Agenda of Regional Transport Committee

Regional Transport Committee

21 June 2022

Page No.

Karakia and Mihi Timatanga

1. Apologies

An apology has been received from Her Worship the Mayor R Reese

2. Confirmation of Order of Business

3. Interests

3.1 Updates to the Interests Register

3.2 Identify any conflicts of interest in the agenda

4. Public Forum

4.1 Henry Hudson - The dangers of rockfall on Rocks Road

Henry Hudson, from the Nelson Citizens Alliance, will speak about the dangers of rockfall on Rocks Road.

5. Confirmation of Minutes

5.1 29 March 2022 6 - 10

Document number M19371

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Confirms the minutes of the meeting of the Regional Transport Committee, held on 29 March 2022, as a true and correct record.

6. Chairpersons Report 11 - 21

Document number R26961

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Chairpersons Report (R26961) and its attachment A2905287.

7. Public Transport Update 22 - 33

Document number R26874

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Public Transport Update (R26874) and its attachments (A2895047 and A2895020).

8. Waka Kotahi Update 34 - 47

Document number R26873

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Waka Kotahi Update (R26873) and its attachment (A2905181).

9. Consultation on Waka Kotahi proposed changes to land transport regulatory funding and fees 48 - 77

Document number R26876

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Consultation on Waka Kotahi proposed changes to land transport regulatory funding and fees (R26876) and its attachments (A2887399 and A2883508); and

2. Approves retrospectively the submission (A2883508) to Waka Kotahi on the Regulatory Funding and Fees Consultation.

Confidential Business

10. Exclusion of the Public

Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Excludes the public from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting.

2. The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:

Item	General subject of each matter to be considered	Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter	Particular interests protected (where applicable)
1	Regional Transport Committee Meeting - Confidential Minutes - 29 March 2022	Section 48(1)(a) The public conduct of this matter would be likely to result in disclosure of information for which good reason exists under section 7.	The withholding of the information is necessary:

Item

General subject of each matter to be considered

Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter

Particular interests protected (where applicable)

Regional Transport Committee Meeting - Confidential Minutes - 29 March 2022

Section 48(1)(a)

The public conduct of this matter would be likely to result in disclosure of information for which good reason exists under section 7.

The withholding of the information is necessary:

Karakia Whakamutanga

Regional Transport Committee Minutes - 29 March 2022

Minutes of a meeting of the

Regional Transport Committee

Te Kōmiti Waka-ā-Rohe

Held in the via Zoom on Tuesday 29 March 2022, commencing at 1.34p.m.

Present: Councillor B McGurk (Chairperson), Her Worship the Mayor R Reese, Councillors J Edgar (Deputy Chairperson), R O'Neill-Stevens and Waka Kotahi Representative Ms E Speight

In Attendance: Group Manager Infrastructure (A Louverdis), Team Leader Governance (R Byrne) and Governance Adviser (A Fon)

Apologies : Nil

Karakia and Mihi Timatanga

1. Apologies

There were no apologies.

2. Confirmation of Order of Business

Waka Kotahi Representative, Emma Speight, needed to leave 3.30pm so Item 8 will be addressed before Item 7.

3. Interests

There were no updates to the Interests Register, and no interests with items on the agenda were declared.

4. Public Forum

4.1. Nelson Tasman Climate Forum - Making the most of the existing road network (Bus Priority)

Document number R26652

Kate Malcolm, on behalf of the Transport Group of the Nelson Tasman Climate Forum, spoke about making the most of the existing road network (Bus Priority). The group was happy with direction of the Council, but frustrated with the slow pace of change required to avoid a climate catastrophe. They were pleased an enlarged bus service would be rolled out in 2023, but would like to see at least one bus priority lane to coincide with the new service. The group suggested Beatson Road be the bypass for buses to miss the bottleneck through to the new traffic lights at Bishopdale and tabled a map (A2863274) to indicate this route.

Attachments

1 A2863274 Kate Malcolm Nelson Tasman Climate Forum

4.2. Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust - Whakatu Drive Shared Pathway Upgrade

Document number R26745

Gillian Wratt, on behalf of the Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust, provided a presentation (tabled, A2864001) about the Whakatu Drive shared pathway upgrade.

