Media statement | 28 June 2006

Safety and maintenance Land Transport NZ’s focus for West Coast

Safety and the maintenance of critical strategic corridors to and from the region are the focus for the West Coast in the 2006/07 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

Land Transport NZ today announced $2.3 billion in transport spending for New Zealand in 2006/07, including nearly $23 million for investment in the West Coast’s land transport network. 

This includes $21 million for maintenance of state highways and local roads, and nearly $2 million for construction of state highways and local roads.

Land Transport NZ chair Dr Jan Wright says the agency and its partners are committed to making West Coast’s major routes safer and more efficient. 

Funding has been committed for the realignment of Millerton Track in the Buller district to improve safety to the Millerton and Stockton coal mines by reducing landslide risks on the existing route and for a seal extension and other improvements to Logburn Road in Grey district to provide access to the Pike River Coal Mine.

Other projects that may be approved throughout the year include designing the replacement Arahura road/rail bridge, which will ensure access security to Hokitika and will improve safety.

Funding for NZ Police land transport activities in the West Coast region totals $3 million. The road safety goal for the West Coast region is that by 2010 fatalities and hospitalisations will be fewer than 70 per year. There were 78 fatalities and hospitalisations due to road crashes in 2005.

Dr Wright says the activities funded through the NLTP reflect Land Transport NZ’s objective of contributing to an integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system.

“New Zealand faces huge transport challenges. The $2.3 billion allocated by this year’s NLTP will help us meet those challenges.”

Regional newsletters, a fact sheet and the NLTP book, which details all projects in the 2006/07 NLTP, will be available at www.landtransport.govt.nz from 6pm today.

For more information:

Andy Knackstedt
Land Transport NZ Media Manager
(04) 931 8822
021 276 3222

Jackie Curtis
Partnership Manager, Southern
(03) 964 2866
027 249 9566