Southland MP Joseph Mooney says the slashing of Southland’s roading budget while a huge $685 million is set aside for a new Auckland Harbour bridge for walkers and cyclists is a bitter and unfair blow for the province.

Last week, the Southland District Council (SDC) was hit with the bad news that it would not be receiving its requested funding from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, equating to a $7.5 million shortfall over three years.

It came just days after the government announced it would fork out more than 90 times that amount for its new Auckland Harbour bridge project, massively blowing out the original $360 million it had pledged to complete its Northern Pathway.

“It is completely absurd that the government’s underfunding of Waka Kotahi will result in Southland roads not getting the vital repairs they need while millions of dollars are thrown at a non-essential cycleway,” Mooney says.

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“Quite simply, it’s grossly unfair.

“The Southland economy relies heavily on a well-maintained roading network. But even more importantly, Southlanders deserve access to safe and properly managed roads.

“It is reckless and irresponsible of the government to put Southland lives, as well as the state of the Southland economy at risk.

“The government has a track record of putting the needs of urban New Zealand ahead of the provinces and this is yet another example.”

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This year the SDC proposed a large 10.15% rate increase as part of the council’s 2021-2031 Long Term Plan, with much of the extra income to be used to replace more than 170 wooden bridges and maintain more sealed roads.

Mooney says it’s simply a case of Southlanders digging deep to pay for safer roading while the government fails front up and match their contribution.

“Southlanders have already been hit with the prospect of a big rate increase.

“It is unacceptable that ratepayers may have to go even further into their pockets to cover a shortfall that could have easily been avoided with responsible leadership from the government.

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“Southland’s weather extremes and our most unique landscape mean there are few provinces that face the challenges ours does in maintaining safe and effective roads.

“Southland’s communities and its economy, including the incredibly important primary and tourism sectors, as well as many other industries, simply cannot function properly without adequate roads and bridges.”

Southland’s transport woes have been made even worse this week, Mooney says, by the announcement of the government’s Clean Car Package which offers rebates for electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrids while taxing more robust modes of transport. 

“There are simply no appropriate EV alternatives for farmers, tradespeople and many other industries who rely on traditional utes and SUVs,” Mooney says.

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“The electric vehicles on the market today won’t get farmers around the farm and they won’t help builders tow a heavy trailer to a job site.

“Many people and businesses across Southland are passionate about the environment and are doing fantastic work to help create a cleaner and greener New Zealand.

“Hitting them in the pocket by taxing essential work vehicles is another ill-considered move by a government completely focused on urban issues.”

Mooney says he supports incentivising the purchase of EVs but not if it means punishing people and businesses that simply can not switch over.