnes or more now.

Most of that was logs that were railed from inland ports at Dargaville, Otiria and Wellsford. New roads were built to the port, but the strategic missing link, a railway line, was never built. Northport will never maximise its potential without a rail connection. Currently, over 600 standard 20 foot equivalent containers are railed from

Auckland to the Port of Tauranga every day, because the infrastructure is there, but nothing to NorthPort. New Zealand has the most expensive roads in the world to maintain because of our volcanic soil structures and high axle loadings, yet businesses in Northland are forced to export by road.

by ratepayers and this is topped up by a further $1.5 billion by taxpayers. In first world countries central and local government invest in transport systems, this means both road and railways. So why should it be any different here?

TRUCKS REQUIRE HUGE SUBSIDIES FROM TAXPAYERS

The previous Government closed more railway lines down in New Zealand than any other Government since the 1950’s. Ironic considering the increase in truck crashes, climate change and traffic congestion issues. Rail will serve Northland well, through more transport options, less road damage and maintenance costs, safer roads and less congestion with less trucks and less carbon emissions which contribute

The previous government put what little investment they gave into a handful of highway projects which only serve 4% of traffic, and Northland roads and infrastructure has suffered as a result.

According to the Ministry of Transport trucks contribute only 23% of the infrastructure costs. A further $1 billion is paid by motorists, another $1 billion

REOPENING NORTHLAND’S RAILWAY NETWORK

to climate change. With the Dargaville and Otiria lines reopened and a line to NorthPort freight can again be moved by rail. Rail can transport more product out of Northland, such as logs, plywood, wood chips and containers directly to other freight hubs.

INVESTMENT IN NORTHLAND RAIL “ON TRACK”

This year the Coalition Government announced a record $1 billion investment into KiwiRail. The Provincial Growth Fund will also invest $300 million into regional rail. This is a positive step to allow Northland businesses to have better access to other New Zealand and global markets. We look to forth coming announcements about the planned significant investment in Northland railways.

RAIL - TAKING STRESS OFF NORTHLAND ROADS It's time to reconnect Northland’s extensive railway network enabling industry to use the safest way to move freight and increase high value rail tourism.

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union fully supports re-opening lines to Dargaville and Otiria, reconnecting rail to Kawakawa and Opua for rail tourism.

Rail is the strategic missing link to Northport.

• Logs • Woodchips • Dairy • Bulkloads • Tourism • Large Consignment Freight

IN NORTHLAND 2019

HIGH VALUE RAIL TOURISM FOR NORTHLAND

With upcoming investment in Northland rail tourist trains from Auckland can restart and could carry tourists off cruise ships from either NorthPort or the Bay of Islands to Whangarei. An upgraded rail line to Auckland and access by rail to two ports, many more high end tourists would access Northland’s attractions by train.

This will create more local jobs.

With better transport options, comes more investment and economic growth. Northland deserves this sort of investment in infrastructure, and deserves it now.

Otiria Dargaville Wellsford

Opua Kawakawa

Whangarei Marsden Point

Auckland Hamilton Port of Tauranga

S D A O R OUR .

T R O P S N A R T OUR Greg Martin for Hikurangi Coastal.

Transportation is about Road, Rail, Sea and Air. Rail, Sea and Air transport only work if we have efficient roading networks.

A four-lane highway to Auckland is vital to get our product to our biggest consumer and tourists to our region. I am committed to this through my role on the Regional Transport Committee.

Great progress has been made towards this and potential routes identified.

I believe this will save lives and prevent injuries and as WDC Trustee on the Northland Road Safety Trust I want to do everything I can to make our roads safer.

Seal extensions and dust mitigation are essential.

Needs not Wants.

I need your support to continue.

Please Vote.

Authorised by Greg Martin 130 Rushbrook Rd RD1 Kamo 0185

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Northland transport: Significant projects and general update Matt King MP for Northland The growth and development of Northland communities is dependent on good quality roads.

Improving our region’s transport connections will open up opportunities for economic growth. State Highway 1 plays a critical transport accessibility role, and it needs upgrading.

more to come. The handrail construction on the downstream side will be finished this month and traffic will then switch to that side of the bridge.

This month we will also see the construction of the bridge surface and that will be completed in October.

Unfortunately the current government doesn’t think improving State Highway 1 is important, and is instead promising poor investment in rail.

