A farmer living on one of the dustiest roads in Northland has warned the local council it will have blood on its hands if it does nothing about the hazard.
Photo: RNZ / Lois Williams
Alex Wright was one of about 70 people who marched in protest over unsealed roads, and packed a council meeting today to make their point.
They waved banners that read "Dust is Killing Us" and "John Key won't fund Northland roads".
Mrs Wright said the health risks from the dust stirred up by log trucks was bad enough.
But she said the road safety risk was more urgent: especially to the school bus that was forced to dodge the dust clouds every day.
Threat of roadblocks
Mrs Wright said about 100 trucks a day go past some of the houses on unsealed Whangarei roads.
Residents west of the city have been trying for a year to get action on the dust hazard caused by log trucks.
They say the dust clouds cause breathing problems, and make driving hazardous.
But the Whangarei council said it did not get enough Government funding to seal the roads.
The residents said Maori own part of the road, and if nothing's done their next step will be a blockade to stop the trucks.
Hear the protesters
Kaumatua Hirini Henare tells Whangarei councillors that the unsealed Pipiwai Road will be blocked by locals unless the problems with logging trucks and dust are sorted. Photo: RNZ / Lois Williams
Protesters pack the Whangarei District Council chambers to demand gravel roads - including those being pounded by logging trucks - are sealed. Photo: RNZ / Lois Williams