A confirmed $8.8 million shortfall in funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency has meant Queenstown Lakes District Council cannot fund three roading projects.
The council's transport manager, Denis Mander, this week said the three projects denied NZTA funding were the Mt Aspiring Rd seal widening, the Northwestern Corridor (also known as the Ballantyne, Hedditch and Lismore Rds Link), , which were both in Wanaka, and the Malaghans Road reconstruction, near Queenstown.
The NZTA announced the shortfall late last month and local Queenstown roads would be getting $100,000 less than what was applied for, though Mr Mander said the shortfall was expected due to pressure the agency was under.
"We asked for $13.187 million and we're getting $13.03 million, roughly $100,000 less. That is something that we should be able to accommodate.""We are at the very early stages of working with NZTA about how we accommodate the shortfall."
Crown Range Rd, which linked Queenstown and Wanaka, would be receiving $367,000 less over the next three years and Mr Mander said the council was looking at ways to "absorb" that loss. The council sought $1.769 million for Crown Range Rd maintenance but was allocated only $1.4 million.
In July the Otago Daily Times reported the council was facing a shortfall of more than $8 million in one sector and further shortfalls in other areas.
