The impact logging trucks are expected to have on Whanganui's rural roads is likely to be the subject of a district council workshop early in the New Year.
At issue is the question of damage the big rigs are expected to create on unsealed roads and some sealed backcountry stretches and how the council can recover costs for maintenance.
It was on the rural community board agenda last month and Mayor Hamish McDouall said a workshop will be scheduled.
Whanganui has the second largest area of wood supply in the southern North Island with more than 28,600 ha planted mostly in radiata pine. A number of reports have already been prepared on the impact of forestry traffic on the roads as trees are harvested.
While harvesting generates economic growth, the current land valuation-based rating system doesn't give council enough scope to recover costs in maintaining the roads logging trucks will use.