Comment: Eastern bypass decision slap in the face

Retired senior police officer Chris Douglas, who is a former traffic manager for the Bay of Plenty and is still interested in motoring affairs, discusses the importance to Rotorua of the proposed Eastern Arterial road.

Road development for access from and to the east of the city is critical to the future of Rotorua.

The October decision by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to shelve the continued funding of the Eastern Arterial development for at least three years is a blow which will have widespread effects on existing residents, industry and future development. In that time, momentum is likely to have been lost, no updating of plans will have taken place and the myriad relationships between professionals and affected people will have been lost and will require months or years to be effectively restored.

Indications are this is a "draft" decision only, but it is the NZTA that develops government policy into reality. There's a glimmer of hope in National's transport manifesto which, under the heading "What will we do next?" states: "Continue to develop key regional roading projects that will enhance productivity and economic growth, including the Rotorua Eastern Arterial ..."

Let's hope the NZTA reads this as clearly as we are able to.

Existing road structure - principally Te Ngae Rd - is already running to capacity and delays are becoming commonplace with "choke" points at Tarawera Rd, Basley Rd and Hinemoa Point Rd. At other intersections, making a right turn on to Te Ngae Rd for about four hours a day, is fraught with difficulty and danger as turning vehicles try to negotiate two opposing lines of traffic.

Residents of Poets Corner and the new subdivisions at Eastlake and Vaughan Rd are increasingly using the (unsuitable) Vaughan Rd for access to the city. The only exit from there is at the Tarawera roundabout, where they compete with Ngapuna, Okareka/Tarawera traffic, industrial and truck traffic and the main Te Ngae Rd flow.

The Rotorua Eastern Arterial (in whatever form it may finally take) has been on the books for nearly 40 years. During the mid 1990s, when I was involved with traffic policing, there was considerable progress, with designation of likely routes, land purchases and negotiation towards future land purchases. At that time, the project was in "the top 10" for Waikato/Bay of Plenty roading projects. In the early part of the next decade it reached the top three. Since then it has been continually "queue jumped".

This is at odds with the Regional Council Land Transport Committee, which has retained this project near the top of priorities. To committee members - all locals who understand the situation - it remains the top priority, which is expected to be confirmed following their next meeting, in early 2012.

For a government agency to reject the view of the regional committee in such a fashion is a serious slap in the face for the democratic process, for the untiring efforts of locals, councillors and staff and brings back feelings of "Wellington rules again". That's something this country has not seen for nearly 40 years.

We all understand these are difficult economic times. With vast amounts of money being spent on infrastructure in Auckland, the Government and its agencies mustn't forget that regions elsewhere produce this nation's wealth and also deserve support.

Rotorua's future development is at stake. In 2009 Ngati Whakaue Lands Trust developed a long-term view of land use for its eastside farms and identified it as the most sensible and prime area for future residential development. They invested in a lot of research and planning for the future of a suburb for up to 20,000 residents. It was so comprehensive their plans were adopted almost totally by the Rotorua District Council and planning was done to earmark this land for future development. If the city is to continue growing, it will be in this area. The signs of development are already there - Brunswick Park, Eastgate Business Park, Rotorua Airport and Eastlake subdivisions.

Adequate roads are the vital piece of infrastructure to support this development. The lessons of our neighbours at Papamoa - where 30,000 residents were forced on to only two arterial routes to their place of business and shopping, were well learned by the Regional Land Transport Group and no doubt played a big part in their view of the future development of Rotorua and their support for the Eastern Arterial road.

Whatever form it may take it is vital planning and background work conducted over the past two decades continues.

We need this road to be completed by 2018. This was certainly viable until the NZTA's proposal to cut funding.

We do not need three more years (minimum) of delay. We need to demand support from the Government and its agencies, for our city's development. We are taxpayers too.