“Phenomenal” funding for Rotorua roading project

$55 million of funding has been approved for the upgrade of Te Ngae Rd.

A major Rotorua "shovel ready" roading project has received $55 million in funding from the Government.

The announcement was made today by Minister of Finance Grant Robertson and Minister for Infrastructure Shane Jones and will see major upgrades to Te Ngae Rd progressed to "unlock" urban land development in the area and could provide up to 300 jobs.

The project is a partnership between Rotorua Lakes Council and local iwi Ngāti Whakaue, and also involves the NZTA.

The money will help develop Māori land, provide housing and generate short and long-term employment.

The project includes building roading and stormwater infrastructure to enable housing development for up to 1100 sections, as well as state highway upgrades and stormwater works.

State Highway 30 upgrades will include the Wharenui Rd intersection (traffic lights), Owhata Rd intersection (traffic lights), Brent Rd intersection (banned right turn and traffic calming/crossings), Wharenui Rd to Brent Rd link (public transport, walking and cycle facilities), Basley Rd intersection (traffic lights), Iles Rd to Basley Rd link (four-laning, public transport, walking and cycle facilities) and some local road treatments (traffic calming, public transport, walking and cycle facilities).

Groundworks are currently being progressed on the site and design work and consenting would proceed with pace for the remaining 900 sections of zoned land and contractors would continue to the next stage of development.

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says the funding announcement is phenomenal news for Rotorua.

'It's a big boost towards positive outcomes for our district – it will help stimulate the local economy by providing work and jobs and will enable progress towards much-needed housing, so it strongly supports Rotorua's Build Back Better economic recovery.”

Chadwick says Rotorua desperately needs housing across the spectrum and council has worked closely with Te Arawa – alongside Central Government agencies and other key stakeholders – on a strategic housing framework.

"Council has lobbied long and hard for investment in the city's key roading corridors to ease congestion and future-proof the local network," she says.

'During the past few years, we have secured more than $100 million in Government investment in Rotorua, including for a variety of key place-shaping projects and roading."

Waiariki MP Tamati Coffey says he hopes locals will appreciate the importance of the partnership between Te Arawa, council and the Government, "to get things moving for Rotorua".

'I'm proud that, yet again, this Government is investing in Rotorua by funding the necessary adjustments along Te Ngae Rd and opening up the potential for housing on Rotorua's eastside.

'This will relieve burdensome traffic congestion, provide better biking and walking options, create 300 jobs and safer roads for our families while unlocking much-needed housing for our people out east," Coffey says.

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