The Otago and Southland Regional Transport Committees released their joint regional land transport plan yesterday.
The joint plan asks for a total of $1.8 billion in roading and transport improvements over the next three years and will be sent to the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi for funding approval by the end of July.
But the report said the Queenstown Lakes District — the second-fastest growing territorial authority in the country — would have its roading improvements "downsized in years one to three because of more immediate financial commitments that have to be addressed, and consequently the aspirational mode shift required to support the increasing growth in the district will not be fully realised in the short term".
The document proposed cutting its originally proposed spending on local roads for years one and two of the programme by about $5.835 million — or more than 22% — in order for the request to get over the line.
"QLDC’s continuous programmes build on providing balanced and cost-efficient levels of service," the report said.
"A maturing approach to programming across all asset classes is supported with data collection and analysis, with an increasing need to monitor demand and usage across a multi-modal transport network."
The report also highlighted Southland District Council’s struggles with its roading programme.
"A good portion of Southland District’s roading infrastructure will start to reach the end of its useful life within the next 10 to 20 years and therefore require hard decisions around prioritisation, rationalisation and increased investment.
The report said the district had 134 bridges programmed for renewal over the next 10-year period at a total cost of more than $52m.
"The bridges comprise of primarily timber or timber/steel structures that have reached or exceeded their design lives, with 60 bridges already posted with restrictions and a further seven closed.
"Under-investment in bridges over the next 10 years poses a significant risk to the public and could result in a loss of connectivity in the district and potential harm to the economy from increased travel times and increase in vehicle emissions."
Southland District Mayor Rob Scott said NZTA should view this as a serious investment.
"Our district punches well above its weight. We produce 12% of the rural export market with 2% of the population.
"It really is an issue of equity."
Meanwhile, the report said Dunedin City had a "large and diverse network, with an inconsistent layout and competing users, which results in a poor record in road safety".
"Improvements in safety performance are required to address this, with vulnerable users and intersections a key concern.
"Network constraints, along with changing user demands and provision for private motor vehicles, have resulted in poor access for alternative transport demands."
Councils will receive the report before submitting to NZTA.
