“Last year’s Transit New Zealand 10-Year State Highway Forecast was generally agreed to be making progress to address our roading requirements.  What a difference 12 months makes!” says AA Waikato District Chairman Trevor Follows.

“This year’s plan delivers a $685 million funding shortfall, delays to roading projects throughout the country, and for Waikato motorists the spectre of a significantly delayed Avalon Drive Bypass. This year’s plan will not be acceptable to anyone, and certainly not to local motorists.”

“Because costs increase, delaying the construction of roads required today such as the Avalon Drive Bypass, simply means taxpayers will have to spend more money building the same roads in the future.”

“Delaying is false economy and completely overlooks the economic and social benefits of getting these important roading projects completed as quickly as possible.”

“The Government needs to make more money available. Waikato motorists pay petrol taxes and diesel road user charges to fund the local state highway programme and motorists will want to be assured that these taxes are being fully spent on our roads.

“The AA's Waikato District Council will be making a formal submission to Transit New Zealand on the draft forecast and lobbying for an urgent review of funding and the prioritising of local roading projects,” says Mr Follows.

For more information contact

Trevor Follows
Chairman, Waikato District Council
New Zealand Automobile Association Incorporated
M. 0274 744 747