New Rotorua-Tauranga toll motorway approved

Tolls of $2 for cars and up to $5 for trucks have been approved by the Government to kick-start a $450 million motorway between Rotorua and Tauranga.
The new four-lane motorway will be between the existing junction of State Highways 2 and 33 (the Rotorua and Whakatane highways), near Paengaroa and Te Maunga (near Baypark Stadium) in Tauranga.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce announced the 17km of new road bypassing Te Puke would be tolled for up to 35 years.
It meant that construction of the new road could now start next year - about seven years earlier than if the Government had not opted for tolls to cover the $100 million funding shortfall.
Motorists will save up to 12 minutes in travel time each way when the new motorway opens in 2016.
The motorway is one of the Government's seven essential state highway projects linked to New Zealand's economic prosperity.
Mr Joyce said the project was driven by the pace of growth in the Bay and would kill three birds with one stone - it would improve access to the port, improve safety along one of New Zealand's most dangerous stretches of road, and allow development to go ahead alongside the new road.
The main developments were the massive residential expansion planned for Papamoa East out to the Kaituna River and the proposed Rangiuru Business Park.
Mr Joyce said it would also improve the quality of life for Te Puke residents and the town would not look back from getting heavy traffic out of the main street.
The reality was that if the tolling proposal had been rejected during the community consultation phase of the project, then the $1 billion the Government was putting into highway construction each year would not have been enough to get the project started early next year. It would have been pushed back by projects with a greater need, such as completing the Waikato Expressway.
Mr Joyce said there had been 92 per cent support for tolls.
The New Zealand Transport Agency anticipated the Cabinet decision by calling for tenders for the 23km project.
Rotorua MP Todd McClay said the new link would contribute significantly to the Bay of Plenty's economic and social well-being by reducing travel times for commercial vehicles accessing the Port of Tauranga and beyond.
"The link will also improve safety for residents along the current route of State Highway 2 and open up access to new developments planned for Papamoa." He said it was estimated all borrowing would be repaid within a toll operating period of 35 years, after which tolls would be removed.
Environment Bay of Plenty chief executive Bill Bayfield said the regional council welcomed the news.
"It shows that the Government is committed to the need to put infrastructure in place that will cater for the future economic and population growth of the region," Mr Bayfield said.
To keep residents informed, a dedicated website and an on-site visitor centre will open early next year.
More information can be found on the NZ Transport Agency's website at www.nzta.govt.nz.