Truckie fury over new tolls

Shane Spalding intends to boycott Route K once the toll for his truck increases by more than 300 per cent on July 1. Photo/John Borren

Hundreds of truckies could end up boycotting Route K after the Tauranga City Council opted to stick with its 300 per cent tolls hike for medium-sized trucks.

A new and simpler system of tariffs will be introduced on the heavily indebted toll road on July 1, including lumping medium-sized trucks in with heavy trucks.

The belated realisation by Mr Chips owner/operator Shane Spalding that his tolls would increase from $1.50 to $5 was brought home to the Tauranga City Council yesterday.

It prompted Councillor Clayton Mitchell to say that there had been an oversight in the process of advertising the proposed new tolls, and it was not picked up soon enough.

"I wish we had picked it up in the first instance."

The council has been criticised for not making it clear enough in the way the proposed new Route K Bylaw was advertised that medium-sized trucks would be charged the same as heavy trucks.

Mr Spalding said he knew of 40 to 50 other drivers who will boycott Route K because they were being lumped in with heavy transport like logging trucks.

It was not acceptable that a 10-tonne truck would be charged the same as a 45-tonne truck and trailer unit, he said.

Quizzed after the meeting, he estimated there were 200 to 300 trucks in Tauranga that would not use Route K once their tolls more than tripled to $5. They would start using Cambridge Rd and going through Greerton.

Mr Spalding asked the council to delay the introduction of the new charges that would end the practice of tolls being based on the number of axles and introduce a simpler system. He wanted an intermediate step for medium-sized trucks, suggesting that $3 would be an acceptable toll.

His plea came after the new tariff regime had been publicly advertised and failed to receive any submissions from the operators of smaller trucks. The council had subsequently gone through a decision-making process and yesterday's meeting was meant to be the formality of passing the new bylaw.

Councillors were told that a late change to accommodate Mr Spalding meant the bylaw would have to go through another advertising, submissions and decision-making process.

By the time that process was finished, it would only be another six months before the ownership of Route K was transferred to New Zealand Transport Agency next year. The new tariff structure was designed to be consistent with the agency's existing toll roads.

Councillor Matt Cowley said he would rather the focus was put on the issue of the council's massive growth-related infrastructure, rather than going through another hearings process.

The council voted 7-4 against a bid by Councillor Rick Curach to review the bylaw at the earliest opportunity, subject to getting support in principle from the agency. He was supported by councillors Catherine Stewart, Bill Grainger and Steve Morris.

Mayor Stuart Crosby said there were other roads and he was sure the agency would meet the market with tolls. "If people do not see the benefit they will not use Route K."