Agenda of Regional Transport Committee

Meeting of the Regional Transport Committee

Date: Friday 14 December 2012

Time: 10.15am

Venue:

Council Chamber

Hawke's Bay Regional Council

159 Dalton Street

NAPIER

Agenda

Item Subject Page

1. Welcome/Notices/Apologies

2. Conflict of Interest Declarations

3. Short Term Replacements for the Regional Transport Committee

4. Confirmation of Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee held on

26 October 2012

5. Matters Arising from Minutes of the Regional Transport Committee held on 26 October 2012

6. Action Items from Previous Regional Transport Committee Meetings

7. Consideration of General Business Items

Decision Items

8. Transport Manager's Report

Information or Performance Monitoring

9. Napier to Gisborne Rail Line - Update

10. 11.30am Awards Presentation for Contribution to Road Safety

11. NZTA Central Region - Regional Director's Report

12. Monitoring Report - Regional Land Transport Strategy 2008-18 and Regional Land Transport Programme 2009-12

13. Verbal Reports from Objective Representatives

14. General Business

Action Items

Attachment 1

Actions from Regional Transport Committee Meetings

The following is a list of items raised at the Regional Transport Committee meetings that require actions or follow-ups. All action items indicate who is responsible for each action, when it is expected to be completed and a brief status comment for each action. Once the items have been completed and reported back to the Committee they will be removed from the list.

26 October Meeting

Agenda Item	Action	Person Responsible	Due Date	Status Comment
State Highway 38 – Request for Sealing	To be left on the list for regular follow-ups		ongoing
Transport Manager’s report	Car Pooling Initiative Update re Hawke’s Bay	David Murray/CG	Dec	TAG considered this to be a good initiative but advised Councils do not have the funds required to support this. It will be reconsidered at the end of the year if there are surplus funds available.
Ford Rd extension, Whakatu and Pakowhai Links Rd	To be left on the list for regular follow-ups	NZTA	Ongoing
Napier/Gisborne Rail	Update on progress		Dec	Item included on Agenda.
Regional Land Transport Programme	Running Tally of funds spent/available In NZTA Report	NZTA	Ongoing	Information provided by NZTA in their regular report.

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 14 December 2012

SUBJECT: Transport Manager's Report

Reason for Report

1. This regular report provides the Committee with a snapshot of relevant transport matters; comments on issues that have been actioned since the last Regional Transport Committee (RTC); updates from the Transport Advisory Group (TAG) on issues raised at their regular meetings; and outlines what is coming up within the transport sector.

Actions since Last RTC Meetings

2. Land Transport Management Amendment Bill

2.1. Following the October RTC meeting the revised submission was submitted to the Transport and Industrial Regulations Committee on 26 October 2012. Key points from the RTC submission were highlighted in the verbal submission, via teleconference, by the RTC Chair and Transport Manager on 15 November 2012. It is expected that the final report on the Amendment Bill will be available in March 2013.

Current Issues

3. Update from Transport Advisory Group (TAG) Meetings

3.1. TAG meetings were held in November and December. Main items discussed at these meetings are highlighted below:

3.1.1. Updates from other Transport Advisory groups attended by TAG members.

3.1.2. Update on the 2012-15 Regional Land Transport Programme – progress reports are provided by all TAG members on projects contained in the programme.

3.1.3. Monitoring and measuring agreed targets in the Regional Land Transport Strategy to ensure they are being actioned.

3.1.4. National car-pooling initiative – this initiative, being promoted and co-ordinated through Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW) was considered to be a good initiative but due to funding constraints it was agreed not to progress with it at this time. If any surplus funding was available at the end of the financial year it could be relooked at.

4. 2013 RTC Meeting Dates

4.1. The following dates have been scheduled and agreed to by the RTC Chair and NZTA Regional Director, for the RTC meetings to be held in 2013:

Friday, 15 February

Friday, 17 May

Friday, 16 August

Friday, 29 November

4.2. Committee members need to note these dates in their diaries. After the meeting an electronic meeting request will also be sent to members for these meetings.

5. Public Transport

5.1. Bus stop signage – following the October RTC meeting Napier City Council representatives met with Regional Council staff to discuss the installation of the goBay bus stop signage in Napier city. It was agreed that a trial of the unique signage will be undertaken in Flaxmere, Hastings and if that trial was successful the signage will be installed at agreed bus stop locations in Napier.

