Roading upgrades a 'game changer'

WEIGHTY STUFF: Work to grade heavy metal on Mata Road in Tokomaru Bay formed part of a total of 1800 tonnes of heavy metal? laid down on the region’s roads, and funded by $3.3m from the PGF.

Provincial Growth Fund investment into the region’s roads is “game-changing”, say Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP Meka Whaitiri and East Coast-based list MP Kiri Allan.

“From Gladstone Road to Tokomaru Bay, I consistently hear from whanau who are appreciative of the rapid upgrade of our roads, thanks to the $137 million boost to local infrastructure from the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund,” Meka Whaitiri said.

Kiri Allan said today’s and yesterday’s announcements showed the government had heard the people of the East Coast.

“Our community wants local long-term unemployment stopped from becoming inter generational, and that’s exactly what this Government is working to achieve.”

“With over 90 new employment opportunities in the mix, these initiatives will give local people the skills needed for local jobs, so that more money goes back into the wallets of local workers.”

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones said there had been significant progress on the delivery of the $137 million Tairawhiti roading package, which was announced in September 2018.

“The Gisborne District Council tell us 97 jobs have been created already thanks to the investment in roads, which was widely identified as being essential to unlock the region’s full economic potential.

“Earlier this month I announced the start of work on the $4.5 million upgrade of Rakaiatane Rd, the access road to Gisborne’s port. The main part of this work is now complete with the two kilometre length of road now resealed.

“The work to lay the 3500 tonnes of asphalt concrete along the busy road involved council contractors working around the clock for a full week, in quite a complex project which involved significant co-ordination with Eastland Port.

“The PGF has also funded the upgrade of roads in Gisborne’s inner city — the first major facelift of the city’s roads since 1999.

Support from the PGF and the National Land Transport Fund also meant the sealed part of Waimata Valley Rd had now been extended by two kilometres.

“The PGF is also investing $3.3 million for heavy metalling projects across Gisborne’s road network, of which about $1 million worth of work has been completed to date,” Mr Jones said.

“Local people can see and understand the impact of these investments, which are lifting pride and morale across the region.”