1996 National Roading Programme: Otago/Southland NRP news

1996 was Transfund New Zealand's first National Roading Programme, after it had been set up that year to be an independent land transport funding agency.

It issued a series of newsletters outlining the major projects funded in each region. This is the one published by the Dunedin regional office covering Otago and Southland. 

Key statistics were:

• $45.72m to be spent in Otago. Local road spending was the largest at around 44.5%.
• $22.72m to be spent in Southland. Local road spending was the largest category also at around 44.5%

Significant committed works with ongoing funding included the seal extension on Glenorchy Road in Queenstown-Lakes District and three bridge replacement works on local tourist roads.

New projects highlighted were:

• 5km further seal extension on the "Southern Scenic Route" (Catlins) in the Clutha District.
• Seal extension of the southern section of St Bathans Loop Road in Central Otago.

NRP news 1996 Dunedin office

NRP news 1996 Dunedin office

National Land Transport Programme 1996 - Otago/Southland regional newsletter

 

Transnews - Transit NZ Dunedin regional office newsletter August 1995

1996 NLTP Otago/Southland highlights

1996 NLTP Otago/Southland table of new projects

NLTP Otago/Southland committed pre-construction works and overall allocations

Following announcement of the NLTP, various Transit New Zealand regional offices published newsletters highlighting spending in their regions, not just on the State Highways, but also local roads and passenger transport. A key point from this newsletter from a national perspective is that in 1996 Transit New Zealand identified $0.75 billion worth of projects with a benefit/cost ratio between 2 and 5 that are unable to be funded, essentially indicating efficient projects worth proceeding with.  

For Otago/Southland this newsletter reported the following major funding points:

• $48 million to be spent in Otago and $23 million in Southland
• $34.4 million to be spent on local roads (excluding territorial authority share)
• $1.1 million to subsidise passenger transport in Otago and $320,000 in Southland

Major projects listed include:

• Completing sealing of SH87 (Last Creck-Central Otago District Boundary Seal Extn)
• 14km of seal extension on the Southern Scenic Route (Catlins) of the 40km unsealed at the time
• 8km of the 40km of unsealed Glenorchy Road to be sealed
• Three bridge renewal projects on the largely unsealed Crown Range Road
• SH1 Hillgrove-Katiki Realignment (committed work)
• SH1 McArthur's Bends Realignment (committed work)

Notable was that funding at the time was similar for local roads as for state highways, which in real terms meant almost double spending on local roads when the local share is taken into account (the 50% paid mostly by ratepayers).  Also notable was design funding for major projects for the Dunedin Southern Motorway, being the Fairfield Bypass and the East Taieri (Mosgiel) interchange.