Rangitīkei District Council concerned about roads as they decide on a new roading contract

By Finn Williams

Concerns about the degradation of the road network will be top of mind for Rangitīkei District Council as it undergoes the process of signing up a new roading contractor.

Mayor Andy Watson said roading contracts were one of the most significant contracts signed by councils, especially for rural councils such as Rangitīkei.

“It tends to be over multiple years, and will often be up to nine years in duration.”

The reason the contracts were for so long was to be fair to the contractor and give them some degree of security for purchasing the equipment needed to fulfil the contract.

The council’s current contract is set to expire and it is currently processing what the next contract will involve.

Due to the amount of work involved, national firms tended to receive these contracts, but Rangitīkei was also looking into involving smaller, local companies.

“Most rural councils nowadays are also looking to be able to have scope within contracts so local contractors can be used, especially on low-volume roads,” Watson said.

He wanted the next contractor to bring the maintenance of the district’s roads to a usable standard, as he and the council were concerned about their condition.

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