5.2. Initial consultation has been held with the current and potential bus operators on both the draft Transport Procurement Strategy and content of the tender documents for the urban bus contract, which expires in February 2014. It is expected that the urban bus contract will go out for tender in March 2013.

5.3. Route 17 (Parkvale, Akina) – the extension to this service commenced on 5 November 2012 and so far has proved popular.

6. Future Regional Funding Allocations (R Funds)

6.1. Taranaki Regional Council have taken the lead in an initiative to address future funding allocations once the current R funds scheme ceases. In July this year TRC asked for initial indications of support from other regions for this initiative and Hawke’s Bay, through the RTC Chair, gave their support.

6.2. TRC have outlined issues that regions will face if no alternative to R funds is provided, these include:

6.2.1. Inadequate funding mechanisms may mean that much needed and worthwhile projects in regions are unlikely to be funded in the foreseeable future once the ‘R’ funding mechanism expires in 2015.

6.2.2. Funding constraints, the need for a fair and equitable funding system, and the potential use of additional or alternative funding sources, is a key issue.

6.2.3. The amount of R funds available for distribution is the revenue derived from 5 cents per litre FED and the equivalent in light vehicle RUC. Advice from NZTA is that post R-funds this additional revenue will continue to be collected but will be merged into the contestable N fund pool, rather than be dedicated to the regions.

6.2.4. If there is no alternative for this put in place then regional councils should have the ability to fund specific regional projects by other funding mechanisms, such as a regional fuel tax.

6.2.5. Future funding appears directed at the larger centres. There needs to be some consideration of sustainability of funding in the future for smaller regions.

6.2.6. National funding priorities mean that regionally desired transport outcomes are often not met; and this issue remains of critical concern. There is a need for an explicit provision of other alternative funding mechanisms to address the widening funding gap for land transport in smaller regions.

6.3. TRC have now asked whether regions, through their RTCs, want to be involved in a joint approach to the Minister of Transport. TRC have sent staff a draft briefing paper that reflects the belief that the initial focus of advocacy should be on obtaining a minimum level of new investment in each region, rather than delving into the area of how the spending of that funding is then determined. The Hawke’s Bay RTC position can be further discussed at the RTC meeting.

Approved Organisations – Significant Issues and Update

7. Hastings District Council

7.1. A funding application has been submitted to NZTA for the Whakatu project.

7.2. At the meeting Mr Jag Paanu, Transportation Manager, Hastings District Council will provide an update to the Committee on the Whakatu Project.

8. Napier City Council

8.1. A funding application has been submitted to NZTA for the Ford Road project.

9. Wairoa District Council

9.1. Rationalisation of current Term Maintenance Contract procurement arrangements to optimise efficiency and align with national Maintenance Taskforce Review recommendations has been signalled to industry and programmed to commence June 2013.

9.2. Following approximately $3.9M worth of flood damage in March/April to local district roads, and a further $1.1M in July, much of these repairs, combined with carry-over from earlier approved flood damage works, are in progress. Coastal flood damage restoration repairs are slower to progress with extensive Resource Consent application work underway to advance these to construction phase.

10. Central Hawke’s Bay District Council

10.1. All work progressing as per schedule and expenditures are on track. Renewal and Emergency re-instatement contracts are now being tendered with a good uptake on documents.

11. NZTA HNO

11.1. No significant issues to report.

Looking Ahead

12. NZTA is undertaking consultation on a number of matters, including public transport performance measures, Funding Assistant Rates review; and guidelines for the implementation of Requirement for Urban Buses and the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM) included in the LTMA Amendment Bill.

13. There will be a strong focus on the completion of the contract documents for the urban bus contract and finalising the procurement strategy over the next two months.

Decision Making Process

14. Council is required to make a decision in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act). Staff have assessed the requirements contained in Part 6 Sub Part 1 of the Act in relation to this item and have concluded the following:

14.1. The decision does not significantly alter the service provision or affect a strategic asset.

14.2. The use of the special consultative procedure is not prescribed by legislation.

14.3. The decision does not fall within the definition of Council’s policy on significance.

14.4. Options that have been considered include to make a submission on the LTMA Bill and issues that affect the HBRTC or decide not to submit on the LTMA Bill.

14.5. The decision is not inconsistent with an existing policy or plan.

14.6. Given the nature and significance of the issue to be considered and decided, and also the persons likely to be affected by, or have an interest in the decisions made, Council can exercise its discretion and make a decision without consulting directly with the community or others having an interest in the decision.

