Open Minutes
Commencing: Tuesday 12 March 2024, 9:30 am
Venue: Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chambers, Regional House, 1 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga and via Zoom
Chairperson: Cr Andrew von Dadelszen – Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana (BOPRC)
Deputy Chairperson: Cr Lyall Thurston - BOPRC
Members: Cr Jane Nees – BOPRC (via Zoom)
Cr Paula Thompson – BOPRC (via Zoom)
Cr Malcolm Campbell - BOPRC
Cr Ken Shirley - BOPRC
Cr Gavin Dennis (Alternate) – Whakatāne District Council (WDC)
Commissioner Stephen Selwood – Tauranga City Council (TCC)
Cr Conan O'Brien – Rotorua Lakes Council (RLC) (via Zoom)
Mayor Tania Tapsell (Alternate) – RLC (via Zoom)
Mayor James Denyer – Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC)
Sarah Roberts (Alternate) – NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (Waka Kotahi) (via Zoom)
In Attendance: Cr Ron Scott – BOPRC; Cr Kat Macmillan – BOPRC (via Zoom); Sarah Hiestand – Waka Kotahi (via Zoom); Mike Seabourne – Director, Public Transport; Oliver Haycock – Manager, Transport Planning; Stuart Nightingale – Manager, Transport Operations; Jamie Hall – Manager, Transport Programme Delivery; Bron Healey – Principal Advisor, Transport; Mary Norris – Transport Advisor (Total Mobility); Gemma Wiltshire - Summer Assistant, Accessible Transport; Claudia Cameron – Committee Advisor
Apologies: Chairman Doug Leeder (Ex-Officio) - BOPRC, Susan Collins - Waka Kotahi, Cr Andrew Iles – WDC
Minute Note: This meeting was livestreamed and recorded and can be accessed on the BOPRC YouTube channel: Public Transport Committee - 12 March 2024 (youtube.com)
1. Chairperson's Opening Statement
The Chair opened the meeting and reminded members that the meeting was being livestreamed and recorded. The new member for Waka Kotahi, Susan Collins was noted and those present were advised there would be an opportunity to view on-demand buses and meet with representatives from Ritchies and Mercury Energy during morning tea.
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That the Public Transport Committee: 1 Accepts the apology from Chairman Doug Leeder, Susan Collins and Cr Andrew Iles tendered at the meeting. CARRIED |
Item 9.5 would be heard after Item 9.2 to accommodate member availability.
4. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
None declared.
Minutes to be Confirmed
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Public Transport Committee Minutes - 14 November 2023 |
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That the Public Transport Committee: 1 Confirms the Public Transport Committee Minutes - 14 November 2023 as a true and correct record. CARRIED |
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Public Transport Arotake Tuarua (Q2) Performance Monitoring Report 2023/24 Presentation: Public Transport Arotake Tuarua (Q2) Performance Monitoring Report 2023/14: Objective ID A4624002 ⇨ Presented by: Stuart Nightingale – Manager, Transport Operations |
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· Anticipated a continuation of Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) funding for Total Mobility in the upcoming Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS) · Missed trips made up only 2.7% out of 73,000 scheduled trips, noted a higher number on the more frequent and longer trips · Fare box recovery had improved over the last three years, staff were awaiting a target for this from Waka Kotahi · Data was from two quarters earlier, however current information was included in the BOPRC Long Term Plan (LTP) documents. 9.47 am - Sarah Roberts withdrew from the meeting (via Zoom). · Multiple factors impacted patronage, including congestion, fare prices, reliability and urban growth. Waka Kotahi tracked national network data which provided context · Mode share changes were surveyed but not tracked in real time · A fare review was scheduled for late 2024. Key Points - Members: · A better understanding of mode shift to other transport means as well as buses could allow a better understanding of behaviour change · Encouraged staff to publicise the increase in patronage numbers. 10.00 am - Sarah Roberts entered the meeting (via Zoom). |
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Chairperson's Report Tabled Document 1 - Staff Briefing Note - Draft GPS on Land Transport - 05 March 2024: Objective ID A4624005 ⇨ Presented by: Mike Seabourne – Director, Public Transport; Oliver Haycock – Manager, Transport Planning; Jamie Hall – Manager, Transport, Programme Delivery Key Points: · Tabled the document Staff Briefing Note - Draft GPS on Land Transport - 05 March 2024 to be read in conjunction with the GPS · Members were encouraged to make submissions to the GPS via the Regional Transport Committee. 