There's debate in Marlborough about whether some ratepayers should be picking up more of the bill for road repairs than others- and whether improvements to marine infrastructure in the Marlborough Sounds should be a priority.
The Marlborough District Council this week heard from submitters about their long term plan, which sets out the region's spending priorities for the next decade.
One of the key issues the council is facing is fixing the roads in the Marlborough Sounds, specifically who pays for this and how much.
Marlborough Sounds farmer Tania Taylor reminded councillors on Thursday that even they used the boats, rather than the road, to come in for meetings.
"For the past three years, it's a goat track. It's an absolute goat track," Taylor said, adding the road had damaged cars and getting stock out on the barge is too expensive.
"Please recognise residents have suffered enough of putting up with marginal road access. The cost everyone has been enough to endure".
She was among submitters who didn't think the council's plan was fair to residents in the Marlborough Sounds.
In July 2021 a storm hit the region and before the roads could be repaired another, larger storm hit in August 2022.
The repair bill is expected to be $230 million and while the New Zealand Transport Agency will fund a lot of it, the council needs to come up with $104 million.
The council has proposed five options with the preferred option being that all Marlborough ratepayers would pay some of the road repair bill, but Marlborough Sounds residents would pay proportionately more.
Rai Valley farmer Brent Morrison said the areas the council created didn't make sense, as he would end up paying for road repairs in French Pass, despite the fact his road had little damage.
"Let everybody pay an equal amount rather than the zoning that you've come up with. I think that's a bit tough".
Morrison, and a number of other submitters, pointed out that Marlborough Sounds residents paid rates for services used by those in Blenheim, despite not benefiting directly themselves.
Some also took issue with the fact it was based on property value, which means the likes of farmers will be paying more.
Another aspect of the council's plan is to spend $40 million on marine improvements in the Marlborough Sounds. That's the likes of wharves and jettys which would provide the region with greater resilience if another storm hit. But many submitters didn't think this should be a priority.
Marlborough Sounds resident Johanna Kroon said it should be the first thing to go. "How can we reduce the cost for the ratepayers? Scrap the marine improvements immediately. The marine improvements do nothing for repairing the roads".
Marlborough Resident Glenda Robb, who used to live in the Marlborough Sounds and has family there, said the areas needs the roads. "I just think that without a road, that's the end of the Sounds really".
She said while she doesn't mind boating in, it can be a hassle. "There is nothing worse than arriving at Havelock on a very wet, windy day and having shifted all your groceries, your stock food and everything else into a boat".
Mistletoe Bay Eco-Village's Cathie Bell said business was a third of what it was and tourism businesses are struggling without the road.
"People really like to chuck everything in the back of their car and drive to Mistletoe Bay. That's taken out people who were regular Christmas attendees who've been going for five years and then stopped".
The Marlborough District Council will finalise its long term plan later this month.
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