The NZ Transport Agency has announced the details of a $301.7m programme of investment in the Northland region's transport system over the next three years.
The NZTA’s Regional Director for Northland, Stephen Town, says the committed and recommended investment in the region for 2012-15 will include $255m for the maintenance, operation and renewal of state highways and local roads, $4.6m for road safety promotion and $4m for public transport. Funding for key projects to help improve transport across Northland includes:
Mr Town says that in the neighbouring Auckland region, about $40m will be spent over the next three years to further develope the Puhoi-to Wellsford road of national significance
“When this project is completed, Northland will benefit from a much better transport connection to Auckland and other key destinations further south in Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.”
The investment in Northland is part of a $12.28 billion investment in New Zealand’s land transport system set out in the 2012-15 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), including $9.38 billion from the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF). The NLTP is a partnership between local authorities (who invest funding from ratepayers and prioritise activities and projects for funding) and the NZTA (which develops the programme and invests NLTF funds collected from road users through vehicle registration fees and fuel taxes.
Mr Town says that over and above the $301m committed for investment in the region for 2012/15, additional funding will also be available through the NLTP for investment in more activities/projects in Northland as they are developed over the course of the next three years.
“The NLTP is a dynamic programme, and the total amount of additional investment in the region over and above the $301m already committed and recommended won't be known until the end of the 12/15 period.”
Mr Town says the 2012-15 NLTP follows the direction outlined in the Government Policy Statement on land transport funding (GPS), with a focus on creating transport solutions that will support economic growth, improve safety, provide people with a range of transport choices and deliver the best possible value for money.
“It’s a balanced package of investment across a wide range of transport activities designed to help keep Northland moving forward.”
Mr Town says that while the 2012-15 NLTP represents a significant investment in New Zealand’s transport system, with the country facing tight economic conditions, not all proposed activities could be funded.
“We’ve been working closely with local authorities in Northland for several months to ensure that funding is carefully targeted to the areas and the activities where it is needed the most and where it will deliver the best outcomes for the greatest number of people in the region,” Mr Town says.
The preparation of the 2012-15 NLTP has been informed by 16 regional transport committees and Auckland Transport developing and submitting regional land transport programmes outlining activities to be prioritised for NLTP funding.
Mr Town says the NZTA will continue working closely with councils as the NLTP is implemented over the next three years.
National and regional NLTP documents, Q&As and other information is available on the NZTA website at www.nzta.govt.nz/nltp(external link)
