The NZTA board said the project was unlikely to be prioritised in the National Land Transport Programme for 2024-2027 because it did not align with the new Government Policy Statement on Transport, which sets out the coalition’s priorities.
“Without the right infrastructure – improved roads and upgrades to our ageing water supply and wastewater network – we are not going to be able to meet the demand for new houses.”
Without support from the Government, council might have to look at cancelling, delaying, or redirecting funds from other projects, Drysdale said.
“We are already starting to see the success of Cameron Rd stage one, with monitoring showing more commuters are using a range of travel modes, including public transport.”
At a meeting on Monday, council strategy, growth and governance manager Christine Jones said Cameron Rd stage two would provide a key transport link for the city.
It was particularly important for the Western Corridor, which could have 25,000 homes in the long term, to link with Cameron Rd through to Mount Maunganui, said Jones.
Cameron Rd stage one was finished but the full benefits of it couldn’t be achieved until stage two was completed, she said, and there would be no safe separated cycleway past 17th Ave, so people were less likely to cycle.
For people to choose the bus over their car, buses need to be faster. This would be achieved with priority bus lanes along the entire road, Jones said.
Stage one was developed as part of the Government’s shovel-ready projects, said Grenfell.
In August 2020, the council gained $45m from the Government’s Crown Infrastructure Partners fund, the money was contingent on physical work starting within a year of approval.
Staff pulled the project’s cost estimates and plan together in a “very short time”, he said.
The commission had the project reviewed and one of the recommendations was to establish a dedicated major projects unit, which the council had done, said Grenfell.
The unit was overseen by a panel of three senior transport experts, he said.
A business case that aligned more with the new Government Policy Statement would be brought to the council for approval and be submitted to NZTA in early 2025.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air