MINUTES OF A meeting of the Regional Transport Committee
Date: Friday 9 December 2016
Time: 10.15am
Venue: |
Council Chamber Hawke's Bay Regional Council 159 Dalton Street NAPIER |
J Alexander
C Daly
I Emmerson
B Gregory
R Heaps
T Kerr
C Little
D Murray
K Price
K Santer
A Walker
F Wilson (Deputy Chairman)
S Young
In Attendance: A Redgrave – HBRC Transport Manager
L Lambert – HBRC Group Manager External Relations
M Clews – Hastings District Council
W Oldfield – NZ Transport Agency
S McKinley – Central Hawke’s Bay District Council
J Cox – Wairoa District Council
J Pannu – Hastings District Council
The Chair welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the committee in the new triennium. All members and staff introduced themselves.
Resolution
RTC1/16 That the apologies from Ms Raewyn Bleakley, Mayor Bill Dalton and Cr David Tennent for absence be accepted.
Little/Wilson
CARRIED
2. Conflict of Interest Declarations
There were no conflict of interest declarations.
3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee meeting held on 18 November 2016
Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee meeting held on Friday, 18 November 2016, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record. CARRIED |
4. Matters Arising from Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee meeting held on 18 November 2016
There were no matters arising from the minutes.
Follow-ups from Previous Regional Transport Committee Meetings |
|
|
The Elwood Road water bottling plant is not producing at present but is likely to recommence in February. One Pure plant at Awatoto is scheduled to commence in March 2017. The second Investment Logic Mapping workshop as now been held for the business case on the route between Wairoa and the Bay of Plenty. A non-petroleum based alternative to bitumen is to be trialled on a section of the road. |
That the Regional Transport Committee receives the “Follow-ups from Previous Regional Transport Committee Meetings”. CARRIED |
Appointments and Terms of Reference for the Regional Transport Committee |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ms Redgrave spoke to the report, outlining options and reiterating that there are a variety of ways in which regional transport committees address the issue of advisors. Support for retention of advisory members was expressed, in view of the value added to the committee, along with an outline of the wider brief that the AA is now taking in addressing the concerns of all transport system users, not only private motorists. Membership of the Committee had been widened and now included the cycling coordinator from HBRC, road safety advisors and others. |
||||||||||||||||||||
That the Regional Transport Committee: 1. Receives and notes the “Appointments and Terms of Reference for the Regional Transport Committee” report. 2. Determines its preferred advisory membership structure for inclusion in the Terms of Reference. 3. Approves suggested wording amendments to the Terms of Reference, being: 4. Oversee the implementation of designated transport responsibilities under Matariki: Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy, being: 4.1 Improve access to the Port of Napier to increase regional economic performance 4.2 Support the timely implementation of the key strategic initiatives in the Regional Land Transport Plan 4.3 Support the combined approach with Tairawhiti to achieve significant upgrades to SH 2 between Napier and Opotiki 9. Provide a reporting structure for the Regional Cycling Governance Group 4. Receives the Elected Representative appointments by the region’s Territorial Local Authorities and appointments by the NZ Transport Agency, being: 4.1. Councillor Keith Price – Napier City Council, and Mayor Bill Dalton as alternate 4.2. Councillor Tania Kerr – Hastings District Council, and Councillor Rod Heaps as alternate 4.3. Mayor Craig Little – Wairoa District Council 4.4. Mayor Alex Walker – Central Hawke’s Bay District Council 4.5. Ms Raewyn Bleakley – NZ Transport Agency and Ms Julie Alexander as alternate 5. Thanks retiring members of the Committee for their contribution and wishes them well for future endeavours The Regional Transport Committee recommends that Council: 6. Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that Council can exercise its discretion 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. 7. Confirms the Elected Representative appointments by the region’s Territorial Local Authorities to the Regional Transport Committee, being: 7.1 Councillor Keith Price – Napier City Council, and Mayor Bill Dalton as alternate 7.2 Councillor Tania Kerr – Hastings District Council, and Councillor Rod Heaps as alternate 7.3 Mayor Craig Little – Wairoa District Council 7.4 Mayor Alex Walker – Central Hawke’s Bay District Council 7.5 Ms Raewyn Bleakley – NZ Transport Agency and Ms Julie Alexander as alternate 8. Approves the 2016-19 triennium Terms of Reference for the Regional Transport Committee, including amendments agreed at the 9 December 2016 Regional Transport Committee meeting, being: Regional Transport Committee Terms of Reference (to be adopted by resolution of Council 14 December 2016) 1. Prepare the Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) for approval by the Regional Council, in accordance with the Land Transport Management Act 2003. 2. Prepare the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) for approval by the Regional Council, in accordance with the Land Transport Management Act 2003. 3. Monitor the implementation of the Regional Land Transport Plan and the Regional Public Transport Plan. 4. Oversee the implementation of designated transport responsibilities under Matariki: Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy, being: 4.1. improve access to the Port of Napier to increase regional economic performance 4.2. support the timely implementation of the key strategic initiatives in the Regional Land Transport Plan 4.3. support the combined approach with Tairawhiti to achieve significant upgrades to SH 2 between Napier and Opotiki 5. Advocate to Government on transport issues of concern to the region. 6. Undertake governance of RoadSafe Hawke’s Bay. 7. Monitor passenger transport objectives and make recommendations to the Regional Council on public transport policies. 8. Provide the Regional Council with any advice and assistance it may request in relation to its transport responsibilities. 9. Provide a reporting structure for the Regional Cycling Governance Group
Alexander Abstained CARRIED |
Role and Responsibilities of a Regional Transport Committee |
|
|
