Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and councils are proposing to almost double the investment in the Canterbury region’s land transport system over the next 10 years.

The proposal looks to increase maintenance, manage risk from natural hazards, reduce emissions, enhance safety, and accelerate key transport projects across the region.

The Canterbury Regional Transport Committee – made up of representatives from each city and district council, Canterbury Regional Council and Waka Kotahi – approved a draft Regional Land Transport Plan, which outlines the need for a $10.8 billion investment over the next decade to meet the proposed objectives.

The draft will be shared with the community for formal consultation in early 2024.

Canterbury Regional Transport Committee chairperson Peter Scott said the proposed step-up in funding, which would kick in from July 2024, aims to address deferred maintenance work and support a robust transport system that can stand up to ever-increasing use, as well as more frequent and severe exposure to extreme weather or natural hazards.

“This draft plan outlines how we’d like to invest in future transport solutions for Canterbury, while also providing ongoing stewardship to our existing transport network,” Scott said.

“A lot depends on the incoming government and whether they’ll change the Government Policy Statement for Land Transport, which currently includes provisions for a second Ashburton bridge and the Woodend Bypass.”

Scott said in order to deliver the plan, central government would need to plug a funding gap of around $4.6 million.

Funding for transport programmes and projects across New Zealand mostly comes from council funding, direct Crown funding, and the National Land Transport Fund, which is made up of road user charges and fuel taxes.

Key transport projects for Canterbury

Road maintenance, operations and renewals work across the region accounts for at least 40% of the land transport investment proposed for Canterbury over the next 10 years.

The top three priority projects in the draft plan include a second Ashburton bridge, public transport upgrades for Greater Christchurch, and the Northern Link, including the Woodend SH1 bypass.

“The objectives and priorities for Canterbury’s transport system have been based on feedback gathered by councils across the region, and early input from key stakeholders, land transport users and suppliers,” said Scott.

“Everyone will have an opportunity to have their say on how projects have been prioritised in early 2024, when formal consultation gets underway.”