Minutes of Regional Transport Committee

1. WELCOME/APOLOGIES/NOTICES

Chairman Dick welcomed all present to the meeting with a special welcome to Councillor Terry Storey from Central Hawke’s Bay District Council.

Chairman Dick advised that Mr Aaron Campion of Hastings District Council had been invited to give a presentation on the Speed Limit Bylaw 2012 which has been notified for consultation.

Mr Hammond, NZTA introduced NZTA staff members who were present at the meeting.

Apologies were received from Messrs C Bain and D Murray.

RTC29/14

Kingston/Herbert

CARRIED

2. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS

There were no conflicts of interest declared however during the meeting, Councillor Kerr declared an interest in Agenda item 9 and a presentation prepared by Mr Aaron Campion from Hastings District Council on the 80km speed limit.

Short Term Replacements for the Regional Transport Committee

Mayor Little also sought confirmation of Mr Jamie Cox as alternate member for himself on the Regional Transport Committee.

Mrs Redgrave advised that Inspector Matt Broderick was now the Advisory Member NZ Police on the Regional Transport Committee, replacing Inspector Dean Clifford.

RTC30/14

Resolution:

1 That Mr Roger Bull be appointed as a member of the Regional Transport Committee of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for the meeting of Friday, 15 August 2014 as a short term replacement on the Committee for Mr David Murray.

Kingston/Kerr

CARRIED

2. That Mr Jamie Cox be confirmed as alternate member for Mayor Craig Little on the Regional Transport Committee.

Little/Barker

CARRIED

4 Confirmation of Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee held on 16 May 2014

RTC31/14

Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee held on Friday, 16 May 2014, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed.

Kingston/Kerr

CARRIED

5. Matters Arising from Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee held on 16 May 2014

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

Follow-ups from Previous Regional Transport Committee Meetings

Mrs Redgrave updated the Committee on GPS Development and noted that submissions close on 11 August.

The Committee noted that an acknowledgement or response from the Minister of Transport in relation to a letter sent to him regarding the sealing of SH38 had not been received.

Mayor Little updated the Committee on a recent meeting he attended where driver licence testing issues in small towns were discussed. Barriers which are preventing driver licence testing in areas such as Wairoa need to be removed. A programme was currently being investigated where WINZ recipients would have the opportunity to take their licence.

Following discussion by the Committee on the current situation around driver licence testing, it was noted that it was not only WINZ recipients who were affected but many members of the community.

The Committee also noted that initiatives were now in place but it was important that any progress be reported back to the Committee and the item would remain on the follow up list.

Ms Styles confirmed that an application by Wairoa District Council could be made to NZTA to have a driving area resurveyed if circumstances in the area had changed since the last survey.

The Committee also queried the serious inconsistencies in the NZTA programme and cited a recent example of a driver licence candidate from Waipukurau having to go to Dannevirke to sit the test, with both towns sharing a similar road design and structures.

Mr l’Anson gave an explanation of transport funding issues and the implications for the region and noted that there had been consistent trends over the last 5 years. A copy of his report would be forwarded to all Committee members.

RTC32/14

Resolution:

1. That the Regional Transport Committee receives the “Follow-ups from Previous Regional Transport Committee Meetings” report.

Kingston/Herbert

CARRIED

Call for any Minor Items Not on the Agenda

1. Inter-Regional Conference – Palmerston North

2. Rail Line south of Napier

3. Financial Assistance Rates

Development of the Regional Land Transport Plan

Mrs Redgrave presented the agenda item which requested members to consider the key strategic focus for the Regional Land Transport Plan, the regional objectives and policies to be included in the Plan and the creation of a significance policy for the Plan.

Mrs Redgrave updated the Committee on the outcomes of a strategic direction for the Plan following a workshop on 21 July which was attended by RTC members and TAG members.

The Committee discussed the key issues and noted it was imperative that this region work closely with our neighbouring regions as cross boundary issues increase the risk of sub-optimal investment in and management of the network.

The Committee also noted that safety continued to be a high priority particularly in light of the way motorists are using the roading network, as there was still a high rate of death and serious injury due to driver error.

The Committee also discussed the objectives and policies for the plan, particularly the focus on High productivity Motor Vehicle capability and expressed concern that the network is never going to be fully HPMV capable.

