I'm pleased to introduce to you this National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) for 2009–2012 – the mechanism through which the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) 'gives effect' to the Government policy statement on land transport funding 2009/10 – 2018/19 (GPS)(external link).
The global economic situation has changed dramatically in the past 18 months, with significant effects for the New Zealand economy. In response, and as part of its commitment to improving New Zealand's economic outlook and performance, the government has set clear expectations and priorities for the land transport sector. These expectations are articulated in the GPS.
The GPS is the government's statement of its short- to medium-term goals for transport investment. Issued in May 2009 and covering the 10 years between 2009 and 2019, it has a clear message: the number one priority for investment in land transport is increasing economic growth and productivity in New Zealand.
In particular, this means directing investment into high-quality infrastructure projects and transport services that encourage the efficient movement of people and freight and contribute to economic activity and employment. It's to be achieved by investing in the transport network, extracting better value for money from all land transport activities and enhancing individual projects' economic efficiency. Improvement of key routes also assists in delivering route security, network efficiency and provides safety benefits.
The NZTA's role is to allocate money from the National Land Transport Fund to activities within activity classes in the GPS. Through our Investment and Revenue Strategy and a rigorous assessment and prioritisation process, we aim to draw a balance between national and regional priorities (identified in our regional land transport programme (RLTP)), and between networks' local and regional, and inter-regional and national roles. We're also committed to delivering value for money in all transport activities, in all regions.
A strong commitment to value for money has also led to changes in how R (regionally distributed) funding is used. R funds come from fuel excise duty and light road user charges and are allocated proportionally to regions based on population. In the past, R funding was used to fund lowerpriority projects that would otherwise not qualify for funding.
To ensure value for money, R funding will be used for the highest-priority projects in this NLTP, providing a guaranteed minimum level of funding for the Gisborne region.
The National Land Transport Fund can only be used to fund activities listed in the NLTP. The tables in this NLTP list:
This document details the funding provided for the Gisborne region – and as a dynamic document will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect any approved variations to programmes. For information on funding for the rest of New Zealand (and how the NLTP is developed and managed) please see the national NLTP document.
Investment in the Gisborne region for the next three years is driven by two key priorities: route security and safety. It reflects how we see the NLTP delivering the best value to the Gisborne region: supporting the regional economy, connecting communities, getting people and freight to their destinations, and getting them there safely.
Route security and safety are vital in ensuring that our region's roads remain a reliable lifeline for a local economy that hinges on pastoral farming, horticulture, forestry and fishing. Forestry traffic, for example, is expected to be maintained at 2.5 million to three million tonnes in the next 20 years, a more than 300 percent increase on 2008/09, and this must be supported by a safe and reliable transportation system. We also need to support recreational and tourist activities, while working to preserve the remarkable natural environment with which the region is blessed and on which the economy relies.
All regional activities included in this NLTP were drawn from the Gisborne RLTP. However, RLTPs throughout New Zealand proposed greater levels of activity than could be supported by the funding available. As a result, this NLTP prioritises and indicates which activities that the NZTA anticipates funding because their indicative priority is sufficient to warrant it.
This NLTP provides an investment of $91.5 million for the Gisborne region over the 2009–2012 period.
The importance of route security to sustaining economic development was highlighted in August 2008 when subsidence at Goldsmith's Hill on State Highway (SH) 35 just north of Ruatoria resulted in a lengthy road closure.
While the Goldsmith's Hill realignment, which opened to traffic in July, will greatly improve route security on this stretch of highway, state highway and local roading networks remain vulnerable to the extremes of weather often seen in winter. This was illustrated by the closure of SH35 at Busby's Hill in July and its subsequent effect on the community and industries.
One of our top priorities is to minimise these disruptions and keep the entire roading network open for business. Key to this will be improvements to essential logging routes on the state highway network, particularly to the north on SH2 via the Waioeka Gorge, on SH35 around the East Coast, and south on SH2 to Hawke's Bay. The Matahorua Gorge project in Hawke's Bay will have significant benefits for the Gisborne region by helping to secure this lifeline between Gisborne and Napier.
Another key project that will help make journeys reliable as well as safer is the SH35 Kopuaroa Hill Realignment just south of Ruatoria, which is likely to proceed with construction in the next three years.
Our focus on route security, efficiency and safety, particularly for freight to ports and markets, means we're sustaining funding at existing levels for state highways and local roads to ensure we keep up with required maintenance.
Keeping the roads well maintained is also important for safety on Gisborne roads, where the combination of tight terrain and a large number of trucks poses particular safety challenges. In addition to routine maintenance, we'll continue to fund safety improvements throughout the roading network.
We'll also continue to address traffic accidents caused by speed and/or alcohol, with a particular emphasis on reducing the number of young road users involved in crashes, the number of accidents involving cyclists and the number of accidents at intersections. This NLTP includes an investment in the existing network's safety performance.
Meanwhile, the funding available to support passenger transport services across the central region will ensure that all existing bus and total mobility services continue.
The NLTP also provides for a review of the Gisborne Regional Land Transport Strategy in 2010.
For an overview of all projects in the region likely to receive funding in the next three years, see the regional map.
The Gisborne Regional Transport Committee has a pivotal role in shaping the Gisborne region's transport future through the Regional Land Transport Strategy and the RLTP.
The committee comprises elected members from the unitary authority, the NZTA, and community representatives with expertise in areas such as access and mobility, safety and personal security and economic development.
One of the committee's key tasks is to develop Gisborne's three-year RLTP, which prioritises all the regional transport activities proposed by the NZTA and Gisborne District Council.
This regional perspective enabled the NZTA to build a geographic view of land transport requirements nationwide, and to align regional and national views in deciding on the most appropriate allocations of funds to give effect to the GPS priorities. Public submissions on Gisborne's draft programme were reflected in the final programme that went to the NZTA Board, which made the ultimate funding decisions for the NLTP.
I believe this NLTP will support Gisborne's social and economic wellbeing well into the future and assist its important contribution to the national economy. I look forward to working closely with our regional partners and the Gisborne community to ensure it is implemented successfully.
Jenny Chetwynd
NZTA Regional Director, Central
Last updated: 6 October 2009