Ms Anne Redgrave outlined the contents of an orientation pack provided to all committee members, highlighting key aspects of the legislation governing the role of the committee, the Regional Land Transport Plan and its strategic objectives, the Regional Public Transport Plan, the One Network Road Classification and transport terminology. While the Regional Land Transport Plan document does not contain all the variations approved by the committee since its adoption, these are listed in a report on the implantation of the Plan elsewhere in this agenda. A list of variations will be sent out to all members. |
That the Regional Transport Committee receives the “Role and Responsibilities of a Regional Transport Committee” report. CARRIED |
Pakipaki To Waipukurau Safety Alliance Proposals |
|
|
Mr Ryan Perica and Mr Wayne Holcroft of the Safe Roads Alliance, gave a presentation on the Pakipaki to Waipukurau and Bay View to Wairoa safety investigations. They highlighted the high crash rates on these routes and the aim to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries over the next ten years through targeted safety interventions such as side barriers, shoulder widening, wide centrelines, rumble strips ( Bay View to Wairoa) and side barriers, moderate shoulder widening, median barriers, realignment (Pakipaki to Waipukurau). |
That the Regional Transport Committee receives “Pakipaki to Waipukurau Safety Alliance Proposals” report. CARRIED |
Port of Napier-Kiwirail Wairoa Log Transport Proposal |
|
|
Mr Nick Cornwall presented the proposal to transport logs from Wairoa to Napier by rail on weekends, utilising existing rolling stock. Key points noted were: · The rail service will remove approximately 50 truck movements from the road per day · The predicted growth in forest harvests means that truck movements on State Highway 2 will still increase and there is not likely to be a decrease in maintenance costs · The cost of reinstating the rail line will be confirmed by April 2017 · The Port of Napier confirms that it can handle both the predicted log and pipfruit increases · Most forest owners plan to replant after harvesting and it is expected that demand for the rail service will continue The Chairman drew attention to the recent request for expressions of interest from parties interested in operating a tourism attraction on the section of rail line from Wairoa to Gisborne, and expressed concern that this should not preclude future use of the rail line as far as Kopuawhara for log transport. Mr Cornwall noted that there are significant forests on the Mahia Peninsula and after discussion, the Committee noted that this was really an issue for the Regional Council’s consideration. Mr Shawn McKinley raised an issue of concern to Central Hawke’s Bay District Council around significant forests in the Tararua district now being harvested, and logging trucks traversing CHB District roads to connect with State Highway 2 and travel to the Port of Napier. In effect, CHB is functioning as a land bridge for this traffic, and increased maintenance costs will result. Mayor Walker noted that CHB cannot collect any rates revenue from the landowners to contribute to these costs as they are outside the district and emphasised the importance of resolving this issue. |
That the Regional Transport Committee: 1. Receives the “Port of Napier-KiwiRail Wairoa Log Transport Proposal” report. Little/Wilson CARRIED 2. Notes that KiwiRail’s request for expressions of interest for tourism proposals on the rail line between Wairoa and Gisborne has been discussed and will be addressed by the Regional Council. 3. Requests that the Transport Advisory Group (TAG) considers the implications of the use of Central Hawke’s Bay district as a land bridge for the transport of logs to Napier Port and determines a possible mechanism for funding support to address the effects on CHB roads. Walker/Kerr CARRIED 4. Agrees to hold the Friday 10 March 2017 Regional Transport Committee meeting in Wairoa and to invite the Gisborne Regional Transport Committee. 5. Agrees to arrange an inspection visit on the rail line with KiwiRail as soon as possible. CARRIED |
NZTA Central Region - Regional Director's Report for December 2016 |
|
|
Ms Alexander gave a presentation on the State Highway Implementation Proposal and the development of the next National Land Transport Programme. In response to a question, Ms Alexander said that accident evaluation maps for each district are available, as referred to in the Speed Management Guide. She undertook to distribute details to the TAG group. She then highlighted aspects of the Regional Director’s report, noting that the effect of the recent Kaikoura earthquakes on available funding for the next National Land Transport Programme is unknown as yet. Mr Ian Emmerson queried progress with making State Highway 2 to Manawatu capable of carrying High Productivity Motor Vehicles, noting that the Waipukurau bridge remains the main obstacle. Mr Wayne Oldfield noted that bridge assessments are underway on SH2 both north and south of Napier Port. |
That the Regional Transport Committee receives the ‘NZTA Central Region – Regional Director’s Report for December 2016’. CARRIED |
Regional Land Transport Plan Update |
|
|
Ms Redgrave highlighted aspects of her report, emphasising that the upcoming review of the Regional Land Transport Plan is a mid-cycle review and workshops in early 2017 will reconfirm key issues and objectives and determine what adjustments need to be made. |
That the Regional Transport Committee receives the “Regional Land Transport Plan Update” report. CARRIED |
December 2016 Transport Manager's Report |
|
|
Ms Redgrave noted that public transport improvements in September 2016 have increased patronage on most affected routes, and promotion is continuing. |
That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the “December 2016 Transport Manager's report”. CARRIED |
Advisory Representative Verbal Reports |
|
|
Mr Craig Daly noted that AA is appreciative of its involvement as an advisor to the Committee and looks forward to continuing in this role. Mr Kim Santer reported that KiwiRail has seen an increase in rail freight in the region due to the effects of the Kaikoura earthquakes. Mr Steve Young noted that damage to CentrePort in Wellington has created a spike in log and container volumes through the Port of Napier. |
That the Regional Transport Committee receives the “Advisory Representative Verbal Reports”. CARRIED |
Closure:
There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 12.48pm on Friday 9 December 2016.
Signed as a true and correct record.
DATE: ................................................ CHAIRMAN: ...............................................