Ever wondered why some roads get fixed sooner than others? The answer often lies in long term strategic decision making that starts years before any work begins. Tararua District Council’s roading team at Tararua Alliance is running a series of workshops with councillors and iwi representatives, to map out priorities for our roading network for the next three years. There are some big issues and there’ll be some tough choices.

The workshops feed into the Transport Activity Management Plan - a key document that helps secure funding from NZTA, which currently covers about 73% of the district’s transport costs, with the remaining 27% coming from rates. “The Transport Activity Management Plan is a long term plan that is updated every three years. The plan we are working on is for the 2027-2030 plan,” says Alliance Manager Daniel Erard.

A big challenge is affordability: “Our roading network was largely built to service farming activities, but with a shift toward forestry combined with the increase in heavy vehicle weight limits from 44 tonnes to 50+ tonnes, our roads are under significant pressure. When this is coupled with rising costs, it reinforces the need to adapt our approach and prioritise how and when we maintain the network.”

Tararua has a large rural roading network but a relatively small population to help pay for it. Global pressures like fuel and bitumen prices are adding uncertainty, and aging infrastructure mean tough choices are unavoidable. “The decisions we make now affect the amount future generations pay. We need to prioritise based on how roads are used, which may mean lower levels of service on quieter roads, and more targeted investment in the roads that have the most use.”

The plan focuses on a few key areas. Keeping roads open and reliable during severe weather is a top priority, especially as heavy rainfall puts pressure on drainage, hillsides and road surfaces. “We’re investing in smarter, preventative work like improving drainage and strengthening vulnerable areas, to keep communities connected,” Daniel says.

Supporting the local economy is another critical factor, with more heavy vehicles, especially logging trucks, using key routes. “We need to make sure our key freight roads can handle the load. Having good asset data is essential for making informed decisions.”

In March this year Tararua Alliance was the first road controlling authority in New Zealand to achieve ISO 55001 certification. “The ISO certification ensures the way we are making decisions about how roading investment is managed meets global best practice,” Daniel says.

The community will have a chance to have their say when the plan goes out for public consultation as part of the Long Term Plan in early 2027. For the first time ever, the LTP workshops are open to the public:  http://www.youtube.com/@LandOfRanges