Stock Crossings Policy

This page relates to the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme.

Introduction

This is the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) policy on stock crossings.

Date of issue: Updated September 2023 | NZTA may review and amend investment policies at any time, including in response to any changes in the Government Policy Statement on land transport.

Purpose

To set out funding eligibility for the provision of stock crossings across, under or over a road to connect two parts of a property.

Policy statement

Road protection where stock cross at grade

If the lowest long-term maintenance cost is to use a protective covering over the road – for example road or stock mats, or a specialised seal coating – then this cost is eligible for funding assistance under work category 111.

Work category 111: sealed pavement maintenance

New road alignment

When a new road alignment severs a rural property, the roading portion of an access structure may be included as part of the total road construction cost.

Cost sharing is based on the following:

• When land is severed and the cost of acquiring the severed land is more than the full cost of the provision of a stock access structure, the full cost of the stock access will be accepted as a charge to roading improvements. This includes the value of any improvement.
• When land is severed and the cost of acquiring the severed land is less than the full cost of the provision of a stock access structure, no stock access structure will be provided. This occurs when the value of improvements is assessed and the landowner is not prepared to sell the severed land. Other options include:
  • resale or exchange of severed land
  • purchase and resale of both portions.

Existing road alignment

Where actual and proposed stock movements on an existing road significantly affect road traffic, a proportion of the cost of constructing a stock access structure (including fees) will be accepted as a roading cost.

This roading cost will be eligible for funding assistance under work category 341.

Work category 341: low-cost, low-risk improvements

Existing roads – proportion of cost

Figure 1 below illustrates the proportion of the cost of an access structure that will be accepted as a roading cost, when the structure is to be built on an existing road alignment.

Note: Where a vehicle crash record exists, the provision of a stock access structure is a road improvement activity. If the activity has an investment profile better than or equal to the prevailing funding threshold profile, the total cost will be accepted as a roading cost.

Form of structure

The needs of the landowner should determine the form of the stock access structure, subject to approval of the design by the approved organisation or NZTA (for its own activities).

Agreements with landowner

We (NZTA as investor) require the approved organisation or NZTA (for its own activities) to obtain a written undertaking from the landowner that any at-grade stock crossing will be eliminated immediately on completion of the access structure.

The approved organisation or NZTA (for its own activities) should also consider an encumbrance to be registered against the title of the property affected by the underpass or overpass. For a template of an encumbrance, refer to the Road Controlling Authorities Forum stock crossing guidelines.

Road Controlling Authorities Forum stock crossing guidelines(external link)

Maintenance

Any repairs to the stock access structure are eligible for funding assistance under work category 114.

Work category 114: structures maintenance

However, as a minimum, the landowner will be responsible for the cost of:

• maintenance of the track through the structure
• associated drainage and fencing
• the repair of any damage to the structure caused by the landowner’s use or activity.

Cost sharing for stock underpasses or overpasses

Figure 1

Formula for cost sharing of stock underpasses or overpasses

CS        =         0.05 * AADT (on roads having less than 500 AADT) in percent

Where:

CS        =         25 percent (on roads having greater than or equal to 500 AADT)

CS        =         approved organisation's or NZTA (for its own activities) contribution,
                        including our (NZTA as investor) funding assistance, to the total
                        construction cost of an access structure on an existing road (in percent)

AADT   =         average traffic volume per day.

Note: AADT = average annual daily traffic