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.

We continue to wait for other information which has been requested under the OIA including the total number of submissions NZTA has received. This is incredibly disappointing as this should be easy to share. Our communities are keen to understand the summary of their submissions and themes, given our high level of input. It seems to have gone very quiet. 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.