Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey says the Woodend community should be proud of its achievements with the Woodend Bypass back on the radar.

However, Doocey is disappointed the community will have to wait at least three more years, the project missing from the National Land Transport Plan 2021-24, released Tuesday.

“Today’s announcement is a kick in the guts by the government to Woodend residents with no reference to the Woodend Bypass in the plan,” Doocey said.

“I have been fighting for this project on behalf of the community for years.

“I have taken the voices of our residents all the way to the Transport Minister and have raised the need for a bypass in Parliament.”

He had also advocated consistently to Waka Kotahi NZTA including bringing representatives direct to the community.

“Residents packed out my rally in Woodend last year to make their feelings clear that a bypass is needed now.

“We were gutted when it was left off the Canterbury Regional Land Transport Plan 2021-2031, adopted by ECan in June.”

Doocey said he put in a submission to the committee, making it clear the Woodend community did not feel safe with a state highway passing through it.

“I then met with the committee chair to drive home the urgency of this project, with daily traffic movements reaching 20,000 a day through the town.”

In spite of all the efforts, the draft Plan listed the Woodend Bypass as an ‘on the horizon’ project only, leaving campaigners feeling let down.

On Monday the committee announced it had asked Waka Kotahi NZTA to consider bringing the project forward in response to the feedback, and Doocey questioned why it was therefore not in the three-year plan.

“I’m calling on Waka Kotahi to do their bit and commit to this project to give our residents certainty.

“I will not stop fighting for them until the bypass becomes a reality.”