Questions were raised about the Whakatu Drive Shared Path Upgrade – WSP Proposal March 2021, and Waka Kotahi Representative, Emma Speight, clarified that this was a Waka Kotahi commissioned report and that they were in the early stages of engagement with key stakeholders.

Attachments

1 A2864001 Gillian Wratt Nelson Tasman Cycle Trails Trust Presentation

5. Confirmation of Minutes

5.1 6 December 2021

Document number M19148, agenda pages 5 - 9 refer.

Resolved RTC/2022/001

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Confirms the minutes of the meeting of the Regional Transport Committee, held on 6 December 2021, as a true and correct record.

O'Neill-Stevens/McGurk Carried

6. Chairperson's Report

Document number R26746, agenda pages 10 - 11 refer.

The Chairperson’s report was taken as read.

Resolved RTC/2022/002

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Chairperson's Report (R26746).

McGurk/O'Neill-Stevens Carried

7. Waka Kotahi Update (Agenda item 8)

Document number R26700, agenda pages 16 - 36 refer.

Waka Kotahi Representative, Emma Speight, presented the update (tabled, A2861183), noting that the key focus areas were the New Regulatory Funding model, the Emissions Reduction Plan, One Network Framework and the Road to Zero public awareness campaign.

Ms Speight responded to questions regarding the lack of weed maintenance of roundabouts and road verges.

Resolved RTC/2022/003

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Waka Kotahi Update (R26700) and its attachment (A2861183).

Speight/Edgar Carried

The meeting adjourned from 3.05pm until 3.17pm at which time Ms Speight left the meeting.

8. Public Transport Update (Agenda item 7)

Document number R26503, agenda pages 12 - 15 refer.

The Public Transport Update was taken as read.

Manager Transport and Solid Waste, Marg Parfitt, presented the report and highlighted the increase in Covid 19 Omicron cases in the Nelson. Whilst public transport services had not been effected thus far that if they were to be affected a business continuity plan was in place. Communications to users had included informing the public that services may be cancelled at short notice or timetables changed.

Ms Parfitt informed the committee, that although half price public transport was to be funded by Central Government, the initiative required software changes for implementation and officers were working through that matter.

Ms Parfitt answered questions on the new Public Transport contract, timing of low or zero carbon buses, bus infrastructure projects including super stops, the fares policy, the Next project, finalising bus routes and the pets on buses trial.

Exclusion of the Public
Resolved RTC/2022/004
	That the Regional Transport Committee 1. Excludes the public from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting. 2. The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:
Her Worship the Mayor/McGurk Carried

Item	General subject of each matter to be considered	Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter	Particular interests protected (where applicable)
1	Public Transport Update	Section 48(1)(a) The public conduct of this matter would be likely to result in disclosure of information for which good reason exists under section 7	The withholding of the information is necessary: · Section 7(2)(i) To enable the local authority to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)

Item

General subject of each matter to be considered

Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter

Particular interests protected (where applicable)

Public Transport Update

Section 48(1)(a)

The public conduct of this matter would be likely to result in disclosure of information for which good reason exists under section 7

The withholding of the information is necessary:

· Section 7(2)(i)

To enable the local authority to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)

The meeting went into confidential session at 3.33p.m. and resumed in public session at 3.56p.m.

Resolved RTC/2022/005

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Public Transport Update (R26503).

Her Worship the Mayor/Edgar Carried

Karakia Whakamutanga

There being no further business the meeting ended at 3.58pm.

Confirmed as a correct record of proceedings by resolution on (date)

Resolved

Item 6: Chairpersons Report: Attachment 1

Regional Transport Committee

21 June 2022

REPORT R26961

Chairpersons Report

1. Purpose of Report

1.1 To advise the Committee of the submission on Freight and Supply Chain issues to the Ministry of Transport .

2. Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Chairpersons Report (R26961) and its attachment A2905287.