Matakohe Bridges and road realignment, State Highway 12

The business case for the North Auckland Rail Line (NAL) describes the project as “marginal” and notes that the cost of building and maintaining it would be greater than any potential benefits.

That’s right, it has a cost-benefit ratio of 0.32.

National would build a four-lane highway from Wellsford to Whangarei, which has a cost-benefit ratio between 0.6 and 1.0. This is at least double.

When you compare the road with rail, the best way forward is pretty clear.

The Government is dragging its feet on desperately needed state highway upgrades too. Northland’s state highways are some of the most dangerous in the country, with 70% of road fatalities occurring on state highways, compared to 40% nationally.

The Government’s decision to stall construction transport projects for “12 to 18 months” will have disastrous consequences for the future of transport infrastructure and economic growth.

This Government has nothing in the pipeline, and the last of the transport projects started under National are wrapping up. The construction workforce will find itself with nothing to do, and leave for countries like Australia where they’re building at the rate New Zealand needs to be.

Taipa Bridge replacement, State Highway 10

The new bridges opened in July, and whilst there is a bit of tidying up to be done, we now have a safer wider road and no more queuing for the one-lane bridges. NZTA and its contractors did a great job on this project, and credit must also go to local resident Suzie Reyland who campaigns tirelessly for safety. Credit too to my predecessor as National Party MP for Northland Mike Sabin who did a great job in getting this project on the Government’s radar back in the day.

Kaeo Bridge replacement, State Highway 10 Underway - as promised. I attended the site blessing in April and NZTA’s design process is well advanced.

Finally, just a plea: construction sites are dangerous at the best of time. And when they are on a busy state highway, they are doubly so, particularly for the site workers. So, please, give those guys and girls a brake - yes, brake. Slow down around them, stop if asked and please be patient. They’re doing a great job, and they’re doing it for us.

Cheers,

Substantial progress already this year and

Matt King MP for Northland

Funded by the Parliamentary Service Authorised by Matt King, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Office: 93 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri 0230 Phone: 09 407 7219 Email: northland@parliament.govt.nz Website: mattking.co.nz mattkingmp

The completed Te Piringatahi Bridge, part of the Matakohe Bridges realignment

Image: Fulton Hogan

Taipa Bridge progress as at March 2019

Image: Fulton Hogan

Artist’s impression of the recreation area on the Northern side of the Taipa Bridge.

Image: Fulton Hogan

Funded by the Parliamentary Service Authorised by Matt King, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Office: 93 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri 0230 Phone: 09 407 7219 Email: northland@parliament.govt.nz faceook.com/mattkingmp mattking.co.nz

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NORTHLAND ROADS JOHN BAIN NORTHLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL

■ Construction continues on the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway, which will realign State Highway 1 north of Auckland.

A

s the triennium for local government comes to an end it is time to reflect what the three years has brought us.

It has been my privilege to Chair, and lead, the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) and work with all four of the Councils of our Province, and the New Zealand Transport Agency. We started our term with the regional transport plan (2015-2021) and we took into consideration the previous plans and what aspirations we held for each of the three District Councils. The first unanimous project and our priority, was to improve the State Highway grid to include a modern four lane road of SH1 from Whangarei to Auckland. We also had an urgent need to create a safer network as our statistics show we had 3.2% of the national population, and, that calendar year also shows we had 12% of the road fatality toll.

A dismal, poor, reflection on our roads and driving skills, I think.

So, back to our Highways. We have always supported our colleagues in Auckland when they plan improvements North as we benefit as well, this can be seen in the road

to Puhoi and soon the extension to bypass Warkworth and the dreadful bottleneck at Hills Road lights in Warkworth. The unwritten, but excepted, next 10/12 years of improvements were to be from Whangarei to the south, with a new road to the west of the Brynderwyn’s and eventually to Te Hana.

We had started public consultation and the geological plan would have followed.

However, after the general election of 2017, when a deputation representing all of Northland went to Minister Twyford’s office, we were told that the previous Governments plans for “Roads of National

Significance” were to scrapped and with those was our first 4-lane road, Whangarei to our Port. To say that we were disappointed is an understatement. We have all the statistics, that with logic, show how dangerous this stretch of highway is and for all the right reasons why it should have been fixed, and by earlier Ministers too. As our exports grow, our Port becomes more important, our roads will become a large part of improving our GDP. Tourism is potentially a larger employer and with the plans all over the North for the attractions, we need good roads to get people here

and get them home safely as well. Logs can be moved by road or rail; however, it is impossible to have rail at every forest and handling logs several times, onto trucks, off trucks and onto trains, and off again, adds cost. We would welcome any technology that would allow the above to occur economically but it is difficult to see how.