The Committee discussed the Draft Significance Policy and noted suggested amendments.

The Committee congratulated Mrs Redgrave on an excellent report.

RTC33/14

Resolutions:

That the Regional Transport Committee:

1. Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted policy on significance and that Council can exercise its discretion under Sections 79(1)(a) and 82(3) of the Local Government Act 2002 and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community and persons likely to be affected by or to have an interest in the decision due to the nature and significance of the issue to be considered and decided.

2. Approves the proposed key strategic focus for the Regional Land Transport Plan, with any amendments

3. Approves the proposed objectives and policies to reflect the strategic focus of the Regional Land Transport Plan, with any amendments

4. Approves the proposed significance policy for the Regional Land Transport Plan, with any amendments.

Kingston/Herbert

CARRIED

Notice of Requirement for Whakatu Arterial Link

Mrs Redgrave presented this item which sought the Committee’s support to send the draft letter prepared as a letter of support as a submission to the Notice of requirement for Designation issued by the Hastings District Council for the Whakatu Arterial Link.

Mrs Redgrave introduced Mr Aaron Campion, Traffic Engineer at Hastings District Council who gave a powerpoint presentation highlighting the proposed amendments HDC hoped to include to the Speed Limits Bylaw 2012 and 80km/h Safe Speed area.

Mr Campion explained the background reasons for Hastings District Council to consider this approach, the options available and the efficiencies to be gained from the approach.

Mr Campion also outlined the preferred option which was based on estimated crash savings, the immediate ability to enforce the amendments, future opportunities, align to the Safer Journeys programme and the ability to cater for the current design of some roads in the Hastings area which were currently contributing to crash rates.

Members discussed the need for a submission on the Speed Limits Bylaw and agreed that a draft submission should be prepared for circulation to the Committee.

RTC34/14

Resolutions:

That the Regional Transport Committee :

2. Approves the draft letter of support

3. Notes the presentation “Proposed Amendments to the Speed Limits Bylaw 2012 and 80km/h Safe Speed Area” given by Mr Aaron Campion and instructs staff to prepare a draft submission on the Speed Limit Bylaw 2012 for circulation to the Committee.

Kingston/Herbert

CARRIED

8/1

Councillor Kerr abstained

10.

Regional Public Transport Plan

Mrs Redgrave updated the Committee on the requirements for the development of the Regional Public Transport Plan

Mrs Redgrave advised that 2013 legislation amendments represent a fundamental shift in the way in which public transport services are planned and contracted, with the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) having to incorporate the requirements of the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM) which is a combination of planning, funding, procurement, partnering and incentivizing tools which aim to help regions and public transport operators build stronger working relationships.

Mrs Redgrave also described the process for the development of the RPTP and outlined a number of suggested service improvements which could be investigated and evaluated in the draft RPTP before it is released for consultation.

The Committee noted that another step in the RPTP development process was the definition of service units for region and whether there should be one unit comprising all existing services or the bus services broken into three units being Napier, Hastings and Napier to Hasting services.

The Committee discussed the processes involved in the preparation of the Regional Public Transport Plan and considered the one unit service option was preferable.

The Committee also noted that it was hoped to have the draft RPTP ready for November and the final Plan to be signed off in April 2015.

A request was made that an outline of the Hawke’s Bay public transport system be prepared for members’ information.

RTC35/14

Resolution:

1. That the Regional Transport Committee receives the report.

Kerr/Barker

CARRIED

11.

Transport Manager's Report

Mrs Redgrave presented her report which gave the Committee a snapshot of relevant transport matters, comments on issues that had been actioned since the last Regional Transport Committee and also provided updates from the Transport Advisory group on issues raised at their regular meeting.

The Committee expressed concern about the process around the One Network Road classification and noted the NZTA have replaced the State Highway Classification system with ONRC which has resulted in the State Highway network using the ONRC.

The Committee noted that the state highways in the Hawke’s Bay Region had been re-classified, however SH38 had been omitted. The Committee queried the reasons for the omission and observed that all state highways should be included in the classifications.

Mr Hammond clarified that the classification process was not determined by NZTA but by a sector group of which NZTA was a member and any issues arising from the outcome will come back to this Committee and the Territorial Authorities.

