REGIONAL TRANSPORT COMMITTEE Report of the Regional Transport Committee of the Waikato Regional Council held in the Council Chamber, Waikato Regional Council Office, 401 Grey Street Hamilton East at 9.32 am on Monday, 7 March 2016. PRESENT: STAFF: APOLOGIES: Waikato Regional Council Cr H Vercoe (Chair), Cr K White (Deputy Chair) Hamilton City Council Cr L Tooman Otorohanga District Council Mayor M Baxter South Waikato District Council Cr W Machen Taupo District Council Cr B Hickling Waikato District Council Mayor A Sanson Waipa District Council Cr G Webber Waitomo District Council Mayor B Hanna New Zealand Transport Agency R Brodnax New Zealand Police Inspector F Grace (non voting advisor) Manager Integration and Infrastructure (A Lane), Team Leader, Transport and Infrastructure (B McMaster), and Democracy Advisor (D Thurlow). Mayor J Tregidga, Mayor J Barnes, Mayor G Leach, Cr P French, Cr G Harris, and H Wilson. Accepted Confirmation of Agenda (Agenda Item 1) Mayor Sanson moved/cr Webber seconded RTC16/1 THAT the agenda of the Regional Transport Committee of 7 March 2016 be confirmed as the business for the meeting. The motion was put and carried (RTC16/1) Disclosures of Interest (Agenda Item 2) There were no disclosures of interest
Report of Regional Transport Committee Meeting 7 March 2016 2 SECTION A: (UNDER DELEGATION FOR THE INFORMATION OF COUNCIL) Confirmation of Minutes 30 November 2015 File: 03 04 11 (Agenda Item 3) The Chair noted that the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2015 had been circulated to members. The following correction was noted: - On page 10 of the minutes, the minutes refer to Mayor Machen as opposed to Councillor Machen. Mayor Sanson moved/cr Webber seconded RTC16/2 THAT the minutes of the Waikato Regional Transport Committee meeting of 30 November 2015 (Doc # 3620294) be confirmed as a true and correct record. The motion was put and carried (RTC16/2) Guest Speakers Discussion on Strategic Transport Drivers and Issues File: 03 04 11 (Agenda Item 4) M Alderton (Senior Policy Advisor) introduced four guest speakers from within the Waikato Regional Council s Science and Strategy Directorate. The report was supported by a PowerPoint presentation (Doc # 3712362). U Trebilco (Principal Strategic Advisor) provided a high level overview of drivers for change that influence and shape regional transport planning. He highlighted the following points: There are a number of factors driving change in the Waikato region, such as economic trends, demographic changes and Central Government influences. In terms of transport planning, it is important that the Committee: - stays informed, - determines the outcomes it wants for its communities and understands how transport can contribute to these from a strategic and tactical perspective, - uses multi-disciplinary cross-agency teams and gathers a good evidence base - plans for multiple futures, - is innovative, and - keeps pace with new technology. A member noted that Martin Matthews from the Ministry of Transport was of the view that rail is yesterday s technology therefore it is essential that the respective agencies continue to look forward. B Keenan (Principal Economist) discussed economic issues and trends affecting transport and regional land transport planning.
Report of Regional Transport Committee Meeting 7 March 2016 3 Discussion centred on the viability of bio diesel. Staff advised that a detailed presentation on renewable energy and what it means for the Regional Land Transport Plan will be presented to the Regional Transport Committee at a future RTC meeting The implications of online shopping have a local impact as the internet is being seen as a substitute for transport however there has been a big increase in courier vans delivering internet sourced goods. The latest estimates by the New Zealand Transport Agency suggest that patronage in Auckland rose by 6.6% and fell by 3.1% in Canterbury. The most recent estimate for Wellington shows that patronage fell by 0.3%. NZTA representative, R Brodnax, advised that the reasons for the increases and decreases in passenger numbers are a complex matter and not simply driven by price. It was noted that a lot of people are moving into the North Waikato expecting the same level of public transport services as they were getting in Auckland. K Mayes (Manager Strategy) outlined integrated land use and transport planning issues, with a focus on current and emerging issues at an upper North Island spatial scale, including the work of the Upper North Island Strategic Alliance (UNISA). The following points were highlighted: The Regional Transport Committee can respond to the upper north island issues by: - recognising the importance of the upper north island in its Regional Land Transport Plan, - supporting spatial planning, - advocating for road and rail to be managed as a network, - having input into key decisions about the upper north island and Auckland in particular, - being in a position to decide what inter-regionally significant activity is important for the Waikato region in the Regional Land Transport Plan, and - being prepared to spend money in other regions if this would bring the best outcomes for the Waikato region. The relocation of produce growers to the Waikato region is driven by increasing Auckland land prices; this is why businesses/industry are also relocating into the region. There are two strands of change happening for the Regional Transport Committee to keep in mind, one being people moving into the north Waikato and second is the relocation of industry from Auckland to Waikato which will be a big issue in the future. B Dickie (Principal Strategic Advisor) outlined climate change related transport issues, with a specific focus on understanding the role of regional government under a Resource Management Act framework and the role of the Regional Land Transport Plan under a Land Transport Management Act framework. The following points were highlighted: Climate change is a cross cutting issue that needs to be factored into the Regional Land Transport Plan. Transport infrastructure and services support regional development which leads to ongoing prosperity. Infrastructure is long lived; therefore recognition of the future operating environment is required.
