Minutes of Regional Transport Committee

1. Welcome/karakia /apologies/notices

The Chair, Councillor Martin Williams, welcomed everyone and Api Robin opened the meeting with a karakia.

Resolution

RTC14/22 That the apologies for absence from mayors Craig Little, Sandra Hazlehurst, and Alex Walker, and Paul Michaelsen be accepted.

Williams/Kerr

CARRIED

2. Conflict of interest declarations

There were no conflicts of interest declared.

3. Confirmation of minutes of the Regional Transport Committee meeting held on 11 March 2022

RTC15/22

Resolution

Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee meeting held on Friday, 11 March 2022, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

Kerr/Price

CARRIED

Follow-ups from previous Regional Transport Committee meetings

Item was taken as read

RTC16/22

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the Follow-ups from previous Regional Transport Committee meetings.

Williams/Kerr

CARRIED

Call for minor items not on the agenda

RTC17/22

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee accepts the following Minor items not on the agenda for discussion as item 13.

Topic	Raised by
Active transport connectivity throughout the region	Tania Kerr

Kerr/Williams

CARRIED

Proposed Public Transport Network Plan (PTP)

Katie Nimon introduced the item and discussions covered:

· The RTC considered earlier versions of the MRCagney plan in workshops. The version now proposed includes RTC feedback from those sessions

· The proposal will be subject to public consultation with details of stops, departure times and frequency to be finalised after consideration of submissions

· Feedback on the proposed PTP will be sought during consultation in August 2022, including on the proposed Flaxmere services

· The proposal looks forward to 2030. The major difference for services envisioned for 2030 are the frequency and timespan of services - both expected to grow as demand builds.

· Future plan reviews could consider providing services for Bayview/Whirinaki/Panpac.

· The time is right for a step change in the level of public transport services being made available to the HB community

· There is a trade-off between patronage and coverage. Providing frequent, meaningful services will increase patronage.

· The proposed plan would cost around $12M. Current budgets are in the $6M range rising to $10M in 2030. Following public submissions, the budget impacts will need to be publicly considered through the 2024 LTP process.

· Transport services need to be viewed as ‘HB wide’ rather than being limited to larger urban areas. In future, new services (e.g. for CHB) could be introduced on a trial basis at any time.

· Limited service in Wairoa proposed is based on a volunteer/community funding model. Rural areas surrounding Wairoa are seen as having the highest transport needs rather than the township itself.

· Consultation will allow the public to put forward suggestions as well as commenting on the options put forward in the proposal.

RTC18/22

Resolutions

That the Regional Transport Committee:

1. Receives and considers the Proposed Public Transport Network Plan staff report

2. Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that the Committee can exercise its discretion and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community.

3. Endorses the Proposed Public Transport Network Plan as amended in accordance with feedback received on 10 June 2022.

4. Recommends that Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, on 27 July 2022, adopts the draft Regional Public Transport Plan, as amended to incorporate the Proposed Public Transport Network Plan endorsed by the 10 June 2022 Regional Transport Committee meeting, for public consultation.

Williams/Kerr

CARRIED

Regional active transport committee

Katrina Brunton introduced the item, and discussions highlighted:

· The Regional Land Transport Plan set a clear direction for transport mode shift and emission reductions.

· HDC has an active transport committee and one option proposes that representatives from this, plus Bike On and public health are included in the existing Technical advisory group (TAG). Having two different TAGs providing advice could be confusing.

· Governors would not be included in a TAG structure.

· Legislated RTC structure does not allow for a voting advisory member.

· The establishment of a Regional Active Transport Committee with representation on RTC could result in overlap and duplication.

· A suggestion made was for a sub-committee of the RTC which would include membership of one or more voting members on the RTC to accommodate the desire to have ‘active transport’ voting at the RTC.

· The terms of reference (ToR) for TAG is currently being reviewed to include active transport.

· Staff will present at least two active transport representation options, including ToR to the 9 September 2022 RTC meeting for consideration.

RTC19/22

Resolutions

That the Regional Transport Committee:

1. Receives and considers the Formalising active transport representation on HB Regional Transport Committee staff report.

3. Requests that the HBRC Group Manager Policy & Regulation, Transport Manager and the Governance team provide further advice to the 9 September 2022 Committee meeting on the two principal options presented, being:

3.1. a Technical Advisory Group to include representatives from local Council Active Transport committees, Bike On and the HB District Health Board.

