Various events, issues and announcements this week demonstrated the complexity and challenges that come with a multi-modal supply chain.
Rubber in roads
I was excited to hear this week about the country’s first trial using rubber from end-of-life recycled tyres in the construction of a road surface. The trial is scheduled to take place next year in Glentunnel, Canterbury. Hats off to Treadlite NZ who are providing the rubber granules, the roading contractor (believed to be HEB), and Selwyn District Council for showing leadership in this space.
We will follow this closely and are very keen to understand the scope and purpose of this trial. Waste from used tyres is a significant environmental issue and a number of countries already use rubber in roads, including the United States, China, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Thailand. Other nations like the UK, India, and Australia have also trialled technologies to incorporate recycled materials into road construction.
Wellington SH1 Improvements consultation underway
I was also excited to see NZTA open consultation on its proposals to improve traffic flow over to the capital’s airport. Key features are two tunnels, one beside the current Terrace Tunnel and a second tunnel through Mount Victoria.
The current Terrace Tunnel was completed in 1978. Around the same time, pillars to support the parallel motorway decks were also constructed but never used. The tunnel was part of the Wellington Urban Motorway and the total cost for the tunnel and other extensions was $68.9 million.
The words of Chris Money, NZ Economics Leader at EY, whom I mentioned last week were ringing in my ears. He advised that once you’ve done the good work to show you’re going to need infrastructure, then you should build it, because it’ll never be cheaper!
Pretty much every day I drive past the pillars that were constructed nearly 50 years ago in preparation for another tunnel. It appears a great shame that was never followed through then because it’s bound to cost an awful lot more now!!
Once we have a briefing from NZTA on the project, we will be developing a submission. In the meantime if you do have any comments on the proposals, let our Membership Manager for the Lower/Central North Island, Lindsay Calvi-Freeman know at lindsay@transporting.nz.
Cook Strait port infrastructure announcement brings greater certainty
Minister of Rail, Winston Peters’ announcement on Wednesday about progress with the Cook Strait ferry project was also good to hear.
We’ve consistently voiced reservations about the service being reduced to two vessels and we’re mindful that the Government’s decision to procure rail-enabled vessels was against the advice of the Government’s Ministerial Advisory Group and presents increased risk of cost escalation. These risks will have to be closely monitored.
However, with the supply of the vessels being finalised we’re hopeful this will allow the Government to focus on the timely delivery of supportive port infrastructure by 2029.
We want party politics to get parked to ensure a bipartisan focus on delivery. We only have to look across the ditch at the debacle with the two new Spirit of Tasmania vessels to see how embarrassingly wrong things can go. The berths were not ready and the wharfs’ construction cost, which was initially $90 million, ballooned up to $495 million.
Our attention will turn to the Government, focussing on avoiding the delays and cost blowouts that have plagued Project iReX and many other major transport and infrastructure developments around the country.
Ports
Following our chat with Mike Hosking on the impacts of vehicle access fees to ports, we’ve sought a meeting with Port of Auckland to discuss how the wider road freight sector can work with the Port to improve port productivity, manage congestion, and limit further fee increases. Hopefully, a meeting between us can support a respectful and constructive ongoing relationship between our two organisations.
Truck safety technology survey closes today
We have had an outstanding response to the survey we launched a fortnight ago to collect fitment rate data for the technologies that NZTA is proposing to make mandatory. We’re also seeking the views of operators on their desire for these technologies. The outstanding response so far has provided great insight into the practicalities of this proposal and demonstrates the strong interest in this space.
If you have good knowledge of fleet safety technology and you haven’t completed the survey, please do so here. It closes end of day today, Friday 21 November.
