Neglected rural and regional roads will cost more lives

The government must take urgent action to prevent more accidents to truck drivers and other road users of increased logging trucks on neglected roads, says Darien Fenton, Labour’s Transport spokesperson.

“The dangers to drivers and other road users in the North are similar to those I’ve discussed with truckies, district councils and communities in other regions.

“There have already been deaths and injuries, yet the government continues to starve regions of funding to develop better roads that are needed for economic development, and at the same time, it is running down alternative freight methods such as rail and coastal shipping.

“The ‘wall of wood’ was entirely foreseeable, and to expect drivers and communities to continue to navigate roads that are already rutted and unsealed, with further damage being caused by an increasing number of logging trucks is unreasonable.

“The lack of maintenance and structural repair on roads are causing accidents, roll overs, deaths and near misses every day, and this is not acceptable.

“Labour’s ‘Wood First’ plan, which will create an added value approach to the forestry industry includes restoring Regional Development Transport funding to complete forestry roads in Northland and other parts of the country where the forestry industry is booming.

“I will be visiting Whangarei in the near future to talk directly to those affected and discussing Labour’s plans with them.”

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