Gareth Hughes

The taxpayer is currently subsidising overweight trucks, said the Green Party today.

"The John Key Government is overlooking the inefficiencies in the permit system for overweight trucks, and taxpayers are picking up the trucking companies tab," said Transport Spokesperson Gareth Hughes.

In responses to Green Party Questions for Written Answers, Transport Minister Steven Joyce has revealed approximately 5000 overweight permits are granted annually costing the New Zealand Transport Agency $600,000 a year, but only $200,000 is raised through issuing permits.

"The cost of administering permits to overweight vehicles is three times greater than the revenues raised. In other words, the taxpayer is currently subsidising permits for truckies to drive overweight vehicles on the roads, to the tune of $400,000 a year," said Mr Hughes.

The Government announced last week that heavier (up to 53 tonnes), longer (up to 22 metres), trucks will now be allowed to operate on our roads.

The amendment to the road rules will grant road controlling authorities, including local and regional councils in some cases, the power to issue permits to overweight vehicles that apply to use local roads.

"This will place another administrative burden on councils that are already strapped for cash and resources," said Mr Hughes.

"It is another example of this Government shifting costs to the public, particularly local and regional councils, in order to benefit a few."

Mr Hughes encouraged residents to contact their councils to voice their concerns about allowing bigger oversize vehicles on local roads.

"Longer, heavier trucks will only make our roads more dangerous and expensive to maintain. Already trucks are involved in 16 percent of all deaths on the roads, even though they comprise only four percent of the vehicle fleet.

"Communities will not be able to fully recoup these costs, which will simply flow through as profits to trucking companies," said Mr Hughes.

"Tell your local and regional councils that you don't want them to allow bigger trucks in your community."

Links to written questions from the Green Party, answered by the Minister of Transport http://ourhouse.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/1/2/7/QWA_19446_2009-19446-2009-Jeanette-Fitzsimons-to-the-Minister-of-Transport.htm

http://ourhouse.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QWA/6/0/2/QWA_18916_2009-18916-2009-Jeanette-Fitzsimons-to-the-Minister-of-Transport.htm