The Minister for the South Island is ducking for cover. I probably would be too, if I was him.
Because he knows it’s going to be very difficult to defend the pitiful share the South Island is getting from the Government’s latest $1.2billion funding round for new roads and roading upgrades.
The south island has been virtually shut out, with just 6 percent of the money going to projects here.
The Hope Bypass, near Nelson, is the only one south of Cook Strait. With no mention of making State Highway 1 north and south of Christchurch four lanes, which regional leaders say is needed.
Leann Watson from Business Canterbury is saying that, considering the South Island’s contribution to New Zealand’s economy, it doesn’t sound fair. And she’s spot on.
In fact, I think she’s being generous. It’s a rip-off.
Tell that to Transport Minister Chris Bishop, though, who says the Government can’t do everything at once and needs to prioritise roading projects.
But there’s at least one road in the South Island that needs to be given much higher priority - which everyone seems to have been banging-on about for ages. State Highway 1 between Christchurch and Ashburton is an absolute shocker.
It’s a stretch that South Island Minister James Meagher will know only too well.
How many times do you reckon he’s driven on that road since becoming an MP and since becoming the minister who's supposed to be in Wellington advocating for us?
The guy who seems to have gone to ground and who hasn’t been available to respond to media inquiries about this South Island road funding debacle.
No wonder he hasn’t been available. Because it is indefensible.
At least the transport minister is fronting. Not only saying that the Government can’t do everything at once but also saying that the roads that have got funding - 94 percent of them in the North Island - are getting the green light because they are what he calls “top priority corridors”.
He says they're top priority because they will boost freight movement, increase safety and lead to economic growth.
But let’s just test that.
Would a 4-lane highway between Christchurch and Ashburton already boost freight movement? Of course, it would.
What about safety? Would a 4-lane highway be safer, compared to the 2-lane goat track we’ve got at the moment? That’s a no-brainer.
And what about economic growth? Would a 4-lane highway between Christchurch and Ashburton do good things for the economy? Do I even need to answer that one?
The Government’s argument for 94 percent of this new road funding going to the North Island doesn’t stack up.
LISTEN ABOVE
Note: Minister Meager did issue a statement - however it was not initially reported. See below the Minister's full statement:
“I’m very pleased with yesterday’s confirmation of a near $1.2 billion for the next stage of our Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme.
“The Hope Bypass project is significant for the South Island. SH6 is a vital connection for our people and goods to get around, and this bypass will help boost economic growth in Nelson Tasman. It will also bring wider economic benefits for the region; through the jobs the project will create.
“It’s important to note yesterday’s update is just one part of the Government’s ongoing infrastructure work programme.
“Developments continue on the Belfast to Pegasus and Woodend Bypass (a RoNS), with a FTAA application being worked through currently.
“The South Island is also well-represented with six projects in the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS) work programme, with the Queenstown upgrade package and five Canterbury RoRs:
- SH76 Brougham Street Upgrades
- S75 Halswell Road Improvements
- SH1 Rolleston Access Improvements
- The second Ashburton Bridge
“We’ve also committed to important South Island roading infrastructure outside of the RoNs and RoRs programmes, like a replacement bridge for Christchurch’s Pages Road, which I announced $38.5 million of Government funding for in August.”
Episode Transcript
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from newstalksb.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
You know our op make the Minister for the South Island,
he's ducking for cover and I probably would be two
if I was in. Are you their minister? I went
one hundred eighty ten eighties. The number of you do
want to emerge because James Meagher he knows it's going
(00:34):
to be very difficult to defend the pitiful share of
the South Island's getting from the government's latest one point
two billion dollar funding round for new roads and roading upgrades. Pitiful.
The South Island has virtually been shut out. Get this,
with just six percent of the money going to projects here.
(00:56):
The Hope Bypass near Nelson is the only one south
of the Cookstrait with no mention at all of making
State Highway one north and south of christ Church four lanes,
which regional leaders and pretty much every other time Dick
and Harry have been have been saying is way overdue.
(01:20):
Is needed big time. I mean you know it's needed.
I know it's needed. Leeann Watson from Business Canterbury. She
seems to know that it's needed. She's saying this morning
that considering the South Island's contribution to New Zealand's economy,
just getting sixer six percent of the funding doesn't sound fair.
(01:41):
She's spot on that. I think I think Leanne's been
a bit generous. It's more than unfair. It's a bloom
and rip off. Tawlat of the Transport Minister Chris Bishop though,
who says the government can't do everything at once and
it needs to prioritize roading projects. But there's at least
one road in South Island that needs to be given
(02:04):
much higher priority, which everyone's been banging on about for ages.
State Highway One south of christ Church. That whole stretch
between christ Church and Nashburton is an absolute shocker. And
it's a stretch of road that our old friend James Meager,
Minister of South Island will know only too well. Wondy,
(02:26):
how many times do you reckon? He's driven that road
since becoming an MP, and since becoming the minister who
was supposed to be in Wellington advocating for us truckload
of times. Ah, the guy who seems to have gone
to ground and who hasn't been available to respond to
media inquiries about the South Island road funding debarcle. I mean,
(02:47):
no wonder, no wonder he hasn't been available because it
is indefensible. At least the Transport Minister is fronting, not
only saying that the government can't do everything at once,
which I get, but I still don't think the South
Island getting a six percent share is good enough. But
another thing Chris Bishop saying today is that the roads
(03:07):
that have got funding, ninety four percent of them in
the North Island, they're getting the green light because they
are what he calls top priority corridors. That's a quote,
top priority corridors. And what do you think makes them
our top priority corridor? Or the government says they are
top priority because they will boost freight movement, increase safety
(03:29):
and lead to economic growth. But let's just test that,
shall we. Since I've mentioned the highway between christ Church
and nash Burton already, let's measure that against the government's
top priority criteria. Question. Would a four lane highway boost
freight movement? Of course it would a four lane highway
(03:52):
allowing all traffic to move much more freely. Of course
it would boost freight movement. What about safety? Would a
four lane highway between christ Church and nash Burton be
safer compared to that two lane goat track we've got
at the most. Well, that one's a no brainer. And
what about economic growth? Would a four lane highway between
christ Church and nash Burton do good things for the economy?
(04:15):
Do I even need to answer that one? Is that
what I mean? Yeah? The government's argument just on just
on that basis alone, the government's argument for ninety four
percent of this new road fund and going to the
North Island doesn't stack up, which tells me that we
are well and truly being shortchanged. Actually, why be kind?
(04:37):
Why do it Leanne Watson? Why be generous? Why be diplomatic?
It's worse than that we're being ripped off.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
For more from Category Mornings with John McDonald. Listen live
to news talks It'd be christ Church from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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