The 2026/27 road sealing and resurfacing programme is officially underway across the Western Bay of Plenty district, driven by warmer weather and longer daylight hours. Over the coming months through April 2027, council crews will resurface more than 30km of local roads with chipseal, alongside targeted first-time seal extensions to improve safety, durability, and resilience across the network.
Work is currently progressing on key unsealed routes, including McMeeking Road in Te Puke – leading to Te Matai Marae – and a 2km stretch of Work Road in Aongatete. Of the 1,077km of local roads managed across the District, approximately 14% (150km) remains unsealed. Sealing these sections reduces dust, enhances drainage during heavy rainfall, and creates smoother, easier-to-maintain surfaces.
Timing and weather conditions play a critical role in ensuring the quality and longevity of the road surface. Western Bay Team Lead Road Maintenance Aidan Glynn emphasizes the importance of executing this work during the warmer months.
“We carefully plan our work to make the most of the warmer, drier weather and longer daylight hours, which helps the new seal bond to the existing road surface properly and gives it the best chance of lasting for many years,” says Aidan Glynn.
“During the peak summer months, we do our best to balance doing the work during school holiday periods, when the roads are quieter at peak times, whilst also doing what we can to minimise the impact for road users during the busy holiday period.”
Protecting road foundations from heavy vehicle traffic and moisture ingress remains the primary objective of regular sealing. Glynn compares protective road seals to essential home maintenance.
“Paint on a wooden house helps keep water out and protects what’s underneath. In this case, it’s the road underneath. Over time, the seal wears down and becomes less effective,” explains Glynn.
With average construction costs for rural seal extensions running around $750,000 per kilometre, careful prioritization is required to manage resources across unsealed local roads. Western Bay Director Transportation Calum McLean notes that candidate roads are evaluated based on traffic volume and residential dust exposure.
“We’d love to seal them all, however we must prioritise which unsealed roads we fund, and when. Each unsealed road is assessed on the volume of traffic using the road and the dust exposure to residents living on the road,” says Calum McLean.
Motorists are advised to observe traffic management controls, including stop/go points and temporary speed limits through active sites. Residents can report concerns using the Antenno app, online form, phone, or by emailing info@westernbay.govt.nz.