Western Bay of Plenty mayor Garry Webber has questioned why anyone would bother getting into local politics after an upgrade for the district's "most dangerous highway" was not included in $1.4 billion transport funding.
Webber has long campaigned for greater investment to be made on the State Highway 2 stretch between Katikati and Tauranga, particularly given Ōmokoroa's ballooning population.
This week, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency announced it was spending $24.3b nationally as part of its 2021-24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), including $1.4b in the Bay of Plenty.
The transport agency says this is a "significant" commitment.
However, that figure excludes the second stage of the Takitimu North Link (TNL), a 7km extension with four new lanes between Ōmokoroa and Te Puna.
The Government has previously flip-flopped on the TNL. It allocated $933 million through the New Zealand Upgrade Programme in January 2020 to build two stages. Then in June this year, it pulled funding for stage 2, citing rising construction costs and changing national priorities.
This week's NLTP announcement confirmed funding for stage 1 but nothing for stage 2, leaving Webber disheartened.
The transport agency said route protection for TNL stage 2 would be done but construction was unlikely to receive national funding within the next decade.
Webber, a member of the Bay of Plenty Regional Transport Committee, said the exclusion for the Western Bay was "an incredible mistake".
"It just astounds me. We go to these meetings and everybody agrees we have this major problem with congestion ... but they don't even make the list."
Webber said he and the wider Western Bay community were "bitterly disappointed because you are promised stuff, then the rug is pulled out from under your feet".
He said the announcement was a "dark day" for him.
"You just wonder why do you keep hitting your head against a brick wall when you work out the bruising just isn't worth it.
"When you have the most dangerous highway in your district, and people don't seem to worry about fixing it ... it makes you question why the hell anyone would get involved in local government."
The NLTP funding for the Bay included $121m for projects to reduce deaths and injury on local roads plus SH2 safety upgrades on the Te Puna to Ōmokoroa stretch.
Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller said it was hard to find any investment of "real value for our area" in the funding plan.
"Sure it's fine to see some improvements on the death trap that is SH2, but [there's] still no commitment to build a four-lane to Katikati let alone Ōmokoroa."
Muller said the lack of urgency and capacity to get anything built was "staggering".
"This city seems caught on a never-ending merry-go-round of reports and deliberations - a nightmarish scenario where progress is measured in more consultation and discussion, not more tar seal."
Regional Transport Committee chairman Lyall Thurston said while the Government had acknowledged the region's growing population and infrastructure needs, "they've got a long way to go to address a lot of concerns and priorities".
"We are continually told there's limited funding."
He said stage 2 of the TNL was a "burning issue" for people in the region.
"That stretch of road is a death trap and the commuters who travel along that road on a daily basis are essentially playing Russian roulette. It desperately needs to be addressed."
Thurston said it was important to acknowledge the region was still receiving a significant sum.
Sustainable Bay of Plenty's Glen Crowther said there was a need to better align transport plans around urban growth and funding.
This included focusing on low-carbon outcomes, he said.
More than $16.5m had been granted to go towards Tauranga City Council walking and cycling improvements.
Greater Tauranga's Heidi Hughes said the investment in cycleways was encouraging "but the huge proportion of investment on roads is not the kind of transformational change that we need".
"If we are going to meet our 2030 climate change targets, we are going to have to change the way we travel and that's going to take some real bold action. It's hard to see that boldness in this plan."
Tauranga City Council commission chairwoman Anne Tolley said the NLTP funding was a welcome step towards work to ensure Tauranga was well connected, easy to move around and had sustainable transport choices.
Council general manager of infrastructure Nic Johansson said the funding was a "solid commitment" from the transport agency.
"We can work towards the next steps for a well-planned city with a variety of successful and thriving compact centres, resilient infrastructure, and community amenities."
Transport agency director of regional relationships for Bay of Plenty and Waikato David Speirs said the route for TNL stage 2 would be protected but construction was unlikely to receive national funding within the next decade.
He said the agency told the Regional Transport Committee - including the Western Bay council - this funding delay was likely before it was first publicly announced in June.
For Te Puna to Ōmokoroa, he said the agency was focusing on safety-centred upgrades to the existing SH2 route, including at the Ōmokoroa intersection.
"We'll continue to work with local government and others to ensure we make the land transport system safe; that it connects people and businesses in our cities, towns, regions and rural areas; meets the needs of our growing communities, and prepares for the transition to a low-carbon economy."
The transport agency was committed to a 30 to 70-year plan for integrating growth and transport in the Western Bay and Tauranga.
"Overall the commitment made to the Western Bay of Plenty sub-region in this NLTP is significant," he said.
The funding would aim to "deliver the greatest possible benefits for people and communities across New Zealand".
"Waka Kotahi recognises a well-maintained land transport system is critical to support Bay of Plenty's residential and economic growth."
Speirs said the agency faced "significant funding challenges" when developing the 2021-24 NLTP. More than 90 per cent of forecast revenue was committed to approved work or debt repayment and there were more bids than funding available.
He did not specifically address a question about why stage 2 was not likely to be funded for 10 years.
Transport Minister Michael Wood echoed Speirs' comments about funding limitations.
"Waka Kotahi will continue to work with local government and others in the region to ensure the land transport system is safe, meets the needs of growing communities and prepares for the transition to a low-carbon economy."
The $1.4b was an increase of 111 per cent from the previous NLTP.
• $65,173,000 for local roads maintenance;
• $2,472,000 for road safety promotion;
• $23,257,000 for local roads improvements;
• $11,185,000 for public transport infrastructure;
• $13,392,000 for implementing Road to Zero national road safety strategy;
• $16,578,000 for walking and cycling improvements.
• SH2 Baypark to Bayfair Link upgrade;
• SH29A multimodal corridor and intersection;
• SH29 Tauriko Cambridge, early works;
• SH2 Hewletts Rd sub-area access.
This summer will be critical to discover if the sharks have started returning.