Maintaining state highways and local roads will be a top priority for the Otago region in the next 10 years, to ensure existing capacity enables economic growth and productivity in the region. By protecting and maintaining the land transport network, so it’s safer, more reliable and efficient, without the need for expensive new infrastructure, we’ll help to enable growth in the region’s economy.
I am pleased to introduce to you this National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) for 2009-2012 – a programme through which the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is making a record investment in land transport at a time when New Zealand needs it most.
The global economic situation has changed dramatically in the past 18 months, with significant effects for the New Zealand economy. In response, and as part of its commitment to improving New Zealand's economic outlook and performance, the government has set clear expectations and priorities for the land transport sector. These expectations are articulated in the Government policy statement on land transport funding 2009/10 – 2018/19 (GPS)(external link).
Through this NLTP, the NZTA 'gives effect' to the GPS with a focus on supporting economic activity and employment throughout the country. It aims to deliver the best possible returns for New Zealand, through prioritising a wide range of national and regional activities and investing $8.7 billion in the next three years (a 17 percent increase on the past three years).
The NLTP demonstrates an increased focus on efficiency and effectiveness in all spending, a rigorous national approach to setting priorities, and an ongoing focus on improving safety and reducing the adverse environmental effects of land transport.
While each region's regional land transport programme (RLTP) has been an essential building block, the NLTP inevitably makes greater investments in areas where key expectations, such as economic return and value for money, are clearly met.
This document details the funding provided for the Otago region – and as a dynamic document will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect any approved variations to programmes.
For information on funding for the rest of New Zealand (and how the NLTP is developed and managed) please see the national NLTP document.
Maintaining state highways and local roads will be a top priority for the Otago region in the next 10 years, to ensure existing capacity enables economic growth and productivity in the region. By protecting and maintaining the land transport network, so it's safer, more reliable and efficient, without the need for expensive new infrastructure, we'll help to enable growth in the region's economy.
However, there is some localised investment in infrastructure to ensure efficiency and safety in the region's road networks.
A strong commitment to value for money has led to changes in how R (regionally distributed) funding is used. R funding will be used for the highest-priority projects in this NLTP, providing a guaranteed minimum level of funding for Otago. R funding comes from a portion of fuel excise duty and light road user charges and is allocated proportionally to regions based on population.
In the past, R funding was used to fund lower-priority projects that would otherwise not qualify for funding. The new approach delivers much greater value for money for all public money invested in land transport.
This NLTP provides an investment of $294.8 million for the Otago region over the 2009-2012 period. I'm confident that this NLTP gives the required effect to the GPS. All funds have been allocated to activity classes within the GPS limits and in line with the NZTA's priorities.
A significant amount of the funding in this NLTP will be invested in improving Otago's local roads and state highways. For example, in Dunedin:
Another of Otago's key transport issues relates to ensuring that transport networks and public transport keep pace with growth in the Queenstown area. To address this, and as a result of the Wakatipu Transportation Strategy, bus services in the Wakatipu Basin are likely to develop further in the next three years to help ease traffic congestion in this growing tourist resort area and to connect communities. This work will also involve bus priority measures along SH6A between Frankton and Queenstown and pedestrian crossings at bus stops.
Other highlights include:
For an overview of all projects in the region likely to receive funding in the next three years, see the regional maps.
The National Land Transport Fund can only be used to fund activities listed in the NLTP. The tables in this NLTP list:
In the past 12 months, a number of milestones have been achieved that will help make the road network in our region more efficient and safer and enable it to make an even greater contribution to economic growth.
These include:
The Otago Regional Transport Committee has a pivotal role in shaping the Otago region's transport future.
The committee comprises elected members from the regional and local authorities in Otago, a representative from the NZTA and six community representatives with expertise in areas such as access and mobility, safety and personal security, and economic development.
One of the committee's key tasks is to develop Otago's three-year RLTP, which prioritises all the regional transport activities proposed by the NZTA, the region's local authorities and the Otago Regional Council.
This regional perspective enabled the NZTA to build a geographic view of land transport requirements nationwide, and to align regional and national views in deciding on the most appropriate allocations of funds to give effect to the GPS priorities. Public submissions on Otago's draft RLTP were reflected in the final programme that went to the NZTA Board, which made the ultimate funding decisions for the NLTP.
I believe this NLTP is enabling for Otago's future as a key contributor to New Zealand's social and economic wellbeing. I look forward to working closely with our regional and local authority partners, New Zealand Police and the Otago community on ensuring it is implemented successfully.
Bruce Richards
Regional Director
Last updated: 6 October 2009