City will get roading funds, says mayor

Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters is confident the city will receive the funding it needs for future roading projects.

Earlier this week, the Government announced the Bay of Plenty would receive $800 million of investment from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for the next three years.

However, most of the money is being spent in and around Tauranga with about $300 million being spent on the ongoing construction of the Tauranga Eastern Link.

The 2012-2015 National Land Transport Programme aims to improve the efficiency and safety of Bay of Plenty's roading network, maximise freight movements and reduce deaths and serious injuries on the roads.

Features of the programme set down for the Bay of Plenty include $265 million of investment into maintenance, operations and renewals on the entire roading network, improvement projects, including the Maunganui Rd/Girven Rd intersection in Tauranga, Stage 4 of Tauranga's Hairini Link and the investigation and design phase for the Rotorua Eastern Arterial route.

Funding of about $15.5 million will also go into the operation of the Bay of Plenty passenger transport and bus network.

Mr Winters said he was pleased funding for the Eastern Arterial was still on the books.

"When I look at it overall, I think it's very good for the Bay of Plenty with a good increase in funding. The Tauranga bypass is also good for Rotorua making the round trip to the port [of Tauranga] 20 minutes faster ... which is great for our timber, dairy and manufacturing industries."

He said he was keeping a close eye on the NZTA, making sure the organisation continued to keep Rotorua high on its priority list.

The investment in the region is part of a $12.28 billion investment in the land transport system set out in the 2012/15 National Land Transport Programme.