Extra money is being poured into Waitaki district roads in a project the Waitaki District Council believes will make them better withstand adverse events.
Over the past three years, including subsidies from the New Zealand Transport Agency, the council has spent more than $3 million repairing damaged roads, but its ''Resilience Roads'' project is now looking to the future.
Roading manager Michael Voss said the project was starting to pay dividends for Waitaki residents and several roading projects have been approved throughout the district.
The project added to normal maintenance activities, would better prepare the network to face changes in farming (such as dairying and more irrigation) by improving drainage, installing more wash-over pads at low points and strengthening embankments.
Waitaki's roads have faced numerous challenges, including storms, flooding, and an increase in heavy traffic, particularly in areas where dairy farming has increased.
''Over the last two years we have spent about $3 million to repair damaged roads across the district,'' Mr Voss said.
While this work was necessary, the council was also looking for long-term solutions to maintain its roads that met the demands of growth and made best use of the ratepayers' dollars.
''We have found some key areas that are becoming increasingly vulnerable to weather events and have the greatest impact on road users should road closures or significant disruption occur.
''Corriedale, with its farming intensification, is the main area of concern and features heavily with the construction of the wash-over pads and drainage improvements.''
In the Waihemo district, five ''brush walls'' - banks overlaid with willow poles - were being constructed in slip-prone areas.
