There is life south of Ashburton and transport funding should reflect this, government planners will be told.
The Dunedin City Council is dispatching pointed commentary to Wellington about a draft national 10-year plan for transport infrastructure that is largely focused on the North Island.
The council’s customer and regulatory services committee this week approved a draft submission on a draft government policy statement about land transport for 2024-34.
Among the comments were "it is disappointing that the government has not shown a similar level of commitment to Dunedin’s transport challenges as it has to Auckland and Wellington".
A council report highlighted a series of projects considered strategic — none existed in the lower South Island.
The nearest was a bridge in Ashburton.
Council transport group manager Jeanine Benson observed several times in the meeting attempts were being made to draw attention to the transport needs of New Zealand south of Ashburton and at one point she commented "there is life beyond Ashburton".
Specifically, the council is critical of funding models heavily weighted towards areas of population growth and that fail to sufficiently account for such factors as a heavy freight burden, a busy port and the importance of regional cities as hubs connected to the hinterland.
Cr Christine Garey noted the Otago Peninsula was host to a unique mainland royal albatross breeding colony, but between Dunedin and the colony was a road that was "falling into the sea".
She was also concerned about Dunedin’s high ranking for risk at urban intersections.
"Being on that risk register is a matter of real shame."
Cr Andrew Whiley said it was plain the government was not worried too much about the South Island.
He reeled off a series of statistics that seemed to show the South Island was headed for less than its fair share of spending.
It might be lucky to get 60% of what would be directed at the North Island for state highway maintenance, lucky to get 22% of rail network funding, lucky to get 55% of public transport funding, "champing at the bit" if it could get 40% for local road improvements and maybe 60% for walking and cycling improvements, he said.
"Any government needs to be delivering for all of New Zealand," Cr Whiley said.
"Yes, we do continue on in New Zealand past Ashburton, thank goodness.
"We are a very strong part of New Zealand Inc, whether it’s tourism, whether it’s industry, freight export ... and we need to be funded accordingly."
Cr Jim O’Malley said government policy should have "a lot more lower South Island in it".
He believed lack of attention to the South and Dunedin came from administrative officials.
"We are a bigger and more important city than the Ministry of Transport realises."
