9 Dec 2009

Govt stands by lower spending on regional roading

3:34 pm on 9 December 2009

Finance Minister Bill English has told farmers and tourist operators in Otago and Southland that the Government is spending as much as it can on their roading infrastructure.

There is growing concern after the Government cut millions of dollars from road maintenance subsidies requested by councils in the south.

Southland Federated Farmers was so upset that a delegation was sent to see the minister in Wellington.

President Rob Pembertson says the funding cuts ignore the fact that billions of dollars of export produce is trucked across Southland roads from the dairy industry alone every year.

Mr English says the Government has increased funding for roads, but while that may not be to the levels requested, it's still enough to maintain the network.