Responding to mounting concerns raised by Mount Maunganui businesses near the port, ISO Limited has taken decisive action to address the traffic congestion and gridlock caused by logging trucks in the vicinity.

During February, frustrated business owners in Triton Ave, Mark Road and York Ave voiced their anger as long convoys of logging truck and trailer units, awaiting the crucial checking and stamping of their logs at ISO Limited for export, hampered the regular flow of traffic and obstructed access to driveways.

As things came to a head, with businesses threatening to block the ISO entrance, staff from Tauranga City Council, local business owners, ISO and Port of Tauranga attended a meeting on Tuesday, February 27, to address the concerns.

The left lane previously blocked on Mark Rd between Hull Rd and York Ave by logging trucks waiting to get to ISO in York Ave. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

In the wake of the complaints, ISO Limited’s Justin Scholes has implemented immediate measures aimed at alleviating the impact on neighbouring establishments.

“We understand the concerns raised by local businesses and the community regarding truck movements in and around our operations,” says Justin.

“While ISO does not have direct control over the flow of trucks into our operations, we have taken a number of immediate steps which we will expect will help mitigate congestion issues for the benefit of all road users.”

Justin says these include opening a fourth ticketing lane at York Avenue, establishing a staging area which can hold up to 15 trucks, and increasing the number of ISO staff at their York Avenue operations, during peak periods, to expedite truck movements through the site.

This proactive approach seeks to strike a balance between the crucial logging operations and the smooth functioning of surrounding businesses, demonstrating a commitment to fostering community harmony.

The left lane previously completely blocked in York Ave, while logging truck and trailer units waited to enter the ISO marshalling depot at the end of York Ave. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Following the meeting on Tuesday, February 27, Tauranga City Council are also addressing the road safety and traffic management issues raised by the York Ave and Mark Road businesses.

“Council are in the early stages of reviewing the industrial and commercial zones of the city plan,” says Tauranga City Council transport network safety & sustainability manager Anna Somerville.

“This review is currently in a research and information gathering phase and there will be opportunities for public and stakeholder feedback as the project progresses.”

Council had previously installed a triple head CCTV camera in York Avenue, which Anna says will continue to monitor congestion issues.

Tauranga City Council previously installed a CCTV camera in York Ave. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Port of Tauranga are also implementing measures to assist with the flow of logging trucks.

“The Port team worked with ISO to establish the staging areas within the port gates,” says Port of Tauranga’s Rochelle Lockley.

“This can accommodate up to 15 trucks on ISO’s land, and we have also designated an overflow area on port land nearby if required.”

Logging trucks at the ISO depot in York Ave. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Justin says in addition, ISO is working with forest owners in an effort to more evenly spread the flow of trucks upstream from the port, which should mean they have less trucks arriving at the port at the same time.

“And we are also reinforcing the importance of drivers obeying the rules at our ticketing site, as well as parking rules and general expectations of good road user behaviour, with the trucking companies involved,” says Justin.

Logging trucks had previously been reported running the stop sign from Triton Ave onto Portside Drive while travelling from the first ISO depot to the second in Hull Road.

Diagram showing flow of trucks through the two ISO locations on York Ave and Hull Rd.

Local businesses, although wary, are saying that the traffic congestion eased, starting from a day or two before the meeting on Tuesday.

“They appear to be stock piling trucks elsewhere and releasing then to the ISO facility in York Avenue,” says one business owner.

“We haven’t been disrupted since the meeting.”

“What we’ve got so far is good,” says Jules Bowers, office manager at Novus Glass, who says they have been complaining to Tauranga City Council about the issue since 2021 “and not a thing has been done to rectify any issues” apart from a CCTV camera being installed.

“As long as it keeps happening and if he sticks to what he’s saying, whatever they’re doing, it’s working for us.

“If it continues to carry on and they continue to manage it like they have done this week then I’m sure most of the businesses in the street will be happy,” says Jules.

“We’ll continue to work with all forestry exporters and both stevedoring companies to identify any longer term fixes that we can help with,” says Rochelle.

Logging trucks on Hull Rd, waiting to turn into Mark Rd to go to the ISO depot in York Ave, while other trucks leaving the ISO log scaling facility in Hull Rd head past on their way to the port following completing their ticketing process.  Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Justin says they will continue to monitor the effect of these changes on congestion issues around the port and listen to community feedback, so that they can proactively address any ongoing concerns.

“We also continue to collaborate with and maintain a constant dialogue with Council, local police and business owners,” says Justin.

Hull Road is partially closed until March 12, with road rehabilitation works being undertaken at night to minimise disruption. There is currently a detour in place to reroute traffic while the works are underway.