Minutes of a meeting of the Regional Transport Committee
Held in the Council Chamber, Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson
On Friday 16 October 2015, commencing at 1.01pm
Present: Councillor E Davy (Chairperson), Councillors R Copeland (Deputy Chairperson), Her Worship the Mayor R Reese, B McGurk and Ms R Bleakley
In Attendance: Councillors L Acland, M Lawrey and P Rainey, Group Manager Infrastructure (A Louverdis), Senior Asset Engineer – Transport and Roading (R Palmer), Administration Adviser (S McLean), and New Zealand Transport Agency representatives (M Owen and P Hookham)
There were no apologies.
2. Confirmation of Order of Business
There was no change to the order of business.
There were no updates to the Interests Register, and no interests with items on the agenda were declared.
4.1 Dr John Moore, Ms Helen Watson, and Helen Taylor Young, Guardians of Victory
Mr Moore provided detail about the history of the Guardians of Victory and tabled his speech (A1447368) and questions to the Committee (A1445868).
Mr Moore advised that a memorandum of understanding between Guardians of Victory and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) had been prepared but not signed. He highlighted that the group had received no communication from Council or the NZTA since early 2015
Mr Moore suggested that governance processes surrounding the Nelson Southern Link had been inadequate.
4.2 Craig Dennis and Gary Stocker, Progress Nelson Tasman
Craig Dennis and Gary Stocker tabled speaking notes (A1447406).
Mr Dennis said Progress Nelson Tasman supported the construction of a properly designed Southern Arterial route.
Mr Dennis summarised the history of Progress Nelson Tasman, its membership, role, and focus on the Southern Arterial. He said the Southern Arterial should be seen as an enabler, and highlighted the potential of Rocks Road.
Mr Dennis said it was difficult to see why New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) funding was low in Nelson given the high growth rates.
4.3 Robert Stevenson and John Gilbertson, Tahunanui Business Association
Mr Stevenson spoke about the history of the proposed Southern Arterial route. He highlighted that the state highway dissected the Tahunanui community. Mr Stevenson said there would be social, economic and safety benefits in releasing the waterfront and Tahunanui by providing an alternative highway route.
Mr Gilbertson gave a PowerPoint presentation (A1447400) and spoke about the need for a pedestrian refuge in Tahunanui, which had been previously confirmed by the NZTA but not built. He spoke about a recent parking study and highlighted the safety issues in crossing the state highway.
4.4 Paul Anderson, Waimea Road Business and Residents Society Incorporated
Mr Anderson spoke about traffic congestion and the potential for a suburban arterial along Waimea Road. He reminded the Committee of a previous request for trees and greenery along Waimea Road. Mr Anderson raised concerns about the narrowness of Waimea Road and the difficulty turning right onto the Road.
Mr Anderson said the Society supported the completion of the Southern Link. He asked that any consultation be equal and fair. Mr Anderson highlighted the need for mitigation if the Southern Link was built, and if it wasn’t, mitigation was required for Waimea Road.
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1 A1447368 - Dr John Moore Guardians of Victory - Speaking Notes - Tabled Document 2 A1445868 - Dr John Moore Guardians of Victory - Questions to Committee - Tabled Document 3 A1447406 - Craig Dennis Progress Nelson Tasman - Speaking Notes - Tabled Document 4 A1447400 - John Gilbertson Tahunanui Business Association Powerpoint |
5.1 25 February 2015
Document number M1313, agenda pages 6 - 12 refer.
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Resolved RTC/2015/001 THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Regional Transport Committee, held on 25 February 2015, be confirmed as a true and correct record. |
Document number R5011, agenda pages 12 - 17 refer.
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Resolved RTC/2015/002 THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Regional Transport Committee, to hear submissions to the draft Nelson Regional Land Transport Plan, held on 10 February 2015, be confirmed as a true and correct record. |
Document number R5012, agenda pages 18 - 22 refer.
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Resolved RTC/2015/003 THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Regional Transport Committee, held on 5 December 2014, be confirmed as a true and correct record. |
Document number R4483, agenda pages 23 - 26 refer.
The Chairperson pointed out the Committee had not been involved in any discussions or provided any input to the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) regarding the Nelson Southern Link. He advised it was a project determined by central government which had been placed on an accelerated investment program.
The Chairperson acknowledged that the process surrounding the project may have been different to what the community would usually expect because it was not a Council project.
Attendance: Councillor Copeland left the meeting from 1.55pm to 1.57pm.
Ms Bleakley abstained from the vote.
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Resolved RTC/2015/004 THAT the Chairperson's Report (R4483) and its attachment (A1377050) be received; |
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Resolved RTC/2015/005 AND THAT a letter be sent to New Zealand Transport Agency Canterbury Region requesting that Nelson be signed from Waipara via the Lewis Pass. |
Attendance: The meeting adjourned from 2.01pm to 2.06pm.
7. National Land Transport Fund - Nelson Outcomes
Document number R4979, agenda pages 27 - 36 refer.
Senior Asset Engineer – Transport and Roading, Rhys Palmer, presented the report.
Comments were made on the timing of urban cycleway linkages and the proposed Rocks Road development.
Mr Palmer advised that a programme of walking and cycling projects would be presented to the upcoming Works and Infrastructure Committee meeting. It was suggested that commentary around funding could be included with the programme information.
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Resolved RTC/2015/006 THAT the report National Land Transport Fund - Nelson Outcomes (R4979) and its attachment (A1434647) be received. |
8. New Zealand Transport Agency Update
Document number R4989, agenda pages 37 - 44 refer.
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Regional Director, Raewyn Bleakley, presented the report and advised that the NZTA Chief Executive had resigned.
Ms Bleakley spoke about the Nelson Southern Link and tabled a guide to the NZTA business case approach (A1452555) which was available on the NZTA website. She advised previous relevant studies would be drawn on when developing the business case, and said the air, noise and transport modelling had been completed.
Ms Bleakley said NZTA was in the process of completing the strategic business case phase and this would be published by the end of 2015. She pointed out that once this phase of work was complete, the focus would shift to identifying solutions.
Ms Bleakley advised that local community feedback would be sought as part of the investigation currently planned for early 2016. She highlighted that NZTA was committed to engagement as well as informing the public of investigation outcomes.
In response to a question, Ms Bleakley advised that, if requested, NZTA could hold a briefing for Council once the strategic business case was published.
Point of Order: A Point of Order was raised under Standing Order 3.13.4(a), questioning why non-members were unable to participate in the meeting. The Chairperson declined the point of order due to the controversial nature of the Nelson Southern Link.
Attendance: The meeting adjourned from 2.29pm to 2.41pm.
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Resolved RTC/2015/007 THAT the report New Zealand Transport Agency Update (R4989) and its attachments (A1438448 and A1438451) be received. |
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1 A1452555 - NZTA Business Case Approach - Tabled Document |
There being no further business the meeting ended at 2.44pm.
Confirmed as a correct record of proceedings:
