At last month’s council meeting, staff provided a report to councillors on NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA)-confirmed funding from the National Land Transport Fund 2024-27.
Roading asset manager Mark Hardman said funding for pothole prevention, local road operations and bridge structure renewals had all been approved.
"Only pothole prevention has attracted the sort of level of subsidy that we'd hoped for."
However, only about a third of requested funding for footpaths had been approved.
"The longer term implications of this are far, far more significant than the impact on this year.
"We're now in a position where the local share that we've rated for, combined with NZTA's subsidy results in a shortfall of $122,000."
He said the funding would limit the council’s work programme to 70% of the work decided on in the annual plan.
"A backlog of footpath renewal work has been identified."
Guidance from NZTA chief executive Nicole Rosie advised councils to focus on delivery, value for money and core business.
Approved organisations were expected to "maintain a tight control on the scope and cost of their project and adopt a ‘no frills’ approach", she said in a letter to council chief executive Peter Kelly.
Infrastructure manager Quinton Penniall said carry forwards would address the funding gap until next year’s long-term plan when there would be a discussion about level of service for footpaths.
Councillors accepted the report.
