Resources

Introduction from the Regional Director

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.

Otago – the context

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.

Highlights of Otago's NLTP

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:

• work on four-laning the Caversham Highway at the city's southern entrance is expected to start during the next three years. This section of State Highway (SH) 1 is prone to traffic congestion during peak-hour travel times
• progress will be made in the next three years on the Fredrick Street to SH88 realignment project; once complete, this work will smooth traffic flows, improve safety and ease congestion on this section of SH88 around the new Otago Stadium and Otago University
• the SH88 Dunedin to Port Chalmers cycleway will be extended all the way to Port Chalmers.

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:

• realigning SH1 at Waitati to improve safety
• designing and renewing the Brighton Road Bridge on the main road linking Dunedin and Brighton
• the Malaghans Road realignment in Queenstown
• Peninsula Road/Boyd Road improvements in Frankton.

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:

• Activities that have been given funding approval and represent committed funding.
• Activities that the NZTA anticipates may be given funding approval during 2009-12 (category 2 activities). More activities are listed than will be funded because many do not progress as planned.
• Reserve activities that are expected to be funded beyond 2009-12, but might be funded in 2009-12 (if circumstances justify it).
• Activities that are not expected to be funded because they have too low a priority to warrant funding.

Recent achievements

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:

• completing the $3.2 million SH1 Thames Street safety project in Oamaru. The project involved installing five sets of traffic lights in Thames Street, with the aim of reducing a crash rate that was much higher than average for this type of urban state highway
• completing the SH1 Tumai passing lane project between Dunedin and Palmerston
• completing a number of local road projects, including seal extensions on Karoro Creek and Ahuriri Road ($1.7 million). The latter road carries a large amount of tourist traffic visiting the iconic Nugget Point Lighthouse, so the new safety and efficiency improvements will contribute to tourism growth in the area
• road widening on Harrington Point Road from Tily Street to Weir Road ($1.8 million), which has improved safety for drivers and cyclists. This section of road is on a popular route to tourist attractions on the Otago Peninsula, including the Royal Albatross colony, so the improvements will make it safer and easier for tourists at these attractions and help boost Dunedin's tourism industry
• further progress on extending the Dunedin to Port Chalmers cycleway, with more extension work to be carried out as funding allows. This project will help make cycling a safer commuter travel option for those living in this area.

The role of the Regional Transport Committee

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