ORC To Consider Public Transport Changes
The decisions are a result of ORC's review of the Otago Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP). The RPTP attracted 549 public submissions, with hearings held in May this year.
ORC General Manager Regional Planning and Transport Anita Dawe says, 'In a report being presented to the Council this week, the hearings panel for the RPTP are recommending discontinuing free fares for children, increasing the adult fare from $2 to $2.50, and setting child and youth discounts (5-18 years) to 40% off the adult fare (i.e. $1.50 fare). The fare increases are recommended to take effect from 29 September 2025.'
'The plan's hearings panel also recommends moving to a zone fare structure once ORC completes further analysis and modelling. Ms Dawe says no timeframe is indicated for this recommended change yet.
In addition to fare changes, the panel has made recommendations on several potential new public transport services frequently raised by submitters.
'Many submitters indicated their support for some type of community transport to facilitate better intraregional connections. The panel recommends the Council maintains support for community transport as written in the plan, with the timing and scale of any future community transport programme to be decided in future Council meetings.'
There were a number of submissions requesting new public transport services connecting Wanaka and Upper Clutha, Wanaka and Queenstown, and Oamaru and Dunedin, Ms Dawe says. Others asked for services connecting Dunedin and Dunedin Airport, Balclutha, Outram and Central Otago.
'The RPTP recommendations include Council consider these potential new services in the future and accelerates introducing public transport services for Wanaka to a six- to ten-year timeframe.'
The panel acknowledged community interest in rail solutions, but concluded there is not the evidence base to include rail in the plan in any great detail. However, minor changes to language from the draft plan have been recommended to reflect sentiment and support study in this area.
The panel appreciated many submitters acknowledging the public transport challenges Otago faces, including the constrained funding.
The report will be presented to ORC's council meeting this Wednesday (25 June). The report and full agenda are now online, under Meetings on www.orc.govt.nz.
The council will publish the final version of the plan incorporating the recommended changes later this year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
West Coast council staff kept busy by information requests
File photo. Photo: 123rf Requests for official information are on the rise on the West Coast, including some described as 'vexatious'. A report to Tuesday's Operations Committee meeting shows the West Coast Regional Council handled 39 LGOIMA (Local Government Official Information and Meeting Act) requests in the June quarter. Nine involved the Taylorville Resource Park consent application. A resource consent hearing for the controversial private dump near Greymouth is set down for two days next month. Compliance visits to mining sites; council staff and contractor numbers; Buller plateau mining consents and all records on historic demolition waste also featured in the list of LGOIMA requests. All but two of the requests were processed in the statutory timeframe, the report said. The Ombudsman had contacted the council once over a report the council initially refused to release. The council had revised its decision but due to an 'internal error' still failed to release the report. That had been rectified, and an apology provided for the error, the report said. The majority of requests were granted in full or in part. The council withheld information on some requests involving the Taylorville Resource Park, on the grounds of protecting commercial information, legal privilege, privacy and free and frank expression of views by or to council staff. Chief executive Darryl Lew said the council had to be mindful of the Privacy Act and be meticulous with redactions in its responses. "It is an ever-increasing and concerning amount of time we put into this. But it's part of transparency (requirements for local government)." Some of the LGOIMA requests could be considered frivolous, he confirmed. "In the legislation, whether they are frivolous, vexatious, recidivist…we've still got to meet their requests. " Chair Peter Haddock said council had been criticised for having too many staff but dealing with 13 or 14 LGOIMA requests a month meant a massive amount of work. "Just looking through some of them, some are coming from the same people all the time, you can read it like a book, and it all comes at a cost to ratepayers. " The simpler requests were being handled in-house, but the more complex ones were still managed by a contractor, staff confirmed. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
London Quay Businesses Open As Revamp Hits Halfway