3. Discussion

3.1 I have been participating in series of on-line workshops involving RTC chairs and officers from the South Island to prepare a submission to the Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport on Te rautaki ueā me te rautaki whakawhiwhinga o Aotearoa, the New Zealand Freight and Supply Chain Issues Paper.

3.2 Transitioning to a low emissions freight system remains the single most important issue for the sector. It was noted that the South Island Road networks are highly vulnerable to disruption from a range of natural hazards, over-reliance on road freight and just-in-time logistics that exacerbates the impacts on our communities. The issues of Nelson’s geographical isolation, vulnerability from earthquake and weather events and lack of rail connection were highlighted.

3.3 Several priority focus areas were identified: Enabling the shift to zero and low emissions from heavy vehicles, improving modal options, assessing and addressing port settings, improving resilience across the freight and supply chain system, improving freight data access and collection and a range of other issues such as labour shortages, safety and equity in transitioning.

Author: Brian McGurk, Chairperson

Attachments

Attachment 1: A2905287 - Submission of South Island RTC Chairs on MoT Freight and Supply Chain Issues Paper ⇩

PDF Creator

Regional Transport Committee

21 June 2022

REPORT R26874

Public Transport Update

1. Purpose of Report

1.1 To update the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) on several public transport matters.

2. Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Public Transport Update (R26874) and its attachments (A2895047 and A2895020).

3. Background

3.1 Since the joint Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) was adopted by both Nelson’s and Tasman’s Regional Transport Committees in 2021, work has continued in preparing the new bus contract commencing in 2023. This report provides an update on the status of the tender and supporting matters.

3.2 COVID-19 has impacted on public transport globally. This report provides updated patronage data, including the additional subsidy offered by central government to reduce fares by half between 1 April and 30 June 2022.

3.3 In May as part of the Central Government Budget it was announced that Community Service Card holders would continue to receive a subsidy to make public transport fares half price on a permanent basis. This report outlines Council’s response and actions.

4. Discussion

Bus Patronage 2021-22

4.1 Attachment 1 shows monthly Nbus patronage year on year since 2019-20. In August 2021 New Zealand was at COVID Alert Level 4. The August patronage dropped significantly to 18,334 from the previous month of July when it was 29,648. In September 2021 after the restriction was changed to Alert level 2, patronage gradually increased and in November 2021 reached 32,280, higher than the previous year (29,898). However, patronage started declining again in December 2021, with the Omicron outbreak. As a result, the number of passengers in March 2022 (29,317) was much lower than in March 2021 (33,688). In April patronage increased and matched the previous year, which was likely caused by the half-price fares.

4.2 When daily patronage is examined in relation to COVID in January, both 2021 and 2022 patronages were at the same levels, but 2022 Patronage dropped in February, likely caused by the Omicron outbreak. The 2022 patronage was consistently lower than 2021 up to day 90 (1 April). After that, the number increased to the 2021 patronage level. The half-price fare likely increased the number of patronages. Therefore, if the interpretation is correct, the 2022 patronage should maintain the 2021 level until the end of May or may even exceed it.

Bus Contract timing

4.3 The existing bus contract expires in June 2023 and a new contract is currently out to tender. It will take effect in July 2023. The new contract will be a joint Principal’s Contract arrangement where NCC and TDC share risk and costs. TDC has actively participated in the tender preparation and will be part of the evaluation. The tender submissions will be evaluated in late June 2022 and pending approval, the contract awarded allowing any potential operator a 9-month lead in time.

4.4 Engagement has been carried out with stakeholders and the community over the last 12 months to determine the future bus routes and service timetables through Tahunanui to Stoke, the Airport and Nayland Road. The bus routes as tendered are shown as Attachment 2, noting the location of the central city hub has yet to be finalised.

4.5 Although an exact location for the central city bus interchange has yet to be determined, the proposed bus routes through the city have been considered in light of the approved Te Ara ō Whakatū – Nelson’s City Centre Spatial Plan, and the physical limitations on some bus turning movements. At the time of report writing a number of options are still being considered and plans for an interim hub are being made.

