Editorial: Roading decision a relief to many

Katie Holland.

It was the end of the road, literally, for the city's contentious eastside roading project yesterday.

It was also an emotional day for three local hapu who had been fighting for years to get the designation over the land lifted.

Landowners and residents in the area will also no doubt be pleased to have some certainty.

Following the announcement in February that $24 million was being spent to upgrade Te Ngae Rd, it seemed a foregone conclusion the Eastern Arterial was headed for the scrapheap.

But to actually hear it from NZTA's mouth must have been a tremendous relief.

Of course, not everyone thinks scrapping the road is a good decision. Former mayor Grahame Hall has called it scandalous.

To the layperson, it seems unlikely the city's population and roading needs will increase that dramatically in the coming years, but at some point in time there was research to suggest it would.

Only time will tell if an upgraded Te Ngae Rd will still be sufficient in 20 years' time to cope with Rotorua's traffic needs or if all those celebrating today will be looking back and wondering if maybe we did need it after all.

In the meantime all involved can now move forward with certainty without the Eastern Arterial hanging over their heads.

While on the subject of celebrations, I couldn't not make mention of the news we have been recognised as a finalist for Newspaper of the Year (less than 30,000 circulation) at the Canon Media Awards.

Not only that, but our ridiculously talented chief photographer, Stephen Parker, is again up for multiple awards, including the big one - Photographer of the Year. And Katee Shanks over at our sister paper Whakatane News is also up for an award.

We're a small team but we work hard every day (and every night and weekend too!) to bring you your local news the best way we can, while always striving to get better.

As regional editor Scott Inglis said on page 3 today, we're proud as punch.