Recommendations

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. That the 2013 Regional Transport Committee meeting dates be noted and confirmed.

3. That the update on the Whakatu Project be received.

4. That the Transport Manager’s report be received.

Carol Gilbertson

Transport Manager

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 14 December 2012

SUBJECT: Napier to Gisborne Rail Line - Update

Reason for Report

1. This item is provided as an opportunity to update the Committee on the Gisborne to Napier rail line.

Background

2. At the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) meeting held in October 2012 the committee were advised that the Napier to Gisborne rail line would be mothballed, effective from the end of December 2012. At that meeting the following resolution was passed:

2.1. “That the Regional Transport Committee requests the Hawke’s Bay/East Coast Mayors and Chair to advocate strongly to the highest level of Government, for the repair and redevelopment of the East Coast Rail service with emphasis on the social, environmental and economic issues that are at stake for our isolated and export dependent regions of New Zealand.”

3. The Region’s Mayors and Chair have met to discuss this issue and have requested meetings with Minister Gerry Brownlee and Minister Stephen Joyce. To date no response has been received to these requests.

4. In late November KiwiRail advised that the last train to use the rail line between Napier and Gisborne would be on Tuesday, 4 December 2012 and it was expected that following that date mothballing of the line would commence.

5. The RTC Chair sent a request to Mr Jim Quinn, CEO of KiwiRail asking that he consider delaying the mothballing progress until the commissioned Berl report had been received and meetings with the Ministers had been held. Mr Quinn advised that he would delay this until early 2013.

6. Advice has been received that the Berl report is expected to be officially released on Monday, 10 December.

7. If any further information is available it will be provided to members at the meeting.

Decision Making Process

8. Council is required to make a decision in accordance with Part 6 Sub-Part 1, of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act). Staff have assessed the requirements contained within this section of the Act in relation to this item and have concluded that, as this report is for information only and no decision is to be made, the decision making provisions of the Local Government Act 2002 do not apply.

Recommendation

1. That the Gisborne to Napier rail line be discussed at the meeting.

Carol Gilbertson

Transport Manager

Attachment/s

There are no attachments for this report.

HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

Regional Transport Committee

Friday 14 December 2012

SUBJECT: Monitoring Report - Regional Land Transport Strategy 2008-18 and Regional Land Transport Programme 2009-12

Reason for Report

1. Section 83 of the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2003 (LTMAA) requires that a Regional Transport Committee prepares a report on progress in implementing the regional land transport strategy in place during the last three years. This report is now provided to the RTC for their approval.

Background

2. The previous Regional Land Transport Strategy (RLTS) 2008-18, was adopted in February 2008 and the Regional Land Transport Programme (RLTP) 2009-12 was adopted in June 2009. During the term of both these documents significant investment and progress was made in the Region. Key highlights outlined in the report include:

2.1. Matahorua Gorge re-alignment

2.2. Hawke’s Bay Southern Expressway Extension

2.3. Dillon’s Hill Realignment

2.4. Glengarry stock effluent facility on SH5

2.5. Completion of the Taihape Road seal extension

2.6. Opening up of key freight routes to enable use by High Productivity Motor Vehicles

2.7. Large region wide minor improvement programme

2.8. Stage 1 of Hastings Model Communities project

2.9. Delivery of the NZ Cycle trails (not funded from NLTP)

2.10. Significant increase in Public Transport investment leading to increased patronage

2.11. Sizeable investment in emergency works around the region

2.12. Continued investment in road safety in the region, resulting in gradual reduction in serious injury crashes

2.13. Completion of Heretaunga Plains Transportation Study

2.14. Completion of Wider Regional Transportation Strategy

3. The Committee is asked to review the document, shown as Attachment 1, and following any changes, adopt the report to be sent to the relevant organisations as outlined in the LTMAA.

Decision Making Process

4. Council is required to make a decision in accordance with Part 6 Sub-Part 1, of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act). Staff have assessed the requirements contained within this section of the Act in relation to this item and have concluded that, as legislation under the Land Transport Management Amendment Act 2003 requests this report be collated, the decision making provisions of the Local Government Act 2002 do not apply.

Recommendation

1. That the three year monitoring report for the 2008-18 RLTS and 2009-12 RLTP be adopted.

Carol Gilbertson

Transport Manager

Attachment/s

Attachment 1 – RLTS, RLTP Monitoring Report – provided under separate cover.

Item	Topic	Councillor / Staff
1.	Cycle Safety	Cr L Remmerswaal
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