Ultimatum over stock crossings

Kaikoura District Council is negotiating with local farmers over the maintenance of the district's stock crossings to ensure a satisfactory solution is reached to the issue.

Council staff have been in consultation with the farmers with a proposal to share the cost of installing concrete pads at the crossings.

However, this has been met with opposition from some farmers.

Councillors agreed the problem had been ongoing for a number of years and needed to be addressed. Some said the farmers ought to be responsible for the full cost of either the concrete pad or the maintenance of the chip seal on the road.

Areas where the cows cross are constantly being damaged and the chip seal needs to be repaired more frequently than once a year, according to asset manager Gallo Saidy.

Land Transport New Zealand recommends installing concrete pads, the cost of which is more expensive, but Mr Saidy said long-term this was a cheaper solution than paying for the ongoing maintenance of the seal.

Council staff will now go back to the farmers to propose that they either pay half of the costs of installing concrete pads or 100 per cent of the cost of the ongoing seal maintenance.

The farmers will also be advised that this decision will need to be made by a certain date to avoid the issue being prolonged any further.

If the farmers fail to agree to council's proposal the offer to pay half of the costs of the concrete pad will be withdrawn and they will then face the full costs themselves.

Cleaning of the crossing areas is also an issue as cow manure is harmful to the underside of vehicles using the road.

Although this is covered in a council bylaw it is unclear if it can be easily enforced.

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