The Time is NOW !!!

Prime Minister John Key's sees investment in infrastructure as one of the absolutely key ways to improve New Zealand's long-term sustainable growth rate. He has promised to spend an extra $5 billion on infrastructure by 2014. His National government plan's to jump start New Zealand's faltering economy by fast-tracking the planning and building of key infrastructure projects such as roads. Now would be the most appropriate time for New Plymouth and the regions councils MPs and exporters to lobby the government for investment on roading projects that have been consided, but have untill now been to expensive for New Plymouth alone to initiate. That being a proper ring road around the southern boundary of New Plymouth from the port to Bell Block. This would include a new bridge over the Waiwakaiho River near the meetings of the waters connecting Smart Rd Waiwakaiho Rd north to state highway 3 south. This combined with a new road west through an already existing paper road behind New Plymouth joining up with Beach Rd / Centennial Drive to the Port. Including a road tunnel under Mt Moturoa joining the port to Centennial Drive just north of the tank farm at the Herekawe Stream. This would come under the governments roading infrustucture criteria of national importance, Port Taranaki being New Zealands third largest export port. It is in the governments and the countries best interests to have a clear pathway to the port for the countries future economic growth. With less congestion faster turnaround times with easy access. As it is now all access to state highway 3 north or south too and from the port is through New Plymouth inner city. By persisting with this route is not in the countries or New Plymouth's best interests. Lobbying for a new government founded New Plymouth ring road infrastructure project will also keep much of the districts employers in work through the coming economic down turn. Projects like this are just what John Key's say's he is looking to invest in during this economic down turn. For employment and New Zealands future long-term sustainable growth. ( It;s now time for interested parties to make it happen).

New Plymouth Roading Expansion Needs

For many years New Plymouth has needed a new connection road north and south of the city. From the port around the city outskirts south to SH3, and from the top end of Waiwhakaiho Road Smart Road with a new connecting bridge over the Waiwhakaiho river through to SH3 . Providing a ring road around the city from the port to Bell Block and beyond connecting all major arterial roads in and out of the city. This is the only way New Plymouth will resolve New Plymouth future population subdivision and industrial expansion needs. Expansion that is already starting to clog New Plymouth's existing roading system. The government by passing some of their roading financial responsibility over to the local Taranaki Regional Council, allowing them to raise rate's by 10% for roading purposes is an insult. And won't be nearly enough to fix our roading problems now or in the future.. Instead it will only raise rates to unacceptable levels providing more of the same, fine tuning existing routes. The New Plymouth and Taranaki road uses have for years paid road user taxes and levees to the government for roads. The government has instead been diverting that money into the governments consolidated found. It's just not good enough, New Plymouth needs the government to invest in a proper new New Plymouth by-pass roading interlinking connection route around the city now. It is election year next year, and it's time we the citizens of New Plymouth got real with central government and its bureaucrats, forcing them to refund a fair share of that money back into this much needed new roading system. By voting for candidates and political parties that support it. For the environmentalists for which I am akin, a good roading system saves on energy costs, keeps heavy traffic and vehicle congestion out of the central CBD. It's not the vehicles but the fuel they use that is the bigger environmental problem, and that will change in time to environmentally friendly fuels and vehicles.

Rusty Kane NP/NZ

Stategic Study

The NPDC New Plymouth Stategic Transport Study cofirms New Plymouth needs a new connection road from the port around the city outskirts south to SH3 and a 2nd new Waiwhakaiho bridge. A bridge at the top end of smart road connecting with SH3 with the proposed port connection. Providing a ring road around the city from the port to Bell Block connecting all Arterial Road in and out of the city. The exsisting Waiwhakaiho Bridge also needs to widened or another bridge alond side to accommodate new residential and industrial developments north of the city. Weatgate Port Taranaki's dredging of the port to accommodate the larger Panamax ships, will also open the port to all sorts of new business opportunities, this will secure the ports viability well into the future. But as the Stategic Transport Study shows New Plymouth is totally unprepared for such huge growth. Not having the infrastructure or alternative heavy traffic routes in place.The city can in no way handle the future huge increase in heavy transport movements to and from the port.through the city. Adding to the already overloaded congested roading network. The Government needs to stop its BandAid approach to New Plymouths roading needs, pull its finger out, and put some serious money into by-passess and infrastructure solutions to accommodate the cities and the ports growth. Acknowledging New Plymouth and the ports vital roll and significance to the New Zealands economy as New Zealands only major westcoast deep water export port to the world.

Rusty Kane NZ

Heavy Traffic

New Plymouth need to start the land consent process for a clear causeway. From Port Taranaki around the outer city linking state highway 3 south and north. Start first with a connecting cycle track walkway from Port Taranaki up Centennial Drive through to Beach Rd – across to Barrett Rd - through to Eva Rd -across to Junction Rd - connecting state highway 3 south -through to Waiwakaiho Rd -down Henwood Rd -to the Henwood Rd - Manutahi Rd -intersection then linking into the soon to be formed Bell Block by-pass - north and Mountain Rd – east. Connecting to state highway 3 north. A cycle track walkway first because the governments focus is on being a carbon nutural environment making founding available for cycle tracks and walkways not roads and cars. This first cycle track walkway concept could easily be incorporated into the planned cycle track from New Plymouth to Bell Block creating a circle route around the city for cyclist runners and walkers. Getting the consents now for a cycle track walkway. The city can access government founding now and have a clear green belt causeway around the city, with enough room for a proposed road by-pass required to levitate New Plymouth's heavy traffic congestion problems to and from Port Taranaki in the future.

Rusty Kane