Mrs Welsby also presented the Public Transport update and advised that although passenger numbers have been increasing, the cost of operating the service had increased significantly. Mrs Welsby outlined changes to the service in order to ensure the services operate within the 2014-2015 budget.

Responding to a question, Mrs Welsby advised that Council approval was only required if there were serious changes or cancellations to routes and in the current case the changes were only minor.

The Committee also acknowledged Ms Chetwynd’s resignation from the Committee and wished her well in her new position.

RTC36/14

Resolutions:

1. That the Regional Transport Committee receives the Transport Manager’s report.

Hammond/Herbert

CARRIED

2. Notes the contribution made by Ms Chetwynd in her role as Regional Director NZTA

Dick/Kingston

CARRIED

14.

Verbal Reports from Advisors

Mr Kim Santer – Rail

Mr Santer updated the Committee on the decision by Ravensdown to cease rail wagon operations for transport of their product to the Port of Napier and noted that KiwiRail and Ravendsdown working relationship had spanned 60 years.

Mr Santer confirmed that this decision would have no implications for the Palmerston North to Napier rail line.

Resolution:

That the report be received.

The meeting adjourned at 12.30pm and reconvened at 1.00pm

Mr Santer left the meeting at 12.30pm

12.

NZTA Central Region - Regional Director's Report

Mr Hammond presented the Regional Director’s report on behalf of NZTA, outlined NZTA activities to date and initiatives currently under consideration.

Mr Hammond also outlined events in the central region and noted that over the last 5 years there had been a notable reduction in alcohol related crashes. The Port of Napier had also been included in the MoT accelerated regional roading package which includes funding for the investigation and design of a package of state highways and also local road projects.

Concern was expressed about the recent decisions made by the Board of the Transport Agency in relation to Funding Assistance Rates (FAR) and the consequences of those decisions particularly in the area of emergency works and the impacts they would have on rural areas such as Wairoa and Central Hawke’s Bay.

Mr Hammond confirmed that NZTA was still awaiting final numbers however once numbers were confirmed, NZTA representatives would meet with Wairoa and Central Hawke’s Bay representatives.

Mr Hammond confirmed he would follow up on emergency works progress and report back.

Mr l’Anson gave a powerpoint presentation which illustrated the Central Freight Story, the benefits of working together, the risks and key issues, making smart transport decisions and transport opportunities, problems and risks.

Ms Styles also gave a powerpoint presentation which set out the future direction for Road Safety and the Road Plan towards 2020.

RTC37/14

Resolution:

1. That the Regional Transport Committee receives the Regional Director’s report.

Kingston/Kerr

CARRIED

13.

Roadsafe Update Report

Mrs Redgrave presented the agenda item which highlighted the road safety activities undertaken under the Road Safety Action Plans and any upcoming events and issues.

Mrs Redgrave outlined the Eastern Police District Road Policing Focus for the region which included the “fatal five” categories of Speed, Alcohol, Restraints, High Risk Drivers and Distraction. New technology would also be incorporated into the focus areas with new static speed cameras being placed around the regions.

Mrs Redgrave also advised that the 2014-15 budget for RoadSafe Hawke’s Bay had been significantly reduced due to the lack of local share funding available from other sources. However, it was hoped that extra funding could still be sourced throughout the financial year.

RTC38/14

Resolution:

1. That the Regional Transport Committee receives the report.

Barker/Herbert

CARRIED

15.

Minor Items Not on the Agenda

Item	Topic	Councillor / Staff
1.	Inter-Regional Forum – Palmerston North An update was given on the Inter-Regional Forum held in Palmerston North recently. It was well attended and a good start for ongoing discussion in order that frameworks and methodologies are developed across the regions. Suggestion was made that Gisborne should also be included in the meeting representatives and a preliminary discussion would be held with Gisborne representatives following the national election.	Councillor Dick
2.	Rail Iine south of Napier This item was discussed by Mr Santer in his verbal report from Advisors.	Councillor Dick
3.	FAR Mr Cox expressed concern about the Financial Assistance Rates (FAR) which had recently been set and the impact on Wairoa because of its isolation and the difficult geography in the area. This topic was also discussed in Agenda Item 12 and would be included on the Committee’s Follow Up list as a standing item.	J Cox

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 2.10pm on Friday, 15 August 2014..

Signed as a true and correct record.

DATE: ................................................ CHAIRMAN: ...............................................