Westland District Council has retained 95% special purpose roading funding for three years. The funding assistance rate has risen from 64% to 65%, with 100% funding for emergency works. Westland Mayor Helen Lash says it is a great result.

“I couldn’t be more pleased,” she says.

Without it, ratepayers faced an 8.2% rise to cover roading alone.

“It’s just not doable.”

The council maintains 390km of sealed roads, 304km of unsealed roads and 269 bridges on a small ratepayer base. Lash says the 2% to 4% rates cap will not work for rural and provincial areas.

“Things are going to have to go.”

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.