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Dave@lemmy.nz

RaoulDuke@lemmy.nz

'No one wants this': Locals vow to keep fighting tolls on new Manawatū Gorge road (www.rnz.co.nz)

submitted 1 month ago by Dave@lemmy.nz to c/politics@lemmy.nz

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Submissions on tolling the replacement gorge road have now closed, but Woodville residents are refusing to give up fighting.

Under the current proposal, those driving between Palmerston North and Woodville in a light vehicle could pay $4.30 per trip, $8.60 for a return - and up to $17.20 for heavy vehicles.

The former State Highway 3 through the Manawatū Gorge closed in 2017 due to rockfall.

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[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 4 points 1 month ago (8 children)

Sorry posted in wrong community at first.

Can anyone remind me if anyone campaigned on toll roads ahead of the last election? I can't seem to find any news articles about it from 2023.

[–] TagMeInSkipIGotThis@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 month ago (4 children)

I can't see the 3 replies below, I have no idea why that happens quite a bit with Lemmy.

Anywho, while I recall National campaigning on building a lot of roads of notional significance, and very dubious cost:benefit ratios - I don't recall them making much mention of tolling them. And presumably if they did it would have been in the context of new roads, not long overdue replacements for a vital state highway that was closed years ago.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Looking at policy.nz's transport section, National wanted congestion charges but it was Act who wanted (privately owned) toll roads. If you click on the item under ACT around user-pays, you get:

This party would replace fuel taxes with an electronic road pricing system. Prices would vary based on how far, where and when people drive. Prices would increase during traffic jams to discourage driving and decrease during free flow to encourage travel during off-peak times. Prices would be set by road owners - this policy would introduce more privately-owned toll roads. These private road owners would receive the revenue generated.

I think you could reasonably assume this meant the private sector would plan, pay for, and build the roads. Not that the government would add tolls to a publicly owned road almost finished.

[–] Viper_NZ@lemmy.nz 2 points 3 weeks ago

Their policy is a privacy nightmare.

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