Money freed up for unsealed roads
20 May 2015
Waipa District Council plans to spend half a million dollars a year, for the next 10 years, on sealing unsealed roads.
Originally, with the exception of Smart Road near Cambridge, no money had been allowed for road sealing in the draft 10-Year Plan that went out for public comment in April. But after considering around 70 submissions on the issue, councillors changed their minds and opted to set aside funds for the remaining 60km of unsealed roads in the district.
Staff are now now preparing a revised road sealing programme for approval by elected members. Road sealing work is prioritised based on a range of factors including traffic volumes, dust exposure, the cost of maintenance, the impact on economic earnings and the amount of community activity and heavy vehicle usage. Growth is also taken into account.
Money to seals the roads, like much of the council's capital works, is funded by 20-year loans.
Unsealed roads make up around five per cent of Waipa roads. Over the next decade, around $165 million will be spent on roading and footpath projects district-wide. This does not include the money spent separately by the NZ Transport Agency on state highways.
The draft 10-Year Plan will be formally signed off at the end of June.
All media enquiries, contact Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of council) 027 5077 599