10.07 am – Mayor Tapsell withdrew from the meeting (via Zoom). In Response to Questions: · A full review of school services, and their integration/separation from the network was targeted for completion at the end of 2024 and would dove tail with the fare review · School service capacity had been increased in 2023, and those increases had been carried through into 2024, school service contracts had a 2+2 year extension provision · Staff had worked with education providers to anticipate roll numbers, with capacity provided at just below anticipated demand to accommodate the winter demand drop · Tauranga phase 2 refresh was subject to BOPRC LTP and Regional Land Transport Plan (RLPT) funding, although staff continued to look for in-budget changes to increase efficiency. Key Points - Members: · Expressed concern at the lack of integration between the LTP, GPS and fares reports, but acknowledged staff were responding to external changes from central government · Highlighted the need to ensure the community were aware of the changes to the fixed route during the on-demand trial and emphasised the need for education around how to access the service · Urged the prioritisation of network refreshes, in particular to leverage the Cameron Road investment to increase patronage. |
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That the Public Transport Committee: 1 Receives the report, Chairperson's Report. CARRIED |
10.30 am – the meeting adjourned.
11.10 am – the meeting reconvened.
Decisions Required
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Regional Public Transport Plan 2022-32 - Draft Action Plan Presentation: BOP Regional Public Transport Plan - Action Plan: Objective ID A4624012 ⇨ Presented by: Bron Healey – Principal Advisor, Transport Key Points: · There would be regular reporting to this committee once the Plan was in place, along with a six yearly Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) review to coincide with the RLTP. There would also be 3 yearly technical reviews and, to reduce duplication, future RPTPs and the RLTPs would be consulted on simultaneously · Provided clarity around aspects which were excluded from implementation and the reasons why. 11.17 am – Mayor Tania Tapsell entered the meeting (via Zoom). Response to Questions: · Acknowledged the need to integrate this Plan with the SmartGrowth Implementation and Funding Plan, the RLTP, TSP and the Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee · There were resource constraints; allocation was subject to direction from this committee as the number of actions to allocate resources to was high. 11.21 am - Sarah Roberts entered the meeting (via Zoom). Key Points - Members: · Noted WBOPDC had recently approved Plan Change 92 and Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS); transport links should be provided for new areas of increased development on a case by case basis · Supported a tiered approach to implementation and requested the work programme be brought to this committee which included timing, accountabilities and funding allocations to ensure sufficient implementation over planning · Acknowledged the 20% mode shift goal as aspirational based on consultation feedback, however measurable deliverability of realistic improvements was key. |
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That the Public Transport Committee: 1 Receives the report, Regional Public Transport Plan 2022-32 - Draft Action Plan; 2 Approves the Bay of Plenty Regional Public Transport Plan 2022-32 – Action Plan, noting it is a living document, and directs staff to bring to the Public Transport Committee the implementation programme. CARRIED |
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7.3 |
Community Connect Decision Paper Presented by: Jamie Hall – Manager, Transport Programme Delivery Key Points: · Noted the change to the staff recommendations · There was a $1.9 million annual cost for youth concessions · Option 2 was in line with the draft GPS, the draft LTP and Regional Infrastructure Technical Specifications (RITS) consortium members. In Response to Questions: · Clarified the position in the LTP was cost to council, not cost to user · Changes were required to the fare structure to remain within budget, current fares were based on the assumption of Waka Kotahi funding which was no longer available · The LTP was silent on fare levels, and fare structure did not make up part of the consultation questions. Key Points - Members: · Noted the previous LTP had approved free fares at all times, and changes to free fares at peak times was due to behaviour on buses · Considered a decision of this scale should be via public consultation and not made at this time nor by the committee. |
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That the Public Transport Committee: 1 Receives the report, Community Connect Decision Paper; 2 Supports Option 2: To revert to the pre-Community Connect Extension fares as the preferred option; 3 Recommends to Bay of Plenty Regional Council to implement the change by 1 May 2024 (as outlined in the report). Division A division was called:
The Chairperson used his casting vote and the motion was CARRIED
Minute Note: Mayor Tanya Tapsell (alternate) voted on behalf of RLC as Cr Conan O'Brien was unable to participate due to technical issues.