Report of Regional Transport Committee Meeting 7 March 2016 4 Recognition of societal responses with critical links between land use and infrastructure services to avoid road to nowhere syndrome. M Alderton (Senior Policy Advisor) provided a summary of the presentations noting: - The Regional Land Transport Plan review needs to be targeted, but fine tuned and flexible, and have a broader spatial perspective. Working with the upper north island transport partners is essential. Mayor Sanson moved/cr Webber seconded RTC16/3 THAT the report Guest Speakers Discussion on Strategic Transport Drivers and Issues dated 22 February 2016 (Doc # 3697725) be received. The motion was put and carried (RTC16/3) Road Safety Monitor March 2016 File: 03 04 11 (Agenda Item 5) Presented by R Cook (Senior Policy Advisor) and A Tester (Senior Policy Advisor) this report updated the Committee on road safety issues and trends and provided information on regional progress towards the actions outlined in national and regional road safety strategies. The report was supported by a PowerPoint presentation (Doc # 3712362). and/or noted Staff are looking to engage the community on the speed limits on a number of demonstration sites around the region including Buckland Road in Matamata by Hobbiton. There are a number of factors that come into the assessment such as alignment and the nature of road users. The increase in accidents involving motorcyclists can be attributed to inexperienced motorcyclists and older riders returning to motorcycling. Cr Tooman moved/cr Vercoe seconded RTC16/4 THAT the report Road Safety Monitor dated 22 February 2016 (Doc # 3679610) be received for information. New Zealand Police Report March 2016 File: 03 034 11 (Agenda Item 6) The motion was put and carried (RTC16/4) Presented by F Grace (Waikato Road Policing Manager, New Zealand Police) this report provided a verbal update from Police. The report was supported by a PowerPoint presentation (Doc # 3712362). Inspector Grace highlighted the following points: NZ Police are writing an Action Plan for Road Policing. Speed is a big factor in road crashes inappropriate speed for the conditions The Waikato Police are focussing on:
Report of Regional Transport Committee Meeting 7 March 2016 5 - Speed, school speed and protecting our most vulnerable. - Alcohol, particularly in rural communities. - Restraints, protecting children 5-9 years of age. Driver error is a major component of accidents; however in a number of cases the roads are blamed. It was noted that drivers tend to ignore speed restriction signs when there is no apparent work being undertaken. It was suggested that pictorial signage would be beneficial. Cr Webber moved/cr Machen seconded RTC16/5 THAT the report New Zealand Police Report March 2016 dated 22 February 2016 (Doc # 3701789) be received for information. NZ Transport Agency Quarterly Report March 2016 File: 03 04 11 (Agenda Item 7) The motion was put and carried (RTC16/5) Presented by R Brodnax (Regional Planning and Investment Manager, NZ Transport Agency) this report provided the Committee with the NZ Transport Agency s Quarterly Report March 2016, which was tabled at the meeting (Doc # 3723730). K Clark (Waikato Highway Manager, NZ Transport Agency) provided the Committee with an update on programmes of work underway on the Waikato Expressway (3718051). and/or noted A member questioned the length of time it is taking to repair the wire ropes in the median strips on state highways following incidents involving vehicles. It was noted that no problems were experienced around visitors to Bulli Point over the holiday period. Mayor Sanson moved/mayor Hanna seconded RTC16/6 THAT the report NZ Transport Agency Quarterly Report March 2016 dated 22 February 2016 (Doc # 3697702) be received for information. The motion was put and carried (RTC16/6) Transport Planning and Projects Report File: 03 04 11 (Agenda Item 8) Presented by B McMaster (Team Leader Transport and Infrastructure) this report provided the Committee with an update on current regional transport plans and projects as at 7 March 2016. The report was supported by a PowerPoint presentation (Doc # 3712362).
Report of Regional Transport Committee Meeting 7 March 2016 6 A number of transport projects were being undertaken as part of the implementation of the Regional Land Transport Plan 2015-45 (RLTP) and Regional Public Transport Plan 2015-25 (RPTP). and/or noted In respect to the SuperGold Card public transport funding review, specifically the statement:... that there is no transfer of costs from the government to regional councils a request was made that district councils be included in this statement. Members were encouraged to attend the joint Taranaki and Waikato RTCs field trip scheduled on the 14 th & 15 th April 2016. Cr Webber moved/cr Vercoe seconded RTC16/7 THAT the report Transport Planning and Projects Report dated 22 February 2016 (Doc # 3697710) be received for information. The motion was put and carried (RTC16/7) Regional Transport Issues Forum File: 03 04 11 (Agenda Item 9) Presented by B McMaster (Team Leader Transport and Infrastructure) this report provided the Committee with an opportunity to raise and discuss regional transport issues in an open forum. An Action Table had been attached to the report and an update was provided with regard to the matters raised. Cr Vercoe moved/cr Hickling seconded RTC16/8 THAT the report Regional Transport Issues Forum dated 22 February 2016 (Doc # 3697716) be received for information. The motion was put and carried (RTC16/8) Transport Choices Report File: 03 04 11 (Agenda Item 10) Presented by R Cook (Senior Policy Advisor) this report provided the Committee with an update on the Regional Transport Choices work programme and plans. The report was supported by a PowerPoint presentation (Doc # 3712362).
Report of Regional Transport Committee Meeting 7 March 2016 7 Cr Vercoe moved/mayor Sanson seconded RTC16/9 THAT the report Transport Choices Report dated 22 February 2016 (Doc # 3697721) be received for information. The motion was put and carried (RTC16/9) The meeting closed at 12.25pm. Docs # 3711822