The NZ Transport Agency is seeking input from the Tairāwhiti community on the development of programme business cases for State Highway 2, and State Highway 35 and connecting routes.
Director of Regional Relationships Emma Speight says the Transport Agency is working closely with partners and stakeholders to support the Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) Economic Action Plan.
“We are now seeking public feedback to help us shape future transport solutions, as well as improve what we are doing right now. The Connecting Tairāwhiti project is about the Transport Agency and its partners supporting the region through transport solutions to grow and strengthen the regional economy,” Ms Speight says.
“This work will include safety improvements considerations and will align with new priorities in the draft Government Policy Statement on land transport.”
The aim of the transport initiatives outlined in the Economic Action Plan is for the Gisborne region to: improve transport and digital connections to ensure major industries have the ability to be competitive internationally and get products, services and offerings to customers at the right time.
Ms Speight says the programme business case under development will look at ways in which the transport system can contribute to economic development in the region, in particular, how it can support development of primary industries and tourism.
“It will provide a case for investment in the regional transport network and identify a broad range of alternatives and options to inform the Regional Land Transport Plan.”
For instance, some areas of the Tairāwhiti region are underutilised because of their poor transport connections, and the Transport Agency is particularly interested in feedback on what improvements might be made so that the roading network supports economic development more effectively in future.
“We are also seeking information and ideas about what could be done to improve the roads between Gisborne and Napier, and between Gisborne and Opotiki.”
The Transport Agency invites people to share their thoughts at www.nzta.govt.nz/ConnectingTairawhiti(external link)
