Latest news with #GovernmentPolicyStatement
Otago Daily Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Council discards proposal for direct Dunedin to Oamaru bus service
Hopes of Oamaru getting a direct bus service to Dunedin have been dashed for now, after the Otago Regional Council last week discarded proposals to establish a link. Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher had lobbied strongly for the regional council to provide a bus service to Oamaru during its recent annual plan submissions but said he recognised the challenges of funding it. "There's a lot of calls from other areas wanting to expand their services. For us, obviously, it's about starting a service and it's really difficult if the co-funder, [NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi] NZTA, doesn't have the money there. "Fundamentally, that's the issue and it's something that the government has to address because it's causing issues not just with public transport, but with projects everywhere. "It would just be too expensive if ORC paid for the whole thing themselves without the co-funding. It would just be too costly on our ratepayers." Mr Kircher had also submitted to the regional council about providing a connecter service between central Oamaru and the North End. He said the service would need to be funded by ORC, not the district council. "Again, it would come at a cost and public transport doesn't cover its costs, unfortunately. So, there has to be some other money coming from somewhere and with all of the pressure on rates, that'd be a difficult thing for the [district] council to be able to underwrite. It is a regional council responsibility." Mr Kircher said he was meeting with regional council representatives and would be talking about what other opportunities there might be to "make something happen". ORC chairwoman Gretchen Robertson said the council remained committed to connecting Oamaru. "Some regional upgrades will not happen due to co-funding gaps, but we're committed to finding ways to improve connectivity options for Ōamaru, Balclutha and Central Otago," she said. Transport Minister Chris Bishop said public transport was funded from both public and private revenue sources, noting government funding for public transport in Otago has increased from $90 million to $125m. "Private share refers to the proportion of funding that comes from private sources, including fares paid by passengers, advertising on buses, bus stops, trains, train stations, as well as other commercial opportunities like renting or leasing commercial space," he said. "The Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024 [GPS 2024] sets the expectation that there will be increases in private share revenue to support the growing operational costs for public transport, as well as to reduce the burden on ratepayers and taxpayers. "Under the previous government the private share revenue dropped as low as 10%, meaning far more of the costs had to be covered by taxpayers and ratepayers. "To reach agreement on targets, NZTA asked PTAs [public transport authorities] to show they had considered methods appropriate to each region that did not drive adverse outcomes such as patronage decline."
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Stage 2 Of SH16 Safety Improvements Project To Move Forward To Construction
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is pleased to confirm that additional funding has been approved for Stage 2 of the State Highway 16 (SH16) Brigham Creek to Waimauku safety improvements project which runs between Brigham Creek interchange and Kumeū town centre. These improvements will make this important link safer and more efficient for the people that use it and provide resilience within the wider Upper North Island state highway network. Regional Manager Transport Services Stephen Collett acknowledges the importance of this project for the community, which has been reviewed in line with the Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024 and the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme. 'We really appreciate the communities' patience as we have worked to revise costs for the project, which were approved by the NZTA Board this month. 'This brings us one step closer towards construction and means we can now recommence landowner engagement and property acquisition, while finalising the design.' Key features for this stage include: Extra lanes between Brigham Creek and Taupaki roundabout from two lanes to four lanes (two in each direction) to make travelling along SH16 more efficient. A new roundabout at the SH16/Coatesville Riverhead Highway intersection to help traffic flow better and make it safer to turn. A shared use path for people who walk and cycle between Brigham Creek and Kumeū. Stage 1 of the project, which runs from Huapai to Waimauku, is in the final phases of construction and is scheduled to be completed by December this year. This work has included widening bridges and road shoulders and creating right turning bays at Joyce Adams Place and Fosters Road to provide people with safer turning options. The SH16 Improvements Project will improve safety and efficiency in the area which will improve the wider transport network's effectiveness. Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and NZTA are currently investigating plans for the longer-term to address future growth, including in Auckland's North West.
