Given its low usage and the availability of alternative routes, the Central Otago District Council decided at its monthly meeting last week to lower its priority as a road.
With rising maintenance costs and ongoing financial challenges, the council is developing a strategy for unsealed roads that better align maintenance schedules and investment, ensuring limited resources are spent where they will provide the most benefit.
The ford/culvert on Naseby Link Rd was partially washed out during the October flooding and was temporarily repaired, with signage installed to inform travellers of the road’s ‘‘unmaintained’’ status and to direct them to the alternative route.
A review of the Naseby Link Rd, specifically its ford/culvert, prompted further questions about its long-term viability.
The road, which spans about 2km, connects Ranfurly-Wedderburn Rd to Gimmerburn-Naseby Rd and offers a shortcut to Naseby, though an alternative unsealed route adds only 1.7km to the journey.
Travellers also have the option of using a sealed route via the Ranfurly-Naseby Rd.
The council considered three options — converting Naseby Link Rd to an unmaintained track with costs of $1500, reinstating the ford on the road, as is, at $5000, or replacing the damaged culvert $50,000-$60,000.
At the meeting, CODC roading manager Paul Fleet said ‘‘the maintenance cost was disproportionate to the use’’.
Since 2017, about $77,000 has been spent maintaining Naseby Link Rd.
Flood-related repairs have directly led to $28,000 spent on the road.
In his report to council Mr Fleet said the ford on the road was likely to close during high-flow events and gravel buildup and erosion issues would remain unaddressed, leading to potential impassability after future storms.
