A proposal by the Waitaki District Council not to maintain country roads beyond the last house has struck opposition from farmers and community groups.
The council has carried out major reviews of its roading network in the district and policies in an attempt to rationalise spending under a limited budget.
One of the proposals, for which it sought public comment, was in the extent of the network policy.
It was suggested the council would not maintain back-country roads beyond the last house.
That brought opposition from farmers, the North Otago Federated Farmers, the Waihemo Community Board and the Department of Conservation.
Doc has told the council the proposal could restrict public access to conservation parks and other public land, although councillors have pointed out the department does not pay rates yet is asking for roads to be maintained.
Federated Farmers agreed the council should not be responsible for maintaining and upgrading privately formed roads unless there was a clear public benefit or it provided essential access, such as to remote tourist attractions.
It suggested the council should consider each road on its own merits and a case-by-case basis.
"An example of this may be where there is increasing tourist traffic into the back country, or farm intensification increases heavy traffic movement in the area," it said.
Federated Farmers suggests the council establishes assessment criteria, then applies it to individual roads.
Community board chairman Rod Philip said the council had a fundamental responsibility to provide access beyond the last residence to facilities such as yards and woolsheds.
He pointed out some farm owners were paying substantial rates and getting very little in return, except for road maintenance.
The council needed a consistent policy, should look at individual needs and make decisions on a case-by-case basis, he said.
One way might be to review the standards on individual roads according to use to determine what maintenance was needed.
The council will consider the submissions before making a decision next month.