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Applications Open For $30 Million Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund
Press Release – New Zealand Government The Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund was established through the Government Policy Statement on land transport. Funding will be allocated through a contestable process, with the criterias scope confirmed today. Associate Minister for Transport Applications have opened for a $30 million fund for projects that will enhance the resilience of New Zealand's coastal shipping connections and help boost economic growth, Associate Transport Minister James Meager has announced. The Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund was established through the Government Policy Statement on land transport. Funding will be allocated through a contestable process, with the criteria's scope confirmed today. 'The coastal shipping sector is vulnerable to natural hazard risks. Disruption to the sector could worsen New Zealand's supply chain and economic performance,' Mr Meager says. 'This long-term investment is crucial to ensuring we as a nation can get our goods to market, which is vital to growing the economy. Economic growth means more jobs, higher incomes and better public services for all Kiwis.' The fund will be used to invest in a small number of landmark projects, to support assets and facilities with a long lifespan well beyond the three-year funding period. This could include strengthening wharves and jetties, improving access routes to and from ports, or upgrading freight handling equipment. Preference will be given to applications which include co-investment. Mr Meager says the fund will also consider requests from sectors that support the resilience of the wider coastal shipping sector through, for example, energy and fuel, navigation aids, or the training of seafarers. 'Coastal shipping plays an important role in New Zealand's freight network. It provides a safe and low emitting way of transporting large, heavy cargo such as shipping containers – along with cement and aggregate used in building new infrastructure. 'It is also a lifeline when natural disaster strikes, as demonstrated following Cyclone Gabrielle when coastal shipping provided critical services to Tairāwhiti. The fund will ensure those benefits can continue. 'The fund will enhance the coastal shipping sector's ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptive events that would otherwise undermine our coastal freight connections.'
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Applications Open For $30 Million Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund
Press Release – New Zealand Government The Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund was established through the Government Policy Statement on land transport. Funding will be allocated through a contestable process, with the criterias scope confirmed today. Associate Minister for Transport Applications have opened for a $30 million fund for projects that will enhance the resilience of New Zealand's coastal shipping connections and help boost economic growth, Associate Transport Minister James Meager has announced. The Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund was established through the Government Policy Statement on land transport. Funding will be allocated through a contestable process, with the criteria's scope confirmed today. 'The coastal shipping sector is vulnerable to natural hazard risks. Disruption to the sector could worsen New Zealand's supply chain and economic performance,' Mr Meager says. 'This long-term investment is crucial to ensuring we as a nation can get our goods to market, which is vital to growing the economy. Economic growth means more jobs, higher incomes and better public services for all Kiwis.' The fund will be used to invest in a small number of landmark projects, to support assets and facilities with a long lifespan well beyond the three-year funding period. This could include strengthening wharves and jetties, improving access routes to and from ports, or upgrading freight handling equipment. Preference will be given to applications which include co-investment. Mr Meager says the fund will also consider requests from sectors that support the resilience of the wider coastal shipping sector through, for example, energy and fuel, navigation aids, or the training of seafarers. 'Coastal shipping plays an important role in New Zealand's freight network. It provides a safe and low emitting way of transporting large, heavy cargo such as shipping containers – along with cement and aggregate used in building new infrastructure. 'It is also a lifeline when natural disaster strikes, as demonstrated following Cyclone Gabrielle when coastal shipping provided critical services to Tairāwhiti. The fund will ensure those benefits can continue. 'The fund will enhance the coastal shipping sector's ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptive events that would otherwise undermine our coastal freight connections.'
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Applications Open For $30 Million Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund
Associate Minister for Transport Applications have opened for a $30 million fund for projects that will enhance the resilience of New Zealand's coastal shipping connections and help boost economic growth, Associate Transport Minister James Meager has announced. The Coastal Shipping Resilience Fund was established through the Government Policy Statement on land transport. Funding will be allocated through a contestable process, with the criteria's scope confirmed today. 'The coastal shipping sector is vulnerable to natural hazard risks. Disruption to the sector could worsen New Zealand's supply chain and economic performance,' Mr Meager says. 'This long-term investment is crucial to ensuring we as a nation can get our goods to market, which is vital to growing the economy. Economic growth means more jobs, higher incomes and better public services for all Kiwis.' The fund will be used to invest in a small number of landmark projects, to support assets and facilities with a long lifespan well beyond the three-year funding period. This could include strengthening wharves and jetties, improving access routes to and from ports, or upgrading freight handling equipment. Preference will be given to applications which include co-investment. Mr Meager says the fund will also consider requests from sectors that support the resilience of the wider coastal shipping sector through, for example, energy and fuel, navigation aids, or the training of seafarers. 'Coastal shipping plays an important role in New Zealand's freight network. It provides a safe and low emitting way of transporting large, heavy cargo such as shipping containers – along with cement and aggregate used in building new infrastructure. 'It is also a lifeline when natural disaster strikes, as demonstrated following Cyclone Gabrielle when coastal shipping provided critical services to Tairāwhiti. The fund will ensure those benefits can continue. 'The fund will enhance the coastal shipping sector's ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptive events that would otherwise undermine our coastal freight connections.'
