Climate change impact essential to transport planning

Some submitters have called on Waipā District Council to put more focus on climate change as part of the district’s 30-year transport strategy.

The comments were included in 170 written submissions to the draft strategy which was released in February for public comment over a six-week period. Council will consider the public feedback next week before the strategy is finalised.

Service delivery group manager Dawn Inglis said submissions traversed areas ranging from climate change to public transport and the desire for a third river crossing in Cambridge. There was also an emphasis on supporting people to decrease their reliance on private vehicles, either through improved public transport or by encouraging safe cycling and walking.

“Some strong views were expressed and it was noted that public transport has a beneficial impact on carbon emissions,” she said.

“All councils are already required by the government to help decrease carbon emissions and all signals are that these requirements will be strengthened in the future. The reality is that when planning long-term, we do need to think beyond cars and think more broadly about other ways of getting around.”

“However, for our rural community, cars and road freight will continue to be essential for many years yet. We already have a huge investment in rural roads and we need to maintain those roads for the freight which drives our local economy.”

Inglis said Waipā’s strategy “by necessity” aligned with national and regional policies.

“Waipā does not exist in a bubble and when planning long-term for transport we need to be aware of what our neighbours are doing and what the government is planning and is prepared to support,” she said.

“That’s certainly the case for a third bridge in Cambridge. As expected, the draft strategy has confirmed the need for a third bridge, so it is not a case of if, but when. Funding for a business case to make the pitch for government funding was locked in by Council last year so, based on the strategy being adopted next week, that work will now begin at pace.”

Mayor Jim Mylchreest said it was essential to get Waka Kotahi, which helps fund big transport projects, onboard and supportive of a third bridge for Cambridge.

“We’ll need a strong business case based on regionally consistent data. If Waka Kotahi does not agree with the business case or the data used, ratepayers across the district – not just in Cambridge – will have to pay the full cost and that could be upwards of $70 million,” Mylchreest said.

“That would add around $460 per year in rates to all rates bills, for the next 30 years. That’s just not affordable for Waipā ratepayers so it’s essential government comes to the party.”

Submissions on the draft Transport Strategy will be considered as part of the Strategic Planning and Policy Committee meeting on Tuesday May 2. This meeting is being live-streamed and can be accessed by the public at waipadc.govt.nz/livestream.