Press Release – Marlborough District Council Councils Project and Contract Manager Maighan Watson said the London Quay Revitalisation Project was focussed on essential infrastructure upgrades, while delivering a landscape refresh of London Quay. As work on the London Quay upgrade in Picton marks the halfway point, the doors of businesses along Picton's much loved waterfront strip are very much open for customers. The Diversion Gallery owner Barbara Speedy, also part of the Picton Business Group, said the Fulton Hogan team and Council had communicated well with those affected and this was appreciated. 'We are keen for the public to know we are all still open for business and there is plenty to take in, including good food and wine, as the upgrade work continues. A lot of people didn't realise the watermains and stormwater needed replacing and relocating, so it's good to see Council taking the opportunity to combine that essential infrastructure project with simultaneous improvements,' she said. Council's Project and Contract Manager Maighan Watson said the London Quay Revitalisation Project was focussed on essential infrastructure upgrades, while delivering a landscape refresh of London Quay. 'We have adopted a 'dig once' approach to minimise the disruption to the Picton CBD, local businesses and users of the area. We appreciate the support of all the directly affected businesses as well as those close by such as Brereton Jewellers and Diamond Nails. 'Several essential infrastructure upgrades were required in this area, including streetlight upgrades, watermain renewals and road resurfacing.' Ms Watson said the contractor, Fulton Hogan, was making great progress with the underground infrastructure now completed, including watermains, stormwater upgrades and ducting for new streetlights. 'Around 350m² of new paving has been laid with the southern section of the footpath now reopened to the public. The old pavers around the War Memorial have also been replaced, and work has started on the stepped pedestrian connection to the Foreshore which is a real feature of the revitalisation. 'September will see more some progress above ground with the installation of new streetlights and starting the landscaping works,' Ms Watson said. The site holds cultural significance for local iwi, Te Ātiawa (Waitohi Pā), and Council has worked in partnership with the iwi to integrate cultural design elements throughout the upgrade. The project, scheduled for completion by mid-October, was awarded to Fulton Hogan with design led by Rough Milne Mitchell Landscape Architects. Funding for the project has been provided through Council's forestry, land and port income, with no impact on rates. For more information, go to Council's website at and search 'Picton CBD – London Quay Revitalisation Project'.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Scoop
Council Confirms Parking Permit For Tauranga City Centre Fringe
Tauranga City's Mayor and Councillors have approved the introduction of a new city centre fringe parking permit. The decision made at Tuesday's Council meeting, will give people an option to buy a permit, permit holders can park in the purple city centre fringe paid zone without needing to pay daily at machines or via the parking app. The permit pricing is set at $150 per month, $750 for six months, or $1,500 for a full year. Residents within the city centre fringe paid zone are eligible for an 80% discount on a one-year permit, bringing the total cost to $300. Resident discounts are limited to one per property. While holding a permit does not guarantee a parking space, the reduced cost - when compared to paying daily - will support regular city centre commuters and give residents more flexibility to park on their street at a discount. Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale sees the permit as a solution to some of the concerns he and Councillors have heard in the community and underlines the need to keep exploring other possibilities. 'This is a way to ease the financial pressure of paid parking and gives people who live or work in the area, as well as people that park there all the time, an option for a discount for longer term permits,' says Mahé. 'We will continue looking at innovative ways to make visiting and parking in the city centre easier for our community.' Permits are available for purchase via the PayMyPark app. Residents should first apply for a discount code by providing proof of address at Originally set to begin on Monday, 4 August, the new city centre fringe paid zone will now come into effect on Monday, 18 August, giving residents and regular commuters more time to apply for their permits and adapt to the changes. The new city centre fringe paid zone is part of phase two of the Parking Management Plan (PMP) for the city centre that was approved by Council on 28 April. The PMP aims to improve access to short-stay parking, and balance increased demand across the city centre and city centre fringe with new paid and time- restricted zones, and changes to off-street pricing. All public parking, including parking buildings and off-street carparks are free after 5pm, free every weekend and on public holidays.
