$198M to be spent on roads

Press, 17 July 1980, Page 2

$198M to be spent on roads

Wellington reporter Revised estimated expenditure of $198.75 million for 1980-81 was approved by the National Roads Board yesterday," $8.75 million more than at first budgeted. But for the need to provide for flood damage, this would have been a more satisfactory review, said the Maypr of Port Chalmers (Mr J. F. Thorn). The representative - of the Automobile Associations (Mr F. R. M. Parkinson) said the list of works agreed to in the revised estimate was only a fraction of the list of works which had been declined.

There would be $97.2 million (up $5.75M) spent on State highways, $43.95 million (up $350,000)'0n cqunty roads, $30.45 million (up $350,000), on municipal roads, and $lO million (up SI.6M) on flood damage. The board was aware of further problems to be faced in financing flood damage, said the Deputy Director of Reading (Mr R. B. Fisher). An approach to the Government for extra money was discussed “in committee’’ by the board.

Until such time as the board’s budget level could be lifted, reading development in New Zealand was very

much in “a status.quo situation,” he said. Even the increase of $8.75. million did not allow the board to increase the funds allocated for road construction. The problem had been to fund commitments carried forward, increased costs and the demands of funding adequately the reinstatement of flood-damaged roads. The $198.75 million has come from $119.5 million in Motor Spirit tax,’ 62 million in , road user charges, $lO million from the consolidated accpunt, $3.25 million from miscellaneous sources, and a balance of $4 million brought forward. : ■