Submission on Environment Canterbury Annual Plan 2013 – 2014
To:
Environment Canterbury
Freepost 178, Christchurch City Council, Democracy Services, PO Box 73013,
Christchurch 8154
Submitter:
NZ Transport Agency
PO Box 1479
CHRISTCHURCH 8140
The NZ Transport Agency does wish to be heard in support of this submission.
Dated at Christchurch this 23rd day of April 2013.
Jim Harland
Regional Director
Address for Service:
NZ Transport Agency
PO Box 1479
CHRISTCHURCH 8140
Attention:
Caroline Hutchison, Senior Advisor
Phone:
(03) 966 7808
File Ref: TP/12/67/2/63
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on your Council’s Annual Plan 20013-14. The NZ Transport
Agency (NZTA) acknowledges the efforts of your council in preparing this plan and its role in coordinating the council’s earthquake recovery activities alongside the day to day requirements of the
council’s business. In particular, NZTA believes the Plan has an important role in ensuring integrated
decision making and coordination of resources between your council and the relevant agencies and
private sector as we move forward on recovery activities and as a stepping stone for the long-term
recovery of Christchurch and Canterbury anticipated through the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
Strategy and the Christchurch Central City Recovery Plan.
NZTA is committed to working collaboratively with local government and other organisations to
develop the land transport system in an integrated and sustainable manner. We look forward to
continuing to work with your officers to deliver an improved passenger transport.
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
NZTA’s mandate is set out under the Land Transport Management Act 2003 (LTMA). It has a
statutory responsibility to undertake its functions in a way that contributes to an affordable,
integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system. It is also responsible for
allocating land transport funding and has a requirement to give effect to the Government
Policy Statement (GPS).
NZTA acknowledges the complex financial challenges for council as it plans for the delivery of
a large infrastructure recovery programme alongside competing demands for community
facilities, central city recovery etc.
Having regard to the above and our respective statutory responsibilities under the LTMA we
offer the following comments for your consideration.
2.
Public Passenger Transport
2.3
NZTA is supportive of and recognises the challenges facing your Council as you “aim to return and then
exceed pre-earthquake patronage levels as quickly as possible whilst balancing the need to maintain a
sustainable revenue base for the provision of services”. NZTA supports your moves “to the new network
model of services that better meets travel patterns whilst also reducing the overall cost of the system to
rate payers and central government in real terms”.
2.4
We support the council’s plans for further work needed to refine and monitor the ‘Hubs and Spokes’
model. NZTA looks forward to working with Environment Canterbury to progress the studies and
monitoring needed to maximise the workability of this model.
2.5
NZTA commends the Council for the costs savings made over the past year and look forward to working
with you on improved efficiencies as you move to the new operator contracts through to 2016. The
Passenger Transport Operating Model will be introduced from July and we anticipate the contracts will
require further changes to align with this model.
2.6
We note you have signalled you will consider changes to fares in 2013-14. We are unclear as to the extent
of any planned fare restructuring, and the impact on your financial forecasts. We would welcome to discuss
your planned approach and encourage you to look to move as quickly as possible to achieving a 50%
farebox recovery but acknowledge the difficult balancing act required to maintain patronage whilst
balancing the revenue fairly.
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Regional Land Transport
3.1 The draft Annual Plan specifically seeks feedback on your council’s proposal to cease your activities in road
safety co-ordination. NZTA understands that council wishes to reduce your activities in the operational area of
road safety and move to a role of providing administrative and technical advice (page82) of the new Regional
Road Safety Working Group (RRSWG).
3.2
Safety is a key component of the approved Regional Land Transport Strategy (RLTS). The RRSWG that sits
under the Regional Transport Committee has been established as an influencing, advocating, co-ordinating,
collaborative, co-operative Working Group. The group will develop and Implementation Plan that sits below and
gives effect to the Regional Land Transport Strategy (RLTS) and government’s Safer Journeys Strategy and
Action Plan.
3.3 It is unclear from the draft Annual Plan how council intends to provide the “technical and administrative
support” to the RRSWG. NZTA is concerned that loss of the staff position will make it more difficult to provide
the leadership and co-ordination to ensure the RRSWG can be an effective group to deliver the measures
contemplated by the Safer Journeys Action Plan.
3.4 The Safer Journeys Road Safety Strategy to 2020 highlights under ‘Making the Strategy Work’ on page 44 that
Regional Transport Committees and Regional Road Safety Action Plans will be a key part of developing and
monitoring regional actions and ensuring consistency with national programmes.
3.5 NZTA recommends council considers retaining a Regional Road Safety Co-ordinator with some aspects of this
role being refocused to support the Canterbury Regional Road Safety Working Group. This would be consistent
with the Government’s Safer Journeys Strategy and Action Plan. We consider that the Council should play a lead
role in the co-ordination and planning of safety programmes for Canterbury. However if the Council does cease
to be involved in the operational safety programmes, we consider it will be important for council to actively coordinate these programmes to maximise their effectiveness and efficiency. The NZTA looks forward to
contributing to that group.
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