Urgent transport summit on hold

An 'urgent' roading summit to tackle roading issues in regional New Zealand will not happen within the first 100 days of the new Government.

However, Napier Mayor Bill Dalton says he is keen to ensure Napier and northern Hawke's Bay will not be left waiting for improvements that would unleash the region's "untapped tourism potential".

In August Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern said a Labour government would hold an urgent roading summit with councils to work out a shared plan to accelerate projects that would otherwise be delayed or never be built.

Although that summit was not mentioned last month when the new coalition government announced a plan of action for its first 100 days, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones believes the government's $1 billion a year Regional Development (Provincial Growth) Fund would tackle roading issues in the provinces.

"Critical infrastructure, such as provincial roading improvements, rail and maritime facilities, as well as sector-led projects such as tourism, aquaculture and forestry will be among the types of capital investment the Government will be looking to make in our regions," a spokeswoman for the minister said.

"Work is being undertaken to determine the best framework for delivering the $1b a year Provincial Growth Fund.

"Projects will have to meet certain eligibility criteria - such as the creation of jobs, sustainable economic development and enhanced social inclusion. The criteria will be clearly communicated once Cabinet approval has been obtained."

Mayor Dalton said he particularly wanted to see action on improving State Highway 2.

"We look forward to discussing with the new Minister of Transport his government's priorities and how together we can get the regional road transport strategy progressing.

"Matariki - Hawke's Bay's Regional Economic Development Strategy, was launched here last year. It identifies a number of regional infrastructure projects that will bring about sustainable economic development for all of Hawke's Bay and roading is very much a part of that action plan.

"Napier City Council is extremely keen to work closely with the new government to move that plan forward. In particular, we'd like to see State Highway 2 improved, north of Napier. Northern Hawke's Bay has massive untapped tourism potential and roading is key to that."

By Andrew Ashton
Hawke's Bay Today

14 December 2017

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