Ashburton Courier: August 24, 2023

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Less money, fewer roads
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, August 24, 2023
21
BY JONATHANLEASK
Local democracy reporter
Fewer kilometresofroadwill be
rebuilt in the districtthisyear,
despite the council stumping up an
extra$1million.
There will be just8.9kmofsealed
road rehabilitation completedin
the2023/24 workprogramme.
That’s down on the 13.8km
completed lastyearand it’s due to
onesimple fact­ “less money”,
Ashburton District Council roading
manager Mark Chamberlainsaid.
Ashburton’s road maintenance
contractors HEB told council in
February that thedistrict has
1613km of sealed roads which are
designed to last25years, andthat
there should be around 60km of
road rebuilt each year.
But the average over the past 12
yearshas been around 10km.
That leaves the council with the
bigquestion of how to catch up on
an overdue 600km and counting,
without having to add adding $1m
or more extra in rates each year.
The Government has been
increasingits investment into local
roads everyyearbut “the costs are
rising faster”tothe point where
they have doubled in amatter of
years, AshburtonMayor Neil
Brown said.
“A few years ago, it was about
$150,000 per kilometreofnew road
andtodayit's $250,000 per km."
Councils across the country are
planning their submission towards
thenext NationalLand Transport
Programme (NLTP) funding round,
andthere will be apush for a
There will be 8.9km of sealed road rehabilitation completed in the
Ashburton District Council's 2023/24 work programme, down on the
13.8km completed last year.
PHOTO SUPPLIED
bigger investmentinroad
rehabilitation.
TheGovernment Policy
Statement on Land Transportis
expected to be announced today,
which sets the Government's
prioritiesfor land transport
investmentover the next decade.
Brown hoped there wouldbesome
positive news around afunding
boost.
In themeantime, the council has
aroading rehabilitation budget for
2023/24of$3.1m,infrastructure
and openspaces groupmanager
Neil McCann,said.
That consistsofthe subsidised
$2.1m, which is 51%funded by
WakaKotahi,and the council’s
additional $1m.
Someofthe rehabilitation sites
will also cost more due to being
more complicatedwork, which
includesSeafield Roadand thetwo
roundabouts on Chalmers Ave, at
WalnutAve and Beach Road,
McCann said.
Public Interest Journalism
funded by NZ On Air
Artist Val Clemens at work.
PHOTO SUPPLIED
Artists creating
special pieces
AshburtonSociety of Artsheld itsannualArt Start
workshop on Saturday at Short St Studio.
Workshop co­ordinator Roz Ledingham said the
workshopwas asuccess, with asteady flowof
interestedpeople coming in anddelving into their
artistic sideusing the materials and mediumson
offer.
The society’s talentedartistswere on hand to
demonstratetechniquesand tips.
‘‘Beautiful cards and rock decorations were
made.
‘‘Vivid ink prints created,detailedpencil
drawings, lovely acrylic roses and landscapesand
fascinating doodle art explored,’’Roz said.
Anyone wantingtofindout moreabout the
Ashburton Society of Artsand the courses it offers
can contact the societyashsocart@gmail.com
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