Hope Bypass and Rocks Rd on Government priority list

The Hope Bypass now looks set to progress, despite who comes out on top in the general election later this year, but it will come at a cost - a 12c increase in petrol tax and road user charges.

"We cannot wait, we need a large intervention," says Nelson MP Rachel Boyack on progressing the Hope Bypass to ease congestion in Richmond.

Transport Minister David Parker released the draft Government Policy Statement 2024 (GPS) on Transport in Auckland on Thursday afternoon, which sets out priorities for the next decade of transport funding.

The Hope Bypass and Nelson's Rocks Rd waterfront are both included for funding.

The draft GPS is proposing to increase transport funding to a record $20.8 billion over 2024-27 - an increase of more than $5 billion. But it comes at a cost - an increase in petrol tax and road user charges.

“The significant increase in funding for land transport responds to demand across New Zealand to fix our cyclone-damaged roads, build new roads and improve public transport choices. This Government agrees that this investment is essential – but it has to be paid for,” David Parker says.

“Some of the additional funding needed will be raised by small increases in petrol taxes and road user charges. These sources fund the core of our transport networks. Past governments have regularly increased these charges, and this will commence again."

The increase in the first year is proposed to be split into an initial two cent increase, with another two cents six months later. This is to be followed by a four-cent annual increase in 2025 and again in 2026 – a total increase of 12 cents over three years.

David says a two cent per litre increase in petrol taxes, equates to a 44 cent per week increase in cost to the average motorist, or a 0.9 per cent in the cost of petrol (including GST) at a petrol price of $2.50 per litre.

“The increases in petrol taxes and road user charges will raise the total revenue from petrol taxes and road user charges from $13.1 billion to $14.5 billion over three years, and will be dedicated to improving our transport network."

The announcement comes just weeks after National committed to accelerating the construction of the Hope Bypass by including it in the next generation of its Roads of National Significance program.

Nelson's National Party Candidate, Blair Cameron, labelled the inclusion of the project "desperate" and shows that Labour is "out of ideas".

“Labour has had six years in government to make moves on the Hope Bypass, but they have just sat back and watched the roading issues in Richmond get worse," he says.

"It is pretty cynical that less than a month after National announces the Hope Bypass will be included in the next generation of its Roads of National Significance program, Labour copies National’s policy."

However, Nelson MP Rachel Boyack says she was delighted that both projects were to be included in the new GPS.

“I’ve campaigned and advocated to fix Richmond’s transport mess since becoming Nelson’s MP, including taking Prime Minister Chris Hipkins through the unsafe and congested intersection at Lower Queen St during his visit in April, although I did have to tell him he got a lucky day in terms of congestion.”

“I’m delighted to have secured a commitment from my MP colleagues to fix the transport mess in Nelson. In my view, it is the highest transport priority for Nelson.”

She says the project has been in the pipeline for the last couple of years.

"What I identified when I became MP was that there was no plan to fix the issues in that [Richmond] area."

She says she has spent the past two years working with local mayors and Tasman District Council to develop a plan for the bypass, which has now been signed off by Waka Kotahi.

"The original plan had it in the long-term, but what I've been advocating for is for it to be brought into the immediate term.

"We cannot wait, we need a large intervention, it's not something that can be fixed with tweaks," she says.

While National committed to the Hope Bypass, there was nothing in the Roads of National Significance program for the waterfront.

"We are fully committed to building a world-class and climate-resilient State Highway 6 that will serve the Nelson and Tasman communities for decades to come," Blair says. "There are other parts of the state highway that will require significant investment in the future and you can expect that National will remain committed to ensuring that Nelson Tasman gets the infrastructure that it needs."

Rachel says Rocks Rd is the "jewel in Nelson’s crown" and needs significant work to be made safe for walkers and cyclists.

" This project now has certainty, and I couldn’t be more pleased.”