Government allocates $255 million to repair Gisborne roads

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz is grateful for Government road funding of $255m because "we have so much to do".

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz has welcomed Government funding of $255 million over the next three years to repair and maintain Gisborne’s roading network.

The funding, which comes through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP), will support economic growth and restore the cyclone-damaged network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.

The mayor said the council had not yet received formal notification with details.

“But we are very grateful for the investment because we have so much to do. Minister Brown came here. He drove here. He knows what the cyclone did to our infrastructure. He was here two days before Christmas and drove here from Wairoa.”

The mayor was contacted by several media outlets, including the Gisborne Herald, which had received the funding information from the Government before the council had been informed.

“If you look at the map [in the media release], it’s really clear it’s the Mangahauini Gorge. It’s the Hikuwai No 1 Bridge. It’s resilience work on State Highway 2 North and some resilience work on State Highway South.”

The media release says the $255m forecast investment includes $98m in maintenance operations investment; $136m to prevent potholes on state highways and local roads; $10.5m to deliver state highway and local road improvements; and $5.6m in public transport investment.

Key projects to be funded include:

• Resealing and rehabilitation works on 217km of state highway.
• Strengthening the condition of the road and improving safety on SH2 Waihuka north of Whakarau Rd, SH2 Tarawa near Maxwells Rd, and SH35 Hicks Bay.
• Resealing SH35 at Ūawa River flats.
• Progressing the design for a permanent replacement bridge for SH35 Hikuwai Bridge through recovery funding.
• Embedding safety improvements into cyclone recovery work.

Brown said the Government was committed to making sure every transport dollar was spent wisely on the projects and services Gisborne needed.

“The roading network in Gisborne is extremely vulnerable, with limited or no alternative routes when SH2 and SH35 are impacted. The growing risk of severe weather brings with it a greater need for better connections which can withstand heavy rain.

“The investment planned in Gisborne will be focused on fixing damage caused to the roading network by Cyclone Gabrielle and undertaking much-needed maintenance work. Rebuild options are also under investigation.”