Invercargill to Government: Prioritize Bluff Highway as National Significance

• Councillor Ian Pottinger criticizes the poor condition of Bluff Highway, urging NZTA for swift improvements.
• Deputy Mayor Tom Campbell highlights the economic surge in Bluff, emphasizing the road’s critical role and the need for its enhancement by NZTA.
• The council demands NZTA recognize the highway as crucial for national significance due to its pivotal economic role and pressing safety concerns.

During an Invercargill City Council meeting, Councillor Ian Pottinger spotlighted the dire state of Bluff Highway, the main conduit from Invercargill to Bluff, managed by NZTA (Waka Kotahi). Terming the road’s condition as “embarrassing,” Pottinger called for immediate, proactive measures to rectify the issues, suggesting intensified engagement with NZTA and government representatives.

The council’s discussion was framed by the Government’s draft transport policy, where the council aims to lobby for the maintenance and prioritization of highways and roads, particularly emphasizing NZTA’s role in the upkeep of Bluff Highway. The highway’s significance to Invercargill, its economic linkage to Bluff, and its importance for South Port were underscored as compelling reasons for urgent actions by NZTA.

Deputy Mayor Tom Campbell pointed out the economic growth in Bluff, with exports doubling in the last decade, illustrating the critical need for NZTA to prioritize the highway’s improvement.

In its submission to the Government, the council stressed the importance of NZTA recognizing State Highway 1 between Invercargill and Bluff as a national priority, highlighting its economic significance, challenging safety record, and essential role in community connectivity. The submission also addressed the road’s vulnerability to climate change and its safety concerns, including several serious accidents in recent years.

Responding to these pressing issues, the council intends to convey a stronger message to NZTA and the Government, advocating for vital investments in the road to bolster the region’s economic growth, safety, and resilience against climate change.