Rotorua Eastern Arterial plans must progress mayor tells government

“There’s only one direction for the government to take from here, and that must be ‘full steam ahead,’” said Rotorua mayor Kevin Winters today talking about plans for a new arterial route through the eastern part of the city.

At a meeting of Rotorua District Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee this morning, the council selected New Zealand Transport Agency’s Option 3 - the so-called ‘Designated Route’ - as its preference for a new eastern arterial to relieve growth and traffic pressures from the existing State Highway 30 along Te Ngae Road.

However the council added a rider to its preference saying that NZTA should also ensure there was suitable mitigation of cultural and geothermal features in the Ngapuna area of the route.

Identification of the Designated Route follows several months spent examining three separate options put forward to the council by NZTA for a new eastern arterial.

Mayor Kevin Winters said that as one of the key stakeholders in the new route, Rotorua District Council remained right behind the project as it was vital for Rotorua’s future. However he said choosing one single option had been a difficult task as all three would impact to some extent on people in the area.

“We understand that people will be affected by the development of this important route but we believe the option we’ve identified will have the least impact on people while producing the best results for our community’s future.

“The designation for an arterial route through the eastern part of the city has been in place since the 1960s and a lot of development has taken place around it. While there is already a growing need for improved road access, when we think about planning for growth over a 20 to 50 year timeframe the arterial route makes good sense.”

Mr Winters said he and councillors had lobbied long and hard for progress to be made on the eastern arterial as it was seen as critical for the district’s future economic development, and vital for the safety of Rotorua residents and visitors.

“Congestion on the current route is already holding back approved developments in the eastern part of the city, its causing increased levels of frustration for businesses and residents, and producing unacceptable delays for travellers and freight.”

Mr Winters said that NZTA must now move on at speed with the project to provide some certainty and to reduce some of Rotorua’s constantly growing traffic delays.

“A new improved arterial route across the east of the city is essential for people using Rotorua International Airport, for access to the Port of Tauranga and for timber processing at places like Kawerau. Without it we run the risk of grinding to an economic standstill as well as reaching traffic gridlock.

“This community will be watching NZTA’s moves very closely over coming months and we’ll hold the government to account for ensuring that the project keeps moving forward, and at pace. There’s no room for delay as the economic future of Rotorua and many of our surrounding areas are dependent on this route going ahead without further impediment.

“I urge the government to move decisively, and I make a plea to local MPs of all political persuasion to unite in support of the Rotorua Eastern Arterial proposal.

“Everything within our collective power must be done to ensure this project remains an absolute priority for the government. Our community will not accept anything but ‘full steam ahead’ for the Rotorua Eastern Arterial,” said Mr Winters.