In these financially testing times, it may seem more than a little out-of-place to be talking about spending millions of dollars on a potential problem which is not expected to peak for another decade.
However, the issue regarding the long-term effect of logging on our region's roads is one which will not
go away, and it's possible effect is such that advance planning is prudent.
As reported in the Chronicle yesterday, latest estimates have revealed the cost of maintaining district roads affected by logging at a whopping $47.5 million.
The Wanganui District Council's rural community board deserves recognition for its foresight, not only in identifying the issue, but in taking a broad approach to addressing the problem by organising a workshop to discuss a unified approach to road funding.
Through involving the likes of South Taranaki, Stratford, Rangitikei, and Ruapehu district councils, along with Taranaki and Horizons regional councils, Local Government New Zealand and the Ministry of Forestry, the rural community board has taken an approach which is practical and most likely to lead to a successful outcome.
However, whatever the approach, one thing is certain: Something needs to be done.
While $47.5 million seems a lot to pay for road maintenance, the alternative does not bear thinking about.
Forestry is in itself an important part of our region's economy.
But as the rural community board's chairman Alan Taylor told the Chronicle, damage to roads would also have an effect on farming.
Many of the region's rural roads are considered ill-prepared to handle the heavy tonnage of logging trucks, expected to peak during an intense harvesting period around 2020-30.
Concern also exists around how to fund the required maintenance work. The earlier financial estimate of the cost has ballooned and the New Zealand Transport Agency provides only 62 per cent of the council's road maintenance budget.
Mr Taylor has stressed the priority lies with understanding the scope of the problem.
Wanganui's forestry estate stretches 15,000ha, and 901km of Wanganui roads are affected by forestry activities.
The numbers are daunting but not as daunting as the potential effect on our roads of doing nothing.
