Dust levels pose hazard

The number of logging trucks on Mangakahia Rd (above) has been the focus on a submission to the draft Regional Land Transport Plan. Photo / File

A school bus driver does her Mangakahia run with one hand on the steering wheel and the other clutching a radio telephone so she can find out where the next log truck is.

That is because, in white-out conditions caused by dense dust clouds raised from unsealed local roads, she can't see where the trucks are - and there could be one coming every three minutes.

During hearings of submissions to the Draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) and the Draft Public Transport Plan in Whangarei, Pipiwai Titoki Advocacy for Community Health and Safety Group asked if that was acceptable.

Spokeswoman Alex Wright put the committee overseeing the RLTP on notice.

"We will hold this committee responsible and accountable should any harm come to the bus driver or the students on our unsafe and unhealthy roads," Mr Wright said.

"We now know that dust monitoring carried out [by Northland Regional Council] in January 2010 next to Wright Rd showed that the levels of dust were above the recommended health standards set by the Ministry of Health. We now know that from the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Report in April 2013 the fine dust we are breathing in is not just a nuisance, it is injurious to our health and our wellbeing."

As well as accusing the NRC of negligence in its job to protect the health of a community, the group's submission stated Omauri, Pipiwai, Henare, Moore, Wright and McCardle roads were not "fit for purpose".

The group asked NRC to start air-quality monitoring on the roads and serve abatement notices to the Whangarei District Council (WDC) for breaches of the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality.

The WDC has made submissions to the transport plan, along with the NRC, calling for Mangakahia Rd - carrying up to 195 logging trucks per day, or one truck every three minutes during peak log season - to be made into a state highway.

That would pass the responsibility of upkeep and safety from district ratepayers to the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).

The transport committee comprises representatives from all Northland councils, the transport industry and NZTA. As well as identifying regional priorities, the completed 10-year plan, due out in April, will be used by NZTA in its own funding plans for Northland roads.

Also due in April will be the outcome for the subsidy application from the WDC to the NZTA for sealing the worst-affected roads.

The council has said it will seal stretches outside homes and businesses should that national funding not be given.