They say the roads were promised to be made safer by the year's end. Now, a Belk Rd resident says people will have to take State Highway 29 gambles for at least another two years.
Last month, a forum designed to aid Western Bay of Plenty's 'significant infrastructure deficit” was launched. Titled Western Bay of Plenty Infrastructure Forum, the launch was attended by Finance Minister Grant Robertson, local government, business leaders and community representatives. Grant stated: '[The region] is now clearly at a scale and size now where a plan like this is absolutely essential”.
Promises broken
Included in the projects identified needing investment and prioritisation is short-term improvements to State Highway 29, Tauriko, set for completion in 2025. Yet Belk Rd resident of 40 years, Leigh Neilson, says the 2025 date isn't good enough. 'They promised us this year [2023 end]. Why has it been deferred? Haven't they got any money? I think that's the issue right. They can't even fix the potholes so that's not our problem. They need to cut back somewhere else…it was committed.”
Key elements of enabling roadworks include closure of the existing SH29 Belk Rd intersection, a new intersection with traffic lights on SH29 at Tauriko, upgrades to SH29/ Cambridge Rd intersection including traffic lights, and a new roundabout at SH29/Redwood Lane.
The project is estimated at $258m. 'Since 2017 Belk Rd residents, Tauriko, have been promised safety enhancements to the road intersection with SH29.” After the learning of the forum's action plan timeline, Leigh says it was 'shock horror”. 'It's totally shameful.”
The Sun asked Waka Kotahi NZTA why they'd gone back on their 2023 completion project date and pushed it out to 2025? 'As part of public engagement in mid-2022, Waka Kotahi and Tauranga City Council have communicated that construction is expected to start in 2023,” says Waka Kotahi regional manager of system design Jess Andrew. 'This timing is subject to the approvals being obtained under the Resource Management Act 1991 and finalisation of all aspects of funding. The RMA approvals are currently being processed by TCC.”
Delays and risks
WBOP councillor Margaret Murray-Benge is supporting Belk Rd and SH29 residents. 'For the people who live in the Kaimai Ranges, their challenge is they have to enter and exit this highway – and doing so is unnecessarily dangerous,” says Margaret. 'They take their lives in their hands every day.”
The Sun asked TCC, which is working on consents, if they could fast-track this project? 'Project delivery is being led by Waka Kotahi in close consultation with TCC, with the goal to move into construction in late-2023,” says TCC structure planning and strategic transport team lead Alistair Talbot. 'The outcome of the current consultation and statutory consenting processes will influence how soon the SH29/Belk Rd intersection closure project can be delivered – works cannot proceed without consents being approved.”
Margaret has organised a public meeting for SH29 residents, with Waka Kotahi and National's transport and infrastructure spokesperson MP Simeon Brown to attend. The meeting is 7pm Tuesday, May 23, at the Kaimai School Hall, 1853 SH29.