First an update on the proposed highway toll. We have had to make multiple requests for information through the Official Information Act and have now received confirmation from NZTA on the maintenance costs for the Saddle Road, Pahiatua Track and Ballance Valley Road.

Here are the figures:

• 2020/21: $4.6m.
• 2021/22: $4.3m.
• 2022/23: $5.2m.
• 2023/24: $2.2m.

The drop in funding this last financial year explains the deterioration we are currently experiencing on the road.

Ongoing maintenance costs for these roads have not been factored into the tolling assessments.

Our position remains clear - our ratepayers cannot afford to maintain these roads which already suffer from land movement, are slip prone and were never designed for the vehicle movements they are experiencing let alone the 3000 vehicles NZTA estimates will continue to use the Saddle if the highway is tolled.

Our own traffic counts have not hit the 10,000 vehicles required to consider tolling and range weekly from 6132 to 6935 on the Saddle Road, and from 3001 to 3194 on the Pahiatua Track.

Keep in mind these figures include construction traffic on the Saddle Road that won’t be there once the highway is open.

Our analysis of the recent counts against historical volumes shows minimal growth since 2016. NZTA allowed for future growth of what appears to be 5% a year in the tolling assessment but our traffic data suggests stagnation in growth rates ranging from -0.5% to 0%.

This suggests the numbers used in the tolling assessment were significantly inflated to get over the 10,000 needed to consider tolling.

So many people have put so much time and effort into their personal and organisational submissions. We had hoped to know by now how many submissions NZTA received but they have withheld that number and not provided any update on when we will find out or when a decision will be made.

Thank you again to every single person who took the time to express their views.

The consultation period has closed but we are still doing everything we can to ensure our highway will be free for everyone.

It has gone very quiet. Whilst NZTA make their recommendation to the minister who will then take his recommendation to Cabinet.

We have also requested information on the original Business Case cost benefit ratios, which included vital measures of vehicle operating costs, crash reduction savings, carbon emissions and the wider economic benefits.

Any proposed toll would change these figures especially given NZTA’s own estimate of a 33% reduction in safety.

The next planned NZTA Board meeting is scheduled for 15 November where I expect they will have at least some early findings from the tolling consultation.

Our request to meet with them has been declined. We continue to do everything we can to ensure Minister Brown has accurate information and understands the risks before making his recommendation to Cabinet.

Whilst I do not know their timings I expect this decision before Christmas.