Our Regional Council started the rail to the port project years ago by purchasing the probable land that the rails will be on, so the route is safe for the evolution of the rail to the Port.

Road safety is a subject that all my fellow members of the RTC take very seriously and welcome any advancement on effectively reducing the crash’s and therefore the deaths and horrible injuries that we know are part of the crash. The police report to our committee is always receive in stunned silence. These reports are chilling, because of this we support all intervention to lower the crash rate. The first three speed reductions, in the Far North are probably long overdue as they are on the roads that show many bad smashes. More speed reductions will follow. Speed kills. as does alcohol, drugs, inattention, phones and texts.

Drive safely with care on our roads!!!

“Get Ready to Ride!”

Northland Motorcycle Day Canopy bridge, Town Basin, Whangarei Saturday 7th of September 2019, 10AM - 2PM Featuring: Motorcycle Retailers, Ride forever trainers, BBQ, Coffee truck, Give aways, Prizes including Helite Air Jacket, Presentations by Dr Chris Hurren (MOTOCAP) and much much more

See you there!

2019 MAYORAL RACE: WHANGAREI

Tony Savage

Sheryl Mai

Alex Wright

Meet the Candidates 6pm Monday September 9, Forum North Expo Hall

Come and hear this year’s mayoral candidates pitch for your vote If you would like to send in questions for the candidates please email elections@northernadvocate.co.nz MAKE AN INFORMED VOTING DECISION – SEE YOU THERE

ROADS TRANSPORT

OUR

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Build the FOUR LANES! Northland needs an integrated transport plan by land, sea and air. But today let’s talk roads. All Northland mayors and general electorate MPs agree that the four lanes from Whangarei to Auckland is the most important economic driver for Northland. In 2017, National announced the proposal for highway upgrading to four lanes from Whangarei to Marsden.

Labour mocked the needs of Northlanders calling it a “holiday highway” and in 2018 Labour and NZFirst cancelled the whole concept.

IN NORTHLAND 2019

DR SHANE RETI – WHANGAREI MP

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ver the past ten years, the road from Whangarei to Marsden has had at least 17 deaths, 35 serious injuries and 141 other injuries.

Driving north, Oakleigh to Toetoe Rd has the worst road safety rating (2 out of 5 stars) and the stretch from Toetoe Rd to Maunu Rd has the 2nd worst fatal and serious accident rating (0.5). Imagine that, Oakleigh to Toetoe is the worst safety rated road between here and Puhoi !

However, instead of $500M of four-laning Northland has 410 fluorescent “sticks” in the middle of the road. These are called “safe-hit-posts” and NZTA tell me that they will save 1.76 lives over four years. This is a poor tradeoff for four lanes. Why should Northlanders compromise safe driving so that Aucklanders can have a slow tram from Queen St to the airport ?

Whangarei people often talk to me about

the four-lane issue and why it was cancelled.

Local industry believe it is reducing our competitiveness and tourist operators say our current tortuous highway does not encourage people to visit Northland. Most tourists arriving at Auckland turn to travel south and our poor highway is often noted as a factor.

I believe there is a place for rail in an integrated transport system and that the Auckland-North Auckland line should be maintained and future proofed; but over the past 30 years or so, no government has committed to the Marsden link because no one would use it. If there is a business case and business will guarantee to use it then the project could be re-considered.

An integrated transport plan for Northland would require a much-improved air service, especially at Whangarei airport, and I continue to hold AirNZ to account for our infrequent and unreliable service. The

DR SHANE RETI MP for Whangarei

We need four lanes - not sticks!

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coastal corridor is exciting with new regular services from container ships and I still harbour a belief that coastal barging could be re-explored.

However, the benefits of four lanes to Northlanders include safety, efficiency and improved access to the economic powerhouse that is Auckland. National signed off the current Loop Road roundabout south of the city, which will significantly improve road safety. While I welcome all safety improvements, a fourlane highway is what we really need.

So, what of the future? I will keep lobbying for all Northland’s transport needs including public transport. If National is privileged to be the government in 2020, then we will build the four lanes from Whangarei to Marsden. Looking at what we have now it seems very clear that we need those four lanes. Not sticks!

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