Route K boycott taken to council

Truck driver concerns about a looming 334 per cent Route K toll rise for twin axle trucks failed to sway Tauranga City Council in its vote.

Mr Chips driver Shane Spalding took his concerns about the toll increase from $1.50 to $5 directly to councillors today and told them what the likely response will be.

Mr Chips driver Shane Spalding is angered the tolls at Route K are increasing from $1.5 to $5.

Shane is among the hundreds of Tauranga drivers doing deliveries in twin axle trucks, loaded to a maximum of about 10-12 tonnes.

Until now they have been paying the same Route K tolls as cars, but from July 1 the light trucks, along with the 25-30 tonne trucks, road tolls are being increased to $5, from $1.50.

Shane plans to boycott Route K and take alternate routes along either Cambridge Road or Cameron Road, says Shane. To start with 30-40 other drivers tell him they will do the same.

Many of the drivers make early morning deliveries, but later trips will tend to clog the roads, says Shane.

'If I told my customers my charges were going up 300 per cent I wouldn't be in business a month, or even a week,” says Shane.

In reply to a question from Mayor Stuart Crosby, Shane suggests $3 might be a fairer increase.

'Anything more than 100 percent is not fair, pretty much. It's only been two years since it last went up. The bigger trucks that are now paying $4 weigh 25-30 tonnes and their trailers are free.”

Councillor John Robson says NZTA has a 3.5 tonne cut-off, and any truck over 3.5 tonnes pays the same, which might be what happens when NZTA takes over the road next year.

Under the council bylaw that comes into effect on July 1, a heavy motor vehicle has the same meaning as the Land Transport Rule – any vehicle with a gross vehicle mass of more than 3.5 tonnes.

The council was only required to vote on a recommendation revoking the current 2011 Route K Bylaw when the new bylaw, already approved by city council, comes into effect.

During discussion councillors learned from staff any late changes to the new bylaw will also have to go out for public consultation and discussion in a process that will take months and cost about $10,000.

A motion to do so was lost, and the original recommendation was carried.

When Shane spoke to SunLive on Friday he says his month's toll bill is $36 at present, but after July 1 it will be $120 a month.

He says there are 200-300 similar sized trucks using Route K each day, and they will also be using city streets from July 1.

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8 comments

Who cares ...

Posted on 16-06-2014 17:11 | By YOGI BEAR

From 1 July 2015 NZTA will put up the toll anyway ... heaps. All can expect yet another toll increase then, they will be the same as the Northern motoroway.


NZTA dictate to Cr. Robson

Posted on 16-06-2014 17:37 | By Murray.Guy

I thought Cr. John Robson had a legal duty to represent our city and it's residents, NOT the NZTA! Councillor John Robson says NZTA has a 3.5 tonne cut-off, and any truck over 3.5 tonnes pays the same, which might be what happens when NZTA takes over the road next year. Who cares what decision represents the best outcome for Tauranga City, what is fair - Not seven out of eleven of our elected members apparently!


Ban the big trucks from Cameron Rd

Posted on 16-06-2014 17:50 | By Annalist

Just like Whakatane and Ohope Beach where trucks are banned from travelling through and have to go via Taneatua I think? Fair enough if the truckies don't want to pay tolls then let them go round the Maungatapu Maunganui Rd way instead. I mean those big logging trucks and containers and things, not small trucks like Shanes. The increase seems a bit steep and should have been done smaller.


$ for weight

Posted on 16-06-2014 18:03 | By Wonkytonk

I think it is fair to say that if you are a van with far more weight than a car you are paying more for the wear and tear? $5 does seem a bit high but i do feel it should be about $3.


Ghost Road

Posted on 16-06-2014 20:28 | By alfbop

Way to make the road redundant, sure as I wont be using it.


Remember When?

Posted on 17-06-2014 08:36 | By The author of this comment has been removed.

When this road was being planned the Port of Tauranga stated - This road is needed for the port's development jobs blah blah. (I have the newspaper). Now the P.O.T. is very quiet about giving back to the area.


Too much

Posted on 17-06-2014 11:04 | By The Sage

Surely $3 would be a fairer amount for smaller trucks like Shane's. Hardly anyone used this road when it first opened, we will probably go back to that situation and more wear and tear on the others roads. Very short sighted. Recoup the $600,000pa the Council pay Priority One and use it in a more productive way.


What a foreseeable delema

Posted on 17-06-2014 11:47 | By FunandGames

People complain about the lack of on/off ramps on Route K, it was never built for local commuters it was built for the port and it does that job well. The council that initiated the project never in tended to toll Route K and the trucks using it to get to the port, the plan was to leave the illegal toll on the harbour bridge and get the locals to pay for this road they were not using. When the council were stopped from doing this they were to arrogant or late to stop the project (the project was committed to before financing was finalized)and proceeded to dig a massive financial hole which the current council have inherited and us residents will have to pay for one way or the other. Of all the current councilors Mayor Crosby is the only one who was involved in setting up this mes


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