Branding and other support

4.6 Work has commenced on developing a brand for the new regional bus service. This brand is likely to be a subset of a larger sustainable transport branding package being jointly developed by TDC and NCC that encompasses walking cycling, ride sharing and public transport. Once further developed the brand will be socialised at a future RTC committee.

4.7 Recruitment for a public transport adviser position, which had funding approved in the RPTP and LTP, will commence in July.

Fares

4.8 On 1 April 2022 the government introduced a subsidy to enable half price bus fares for all until 30 June 2022. This has since been extended through to 31 August 2022.

4.9 In May 2022 central government announced an initiative that will result in all community service card holders continuing to receive the benefit of half price bus fares at all times. Waka Kotahi will reimburse Councils for foregone revenue. Officers are working with Waka Kotahi on implementation as soon as practical after 1 September 2022. At this stage officers do not believe this will require additional buses over those already planned for in the new contract but will be monitoring patronage closely to determine if future contract variations will be required. A letter from the Minister of Transport describing this initiative and others announced as part of the Emission Reduction Plan is appended as attachment 3.

Author: Margaret Parfitt, Manager - Transport and Solid Waste

Attachments

Attachment 1: A2895047 Nbus patronage 2019-22 ⇩

Attachment 2: A2895020 Draft bus routes as tendered June 2022 ⇩

Attachment 3: A2898633 Letter to councils re Public Transport initiatives ⇩

Item 9: Consultation on Waka Kotahi proposed changes to land transport regulatory funding and fees

Regional Transport Committee

21 June 2022

REPORT R26876

Consultation on Waka Kotahi proposed changes to land transport regulatory funding and fees

1. Purpose of Report

1.1 To retrospectively approve the Nelson City Council submission to Waka Kotahi on Waka Kotahi’s Regulatory Funding and Fees Consultation.

2. Recommendation

That the Regional Transport Committee

1. Receives the report Consultation on Waka Kotahi proposed changes to land transport regulatory funding and fees (R26876) and its attachments (A2887399 and A2883508); and

2. Approves retrospectively the submission (A2883508) to Waka Kotahi on the Regulatory Funding and Fees Consultation.

3. Background

3.1 Waka Kotahi has sought feedback on regulatory funding and fees. Consultation closed on 13 May 2022. Refer to Attachment 1 (A2887399) for a summary from Waka Kotahi on this matter.

4. Discussion

4.1 Feedback to Waka Kotahi was undertaken in discussion with the Chair of this Committee and Infrastructure Committee and retrospective approval of the submission is now sought. The submission prepared by Nelson City Council officers can be found in Attachment 1 (A2883508).

5. Options

5.1 Two options are presented to the Council - to either retrospectively support the submission or not to support the submission. Officers recommend Option one.

Option 1: Retrospectively approve the submission (recommended option)
Advantages	· Signals an interest in the matter at hand
Risks and Disadvantages	· None
Option 2: Do not retrospectively approve the submission
Advantages	· None
Risks and Disadvantages	· Signals no interest in the matter

6. Next Steps

6.1 Waka Kotahi will consider the feedback and make decisions accordingly.

Author: Alec Louverdis, Group Manager Infrastructure

Attachments

Attachment 1: A2887399 - Funding and Fees Council Briefing from Waka Kotahi ⇩

Attachment 2: A2883508 - Submission on proposed changes to land transport regulatory fees, charges and funding ⇩

Important considerations for decision making

1. Fit with Purpose of Local Government

This submission meets the purpose of local government to promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of our community

2. Consistency with Community Outcomes and Council Policy

The submission aligns with the following Council’s community outcomes – “Our infrastructure is efficient, cost effective and meets current and future needs” and “Our communities are healthy, safe, inclusive and resilient”.

3. Risk

The risk of this submission is deemed low.

4. Financial impact

There is no financial impact on Council in this matter.

5. Degree of significance and level of engagement

This matter is of low significance and no engagement with any stakeholder group has been undertaken.

6. Climate Impact

Climate change does not feature in the submission.

7. Inclusion of Māori in the decision making process

No engagement with Māori has been undertaken in preparing this report.

8. Delegations

This submission sits with the RTC.