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12.07 pm – Cr Paula Thompson withdrew from the meeting (via Zoom).
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Bay of Plenty Regional Tertiary Commuter Services Presented by: Stuart Nightingale – Manager, Transport Operations Key Points: · Sought consistency of fare structure by asking tertiary students to pay the same as they would on the main network · Had the 60% fare structure been adopted over the previous year, there would have been a $12,900 saving to BOPRC · Tertiary fares were subject to review during the fares review later in 2024 · Did not recommend ceasing the tertiary service mid-way through school year. In Response to Questions: · Tertiary service buses were in addition to the normal network and had a variation to the destination compared to the equivalent route in the main network · There was an opportunity to increase efficiencies through increased patronage via a communications campaign as the cost per passenger was comparatively high. |
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That the Public Transport Committee: 1 Receives the report, Bay of Plenty Regional Tertiary Commuter Services; 2 Approves the retention of the Tertiary and Commuter services with a communication campaign to increase patronage; 3 Recommends to Bay of Plenty Regional Council the tertiary student fare be increased to 60% of the adult fare from 2025 to align with the urban service for these services subject to review during regular fare policy reviews. CARRIED
Cr Jane Nees, Cr Lyall Thurston and Cr Gavin Dennis opposed the motion and requested it be recorded in the minutes. |
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Public Transport Support for Special Events Presented by: Bron Healey – Principal Advisor, Transport Key Points: · Provided decision making criteria for when BOPRC supported special events with public transport · Agreeing to the decision making criteria completed an action in the RPTP · Highlighted the decision making diagram, to provide clear guidance for staff when a request for service came through. Key Points - Members: · Considered there should be a size of event consideration, and real life examples and outcomes would have been useful. |
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That the Public Transport Committee: 1 Receives the report, Public Transport Support for Special Events; 2 Approves the decision-making criteria for providing public transport support for special events as shown in the Decision-making Criteria – Public Transport Support for Special Events section of the report. CARRIED |
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Total Mobility Review Presentation: Total Mobility Survey Results 2024: Objective ID A4624019 ⇨ Presented by: Mary Norris – Transport Advisor (Total Mobility) and Gemma Wiltshire - Summer Assistant, Accessible Transport, supported by Stuart Nightingale – Manager, Transport Operations Key Points: · Client education regarding vehicle booking would improve speed of service · Hoped to encourage smaller providers to install hoists to increase fleet capacity, noting there were over 930 hoist users within the Total Mobility service · Introduced Gemma Wiltshire, Summer Assistant - Accessible Transport, who had compiled the survey, and highlighted the positive results · The service also helped people who were unwell or going through medical treatment · Noted smaller numbers of respondents could skew the overall results. 12.47 pm – Commissioner Stephen Selwood withdrew from the meeting. In Response to Questions: · Acknowledged the need for smaller buses which could accommodate mobility scooters particularly in Kawerau/Whakatāne. However this required assessment through a network review as it would entail an asset change, which could be assisted by the survey data · A different hoist was required for mobility scooters, as the weight capacity was larger. Key Points - Members: · Noted the increasing uptake of the Waka Eastern Bay service, and questioned whether the Whakatāne data required interlinking with Waka Eastern Bay usage data for a fuller picture · Noted the Totally Mobility usage and feedback was a good news story which should be shared. |
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That the Public Transport Committee: 1 Receives the report, Total Mobility Review. CARRIED |
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Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee Minutes |
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That the Public Transport Committee: 1 Receives the Tauranga Public Transport Joint Committee Minutes. CARRIED |
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Resolution to exclude the public 1 Excludes the public from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting as set out below: The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter, and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:
CARRIED |
12.55 pm – the meeting closed.
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Chairperson, Public Transport Committee