Since March 2022, the district has experienced four extreme weather events, the last and most devastating one being Cyclone Gabrielle. These weather events have left our transport network in a fragile and vulnerable state. Continued wet weather between events has only exacerbated this issue. A significant proportion of roads on the network have been impacted to some degree by these events.

The cost to reinstate and repair the network is estimated at approximately $130 million. To date, around $45 million has been spent with another $85 million required to address the weather damage and bring the network to the required or expected level of service. Funding is sourced mainly from Waka Kotahi subsidies.

This big decision concerns where to prioritise our resources.

OPTION 1 - Rectification + BAU

This will allow the Council to focus activities and funding on completing the necessary emergency work resulting from the cyclone and returning as quickly as possible to business-as-usual activities and levels of service.

Focus will be on bringing damaged infrastructure and levels of service back to pre-cyclone standard. Any significant improvements will be deferred.

Cost over 3 years: $109m ($93m Waka Kotahi subsidy)

Impact on rates: $9.1m will be funded by rates

Impact on debt: $3.4m will be funded by Debt

OPTION 2 - Rectification + BAU + Targeted improvement - Preferred option

In addition to maintaining business-as-usual activities and completing emergency work, targeted safety and resilience improvements will enable Council to begin mitigation efforts to address climate change and future extreme weather events.

All areas of the network will be given some level of attention, service, or improvement. Resources may be spread too thinly to bring levels of service up to more than a minimum standard.

Cost over 3 years: $124m ($103m Waka Kotahi subsidy)

Impact on rates: $9.3m will be funded by rates

Impact on debt: $5.6m will be funded by Debt