John MacDonald: You might not love it - but it's the only option

I don’t love the idea, but I’m willing to accept it.

That’s how I’d describe my stance on paying a toll charge to use a piece of road.

Just like when pay TV became a thing in New Zealand. I didn’t like it, but I accepted it.

So what’s happened, is that NZTA and the Government have announced that they expect work on the new Belfast to Pegasus motorway - which includes the new Woodend Bypass road - to begin within three years.

Which is music to the ears of people who drive in tha area on a regular basis. For me, I would say that I only go through Woodend when I’m heading away on holidays and coming back again.

So, while I get the argument about how congested things are there, I’m generally in holiday mode when I travel through there. But, if you live in Woodend or use any bit of that road there day-in/day-out, I can see why you might be at your wits end.

Not to mention the safety issues in that whole area.

So, while it’s not quite a new highway to Ashburton, the news that the Belfast to Pegasus motorway is happening is very positive.

Not surprisingly, the Government is talking about using road tolls to help pay for this project and its other roads of significance.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown says all options are on the table, including public/private partnerships.

As for road tolls, he’s got no idea at this stage how much we might be pinged for using these new roads. That will be influenced by what it ends up costing to build these roads.

So mark the date - Monday the 8th of July - which will go down in history as the day the Government started its sell-job on more user-pays roading.

But it doesn’t need to worry about me. I’m already sold on the idea. Because we are dreaming if we think there is any other way of paying for new, decent roads in this country.

As you the Government says, tolls will be charged on roads where there is a non-tolled alternative. So you won't be forced to pay. It will be your choice.

If I’m honest, chances are I’ll end up paying the road tolls not because I make some sort of proactive choice to. I’ll probably use the new Belfast to Pegasus motorway and only remember the toll once I’m on it.

But, even then, I won’t get annoyed. Because I know that road tolls are the only way to go.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk ZB.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
I don't love the idea, but I'm willing to accept it.
That is how if you ask me, that is how
I would describe my stance on paying a toll charge
to use a stretch of road or a highway, just
like when what's that example PayTV? When PayTV became a
thing in New Zealand. Didn't like it, but I accepted it.

(00:33):
So what's happened is that NZTA and the government have
announced that they expect work on the new Belfast to
Pegis's Motorway, which includes the new wood End bypass road.
They've announced that expect work on that to begin within
three years. Not just that. All the other roads of
well some of the other roads of significance, but the

(00:54):
significant one for us is the Belfast to Pegas's Motorway
and it's music to the years of people who drive
in the area on a regular basis. You see, for me,
I would I would say that I only go through
wood En. I reckon this is true. I would only
go through wood End when I'm heading away on holiday
and coming back again. So when I get the argument

(01:15):
about how congested things are. I'm generally in holiday mode,
pretty chill when I travel through there. But I get
it that if you live in wood End or anywhere
around there and you use any bit of that road
day in day out, I can see why you might
be at your wits end worthwhy it's like at the
moment not to mention the safety issues with the road

(01:37):
in that whole area. So, while it's not quite a
new highway to Ashburton, the news that the Belfast Peggs's
Motorway is happening it's very positive mate. Not surprisingly, the
government is talking about using road tolls or toll charges
to help pay for this project and it's other roads
of significance. In fact, it's not just talking about it.

(01:58):
Here's a bit of what Transport Minister Simme and Brown
said on the radio this morning, which to me sounded
like a bit of a foregone conclusion.

Speaker 3 (02:06):
We will toll all roads where end Into recommends they
should have a toll. Effectively, tolls are a way to
raise revenue to bring infrastructure investment forward. And importantly people
have a choice. They can choose to go on the
tolled road, which is faster, more efficient, and safer, or
they can go on the alternative road where they don't
have to pay, but it may add a few extra

(02:27):
minutes to their time. So ultimately it's about choice, but
it's also about raising the revenue to bring that investment
forward so we can have the modern, reliable roading infrastructure
that New Zealanders need.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
And argue with that, Samon Brown says all options are
on the table. He's not just talking tolls, and yes,
if that means public private partnerships, then that is what
the government will do. As for the tolls, though he's
got no idea at the stage how much we might
be pinned for using these new roads. I mean, if
he came up with the price, I'll only cost your
four dollars twenty five, we'd say you're dreaming about it. You've
got no idea, because that'll be influenced, if not determined,

(03:00):
by what it ends up costing to build these roads.
So mark the date, put the date in the calms,
or we'll just remember it the eighth of July, which
will which is today, which will go down in history
as the day the government started at cell job on
user pays roading. But summ me in you don't need
to worry about me, mate, I'm already sold on the

(03:20):
idea because we are dreaming if we think there is
any other way of paying for new, decent roads in
this country. Have you heard the minister saying there tolls
will be charged on roads where there is a free alternative,
although nothing's free. We will pay for the roads in
some way shape or form, or some way shape or form,
but there will only be tolls on roads where there

(03:41):
is a non toll alternative. So it's not as if
you're going to be forced to pay. It will be
your choice. Now, if I'm honest with you, chances are
this probably says more about me as much as anything
yeah about me. Really, If I'm honest, chances are I
will end up paying the road tolls, not because I
make some sort of proactive choice to do it. I'll

(04:04):
probably use the new Belfast Vegas is motorway, and I
remember the toll once I'm on it. No, I won't him, No,
I won't even get I won't even get annoyed. I
won't even get whon' even make that sound? Because I
know that road tolls are the only way to go.
Hopefully most people will feel the same way as me. Otherwise,
we'll build these new roads like the Wooden Bypass, and

(04:25):
we'll have a truckload cheapskates using the non tolled roads,
and the revenue from the tolls won't be quite so effective.

Speaker 1 (04:33):
For more from Canterbory Mornings with John McDonald, listen live
to news talks It'd be christ Church from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.