Mangawhai and Hakaru have seen substantial growth of small rural lots over recent years.
With rates based on land value, and values being driven up by demand there is a reasonable expectation from ratepayers that they will get something more for their money.
Council has two mechanisms to collect funds to upgrade roads to compensate for the effects of subdivisions. One is via financial contributions (FCs) under the Resource Management Act. The other is via development contributions (DCs) under the Local Government Act. In earlier times FCs for roading haven’t been consistently collected. Roading DCs have been collected in recent times but have only been allocated to major upgrades on arterial routes and typically not to actual roads where the subdivisions are occurring and the main effects are felt.
So what are we doing about it?
Firstly, in the Annual Plan work starting this year we will be undertaking a full review of how DCs are calculated and applied. I will be pushing to see funds collected in this way applied partly to projects upgrading the roads that are directly impacted by subdivision growth.
Secondly, in our Long Term Plan (LTP) adopted in July we have allocated budget to address three roading legacy issues. Thank you for your submissions which have helped to make these projects happen. The projects are –
Cames Rd
Cames Road has been an issue as long as I have been on Council. The middle section of paper road was linked up by subdivisions on either side, closed off, opened up again and eventually built to an under-engineered standard. This resulted in a steep single lane section unsuitable for the level of traffic now using the road. The steep under engineered section will be upgraded to the top of the rise. The rest of the narrow and deteriorated middle section of the road is also programmed for upgrading.
Photo: Steep section of Cames Rd
Devich Rd
A large amount of subdivision has occurred on Devich Rd. It has also essentially become a through road from the Village for the likes of Cames Rd. The unsealed section from the bridge to Lawrence Road will be upgraded to a sealed surface.
Photo: Devich Rd looking west from the bridge
Settlement Road
Settlement Road has also seen a large amount of subdivision. The section of this road from the Kaiwaka- Mangawhai Road to the RSA will also be sealed.
Photo: Settlement Rd looking from Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Road
The work budgeted in the 2024/25 year is required to be completed by 31 March 2025. I will have further detail on these projects once they have been fully scoped.
