Big roading projects take precedence in Horizons land transport plan

Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall said repairing SH4 through the Parapara must be a priority of the Horizons transport plan. Photo / Bevan Conley

Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall says he has done a bit of "table-thumping" in support of improved public transport for Whanganui and said the district's time will come.

McDouall said work on State Highway 4 through the Parapara had to be a priority for transport.

The Horizons Regional Transport Committee, which McDouall sits on, has approved its long-term plan for land transport after considering public submissions.

The Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) is updated every six years by a committee that includes all mayors in the Horizons region.

The plan is referred to by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to decide which projects will be funded.

"Some of the flood damage that occurred in 2015 has still not been fully repaired and whole sections of [SH4] have been sliding down the cliff. It is our main access to the north so it is very important to Whanganui," McDouall said.

In terms of public transport McDouall said "it does seem that we are poor cousins in that area sometimes and although we have recently been commended for our public transport service, it would be great to expand it".

Some public submitters expressed concern that opportunities associated with better use of rail and public transport in the region were not articulated strongly enough in the plan and some amendments were made to the wording of the draft to incorporate those views.

"I'm certain that our turn will come and it really helps to have strong public transport advocates like Anthonie Tonnon here to give voice to the cause as well," McDouall said.

Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall said while he would like to see more local public transport the Horizons transport plan has to cover a number of big projects in the region. Photo / Bevan Conley

He said while the plan may seem not to offer a lot for Whanganui transport, there were a number of benefits for the district.

"Of course it is disappointing that the Dublin St Bridge is not a priority but Waka Kotahi only has so much funding to allocate to the region and there are more pressing projects," he said.

New highway project Te Ahu a Turanga - the building of the new section of road between Woodville and Ashhurst - is also a priority in the plan.

A major slip in April 2017 left SH3 through the Manawatū Gorge impassable and work began on the replacement highway in January this year. It is expected to be completed by 2024.

"We have to be good neighbours within our region and support it," McDouall said.

"It will benefit us as well - we have to think regionally as well as doing our best for our own district."

Whanganui District Council has allocated $310,000 across the first three years of its long-term plan to begin discussion and start planning the process for a Dublin St Bridge upgrade.

"That will allow us to put a good case to Waka Kotahi for funding," McDouall said.

Ruapehu mayor Don Cameron is enthusiastic about cycleway development in the district but said more public transport is needed. Photo / Bevan Conley

Ruapehu mayor Don Cameron said a lack of public transport was also a challenge for his district.

"We would like to have a service between Raetihi and Ohakune," he said.

"It is only 11km but it's a long way for people who live in Raetihi and don't have cars.

"There is no pharmacy in Raetihi so the residents need to travel to Ohakune for their prescriptions."

Cameron said while there were some shuttle services available they were not adequately meeting the needs of communities in the district.

Cameron was happy cycleways in the region were well utilised and was looking forward to the development of the cycle trail between Mt Ruapehu and Whanganui, which received a $4.6 million boost from the Provincial Growth Fund last year.

It is expected to create over 100 jobs in the region and will also pay for some upgrades to existing cycle tracks.

"We have also had some encouraging conversations with KiwiRail about new possibilities for passenger services," Cameron said.

Rangitīkei is scheduled to have the new Marton Rail Hub as a key logistical centre for the forestry industry across the Lower North Island.

The project is supported by a $9.1 million Government investment administered by the Provincial Development Unit (PDU).

The proposed site for the hub underwent a district plan change in 2020 to rezone the land from rural to industrial and the council has been working through an appeals process with the Environment Court and other parties.

The RLTP will go before a full Horizons Regional Council on June 22.