Tauranga City Council has acknowledged concerns raised by the Pāpāmoa Residents and Ratepayers Association (PRRA) about planned local road resurfacing.
The Association has raised concerns over plans to resurface previously asphalted roads with chip seal, saying the work is unnecessary.
Every year, the Council resurfaces around 4–5% of the city’s roads using either hot mix asphalt or chipseal. The resealing works in Pāpāmoa are part of Council’s annual road resurfacing programme, which runs from late-September through to the end of March.
Council’s Head of Transport Mike Seabourne says progressing with resurfacing works in Pāpāmoa is needed to save money in the long run.
“Residents can be assured that the roads identified in Pāpāmoa were not chosen at random. Each road was individually inspected by qualified engineers to assess its condition and determine the most appropriate treatment.”
“While the surface of a road might appear fine, the ideal time to resurface is just before any visible damage occurs. Like paint on a house, road seals protect the structure underneath from water damage. Delaying resurfacing leads to deterioration, potholes, and expensive reconstruction, costing far more than timely maintenance,” says Mr Seabourne.
Council spends approximately $9 million annually resurfacing 25–30km of Tauranga’s 630km local road network, with 51% of this funded by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). Meeting NZTA requirements is essential to secure this co-funding and deliver value for money for ratepayers.
The Council says asphalt is around five times more expensive than chipseal and is only replaced like-for-like where high traffic volumes or heavy vehicles justify the cost. For low-traffic residential streets, chipseal is the only option eligible for NZTA funding, making it the most cost-effective choice despite not meeting all aesthetic preferences.
“The cost of resealing six streets in Pāpāmoa with chipseal is estimated at $187,000 – and NZTA contribute 51% – so rate payers pay just under $92,000. In comparison, resurfacing these six streets in asphalt would increase the cost to around $1.6 million with ratepayers needing to pay the balance,” said Mr Seabourne.
“Applying this approach to similar streets across the city, that wish to retain developer-installed asphalt, would result in disproportionate costs and undermine our ability to maintain a fair, sustainable transport network, or other essential services, for everyone.”
He said Council was committed to listening to the community and responding to concerns.
“As resealing is part of our annual maintenance programme, formal consultation is not required; however, we are committed to improving communication with residents and ensuring they receive clear advance notice of works.”
Council says it will continue to provide updates as the annual road resurfacing programme progresses.
For more details on the resurfacing programme, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/road-resurfacing or sign up for a weekly bulletin at www.tauranga.govt.nz/weeklybulletin.