3.2. Establishment of a Regional Active Transport Committee.

4. This advice should include how, through their terms of reference, each option can:

4.1 ensure that active transport is ‘front and centre’

4.2 address the matter of voting status versus advisory status for any proposed active transport membership on the Regional Transport Committee.

5. This advice should also consider the priorities and concerns raised about how to ensure that active transport outcomes are delivered.

Williams/Price

CARRIED

Strategic case for freight and logging

Sarah Downs introduced the item, which was taken as read. Discussion highlights included:

· A concern amongst the many councils Waka Kotahi (WK) interacts with is the impacts that heavy vehicles have on roading networks.

· Waka Kotahi is developing a strategic case to address this issue and if that is accepted then a full business case will investigate heavy transport solutions across various transport modes throughout NZ.

· RTC will be kept informed of progress.

RTC20/22

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the Strategic case for freight and logging report.

Williams/Price

CARRIED

NZTA Central Region - Regional Relationships Director's June 2022 report

Linda Stewart introduced the item and highlighted:

· Emissions reduction plan (ERP) has been released with 41% reduction by 2035 (from 2019 base levels) as the transport sector target . It is not yet clear how the ERP will affect future Waka Kotahi budgets and decisions.

· The process used to develop business cases is being reviewed and public consultation is under way now.

· Waka Kotahi has recently released a 30 year vision for local transport systems.

· New speed limit setting rules came into effect in May 2022 as part of a wider focus on road safety which includes Waka Kotahi taking responsibility for speed camera operations.

· In future, RLTPs will include speed management plans at both a district and a regional level. This will enable TAG/RTCs to provide more consistent speed limits for the network/community. An interim speed management plan will be required until mid-2024 when the next RLTP review process starts.

· Councils will be consulted about the siting of safety cameras, which will also be used for broader safety enforcement such as mobile phone and seat belt use.

· Wairoa District Council and Waka Kotahi have recently worked particularly well together to fix weather related damage to the road network around Wairoa.

· SH5 programme business case - for the long term vision of the highway including safety and resilience upgrades - has been approved. The scope is still to be confirmed in consultation with RTC/TAG, however will include the development of an engagement strategy.

RTC21/22

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the NZTA Central Region – Regional Relationships Director’s June 2022 report.

Kerr/Williams

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 12.27pmand reconvened at 12.32pm

11.

Gisborne rail update

Chris McKenzie and Graeme Carroll introduced the item which included a report and submission made to MPs in May 2022. Discussion traversed:

· Next step will be to commission a detailed business case at an expected cost of $6.38M.

· The preliminary estimate to fully repair the line is $80.5M. The rail line itself is relatively modern (finished in 1942). The tunnels have a working life of 200 years and the line can carry hi cube containers.

· Since the rail line closed in 2012 there have been five similar reports. This will be the last report. The Gisborne community is ‘fatigued’ and the matter needs to be resolved now, before it’s too late to undertake the project.

RTC22/22

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and notes the Napier to Gisborne Rail Line – Potential Reopening update assessment report and covering letter.

Kerr/Price

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 12.56pm and reconvened at 1.20pm.

10.

Transport Manager’s June 2022 report

Katie Nimon introduced the item, which was taken as read. Discussions highlighted:

· MyWay on demand public transport trial commenced last week and patronage is already strong and growing.

· If the MyWay trial is successful, it will be repeated in Napier from mid-2023, subject to the availability of suitable vehicles.

RTC23/22

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives and considers the Transport Manager’s June 2022 report.

Williams/Price

CARRIED

12.

Verbal updates by advisory representatives

Updated covered:

· Port wharf 6 official opening date is 26 July 2022

· Production and export sectors are performing well however there is still a shortage of truck drivers.

· Cycleways and public transport improvements provide good alternative options for those without a driver’s licence, rather than some people choosing to drive a car because there is no other options available.

RTC24/22

Resolution

That the Regional Transport Committee receives the Verbal Updates by advisory representatives.

Williams/Kerr

CARRIED

13.

Discussion of minor matters not on the agenda

Topic	Raised by
Active transport connectivity throughout the region. Some people have no option but to use private motor vehicles – we don’t understand where these communities are and what could be done to provide alternatives.	Tania Kerr

Api Robin closed the meeting with a karakia.

Closure:

- There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 1.51pm on Friday, 10 June 2022.

Signed as a true and correct record.

Date: RTC resolution 9 September 2022 Chairman: Martin Williams