Three proposed roading policy changes could have a big financial impact for Waitaki district ratepayers.
The council has recently completed reviews of roading policies, some dating back to 1990, which could add more than $418,000 a year to the rates it needs to collect - equivalent to almost a 2% rate increase.
However, before it makes a decision to implement the policies, it will consult the public.
Any extra money it needs, if the policies are passed, will also be subject to public submissions as part of its annual plan and long-term council community plan (LTCCP) processes.
The three reviews cover the roading network hierarchy (which roads are designated as strategic, arterial, collector or local), carriageway width standards (how wide roads should be depending on their designation) and seal extensions.
The roading hierarchy was last reviewed in November 1990, and since then there have been big changes.
Roading assets manager Gary Woock said changes to the roading hierarchy were more aligned with current and projected traffic use.
Two major factors had changed the way the district roads were used or may be used in the future - dairying, particularly on the Waitaki Plains-North Otago downlands-Waiareka Valley, and Holcim's proposed $200 million cement plant near Weston and its associated coalmine and sand quarry at Ngapara and Windsor.
The review proposed 14 changes, all increasing the status of roads in the district by adding new arterial and collector routes.
The second proposed changes were to the carriageway widths.
The standards set in 1990 were no longer acceptable to deal with economic development throughout the district, Mr Woock said.
The proposed standards would be more expensive.
They could add $418,000 a year to the council's budget, but would also lift the level of service to ratepayers, he said.
Some of the cost could be offset by subsidies from Land Transport NZ.
Priority for widening would be given to arterial and collector roads with a high daily use.
The council is proposing to widen arterial and collector roads which are used by more than an average of 100 vehicles a day.
The third policy affects seal extensions, mainly in the rural area, and was last reviewed in March 1992.
Growing economic development and heavy vehicle traffic has prompted the review.
The review proposes changes to the priorities which would be applied when extending sealed roads.
The council is expected to ask for feedback from the end of this month.
